As a follow-up to our earlier article, the FHSAA has ranked the 3 bids and decided the bid submitted by the Tallahassee Sports Council to host the 2012/2013 Championships at Apalachee Regional Park was the "Top-Ranked" bid.  The FHSAA and the Tallahassee Sports Council now try to conclude a contract within 30 days.

FHSAA PRESS RELEASE

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XC State Finals Course Selection

Announcement Pending

The Florida High School Athletic Association's (FHSAA) next step in choosing a venue for the 2012 and 2013 State Cross Country Finals is to rank the 3 received bids and then try to hammer out a contract that meets the specifications set forth by the Association in their "Request for Proposal" (RFP) to host the meet.

We fully anticipate that the Association will announce the top ranked bid in the next 24 to 48 hours.  

Although there will be no gaurantee the parties will be able to come to terms on a contract, we feel almost 100% sure that the top ranked bid will be the Venue for the State Finals over the next 2 years at a minimium.

If the FHSAA and the top ranking bid party are not be able to hammer out a contract within 30 days, the FHSAA will start to negotiate with the 2nd ranked bid, so just as in cross-country, every spot counts.

It's important to think about the rankings from the FHSAA point of view.  

The FHSAA has a large constituency and their priorities are not necessarily from the viewpoint of FACA, a cross country runner, coach, parent, fan, or media representative.  

The FHSAA will rank the bids based on the following criteria with each criteria being assigned a point value for a total cumulative score out of a possible 100 points:

25 - Quality of the facilities - "Championship Feel"

25 - Financial Proposal (sponsorships, hotels, ticket sales, concessions)

10 - Meet management expertise

10 - Hotel availability/proximity/rates

10 - Ticket distribution via "Event Brite" or "Ticketmaster"

10 - Overall bid package presentation/completeness

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100 Points Total

With an estimated economic impact of $434,000 to the community and knowing the criteria the FHSAA will use to rank the bids, it's very easy to see why a facility close to a population center with good hotels, good meet management and good sponsorship who can make the event good (profitable) for the FHSAA will earn the bid to host the Finals.

Back on May 18th, Mark DeCotis wrote a great article on the venues and entities that had submitted bids to the FHSAA as the first step in the process. (Mark DeCotis Article on State XC bids).

The second step in the process is about to unfold.  

We should know with almost 100% certainty which venue and meet management team will host our 2012 and 2013 State Cross Country finals within the next 24 to 48 hours.

FHSAA Document Links:

RFP Venue Outline

RFP Bidding Process