UC won’t host first AAC tournament
04/30/13 at 2:56pm by Bill Koch

UC is not in the mix to host the first American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament in 2014, UC athletic director Whit Babcock said Tuesday, but remains interested in hosting the tournament within the next few years downtown at U.S. Bank Arena.

“We’ve communicated with U.S. Bank to get them to bid, but the first time we may be able to do it might be a year or two from now,” Babcock said. “U.S. Bank Arena had a lot of conflicts on those days. I’m not sure we were going to be first in the rotation anyway. But absolutely, we have an interest in it.”

Temple and Connecticut appear to be the leading candidates to host the tournament.

“What they had talked about for a conference tournament site was a place such as the Palestra (in Philadelphia) that has a lot of history that we could sell out and have a nice showing on TV,” Babcock said. “How do we put our own stamp on it with a unique environment that we can sell out? The last time we talked was that they might try a few different places the first few years and see where it works best.”

The Palestra, which seats 8,722, opened in 1927.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Mohegan Sun, a tribal casino in Connecticut that includes a 9,500-seat arena, is interested in hosting both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2013/04/3...ournament/

I am all for Mohegan Sun.

Win. Big. Wampum.

Put in Memphis. Best site for Cincinnati and Louisville fans to travel to...

(05-01-2013 07:12 AM)kobe Wrote:  Put in Memphis. Best site for Cincinnati and Louisville fans to travel to...

Plus more entertainment and better chance for good weather. I love traveling to UC away games but for me the sporting event is only part of the reason to go. I go to take in the sights and sounds of other cities and towns across the U.S.

(04-30-2013 10:10 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Win. Big. Wampum.

Noooo. Wampum is that other casino in SE CT.

*****

3. The new American Athletic Conference is close to securing the Mohegan Sun Casino arena, home to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun, for the women's basketball tournament in 2014. But the American Athletic Conference isn't interested apparently in making it a home for the men's tournament. Instead, sites like the XL Center in Hartford, FedEx Forum in Memphis and facilities in Cincinnati, Tampa and the Palestra in Philadelphia are being considered. Bids are being accepted and a decision is forthcoming in the coming weeks. UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said the 9,000 seats would probably be too small for the men's event in the hope that it could grow beyond that at a place like the XL Center. But the new conference needs a destination site and the Mohegan Sun could offer that for fans, akin to those who go to Las Vegas sites at the MGM for the Pac-12 and the Orleans Arena for the WCC. The American Athletic Conference needs to make the right call here in the hope that this tournament can grow. It will have the advantage of Louisville fans flooding the site for 2014, but then won't have the Cardinal faithful in 2015 and beyond. So making a long-term choice that will be a destination for fans is critical.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketbal..._Columnist

My money is on FedEx Forum.

I hope its not the Palestra. Personally, I'd love it and it's a great place to watch a game, but it's awful for tv. I'm sure the powers that be know that already. For those who can't make the trip it'll be a drag.

It sounds like it will be the Palestra. I think that is a shame. Great place to watch a game or two, but horrible for multiple games in multiple days.

(05-03-2013 08:15 PM)subflea Wrote:  It sounds like it will be the Palestra. I think that is a shame. Great place to watch a game or two, but horrible for multiple games in multiple days.

Really? Oh man, I'm conflicted.
Looks like I'm having the party! I can also host a few if and when the time comes.