This is kind of random, but since I'm more a hoops fan (and there is a discussion on host vs. neutral football title games), wanted to see how the numbers in Cleveland compared to if the games were at a host venue.

I already knew that attendance was way better at the Q than it would be at a host venue. But I never really looked at how much so, until the discussion of football title games (and where they should be played) came about.

Here is what actual title game attendance was (the past seven years ... used it just because I knew Akron played in it those years, so numbers were easy to find) vs. capacity for which school would've been the host team.

2013
Akron vs. Ohio - 12,102 (Akron would've been host ... 5,500)
2012
Akron vs. Ohio - 10,301 (Akron would've been host ... 5,550)
2011
Akron vs. Kent - 8,926 (Kent would've been host ... 6,500)
2010
Akron vs. Ohio - 9,533 (Kent would've been host ... 6,500)
2009
Akron vs. Buffalo - 9,309 (Bowling Green would've been host ... 4,400)
2008
Akron vs. Kent - 12,942 (Kent would've been host ... 6,500)
2007
Akron vs. Miami - 10,045 (Toledo would've been host ... 6,500)

This isn't even taking account that the semifinals have often drawn more than the finals overall (based on having 4 vs. 2).

Considering where the title games could've been, thank god, they have been in Cleveland. Four of the past seven have all been 10,000-plus (the other three right around the 9,000 mark). True, it helps that Akron and Kent (and Ohio) have been the mainstays, but they've been overall mainstays in the regular season, too (either Akron or Kent would've hosted five of the last seven).

It'll be interesting to see the numbers for Detroit on the football side (actual attendance vs. host school's capacity). But at least for basketball, playing the games at the Q has been a huge success. ...

I know some non Kent and Akron fans (and especially non Ohio MAC fans) complain about the Q being a home game ... but when you look at it, it's actually been better for the league that the games were in Cleveland and not at either the JAR or MAC Center (... and all seven years they would've been in Northern Ohio, regardless).

Maybe, I should've posted this in the football title game thread, but didn't want that to veer off course. Still, for basketball, it's eye-opening to see how successful the tourney has been in Cleveland vs. what it would've been if the league went "small time" and awarded a host site.

I like having the tourney in CLE. Great venue. Good location. Etc.

I can not think of ONE downside of having the game in CLE. (I don't consider it a home game for Akron or Kent).

Who would want to take an event which draws 10K for the finals and move it to a small on campus arena?

What would happen if BG or CMU or WMU would become the host? (those are small arena).

Would folks from Buffalo, Ohio, Miami, etc. drive to Mt. Pleasant?

I'm surprised that EMU has one of the bigger home arenas.