From the AAC Facebook:

The 2016 & 2017 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championships will be played at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Easy to get to. Pleasant weather. Impressive facility. Lots of tourist-stuff to see and do.

A league could do a lot worse.

(04-15-2014 07:07 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Easy to get to. Pleasant weather. Impressive facility. Lots of tourist-stuff to see and do.

A league could do a lot worse.

Supported by two very close member institutions.

(04-15-2014 07:14 PM)BigEastHomer Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 07:07 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Easy to get to. Pleasant weather. Impressive facility. Lots of tourist-stuff to see and do.

A league could do a lot worse.

Supported by two very close member institutions.

I'd have put "supported" in question marks. Neither UCF or USF have proven to be consistent good draws in hoops (and yes ECU hasn't either so save the insults). I'm not sure this is a great idea. Nice arena and great location, but real potential for stinker attendance.

(04-15-2014 07:20 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 07:14 PM)BigEastHomer Wrote:  

(04-15-2014 07:07 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Easy to get to. Pleasant weather. Impressive facility. Lots of tourist-stuff to see and do.

A league could do a lot worse.

Supported by two very close member institutions.

I'd have put "supported" in question marks. Neither UCF or USF have proven to be consistent good draws in hoops (and yes ECU hasn't either so save the insults). I'm not sure this is a great idea. Nice arena and great location, but real potential for stinker attendance.

Can't be any worse than the non-Memphis game attendance this year. Plus, nicer weather, nicer city, more things to do around town.

Attendance isn't going to be what we want at any venue, putting it in Orlando makes it more destination friendly and less of a home court advantage for anyone so it gets a thumbs up from me.

I'd like to see one in Philly. From what I understand many of our schools have strong alumni bases in the area. If we have a chance to win a couple of games I'd make the trip to either place...can't beat fl in the winter.

Im surprised we committed to multiple years there without having any idea how it well it will be attended.

(04-16-2014 01:44 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Im surprised we committed to multiple years there without having any idea how it well it will be attended.

In a conference like this, it probably doesn't matter where you put it. Teams are too far away from each other to have a true central location that's also a good travel town. You can put it in Philly, Tampa, Orlando, even Cincinnati. Attendance will not be ideal because there aren't enough solid basketball fan bases grouped in one geographical area. Might as well just pick the nicest city you can find, and there aren't many cities nicer than Orlando in March.

(04-16-2014 01:48 AM)Redvolution Wrote:  

(04-16-2014 01:44 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Im surprised we committed to multiple years there without having any idea how it well it will be attended.

In a conference like this, it probably doesn't matter where you put it. Teams are too far away from each other to have a true central location that's also a good travel town. You can put it in Philly, Tampa, Orlando, even Cincinnati. Attendance will not be ideal because there aren't enough solid basketball fan bases grouped in one geographical area. Might as well just pick the nicest city you can find, and there aren't many cities nicer than Orlando in March.

Ding!

It will make for a great vacation for fans who come, Easy flights in and out from possibly 2 international airports here locally. (Orlando and Sanford)
To me it is a no brainer place to put it for a year or 2.

http://www.bcsnn.com/aac/aac-chooses-orl...ships.html

Related article.

It's not that I have a problem with it being in Orlando, I'm just surprised the league would commit 2 years in a row there when we have no idea how it's going to do. If the league is willing to put it in some of the places that aren't homes of traditional "draws" then I hope Dallas and New Orleans are in the mix in the future.

(04-16-2014 08:31 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  It's not that I have a problem with it being in Orlando, I'm just surprised the league would commit 2 years in a row there when we have no idea how it's going to do. If the league is willing to put it in some of the places that aren't homes of traditional "draws" then I hope Dallas and New Orleans are in the mix in the future.

I think Orlando is the draw. I think people will be more inclined to travel and bring the family to Orlando than Memphis, Philly or Cincy etc.

Wait just a darn pickin' minute.

Doesn't this actually mean the games will be played in Tampa? I remember a big long discussion about Orlando now being in Tampa.

Well, at least now you have double the chance of having "home" fans attend (USF/UCF).

My question is, why are they rotating it around (Memphis, Connecticut, Orlando). Shouldn't they try to build some history by having it at one location for a while (such as the BE at MSG every year). What was wrong with Memphis that they changed that after just one year.

I think this is absolutely great for teams like ECU. When teams like Memphis or UConn host the rest of us have almost no chance of winning that tourny. At least if it's at one of the other locations there is some hope that you don't have to go through a top 25 team on their home court to win it. At least he serves to level the playing field some.

I often though CUSA 2.0 was the worst set up possible for everyone but Memphis. It was basically a 1 bid league not good enough to get an at large team. Then simultaneously no hope of winning the conference tourny either with a top 5 Memphis on their home court and with players like DRose.

(04-16-2014 01:45 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  I think this is absolutely great for teams like ECU. When teams like Memphis or UConn host the rest of us have almost no chance of winning that tourny. At least if it's at one of the other locations there is some hope that you don't have to go through a top 25 team on their home court to win it. At least he serves to level the playing field some.

I often though CUSA 2.0 was the worst set up possible for everyone but Memphis. It was basically a 1 bid league not good enough to get an at large team. Then simultaneously no hope of winning the conference tourny either with a top 5 Memphis on their home court and with players like DRose.

This.

AAC in Orlando is probably the tournament that you want to attend in March.

(04-16-2014 09:45 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Well, at least now you have double the chance of having "home" fans attend (USF/UCF).

My question is, why are they rotating it around (Memphis, Connecticut, Orlando). Shouldn't they try to build some history by having it at one location for a while (such as the BE at MSG every year). What was wrong with Memphis that they changed that after just one year.

there's nothing wrong with Memphis or Hartford...the AAC simply wants the tourney to move around...and that's fine by me.

I think it's fantastic it's in Orlando, but I'd agree with those who question multiple years... it will be better attended (any venue) if it moves around a bit. Orlando, Tampa, Memphis, Houston, Dallas... too many good cities in this conference to repeat years in a single spot.