Do what I just did and relax and enjoy your time at the MAC tourny. I book with a national corporate housing company that rents out fully furnished vacant apartments for apartment companies to corporate folks looking for temporary housing. They will book you for one night or as many nights as you like and the rate they quote is the total you pay no taxes or room taxes etc added on. I was quoted $148 for a one bedroom apt and $162 for a two bedroom. I have booked for three nights. These are not hotels, these are fully furnished apartments with kitchens(inc everything you need except food) living room with basic cable tv, internet (usually) phone, washer and dryer if you want to do laundry, large living room and dining room and nice bedrooms usually with pvt bathrooms also. The one I am in also allows pets. Check out this international company at
http://www.bridgestreet.com and if you like what you see contact Janet.Riddle@bridgestreet.com, to book. Tell her you got her info from Harry H. You will want to do this soon as they have to send the key etc to you in advance as there is no registration desk in the apartment building. I have used them often and 100% satisfied for out of town travel for business or leisure. Way better than a hotel with a ton more space at a great price. You will not be sorry if you book for a day or a week. Just do it now before there are no other apts. BTW I am about 6 blocks from Q
That's a very interesting opportunity flying dutchman.
Speaking of the tourney, now that Toledo is going to have a nice, new arena I wonder what the chances would be of stealing the MAC back to Toledo one of these years. We ought to be able to offer them a better deal than Cleveland, plus everything about Toledo would be better than Cleveland.
(02-20-2009 02:56 PM)RocketRobert Wrote: [ -> ]Speaking of the tourney, now that Toledo is going to have a nice, new arena I wonder what the chances would be of stealing the MAC back to Toledo one of these years.
Unfortunately, probably not a great chance of seeing the MAC Basketball Championship soon again in downtown Toledo. Not that the Lucas County Arena isn't going to be the finest of its scale in the county, I think the MAC "powers-that-be" want the tourney no other place than Cleveland.
I'll be in Cleveland for the semifinals and finals... hopefully UT will be as well.
I'm sure our new venue will be excellent, but Cleveland really offers a great tournament experience. I've loved going in the past and they put together a quality product. It really feels like a big time event. I like the fairly neutral site and the pre and post game entertainment venues are better in Cleveland. IMO there's no reason the MAC would ever move back to Toledo. It was convenient for us living in Toledo, but Cleveland is an easy drive. I also think it's a great experience for the kids participating, playing in an NBA arena.
When we hosted, the MAC offices were located in Toledo and it made sense, now that our headquarters are in Cleveland, I totally understand why we're there. I'd prefer that it say in Cleveland vs Columbus or Cincy. Those other cities are already dominated by traditional colleges. In Cleveland the MAC tourney shines because we're the only game in town during tourney time. The Plain Dealer has also done a respectable job in covering the tournament as well.
I don't think Cleveland wanted the Woman's tourney at Quicken Loans so you might see that come to Toledo. A smaller venue would probably make sense. The first round of the men's doesn't draw that well and Cleveland might want to give it up to keep the arena from being tied up all week - just play quarters, semis and finals there. I doubt it, but it could happen. I'm excited about the possibility of high school play off hockey being played there. St Francis, St Johns, Findlay, Northview - now that would be something else!
i heard the same rumors as Jeff about the Ladies tourney potentially moving to the new downtown Toledo arena
I doubt the MAC splits the basketball tournaments up, Why split the fan bases up between to cities 2 hours apart??? And the MONEY!
(02-20-2009 11:39 PM)utpotts Wrote: [ -> ]I doubt the MAC splits the basketball tournaments up, Why split the fan bases up between to cities 2 hours apart??? And the MONEY!
Don't know. Mark Beier said it on air one night.
(02-21-2009 02:05 AM)owen Wrote: [ -> ] (02-20-2009 11:39 PM)utpotts Wrote: [ -> ]I doubt the MAC splits the basketball tournaments up, Why split the fan bases up between to cities 2 hours apart??? And the MONEY!
Don't know. Mark Beier said it on air one night.
What exactly did he say? All I know is that Cleveland originally didn't want to hold the women's tourney in the Gund and tried different venues, none of which worked. There was talk of it moving back to Toledo but I'm not sure Toledo ever moved on it. With the new arena and new management, if they think they can make money they may put in a bid to the MAC. Frankly, I don't even know how long the women are contracted to play at Quicken Loans Arena. I would guess that it would be more difficult to make a profit from an event with a few thousand people at Quicken Loans than it would at the Toledo venue.
(02-21-2009 06:29 AM)RocketJeff Wrote: [ -> ] (02-21-2009 02:05 AM)owen Wrote: [ -> ] (02-20-2009 11:39 PM)utpotts Wrote: [ -> ]I doubt the MAC splits the basketball tournaments up, Why split the fan bases up between to cities 2 hours apart??? And the MONEY!
Don't know. Mark Beier said it on air one night.
What exactly did he say? All I know is that Cleveland originally didn't want to hold the women's tourney in the Gund and tried different venues, none of which worked. There was talk of it moving back to Toledo but I'm not sure Toledo ever moved on it. With the new arena and new management, if they think they can make money they may put in a bid to the MAC. Frankly, I don't even know how long the women are contracted to play at Quicken Loans Arena. I would guess that it would be more difficult to make a profit from an event with a few thousand people at Quicken Loans than it would at the Toledo venue.
I didn't listen too closely. But I think the idea was the MAC and the Gund Arena didn't think the women's tourney was successful in Cleveland. Also that the new Toledo arena would be more centrally located for more fans of the ladies game to travel to and certainly a excellent new venue.
It'd be nice, but it would be a bad idea to split up the fans, unless they have the tourny's during different weeks
The SEC plays the Women's tourniment a week earlier and in a different city than the Men's tourny, and both draw heavy attenance.
I think it could work, if the tournaments were on different weeks.
The problem is there is no time betwen the end of the season and the Selection Committee mtg for two weeks of Tourney But they could start on Sunday and switch every day between Men and Women. The Men will never move The MAC likes the digs in Clev. The women should move as they got much bigger crowds in Toledo. I think the new Arena downtown will get the vote however to keep the neutrality but UT would be awesome. This year you should get an Apt so you can see all the games.