Antelope Valley Pays the Price for Title Game

The Antelope Valley Unified School District and Antelope Valley High booster club have jointly opened their pocket books and are spending in excess of $12,000 to install rented bleachers for Friday night’s Southern Section Division II championship football game against Hart.

Hart parents and officials don’t want rented bleachers. They want the game played elsewhere and blame Southern Section officials for not doing something about it.

A Hart parent said Antelope Valley’s on-campus facility, even with additional seating, is still too small to accommodate a championship crowd.

Hart Principal Laurence Strauss said he is satisfied with the seating capacity--boosted to 6,500--but is concerned about the sight lines from the added seats, 1,600 of which will be behind the end zones.

Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb chose to play the game at the school after winning a coin flip Sunday to determine the home team.

The Southern Section has approved Newcomb’s choice and will not change the decision.

Newcomb, who plans to retire after the season and would like nothing better than to go out a winner on his home turf, said the defending-champion Antelopes have a right to play at home because they are the top-seeded team.

“We deserve the game at home and we’re going to play it at home,” he said. “Come early to get a good seat.”

Southern Section assistant commissioner Bill Clark said the facility, by beefing up its seating capacity from 3,800, is acceptable.

“As long as they meet the minimum-capacity requirement of 6,000, they can use their field,” Clark said. “Case closed.”

Strauss plans to discuss seating arrangements today with Antelope Valley officials. If he is not satisfied, he will appeal to section officials.

“I’ll express my displeasure to Bill Clark and the AV officials,” Strauss said. “Then if there is a decision to change the game site, it will be between AV and the [section]. . . . We shouldn’t subject anybody’s fans to poor seating conditions.”

Clark said he is not worried because paid attendance for last year’s 36-15 victory by Antelope Valley over Hart at College of the Canyons was 5,500, despite a crowd estimate in excess of 7,000.

An official at College of the Canyons told Hart parents that the total cost of renting its field last year was $2,535.56.

“I expect to be full and all our seats to be taken,” said Mark Bryant, activities director at Antelope Valley High. “Perhaps a little more with a standing crowd. It’s starting to come together now.”

The Hart booster club has not taken a position in the matter, but more than one parent has said the game should be played at a neutral site with more seating, parking and better lighting.

“The caliber of play in this game will draw more interest than the Division I game,” said Andy Iacenda, father of senior running back Ted.

“It should be played at the Coliseum, like the [Division I game between Loyola and Bishop Amat]. Or Citrus College, where people could see the game.

“This is an absolute fiasco. More than the game, I want to bring the heat [on Southern Section officials]. This is not acceptable, but it’s probably not going to change.

“The game needs to be played at a bigger facility. I don’t care if it’s in Bakersfield.”