In the Akron game thread it was mentioned that the MAC Tournament should rotate sites every few years with Toledo (not Savage Hall), the Convo at EMU (EMU probably won't make it out of the first round most years and have very few fans) as well as Van Andel mentioned. So let's here some other ideas.
Make sure that your suggestion is not already the site of another tourney; trying to schedule two at the same place would be quite impossible.
I hate to break it to you, but you know most of the MAC is located in Ohio, right? Should the CCHA have its championship in Columbus just because? Or Fort Wayne?
Chances of the tourney being moved from Cleveland are almost nil. Same, probably for the football at Ford Field. Seems to be no real movement or push by anybody to make any changes.
You see this discussed every year, mostly by fans upset about their team losing in Cleveland. It dies down rather quickly.
The MAC relies on the Ohio schools to fill the arena. I'm doubting that a MAC tourney anywhere else would draw those kinds of crowds.
the Palace of Auburn Hills because:
1.) Big Arena...in Cleveland the championship game is most of the time is closely filled to capacity.
2.) EMU has no fan base to make a big impact like Akron does.
3.) Kalamazoo is 2 hours away from it...cleveland is like 2 or 3. so it is even for all the teams...besides NIU, but they suck anyways.
Cleveland is probably the best option, although it's starting to look like Marshall, in that the eventual final is between local yocals.
Toledo (Savage not Seagate), Cleveland, Cobo, EMU, or Auburn, Kalamazoo (downtown arena), if U Mass or Temple joined give them two years to hold the tourney in Boston or Philly.
Toledo has a new 8,000 seat arena, the Huntington Center.
(03-12-2011 06:09 PM)Chipdip1 Wrote: [ -> ]Kalamazoo (downtown arena)
if we got the new stadium and that happened kalamazoo's economy would explode (good)
Not denying that Akron and especially KSU typically have upper-echelon teams in the conference year after year. But it does gnaw on the nerves a bit that these two teams get to also enjoy home court advantage in this tournament on an annual basis.
I guess the East schools can turn it around and say that the Michigan MAC schools and Toledo will always have a certain advantage with the football championship game location, but still..
(03-12-2011 05:50 PM)JBStemp5 Wrote: [ -> ]the Palace of Auburn Hills because:
1.) Big Arena...in Cleveland the championship game is most of the time is closely filled to capacity.
2.) EMU has no fan base to make a big impact like Akron does.
3.) Kalamazoo is 2 hours away from it...cleveland is like 2 or 3. so it is even for all the teams...besides NIU, but they suck anyways.
I love the Palace and would love to see the MAC Championship there. It would also be a longer hike for Buffalo (especially if they do not travel through Canada).
I think it has to be in an NBA arena though just because I think that is one of the things that makes the MAC Championship game unique from other Mid-Majors. Conferences like the PAC-10, Big East, Big Ten all play on NBA arenas and so does the MAC. Also, many programs and players at MAC schools will never have the opportunity to play on in an NBA arena... Imagine the feeling a role player for a MAC team must have when he steps into the game and is playing in the same arena that arguably the best basketball player in the world, Lebron James, played in night after night for the first 6 or 7 years of his career.
I know it doesn't always fill up to capacity, and I hate how it gives Ohio teams homecourt, but I say keep it in an NBA arena - Palace or Q (and honestly with the way the results have been going and Ohio teams always in the finals, the Q is probably the better destination for attendance numbers).
(03-13-2011 12:27 PM)ProudToBeAChip Wrote: [ -> ]Imagine the feeling a role player for a MAC team must have when he steps into the game and is playing in the same arena that arguably the best basketball player in the world, Lebron James, played in night after night for the first 6 or 7 years of his career.
You mean the feeling a role player for a MAC team must have when he stops into the game and is playing in the same arena as arguably the worst team in NBA history in front of fewer fans than at his own home games?
Having the MAC tournament at the Palace would be an absolute disaster. At least in Cleveland everyone is staying downtown and hanging out around each other. At the Palace, everyone just drives in different directions after the game.
(03-13-2011 12:45 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote: [ -> ] (03-13-2011 12:27 PM)ProudToBeAChip Wrote: [ -> ]Imagine the feeling a role player for a MAC team must have when he steps into the game and is playing in the same arena that arguably the best basketball player in the world, Lebron James, played in night after night for the first 6 or 7 years of his career.
You mean the feeling a role player for a MAC team must have when he stops into the game and is playing in the same arena as arguably the worst team in NBA history in front of fewer fans than at his own home games?
Having the MAC tournament at the Palace would be an absolute disaster. At least in Cleveland everyone is staying downtown and hanging out around each other. At the Palace, everyone just drives in different directions after the game.
Good point with the downtown area, Cleveland is an probably better suited for a week long event than Auburn Hills. There is still a history - just like being in the United Center would be cool because MJ played in there, Lebron's formative NBA years happened in the Q.
While I appreciate your sense of history, your nostalgia is misdirected. It's not like the players are walking into Chicago freaking Stadium. MJ only played, what, four years at the UC? The UC is great because it is in Chicago and a pro team plays there.
On that note, I think it was lame for the Big 11 to move the tourney to Indy full-time. Nobody looks forward to going to Indy. EVERYONE looks forward to going to Chicago.
(03-13-2011 01:03 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote: [ -> ]While I appreciate your sense of history, your nostalgia is misdirected. It's not like the players are walking into Chicago freaking Stadium. MJ only played, what, four years at the UC? The UC is great because it is in Chicago and a pro team plays there.
On that note, I think it was lame for the Big 11 to move the tourney to Indy full-time. Nobody looks forward to going to Indy. EVERYONE looks forward to going to Chicago.
Still had his comeback season there and won three titles - two closed out on that home floor. I was just trying to find an example of a current NBA arena that had a great player play in it. And trust me, to many of the guys who are coming into college - Lebron is their MJ. Just saying.
Chicago is sweet, Indy is pretty cool too though - a very underrated sports city.
When I give up on life, I'll relocate to Indy.
Is anyone using Chicago for their conference tourney? Granted, it's damn near outside of the MAC footprint, but if the building's empty, why not have one out of every 4 years in Chicago? The Blackhawks being around might be a complication.
I can find things to do for a few days in March in Chicago. I'd probably go as an excuse as long as WMU was around one day, much less all weekend. In Cleveland you have one day at the Rock and Roll HOF and then, I guess you're waiting to be eliminated so you can check out of your hotel while all the Akron and KSU fans drive in Saturday afternoon for the final.
(03-14-2011 02:08 PM)bronconick Wrote: [ -> ]Is anyone using Chicago for their conference tourney? Granted, it's damn near outside of the MAC footprint, but if the building's empty, why not have one out of every 4 years in Chicago? The Blackhawks being around might be a complication.
If the Hawks can vacate the UC for two weeks every season for that god d4mn circus, I think they could spare a weekend for a MAC tournament.