PIAA can't make same mistake with York Catholic-Delone semifinal

The PIAA and the powers that be have to come to their senses. They have to. There is no way they can let the girls' Class AA state semifinal game between York Catholic and Delone Catholic be played at New Oxford High School again this year. The gym is not the worst in the area. But it shouldn't be hosting a state semifinal game. It's not big enough.

The atmosphere inside last year was miserable, people crammed into their bleacher seats more than an hour before the game. Fans turned away at the door, once again, more than an hour before the game.

If the PIAA wants to see sportsmanship from its fans, here's an idea: Don't upset every fan before the game starts by forcing them to cram into a bleacher seat before a single blown call can be made. It's a recipe for trouble.

I've never seen fans lined up outside a venue -- more than an hour before tipoff -- offering to pay above-face-value for a ticket, in essence begging for someone to scalp tickets. They wanted in the gymnasium, but they couldn't get in.

Hopefully someone took the hint. This venue doesn't work for a state semifinal. York and Adams counties have few options when it comes to finding gymnasiums that seat about 1,500 fans. But a state semifinal does not need to be played inside the county if no suitable venue is available.

If the game needs to be played outside York and Adams counties, so be it. Fans from both schools travel well. Find a big gym, and let the fans drive.
-- Jim Seip