This could be the last year that Burlington High School sports teams compete in the MAC athletic conference.
Activities Director Zach Shay talked to Burlington School Board members about leaving the MAC and joining the Southeast Conference at a school board meeting earlier this week. He says one benefit would be increased gate revenue at games.
“On a Tuesday night, when we’re playing boys or girls basketball… you are probably more likely to travel to Mt. Pleasant, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Fairfield…as opposed to going to Clinton, Bettendorf… those Davenport Schools,” Shay told board members. He says competing with closer schools would result in increased gate revenues for Burlington and the other schools in the conference.
Shay also told board members that the students would benefit from not being pulled out of class early to travel to away games in the Quad Cities. He says currently both students and staff members are pulled out of class at 1:30 to travel to MAC conference games on a regular basis.
There are currently 5 members in the conference, including Keokuk, Fort Madison, Mt. Pleasant, Washington, and Fairfield. Both Burlington and Ottumwa are looking at joining. Shay says competing against other schools that are within 60 miles of Burlington would make sense, as those are the schools that the districts Middle Schools compete against.
Shay is currently the chairperson of the MAC conference, he says they have agreed to let Burlington out in one year instead of the traditional two-year exit, however, a vote has to be taken before it’s official.
