I think everybody knows we need to change up the tournament location. If the conference is against hosting it at campus sites we need to come up with a more creative site. I know my family has no interest in traveling to a place like Birmingham, El Paso, or even Dallas in March. That's why I think putting it near a beach is the best option. I think this would attract a lot more families and spring breakers. I know Charlotte's spring break is always the week of the tournament and so are many other schools. Also Florida is filled with transplant metropolitan areas where it's more likely our 14 schools actually have fans.

So I think the following Florida locations would work:

Jacksonville- has a solid metro area and is 20 mins from the beach

Tampa- also has a solid metro area and has Busch Gardens and the beach

Miami- huge market/metro with great beach and party scene

Pensacola- sort of out of the box but has great beaches near by and is more centrally located


These locations would provide more of a vacation plan that would be centered around more than just the tournament. I know personally if I asked my family to go to the tournament in Birmingham they'd laugh in my face, but if I said hey let's go to the beach they'd be all in. Also you could get MORE STUDENTS/SPRING BREAKERS TO GO!

Nope.

Just have the tournament on the beach like the Olympics does for beach volleyball...

El Paso has a ton of beach.

(03-10-2017 02:51 PM)_BL_NINER Wrote:  I think everybody knows we need to change up the tournament location. If the conference is against hosting it at campus sites we need to come up with a more creative site. I know my family has no interest in traveling to a place like Birmingham, El Paso, or even Dallas in March. That's why I think putting it near a beach is the best option. I think this would attract a lot more families and spring breakers. I know Charlotte's spring break is always the week of the tournament and so are many other schools. Also Florida is filled with transplant metropolitan areas where it's more likely our 14 schools actually have fans.

So I think the following Florida locations would work:

Jacksonville- has a solid metro area and is 20 mins from the beach

Tampa- also has a solid metro area and has Busch Gardens and the beach

Miami- huge market/metro with great beach and party scene

Pensacola- sort of out of the box but has great beaches near by and is more centrally located


These locations would provide more of a vacation plan that would be centered around more than just the tournament. I know personally if I asked my family to go to the tournament in Birmingham they'd laugh in my face, but if I said hey let's go to the beach they'd be all in. Also you could get MORE STUDENTS/SPRING BREAKERS TO GO!

Biloxi would work. The Coliseum is on the beach. Coliseum

(03-10-2017 02:56 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Just have the tournament on the beach like the Olympics does for beach volleyball...

PLAN

(03-10-2017 03:02 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 02:56 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Just have the tournament on the beach like the Olympics does for beach volleyball...

PLAN

Yep all we need is about 750 metal chair backs and we are set....Put Judy up in a lifeguard stand....

HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. They know how to host tournaments. If you get bounced out early you have stuff to do at Disney, Universal, or Seaworld. There are also beaches and Spring Training games not too far away. Flights are usually pretty decent and there are tons of hotels both on Disney property and around town.

(03-10-2017 03:00 PM)SouthernMiss3613 Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 02:51 PM)_BL_NINER Wrote:  I think everybody knows we need to change up the tournament location. If the conference is against hosting it at campus sites we need to come up with a more creative site. I know my family has no interest in traveling to a place like Birmingham, El Paso, or even Dallas in March. That's why I think putting it near a beach is the best option. I think this would attract a lot more families and spring breakers. I know Charlotte's spring break is always the week of the tournament and so are many other schools. Also Florida is filled with transplant metropolitan areas where it's more likely our 14 schools actually have fans.

So I think the following Florida locations would work:

Jacksonville- has a solid metro area and is 20 mins from the beach

Tampa- also has a solid metro area and has Busch Gardens and the beach

Miami- huge market/metro with great beach and party scene

Pensacola- sort of out of the box but has great beaches near by and is more centrally located


These locations would provide more of a vacation plan that would be centered around more than just the tournament. I know personally if I asked my family to go to the tournament in Birmingham they'd laugh in my face, but if I said hey let's go to the beach they'd be all in. Also you could get MORE STUDENTS/SPRING BREAKERS TO GO!

Biloxi would work. The Coliseum is on the beach. Coliseum

Not only the beach but casinos and shows and a little over a hours drive to New Orleans. Plus mid 70s this time of year.

basketball
Beach
great fishing
golf
casinos
entertainment (well know shows)
A large outlet mall with tons of name brands
Plus great night life 1 hour away
Reasonable room rates at better hotels

(03-10-2017 03:02 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 02:56 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Just have the tournament on the beach like the Olympics does for beach volleyball...

PLAN

Is that the court off Ft Lauderdale beach? If so I played on it a few times.

(03-10-2017 03:39 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 03:02 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 02:56 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Just have the tournament on the beach like the Olympics does for beach volleyball...

PLAN

Is that the court off Ft Lauderdale beach? If so I played on it a few times.

Probably, I just pulled it off Google but the name of the doc has Fort Lauderdale in it.

(03-10-2017 03:28 PM)ODU2K1 Wrote:  

HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. They know how to host tournaments. If you get bounced out early you have stuff to do at Disney, Universal, or Seaworld. There are also beaches and Spring Training games not too far away. Flights are usually pretty decent and there are tons of hotels both on Disney property and around town.

This is actually a very good idea too. Might help with ESPN as well.

(03-10-2017 03:38 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 03:00 PM)SouthernMiss3613 Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 02:51 PM)_BL_NINER Wrote:  I think everybody knows we need to change up the tournament location. If the conference is against hosting it at campus sites we need to come up with a more creative site. I know my family has no interest in traveling to a place like Birmingham, El Paso, or even Dallas in March. That's why I think putting it near a beach is the best option. I think this would attract a lot more families and spring breakers. I know Charlotte's spring break is always the week of the tournament and so are many other schools. Also Florida is filled with transplant metropolitan areas where it's more likely our 14 schools actually have fans.

So I think the following Florida locations would work:

Jacksonville- has a solid metro area and is 20 mins from the beach

Tampa- also has a solid metro area and has Busch Gardens and the beach

Miami- huge market/metro with great beach and party scene

Pensacola- sort of out of the box but has great beaches near by and is more centrally located


These locations would provide more of a vacation plan that would be centered around more than just the tournament. I know personally if I asked my family to go to the tournament in Birmingham they'd laugh in my face, but if I said hey let's go to the beach they'd be all in. Also you could get MORE STUDENTS/SPRING BREAKERS TO GO!

Biloxi would work. The Coliseum is on the beach. Coliseum

Not only the beach but casinos and shows and a little over a hours drive to New Orleans. Plus mid 70s this time of year.

basketball
Beach
great fishing
golf
casinos
entertainment (well know shows)
A large outlet mall with tons of name brands
Plus great night life 1 hour away
Reasonable room rates at better hotels

I like this idea.

(03-10-2017 03:28 PM)ODU2K1 Wrote:  

HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. They know how to host tournaments. If you get bounced out early you have stuff to do at Disney, Universal, or Seaworld. There are also beaches and Spring Training games not too far away. Flights are usually pretty decent and there are tons of hotels both on Disney property and around town.

Probably the best idea of the bunch.

I can fly to Orlando for like $65 each way and if I wanted to drive, it's only about 6 hours from Charlotte. Plenty to do in between games.

(03-10-2017 04:54 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(03-10-2017 03:28 PM)ODU2K1 Wrote:  

HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. They know how to host tournaments. If you get bounced out early you have stuff to do at Disney, Universal, or Seaworld. There are also beaches and Spring Training games not too far away. Flights are usually pretty decent and there are tons of hotels both on Disney property and around town.

Probably the best idea of the bunch.

I can fly to Orlando for like $65 each way and if I wanted to drive, it's only about 6 hours from Charlotte. Plenty to do in between games.

I made that drive a few years ago, hotel was about 5 miles from that complex. Closer to 8 hours to Charlotte, and that was with no traffic issues and one stop for gas. Not a bad drive though, definitely doable for a long weekend for a conference tournament.

Think you're playing in an empty gym now? Play it at a neutral site. Anywhere.

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(03-10-2017 09:51 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Think you're playing in an empty gym now? Play it at a neutral site. Anywhere.

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The CUSA tournament is going to be empty no matter where it is held. Orlando sounds like an awesome idea. Cheap flights, affordable hotels, and plenty of attractions outside of basketball.

Orlando is where I decided to watch the first round this year.

(03-10-2017 03:00 PM)SouthernMiss3613 Wrote:  Biloxi would work. The Coliseum is on the beach. Coliseum

Does the Mississippi Coast Coliseum still have that odd smell to it inside. Every time I want there to watch an IceGator/Seawolves game it always had an unusual smell to it inside. Almost a hospital smell but not quite that.

(03-10-2017 09:51 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Think you're playing in an empty gym now? Play it at a neutral site. Anywhere.

Sent from my XT1565 using CSNbbs mobile app

Agreed. I wish we could work it out to where regular season champ hosts.