I think a big part of the issue is the relatively high price of the all-session tickets. I am planning to attend, but I have no interest in buying the all-session package. Walk up tickets will be easy to get and less expensive if you are only there to see the games that your team is playing in.

Obviously, the biggest issue in this league is that it is simply way too spread out. UTEP and ODU have the best attendance, but they are conference polar opposites geographically. UTEP, in particular, is not drivable by any other fan base in the league (UTSA doesn't have a fan base). Last year, I went to the tournament. I remember landing for a layover in Dallas and, out of curiosity, I decided to see how much farther it was to El Paso. When I googled it, I quickly learned that I was still 600 miles away. I get that Texas is big, but El Paso is too far of an outlier (but, FWIW, I had a nice visit there). If the conference wants the tournament in El Paso because that's where they'll get maximum attendance, the conference has to be comfortable with the fact that the championship is only going to be played in front of UTEP fans and on UTEP's home court.

Charlotte, on the other hand, it closer to ODU, Marshall, and UAB, than El Paso is to UTSA. Further, it has a neutral arena that can be used. I know a bunch of ODU fans that would gladly make that trip down there (or Memphis or Nashville).

Undoubtedly, ODU fans were spoiled for many years in the CAA, as despite our constant complaints of dealing with VCU fans in their home city, it was always an easy weekend getaway. Since we never played in the Friday play-in games, ODU fans could drive up Friday night or Saturday morning, enjoy two days of basketball, and then drive home, and if needed, drive up Monday night after a shortened work day for the championship game.

(02-21-2015 12:09 AM)Saint Greg Wrote:  What would El Paso attendance be like if UTEP had a bad season? I'm going to Birmingham. El Paso would be out of my range. I'd probably go anywhere in between San Antonio and Birmingham.

It was a while back but the 2002-2003 season was the worst basketball season in past 50 years with UTEP going 6-24. The attendance average for that season was 6,038. I am very frustrated with UTEP's attendance for this season and UTEP is leading CUSA. As far as all session tickets go my father and I have purchased them both times the tournament was in El Paso and I took a day off from work to attend games. I had a great time last year with the members of the ODU and La. Tech bands. I won't be able to attend the tournament for a few years unless it is in El Paso because I have a child in college now.

(02-21-2015 09:32 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Obviously, the biggest issue in this league is that it is simply way too spread out. UTEP and ODU have the best attendance, but they are conference polar opposites geographically. UTEP, in particular, is not drivable by any other fan base in the league (UTSA doesn't have a fan base). Last year, I went to the tournament. I remember landing for a layover in Dallas and, out of curiosity, I decided to see how much farther it was to El Paso. When I googled it, I quickly learned that I was still 600 miles away. I get that Texas is big, but El Paso is too far of an outlier (but, FWIW, I had a nice visit there). If the conference wants the tournament in El Paso because that's where they'll get maximum attendance, the conference has to be comfortable with the fact that the championship is only going to be played in front of UTEP fans and on UTEP's home court.

Charlotte, on the other hand, it closer to ODU, Marshall, and UAB, than El Paso is to UTSA. Further, it has a neutral arena that can be used. I know a bunch of ODU fans that would gladly make that trip down there (or Memphis or Nashville).

Undoubtedly, ODU fans were spoiled for many years in the CAA, as despite our constant complaints of dealing with VCU fans in their home city, it was always an easy weekend getaway. Since we never played in the Friday play-in games, ODU fans could drive up Friday night or Saturday morning, enjoy two days of basketball, and then drive home, and if needed, drive up Monday night after a shortened work day for the championship game.

XACLY!

a multi-city rotation appears to be the better route as this conference continues to evolve...in my mind, a rotational format can only help bond this expansive geographic footprint....gotta give all people a taste at some point, or they'll opt out for other alternatives....

one could argue that the NE media bias helps the nashville/charlotte/norfolk rotation....I would have a hard time dismissing that in concept....

the whole attendance reasoning thingy that 'attendance is the holy grail of matter' is just silly in premise and macro terms...

in homer terms and to the OP, the 'why' is obvious....it's no different why I lobby to host in Biloxi....

in this conference, to lobby for "only should be held...."....that is what is "dumb"

(02-21-2015 09:32 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Obviously, the biggest issue in this league is that it is simply way too spread out. UTEP and ODU have the best attendance, but they are conference polar opposites geographically. UTEP, in particular, is not drivable by any other fan base in the league (UTSA doesn't have a fan base). Last year, I went to the tournament. I remember landing for a layover in Dallas and, out of curiosity, I decided to see how much farther it was to El Paso. When I googled it, I quickly learned that I was still 600 miles away. I get that Texas is big, but El Paso is too far of an outlier (but, FWIW, I had a nice visit there). If the conference wants the tournament in El Paso because that's where they'll get maximum attendance, the conference has to be comfortable with the fact that the championship is only going to be played in front of UTEP fans and on UTEP's home court.

Fair points.

(02-21-2015 09:32 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Charlotte, on the other hand, it closer to ODU, Marshall, and UAB, than El Paso is to UTSA. Further, it has a neutral arena that can be used. I know a bunch of ODU fans that would gladly make that trip down there (or Memphis or Nashville).

CUSA will no doubt explore this option or something very similar. Right now it is only an assumption that fans will travel to the CUSA tourney. It is an easy assumption to make. I don't think it will happen. Not in numbers in the hundreds. CUSA does need to try it though.

Something to consider. There are mile long threads about TV contracts, bowl game pay outs, and NCAA basketball tourney credits. Some topics having to do with as little as 80K per school. Yet, we are willing to leave 1.25 million dollars on the table because El Paso is too far west? Because hypothetical fans can't drive to El Paso in half a day. Something to consider.

CUSA is too spread out. ODU and Hampton Roads loves basketball and would support the tournament in high numbers. Wed have strong support for the women's tournament as well(and have a long history of hosting NCAA events). Tons of hotels and Virginia Beach is a short drive. Right now what would be used as an second arena is tied up with the MEAC. However if the conference changes it's tournament dates or separates the women's tournament, then I'd expect it to be in Norfolk sooner than later.

I doubt Charlotte host a tournament until the light rail is completed from downtown to the university. First couple round on campus then final four and championship downtown.

The downtown arena just has too many events to contend with to get the full tournament there.

Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

bear-shite-head jr appointed rand-diddy-mountain-tug-rub as power-of-attornery on a napkin....

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

Just wait until someone posts a pic of the arena from an hour before the first game and claims its at tip off.

(02-22-2015 12:15 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

bear-shite-head jr appointed rand-diddy-mountain-tug-rub as power-of-attornery on a napkin....

Drunk again Stinky or still.

(02-22-2015 12:19 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:15 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

bear-shite-head jr appointed rand-diddy-mountain-tug-rub as power-of-attornery on a napkin....

Drunk again Stinky or still.

naw....the other....and will stic(n)k up for UAB at every turn.....

(02-20-2015 10:03 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 09:59 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Regardless of the tournament books sold right now, this league has a serious attendance issue. The league average is 3,700. Two of the top 3 teams in the standings average under 3,500. That's just not good.

This.

This II

(02-22-2015 12:15 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

bear-shite-head jr appointed rand-diddy-mountain-tug-rub as power-of-attornery on a napkin....

Usually I only make females speak in tongues, so this is a first.

i'm calling out all the centrally located schools that were saying a tournament in a central location would do better. Obviously it hasn't so far, and it doesn't look like it will happen.

I remember fans saying "oh, if we hold it here or there, as long as it is centrally located, we'll take a thousand plus fans." My ass... between all of you, you've managed 500 all session tickets.

UTEP and ODU seem to be the only schools that have the fan base to support this tournament. Maybe try MTSU and WKU in nashville out, but I doubt we'll get the same numbers as ODU and UTEP.

(02-22-2015 02:11 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 10:03 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(02-20-2015 09:59 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Regardless of the tournament books sold right now, this league has a serious attendance issue. The league average is 3,700. Two of the top 3 teams in the standings average under 3,500. That's just not good.

This.

This II

This III.....that's been my point throughout....(relevance to overall dollars)

old folks like their tvs and toddies....

y0ung bucks can't get their thumbers out of their ph0nes....

putting the tourney in the ne portion on a rotational basis only makes cents moving forward due to relative media coverage.....biloxi offers those that would make the trip regardless with the 'other' amenities....(and also offers those on the fringe something not available in other areas)

el paso only offers those that live in el paso....

regardless, I'm still not sold any of this matters.....however, with all the new schools, it is just silly to to not look at a best possible scenario moving forward.....IMO, that means playing in the center to the ne.....I don't like anything being held in the se or sw....

(02-22-2015 02:34 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:15 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 12:02 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Let me get this straight. We've got pages of discussion questioning the support of a tournament that has yet to happen?

Let's wait until after before we attempt to label this thing a failure.

bear-shite-head jr appointed rand-diddy-mountain-tug-rub as power-of-attornery on a napkin....

Usually I only make females speak in tongues, so this is a first.

i'm calling out all the centrally located schools that were saying a tournament in a central location would do better. Obviously it hasn't so far, and it doesn't look like it will happen.

I remember fans saying "oh, if we hold it here or there, as long as it is centrally located, we'll take a thousand plus fans." My ass... between all of you, you've managed 500 all session tickets.

UTEP and ODU seem to be the only schools that have the fan base to support this tournament. Maybe try MTSU and WKU in nashville out, but I doubt we'll get the same numbers as ODU and UTEP.

The tournament hasn't ******* happened yet! Quit being a jack ass and wait until it takes place to start talking ****.

I and several others are going but not buying an all session pass!

(02-22-2015 09:07 AM)Psychored Wrote:  I and several others are going but not buying an all session pass!

If we win our first game I'll probably go too.

Definitely not buying an all session pass though.

It's not going to be well attended and that is that the truth of the matter. The local sport shows here aren't talking about it because it's not the SEC. Even if UAB makes it to the finals I wouldn't expect no more than 6,000 in attendance. It's a 16,000 seat arena, UAB is barely getting 4,000 for the home games in a 8500 seat arena. There's probably more people running in the Mercedes Benz Marathon today in Birmingham than the total amount of people that will attend the CUSA Tourney.

I'm just being realistic.

Can someone provide details on the tournament bracket and what times each game will be played? I'm interested in going but won't make a decision until I know the final seeds and when the Men's & Women's championship games will be played. Would it have been so hard for C-USA to publish that on the same site where you buy tickets?!

Let me know if I've missed that somewhere. It's already been announced that ASN will be carying most of the games so I'm sure the tipoff times have already been determined.