From Pennlive-
By Christine Vendel | cvendel@pennlive.com
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on March 01, 2017 at 11:12 AM
The Big 33 Football Classic will have a new home starting this year.
The popular all-star showcase will shift from its longtime venue at Hersheypark Stadium to Central Dauphin East High School's stadium, Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste confirmed Wednesday.
The move was necessary to cut costs and ensure the long-term survival of the event, he said.
"When people think of the Big 33, they think of this area and we wanted to do what we could to keep it going," he said. "It's a great program for the kids. That's why we stepped forward to help with the administration part of this."
The Classic's once-powerful charity - the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation - folded in January, citing declining contributions "over the past 15 years and "unsustainable" debt.
A statewide coaches association stepped in but the association needed some help with all the details of negotiating a move, Haste said.
George Connor, the county's community and economic development coordinator who also sits on the Big 33 board, was "instrumental in keeping the ball in the air," Haste said.
The overhead costs at Hersheypark Stadium were too high given the group's tight finances, Haste said. But the event couldn't just be moved anywhere because of its large size.
That's when Central Dauphin East emerged as a contender.
"Central Dauphin was willing to work with them," Haste said. "It appears to be an appropriate size to move forward. It will cost significantly less at Central Dauphin East, versus Hershey."
While the move is confirmed, the date for this year's event has not. They are still discussing two tentative dates in June, Haste said.
The commissioners have given the event a tourism grant every year.
"As with many of the projects, we try to help navigate issues that come up," Haste said.
Since 1958, the Big 33 has pitted Pennsylvania's top players against the best from across the nation, Texas, Ohio and Maryland. The game, which was started by The Patriot-News' sports department, has produced a long line of NFL Hall of Famers and, according to its website, placed alumni in all 50 Super Bowls.
All-Stars from Maryland will play Team Pa. for the fifth straight season this year.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/03/big_33_football_game_leaving_h.html#incart_river_mobile_home
By Christine Vendel | cvendel@pennlive.com Follow on Twitter
on March 01, 2017 at 11:12 AM
The Big 33 Football Classic will have a new home starting this year.
The popular all-star showcase will shift from its longtime venue at Hersheypark Stadium to Central Dauphin East High School's stadium, Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste confirmed Wednesday.
The move was necessary to cut costs and ensure the long-term survival of the event, he said.
"When people think of the Big 33, they think of this area and we wanted to do what we could to keep it going," he said. "It's a great program for the kids. That's why we stepped forward to help with the administration part of this."
The Classic's once-powerful charity - the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation - folded in January, citing declining contributions "over the past 15 years and "unsustainable" debt.
A statewide coaches association stepped in but the association needed some help with all the details of negotiating a move, Haste said.
George Connor, the county's community and economic development coordinator who also sits on the Big 33 board, was "instrumental in keeping the ball in the air," Haste said.
The overhead costs at Hersheypark Stadium were too high given the group's tight finances, Haste said. But the event couldn't just be moved anywhere because of its large size.
That's when Central Dauphin East emerged as a contender.
"Central Dauphin was willing to work with them," Haste said. "It appears to be an appropriate size to move forward. It will cost significantly less at Central Dauphin East, versus Hershey."
While the move is confirmed, the date for this year's event has not. They are still discussing two tentative dates in June, Haste said.
The commissioners have given the event a tourism grant every year.
"As with many of the projects, we try to help navigate issues that come up," Haste said.
Since 1958, the Big 33 has pitted Pennsylvania's top players against the best from across the nation, Texas, Ohio and Maryland. The game, which was started by The Patriot-News' sports department, has produced a long line of NFL Hall of Famers and, according to its website, placed alumni in all 50 Super Bowls.
All-Stars from Maryland will play Team Pa. for the fifth straight season this year.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/03/big_33_football_game_leaving_h.html#incart_river_mobile_home
