By Andy Brown, The Messenger
Troy University learned on Wednesday that for the first time in more than 25 years, the school would not serve as the host of the Alabama High School Athletic Association's state track meet for classes 1A-3A.
The City of Troy is still learning exactly what impact the event's move from Troy to Tuscaloosa will have on the city itself.
The meet, which is scheduled to be held on May 6-7, will be hosted by Paul W. Bryant High School.
According to Troy University Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Bob Lambert, the meet has brought anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people to Troy, many of whom stayed in local hotels and visited local restaurants during the two-day event.
"This is a tremendous loss for us," Clem Pennington, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express, said. "It's going to have a big-time impact on us. During that weekend we have teams come and stay Friday and Saturday night and sometimes even on Thursday, and with them not coming this year that's really going to have an impact on our business."
According to Pennington, over the past nine years the Holiday Inn Express has booked every room in the building during the weekend of the state meet.
"In the nine years I have been here, I can't remember a single time when the hotel wasn't completely full during that weekend," Pennington said. "I'm fairly sure that it has been booked full more years than that. This is really a tremendous loss to us."
Local restaurants also expect to take a hit.
"It will definitely impact us," Willie Caughlan, General Manager of Barnhill's, said. "A lot of the teams and fans would come in and eat before and after the meet. It's kind of like when the basketball teams come in February. It's one of our big months when both of those events come to Troy, so if they aren't coming then we're going to be impacted greatly."
Troy University is trying to do its part to insure that the AHSAA state track meet returns to Troy in 2006.
"We are continuing to improve our facility with the installation of stands scheduled for this spring and restroom and concession facilities by the spring of 2006," Dr. Douglas Patterson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration at Troy University, said. "Upon completion of the facility, we will renew discussions with the AHSAA for hosting the state meet again in the future. Our desire is to see the meet return to the Troy campus as soon as possible."
According to Troy University Interim Athletics Director Scott Farmer bids have been sent out for the addition of stands and a press box, and plans are being made to begin preparations for adding restroom and concession facilities.
'We've put bids out on the seating and press box and are going to go ahead and proceed with getting that done this spring, and we're beginning to make plans about completing the second phase of that project which would add restroom and concession facilities. We want to do what we can to make sure the meet comes back to Troy. "
Farmer was unable to comment on the cost of completing the additions to the track and soccer facility.
"We won't be able to nail down a cost until we have received the bids back and have the buildings designed," Farmer said.
Attempts to reach Mayor Jimmy Lunsford were unsuccessful.
Pike County Chamber of Commerce President Jenniffer Barner declined to comment until she could gather more information.
story found on TroyMessenger.com
Troy University learned on Wednesday that for the first time in more than 25 years, the school would not serve as the host of the Alabama High School Athletic Association's state track meet for classes 1A-3A.
The City of Troy is still learning exactly what impact the event's move from Troy to Tuscaloosa will have on the city itself.
The meet, which is scheduled to be held on May 6-7, will be hosted by Paul W. Bryant High School.
According to Troy University Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Bob Lambert, the meet has brought anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people to Troy, many of whom stayed in local hotels and visited local restaurants during the two-day event.
"This is a tremendous loss for us," Clem Pennington, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express, said. "It's going to have a big-time impact on us. During that weekend we have teams come and stay Friday and Saturday night and sometimes even on Thursday, and with them not coming this year that's really going to have an impact on our business."
According to Pennington, over the past nine years the Holiday Inn Express has booked every room in the building during the weekend of the state meet.
"In the nine years I have been here, I can't remember a single time when the hotel wasn't completely full during that weekend," Pennington said. "I'm fairly sure that it has been booked full more years than that. This is really a tremendous loss to us."
Local restaurants also expect to take a hit.
"It will definitely impact us," Willie Caughlan, General Manager of Barnhill's, said. "A lot of the teams and fans would come in and eat before and after the meet. It's kind of like when the basketball teams come in February. It's one of our big months when both of those events come to Troy, so if they aren't coming then we're going to be impacted greatly."
Troy University is trying to do its part to insure that the AHSAA state track meet returns to Troy in 2006.
"We are continuing to improve our facility with the installation of stands scheduled for this spring and restroom and concession facilities by the spring of 2006," Dr. Douglas Patterson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration at Troy University, said. "Upon completion of the facility, we will renew discussions with the AHSAA for hosting the state meet again in the future. Our desire is to see the meet return to the Troy campus as soon as possible."
According to Troy University Interim Athletics Director Scott Farmer bids have been sent out for the addition of stands and a press box, and plans are being made to begin preparations for adding restroom and concession facilities.
'We've put bids out on the seating and press box and are going to go ahead and proceed with getting that done this spring, and we're beginning to make plans about completing the second phase of that project which would add restroom and concession facilities. We want to do what we can to make sure the meet comes back to Troy. "
Farmer was unable to comment on the cost of completing the additions to the track and soccer facility.
"We won't be able to nail down a cost until we have received the bids back and have the buildings designed," Farmer said.
Attempts to reach Mayor Jimmy Lunsford were unsuccessful.
Pike County Chamber of Commerce President Jenniffer Barner declined to comment until she could gather more information.
story found on TroyMessenger.com