(03-25-2015 01:33 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  I admit, I did not read all 12 pages of this thread but I do like the idea of embracing smaller cities that want the tournament.

Personally, Savannah Georgia would be a great place to hold it...decent arena in the middle of historic downtown, just blocks from the river...

I agree....great City to visit.....I don't see why the Conference could not rotate the Tourney to different regions of our Conference

I don't really see the point of holding it in smaller cities. He mentions the New Orleans Bowl and how it works BECAUSE it's nestled into the city, closer to hotels and things to do, where Lakefront is 30 minutes away in traffic.

I think we should try different things and see what works. Try Biloxi, Pensacola, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Savannah, whatever. You'll never know what works until you try. Obviously, Lakefront is a failure. We tried it. Even with Louisiana doing well, it was poorly attended.

The tough part is knowing how the conference will go. This year, Savannah, Atlanta, or Chattanooga would have prime locations with their closeness to Georgia State and Georgia Southern and how all that has gone down. It would have been impossible to predict though.

(04-06-2015 10:39 AM)Tuscon Wrote:  I don't really see the point of holding it in smaller cities. He mentions the New Orleans Bowl and how it works BECAUSE it's nestled into the city, closer to hotels and things to do, where Lakefront is 30 minutes away in traffic.

I think we should try different things and see what works. Try Biloxi, Pensacola, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Savannah, whatever. You'll never know what works until you try. Obviously, Lakefront is a failure. We tried it. Even with Louisiana doing well, it was poorly attended.

The tough part is knowing how the conference will go. This year, Savannah, Atlanta, or Chattanooga would have prime locations with their closeness to Georgia State and Georgia Southern and how all that has gone down. It would have been impossible to predict though.

I think the point is that the smaller city will likely be more enthusiastic about hosting the tournament, and probably fits better with the current demographic of fan that attends the game.

The key is finding a city that wants it...and a city that works. It also should be rotated so everyone has a chance at being nearby.

(04-06-2015 10:39 AM)Tuscon Wrote:  I don't really see the point of holding it in smaller cities. He mentions the New Orleans Bowl and how it works BECAUSE it's nestled into the city, closer to hotels and things to do, where Lakefront is 30 minutes away in traffic.

I think we should try different things and see what works. Try Biloxi, Pensacola, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Savannah, whatever. You'll never know what works until you try. Obviously, Lakefront is a failure. We tried it. Even with Louisiana doing well, it was poorly attended.

The tough part is knowing how the conference will go. This year, Savannah, Atlanta, or Chattanooga would have prime locations with their closeness to Georgia State and Georgia Southern and how all that has gone down. It would have been impossible to predict though.

The tournament was well attended last year due to cajun fans, $45 a barrel oil has everyone around here nervous, taking impromptu trips to New Orleans wasn't high on the priority list for a lot of people around here right now. About 25k people have been laid off by the major oil companies, everyone is downsizing, getting hours cut etc. nobody said a word last year, if the cajuns would have made it to sunday championship it would have been well attended. I'm not against changing venues, just seems a little unfair to lay the whole tourney attendance at our feet... Mobile is the same distance to New Orleans as lafayette.

(04-06-2015 11:25 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  The tournament was well attended last year due to cajun fans, $45 a barrel oil has everyone around here nervous, taking impromptu trips to New Orleans wasn't high on the priority list for a lot of people around here right now. About 25k people have been laid off by the major oil companies, everyone is downsizing, getting hours cut etc. nobody said a word last year, if the cajuns would have made it to sunday championship it would have been well attended. I'm not against changing venues, just seems a little unfair to lay the whole tourney attendance at our feet... Mobile is the same distance to New Orleans as lafayette.

"Well attended" and better attended are two different things. Attendance wasn't great last year either. We're not laying it at your feet, but when it's a 2 hour drive, more folks should show up. That goes for USA too. If they're not showing up, then move the venue.

I agree with rotating it so everyone gets a shot at being close. If a single place ends up better than most, maybe you stop the rotation as you found a sweet spot.

(04-06-2015 12:09 PM)Tuscon Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 11:25 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  The tournament was well attended last year due to cajun fans, $45 a barrel oil has everyone around here nervous, taking impromptu trips to New Orleans wasn't high on the priority list for a lot of people around here right now. About 25k people have been laid off by the major oil companies, everyone is downsizing, getting hours cut etc. nobody said a word last year, if the cajuns would have made it to sunday championship it would have been well attended. I'm not against changing venues, just seems a little unfair to lay the whole tourney attendance at our feet... Mobile is the same distance to New Orleans as lafayette.

"Well attended" and better attended are two different things. Attendance wasn't great last year either. We're not laying it at your feet, but when it's a 2 hour drive, more folks should show up. That goes for USA too. If they're not showing up, then move the venue.

I agree with rotating it so everyone gets a shot at being close. If a single place ends up better than most, maybe you stop the rotation as you found a sweet spot.

It will never be well attended, our conference doesn't have well attended home games, the tournament will never be well attended unless it's at a host school.

(04-06-2015 12:12 PM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  It will never be well attended, our conference doesn't have well attended home games, the tournament will never be well attended unless it's at a host school.

Maybe that's the answer then? Reward regular season rankings with home games. That's definitely do-able and if it is the only way to get attendance up, it should be done.

(04-06-2015 12:30 PM)Tuscon Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 12:12 PM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  It will never be well attended, our conference doesn't have well attended home games, the tournament will never be well attended unless it's at a host school.

Maybe that's the answer then? Reward regular season rankings with home games. That's definitely do-able and if it is the only way to get attendance up, it should be done.

It's very doable and if attendance is what King Karl is worried about it is the only way but it will probably avg. out anyway with having the place empty for games the host isn't in. Now all of a sudden attendance matters, what should matter is giving the sun belt the best chance to win games in the NCAA. IMO more often than not the regular season champ gives us the best chance to do that... So let regular season champ host the tourney. Or do it as a traveling tourney where highest seeds host and then it's well attended throughout. If you host the entire tourney in one spot it will never be well attended no matter where you put it.

(04-06-2015 12:46 PM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  It's very doable and if attendance is what King Karl is worried about it is the only way but it will probably avg. out anyway with having the place empty for games the host isn't in. Now all of a sudden attendance matters, what should matter is giving the sun belt the best chance to win games in the NCAA. IMO more often than not the regular season champ gives us the best chance to do that... So let regular season champ host the tourney. Or do it as a traveling tourney where highest seeds host and then it's well attended throughout. If you host the entire tourney in one spot it will never be well attended no matter where you put it.

Yeah. I was thinking the traveling tournament style. With the highest seed in the particular matchup playing host. Could be tough to organize in short notice though.