Good to Great: Improving Wisconsin’s State Volleyball Tournament
I love going to the Wisconsin State Volleyball Tournament. I look forward to it every year. A time that is a reunion of friends, a chance to see some of the top athletes in the state, and to see teams raise a gold ball on Saturday is always a special moment. The Wisconsin state tournament is good, however we have a chance to make it great.
I am someone who really dislikes what I call “Driveby Feedback”, where someone takes a quick look, gives their two cents worth, and off they go. I don’t want this to be a piece of “Driveby Feedback”, but a way to look at volleyball as a premier event in the state and be one of the best state tournaments in the country. The pieces are there. I’ve been to state tournaments in multiple states and this past year was able to take in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois in under two weeks. Here are a few ideas that would greatly enhance the player and fan experience of the Wisconsin state volleyball tournament.
The Ticket Situation
$11 to potentially watch 90 minutes of volleyball (if that). The parents will pay it without question, but for the average fan, especially one that has to drive somewhat of a distance, that’s a hard sell. Even take a family of four, to watch two sessions – that’s 88 dollars. Yikes. I was able to watch a couple sessions from up in the stands and some high school volleyball players from Western Wisconsin were in attendance sitting behind me. They came in a little late for the D4 semifinals and had plans to attend all day. They were having a ball. A definite memory in the making for those girls. But for a high school student who convinced their parents to take a road trip with their friends to state volleyball to potentially spend 30 to 40 bucks on tickets alone is….A LOT.
Iowa is $10 and you watch all day. A fan can watch five classes of semifinals from 10 AM to 10 PM for $10, and streaming is free.
Illinois is $8 per session where you get to watch four matches. Morning session is 9 AM to 2 PM and the night session has the same amount of matches starting at 4:30 (it’s a late night, but so fun).
Minnesota has similar sessions compared to Illinois and they also have consolation matches. They also have student prices to make it more affordable.
Longer Sessions, More Fans In the Arena
The way the state tournament operates with their current model of watching one match and immediately leaving the building, why have it at the Resch Center?
Would be a shame if we utilized this area for fans in the next session. But what do I know. pic.twitter.com/hMHsfWtzKl
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 4, 2021
I can’t believe I just wrote that. I love the Resch Center, it’s extremely dynamic, great location, it’s loud, but the current structure of the schedule of matches leaves the arena half full.
Have two matches back to back per session and if teams are playing the second match of the session, have the fans of those teams sit in the endzone of the arena. Once the first match of the session is over, have those fans clear out of the section (which they can move to another section if they choose) and the fans for the next match can move in.
The line waiting to get into the 11:30 session while they empty the 9:00 match.
You know this could be alleviated if the @wiaawistate had a day pass or even a two match pass. This is crazy. The space in the Resch Center is so under utilized. It’s half full. pic.twitter.com/uYtvwp4vE6
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 5, 2021
This is done for volleyball and basketball state tournaments in multiple states.
If you are a casual fan of volleyball, you can sit in the endzone of the arena and watch. Whenever I have attended as a fan in Wisconsin, I feel rushed, as if they want me out of there as fast as possible. I watch less matches because you are entering and leaving the building every 90 minutes.
Between the D4 and D3 semifinals, the lines were extremely long to get in and fans maybe got there for the announcements of the starting line up. The time wasted with emptying out the arena is unnecessary and wouldn’t be as rushed if the sessions were extended.
If we truly want exposure for the game, we have to make this more fan friendly. Put the D4 and D3 semifinals in one session and D2, D1, and boys in the night session. People are more likely to come if they can watch more volleyball. If we want to provide exposure for the boys game, we need to make it easier for people to watch.
Utilize the Resch Expo Center
The Resch Center now has the Resch Expo Center which is connected to the arena. This is state of the art, beautiful, modern, and extremely dynamic in how it could be used. Prep Dig will be hosting Battle at the Bay at the Resch Expo center April 2-3, 2022.
I know I refer to Iowa quite a bit as a model to use, but their set up is similar to Wisconsin with an arena connected to a convention center. In their convention center part for the state tournament they have a HUGE lobby for team check in with multiple backdrops and props for teams to take pictures. This is also a place for families to gather after the match. As a fan and even a coach at the state tournament it is a mess after a match to try and get out of the Resch Center to try and find families. The Resch Expo Center can be used as a gathering place for teams and their families. Set up multiple areas for pictures to be taken, let the families and players enjoy the space and have a little moment before leaving the arena.
The path to the @IGHSAU State Tournament. The player experience is one of the best here. This is also an area for teams to gather and take pictures post match pic.twitter.com/OooQ55chGW
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 1, 2021
Aside from check in, and again this is what Iowa does (I apologize), they set up practice courts in one of the ballrooms for teams. I’m not sure of the logistics in regards to when teams get court time, but teams use their “Pre-Court” time to dance, warm up, along with some serve and pass. Set up two courts and a net for girls, two nets for the boys, let’s make it a big deal.
One of the ballrooms right next to the arena for the Iowa Girls State Tournament. Would love to see the @wiaawi utilize the new Brown County Convention Center being built next to the Resch. pic.twitter.com/PmVgvPC1kP
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2019
But What About The Cost?
Get the sponsors. Wisconsin has plenty of premier corporations and businesses that would be happy to put their name on state tournaments. I’m not saying we rename it the “Kwik Trip” state tournament, but I would be happy to have a “Prep Dig Players Lounge, or a “Culvers Player of the Match”, the list could go on. I know there is a lot that goes behind partnerships, but I know other tournaments have support from big time sponsors that help them out.
Other Odds and Ends
The bleachers they traditionally use for Green Bay basketball games to put behind the baskets in the endzone, bring those out for teams to sit when they are not playing. There is plenty of room, giving the athletes a chance to get more floor time for their experience.
Free streaming and the whole TV situation. I don’t know all of the details, I know it has to be a mess, but make it easier for people who are not at the matches to view the matches.
This dude…it’s a win win situation for him https://t.co/e49CWjKKSL pic.twitter.com/Ts3gZvz6iZ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2021
A pep band….at all times. I think it is great for schools to bring their own pep bands, but what I liked from the Illinois state tournament they had a pep band in attendance that was predetermined. They were from a neutral school and played per session. And they were legit. One school’s pep band was even a cover band and the moment where one of the guys sang “Rock Me Like a Hurricane” next to the all girls Catholic school in Mother McAuley was a moment.
All Tournament Team announced after the championship. I think Wisconsin has an all tournament team? I think we hear about it after the fact, but a lot of state tournaments announce an all-tournament team voted on by the coaches and media with an all-tournament team captain who is essentially the Tournament MVP.
What’s Next?
I’m not anti-WIAA, this is not intended as a piece to come after them. I think our tournament is good. Bringing the boys tournament to Green Bay provides an electric atmosphere that is so fun to be a part of. The fact that these athletes are playing in an arena across from an NFL football stadium is way more than most states. I know in order for progress to be made, the discussion has to happen. We cannot be guilty of “This is the way we’ve always done it”. I will continue to root for the Wisconsin State Tournament and look forward to seeing the progress that can be made.