http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/...s_beg.html

Quote:The presentations will take place on Monday, though it's unclear when a final decision will be made. UAB athletics director Brian Mackin said that UAB, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech and UTEP are bidding to host the tournament.

My preference would be Birmingham. So centrally located. Easy drive for many fans and Southwest flies into Birmingham for not-so-close fans.

The decision will be made during the meetings this week if not today. I am betting on uab. The southern miss bid and La tech will be similar. A good distance between the mens and womens venues. Sooner or later we are going to have to get away from the one site for both.

I hope UAB gets it. That's an easy drive for me and their host sites are in/near downtown and campus.

B'ham may not be much of a tourist destination, but I can entertain myself for a weekend with the games and downtown bars without needed a car.

If we get it, I'll be living in the BJCC that whole week.

We have Bartow and the BJCC within decent distance between each other~2.3 miles. How close are the USM/La tech venues?

(05-12-2014 12:41 PM)Dracorex Wrote:  If we get it, I'll be living in the BJCC that whole week.

We have Bartow and the BJCC within decent distance between each other~2.3 miles. How close are the USM/La tech venues?

I don't know what's being proposed for Tech. But if it were me I'd do CenturyLink Center and the Gold Dome. They are 5 miles apart.

I'd laugh hard if its UTEP again.

(05-12-2014 12:52 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'd laugh hard if its UTEP again.

I'd actually prefer it weren't at UTEP next year. Someone else needs a chance to host plus the bitching gets tiresome.

(05-12-2014 12:54 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:52 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'd laugh hard if its UTEP again.

I'd actually prefer it weren't at UTEP next year. Someone else needs a chance to host plus the bitching gets tiresome.

That's the whole point. I love the bitching...we are the only team that draws attendance wise for basketball...

(05-12-2014 12:58 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:54 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:52 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'd laugh hard if its UTEP again.

I'd actually prefer it weren't at UTEP next year. Someone else needs a chance to host plus the bitching gets tiresome.

That's the whole point. I love the bitching...we are the only team that draws attendance wise for basketball...

ODU, Charlotte, and Marshall all draw really well when the teams are good. Even when they're not, ODU and Charlotte still out draw everyone in the league except UTEP.

Drawing well doesn't really do much though when your team exits early.

The crowds were pretty bad once UTEP exited.

LA Tech had seemed to be the front runner for some time. We'll find out soon.

(05-12-2014 12:58 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:54 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:52 PM)DxfanMiner Wrote:  I'd laugh hard if its UTEP again.

I'd actually prefer it weren't at UTEP next year. Someone else needs a chance to host plus the bitching gets tiresome.

That's the whole point. I love the bitching...we are the only team that draws attendance wise for basketball...

I've always liked UTEP, please don't become that fan base. You guys have the best attendance in the league without a doubt. But when you lose early, we see the result of that.

I'd really like to see how well it is attended in a place like Birmingham. Almost every eastern team is within driving distance, and even the Dallas area is doable, but it's a bit long. We'll see what they decide to do.

I'd love to see B'ham get it. I've never been able to understand why they hadn't bid on it before in recent years. Maybe the best location, other than Nashville, we could hope for.

Memphis was guaranteeing $1,000,000 + per year. No one else could match that amount. I think El Paso's guarantee this time was around $500,000. That is a more palatable amount for other cities.

Yep, Memphis was willing to pay to keep it, and CUSA benefitted from the guarantee (which Tulsa and Utep matched). Based on comments from the commish and the elimination of the minimum bid, CUSA appears to be pushing for a rotation...probably a good thing. We'd go to a game or two if USM hosts.

Here's hoping UTEP gets it!

I think some of you guys who haven't been to the 'ham in a while will be pleasantly surprised at the eatery/watering holes within a rock's throw of the BJCC.

The Uptown Entertainment District

http://www.uptownbham.com/

Also see this:

BlazerTalk Guide to Birmingham

http://csnbbs.com/thread-45191.html

Birmingham.....YES!!

As an ODU fan I hope its UAB. But that's me, I got family there.

(05-12-2014 12:46 PM)Saint Greg Wrote:  

(05-12-2014 12:41 PM)Dracorex Wrote:  If we get it, I'll be living in the BJCC that whole week.

We have Bartow and the BJCC within decent distance between each other~2.3 miles. How close are the USM/La tech venues?

I don't know what's being proposed for Tech. But if it were me I'd do CenturyLink Center and the Gold Dome. They are 5 miles apart.

Those two arenas are part of the LA Tech bid. CenturyLink Center for the men's tournament and Centenary College's Gold Dome for the women. The opening reception would be at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City.