Was this the last year it will be in Macon?

this was the first year of Macon's second straight two-year contract. It will be at Mercer again next year, then go up for bid again, to the best of my knowledge.

I assume it will be up for bid very soon (probably right after the season ends officially). I remember after Year 1 was when Mercer announced they won the second 2-year contract. So hopefully we'll get another Mercer announcement in the coming weeks.......

I bet it goes to florida.

Fort Myers would draw good numbers for all sessions - and the A-Sun would make a lot more bank off the women's sessions than they have in Macon w/ Mercer's women failing to qualify 2 years running. FGCU would put 3K in the seats for a women's final they're in (and nobody beats them at their place anyway) without batting an eye. 4, even 5K not out of the question.

I hope Mercer gets it again. Being centrally located helps, and a staff that knows how to run it. FGCU might not be willing to run it and/or pay for it. Just depends what they want too. I could see NKU hosting at some point with their massive arena just to get it on ESPN2.

I would be interested to know just how many of the schools are actually going to (or have already) put a bid in.

The only way to have a good crowds is for the hosting school to make it to thru to the finals. But having it on your home floor has been the kiss of death for the hosting school, at least since ETSU has been in the league anyways.

Jacksonville makes sense and I know that Jacksonville placed a bid when the Macon contract was first accepted. Four ASC schools in Florida (two locally and Stetson a 90 minute drive away). FGCU, Stetson and Mercer usually bring a decent sized group of fans to Jacksonville. Decent airport, (direct flights from NoKy, Atl, & Nashville) very nice arena, good restuarants and hotels, and the Beach/St Augustine/Sawgrass is a plus. A large Metro market opens the opportunity to get local attendance. The JU staff has also successfully hosted two NCAA 1st round tournaments in recent years.

The problem is Veterans is too big and Swisher is too small. Perhaps they play it at UNF? As much as I hate to admit it, I really like the format the Big South uses with the championship being at the highest seed.

I nominate carver recreational center.

(03-05-2012 09:34 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  Fort Myers would draw good numbers for all sessions - and the A-Sun would make a lot more bank off the women's sessions than they have in Macon w/ Mercer's women failing to qualify 2 years running. FGCU would put 3K in the seats for a women's final they're in (and nobody beats them at their place anyway) without batting an eye. 4, even 5K not out of the question.

Bradshaw said to our radio guys while in Macon that they really do want to host. Capacity at Alico is 4,500, and you're right in saying the women would draw. We pull in 3,000 for regular season games as it is, and last year's NIT games drew big (3,400 for Drexel, and standing room only 4,543 against Florida).

Men pull barely half...about 1,800 for home games. Now, attendance from other teams may not be great because of travel(Deland is about 4 hours away, Jacksonville 6, and Macon 8 or 9)...but Fort Myers always has good weather this time of year, which could counteract that.

I'd like to see it...but wouldn't be shocked to see NKU make a bid either.