TROY — Section 2 was hoping to have the NYSPHSAA boys’ soccer championships a bit closer to home.

Recently, a 20-person committee from Section 2 put together a bid to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, looking to host the 2025-2027 boys’ soccer championships.

“This involved entering into commitments with local hotels and motels to host teams traveling into our area to play in the state tournament, securing sites, and arranging plans for the safety and enjoyment of the fans, the teams, and all involved,” Section 2 boys’ soccer coordinator Ernie Clapper said in a press release.

The committee, made up of coaches, Section 2 committee members and officials, submitted the bid last month, which ultimately failed to pass NYSPHSAA’s boys’ soccer committee.

The state soccer committee voted to continue to hold the event in Section 9, primarily located at Middletown’s Faller Field. However, in the past, some games have also been played at Goshen High School, which is about 15 minutes away from Middletown.

“Middletown’s bid was accepted and Section 2’s was not,” Clapper said. “Middletown submitted a 'zero bid,' meaning that there would be no costs to the NYSPHSAA to host the tournament in Middletown.”

The key difference between the two bids was the money.

Middletown’s bid from the 2021-24 cycle included a cost of approximately $8,000 to NYSPHSAA. While Section 2 submitted a bid of $7,440 — $560 less that Middletown’s previous bid — this time around, Section 9 and Middletown were able to secure enough funding to submit a "zero bid," essentially offering to host at no cost to NYSPHSAA.

Section 2’s bid to host the state championships was centered around playing games on the turf fields at Hudson Valley Community College and La Salle Institute, which are about a 5-10-minute walk from one another.

While Section 2's bid was rejected by the NYSPHSAA soccer committee, the executive and championship committees are able to override that decision in a vote of their own. However, that remains unlikely.

“It could have made for a great atmosphere with two game sites [which are] five minutes walking time between the two stadiums,” Clapper said. “Still, I am very proud of the work of the Section 2 committee. The members cared about the project so much and worked tirelessly for our section to get the bid.

"Boys’ soccer now joins boys’ basketball of Section 2 in getting rejected with state hosting bids.”