You wanna talk about a rivalry (probably) gone too far, this one has apparently finally broken the dam.

Escalating issues between fan bases, student bodies, and parents of Battle Creek Central, with two Kalamazoo Schools, have forced officials to demand NO fans will be in attendance at any of their basketball games this season.

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The announcement came out officially on Wednesday, that all games between Battle Creek and either Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, or Kalamazoo Central, will have stands completely empty.

Per the Battle Creek Central Athletic Director, Charles Seils:

"Please do not plan to attend these games as you will be turned away either at the parking lot entrance, or at the building doors. Sadly, this is due to the continual issues between our communities being brought to our athletic events."

Fighting and violence have become an issue between the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Schools. Last year, at a BCC/Kzoo Central Football game on October 7, police in Battle Creek had to investigate a shooting outside of C.W. Post Field. The report says five or six shots were fired outside, disrupting the game that ended prematurely with 56 seconds still to play.

Though Wednesday's announcement of banning fans from the stands of basketball games isn't being directly related to that specific incident, surely it shared some weight in the decision that was made.

BCC, K-Central, and Loy Norrix have a long history of fighting during games. A video posted to Youtube from five years ago, shows a scuffle at K-Central with BCC, where fans, and family came out of the stands.

Battle Creek Central Boys and Girls will be at Loy Norrix tonight (Jan. 12) with only the varsity playing.

Future games affected include:

  • Jan. 18 - Battle Creek Central @ Kalamazoo Central: Boys & Girls Varsity
  • Feb. 16 - Loy Norrix @ Battle Creek Central: Boys & Girls Varsity
  • Feb. 23 - Kalamazoo Central @ Battle Creek: Boys & Girls Varsity.

All JV and Freshmen games between the schools have been canceled for the season. 

It's a shame this has to happen. We just went through the awkward year of 2020, where some places TRIED to have sports events, with no crowds, and nearly every player, on every level, said the same thing... it was weird.

Hopefully this can be resolved to a point where the schools will allow fans back in the stands. But if things don't improve rapidly, these teams may play each other in silent gyms for a long time.

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