The Kansas City Star
June 28, 1992
Edition: METROPOLITAN
Section: SPORTS
Page: C17

Future of Metro all-star game in doubt
Author: HOWARD RICHMAN; Staff Writer

The fate of the Metro Dream Classic high school all-star football game might be decided Monday.

Members of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association are scheduled to meet with the Chiefs and the Dream Factory, the charity beneficiary of the game.

"There's a definite chance (it won't be back)," Blue Springs Coach Wayne McGinnis said.

The first Metro Dream Classic was played June 13 at Arrowhead Stadium, and Kansas beat Missouri 41-12. Perhaps a more important number, though, was the attendance figure, which was far below the expectations of the game's organizers.

The estimated attendance was only 4,800, according to McGinnis.

The Chiefs had told game organizers that at least 10,000 people needed to attend if organizers wanted to hold it again at Arrowhead.
"We're going to sit down, put our heads together and see what we can do better if we continue the game," McGinnis said.
The Metro Dream Classic replaced the Big Brothers and Sisters game. That series lasted 10 years until it was stopped after the 1985 game because of declining profits and lack of sponsors.

This year's game turned a profit of around $10,000, according to McGinnis.

"We're still getting money from the schools that sold tickets," McGinnis said. "We're ahead, and we've paid everything off. " McGinnis hopes there will be another game. He cited a late start this year as a deterrent. The game wasn't officially announced until February.

"We feel if we have a second chance, we can do a better job," McGinnis said. "The biggest key might be a ticket center where people can get tickets easier. " The most negative feedback McGinnis heard about the game was that some people didn't want to pay the $5 parking fee at the sports complex.

"I guess quite a few got mad about it and left," he said. "We don't know how many turned and went the other direction. " The most positive?

"The players and coaches had a great time," McGinnis said. "The Missouri players might not have had as great a time as the Kansas kids did. "

Copyright 1992, 1996 The Kansas City Star Co.