Isn't the agreement with Hot Springs almost up? I'm curious if it will be extended or if the SB will look at other options.
I'd love for it to be moved somewhere else. Possibly New Orleans, Birmingham, Jackson, Atlanta or Huntsville.
(12-19-2011 01:58 PM)MobileBama Wrote: [ -> ]Isn't the agreement with Hot Springs almost up? I'm curious if it will be extended or if the SB will look at other options.
I'd love for it to be moved somewhere else. Possibly New Orleans, Birmingham, Jackson, Atlanta or Huntsville.
I might be imagining things, but I thought it was renewed for a few more years.
That's my recollection as well. The SBC leaders have loved the Hot Springs experience.
The worst part about being in Hot Springs is the fact that it is in Hot Springs, and you can't get there from here, or anywhere else.
It's a nice area, just away from everything except the ArKansas schools.
(12-19-2011 04:18 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote: [ -> ]That's my recollection as well. The SBC leaders have loved the Hot Springs experience.
I am sure the kick backs are great
I would be happy if they went back to rotating between schools.
It is a complete joke that the conference has the tourney there.
How has the attendance been?
From what I've read.....they've been terrible. And, the championship game that is broadcast by ESPN... makes our conference look third rate because of the lack of a crowd in the stands.
Thus, there has to be a better selected location....on where to hold the tournament.
The devil's just making me say it again, but - - - Hot Springs sucks for a Sunbelt Playoff location. It's convenient for North Texas and the Arkansas team, but there is no draw for anyone else. I agree on a neutral site, but how about New Orleans or Atlanta? Much more centrally located, better tourists towns, and a WHOLE lot more fun than Hot Springs (Hot springs, horse races, and charred whiskey kegs). We could do a whole lot better!!!
Don't forget the ease at which you can get to ATL or New Orleans, they have huge airports with plenty of service. Hot Springs is a joke.
I still like Biloxi. Really close for us and it has been there before.
From what I remember seeing on TV, the venue in Hot Springs is nothing to write home about either. I am all for centrally located neutral site tourney, but I think rotating between the schools is the way to go. I think C-USA has it right there. Why give your money away to a neutral site when you can help the local economy for a member institution. The attendance should better as well.
(12-22-2011 12:24 PM)mts305 Wrote: [ -> ]From what I remember seeing on TV, the venue in Hot Springs is nothing to write home about either. I am all for centrally located neutral site tourney, but I think rotating between the schools is the way to go. I think C-USA has it write there. Why give your money away to a neutral site when you can help the local economy for a member institution. The attendance should better as well.
As a Middle Tennessee fan, I was in favor of Huntsville when it came down to a choice between the two. I like the idea of a neutral site, but I know I can't, as well as a lot of other fans, afford to take a lot of time off or spend a lot of money on travel and lodging and the idea of 4 or 5 days in Hot Springs is just way too ridiculous to even consider.
Coach Davis was raving about the arena in Southaven, MS where MT played Ole Miss this past week. That's just south of Memphis and close to the gambling in Tunica. I think that would be more suitable and accessible to most fans especially if their team makes the finals, then it allows more folks to go (drive) on the spur of the moment.
IMO there are just way too many teams for the tournament. The Conference tournament should make being in the conference tourney an accomplishment. Six teams at most with the div. champs getting a bye. We should never risk having a poor team get hot and winning the tourney and then embarrassing the conference by being in the play in for a 16th seed.
IMO there are just way too many teams for the tournament. The Conference tournament should make being in the conference tourney an accomplishment. Six teams at most with the div. champs getting a bye. We should never risk having a poor team get hot and winning the tourney and then embarrassing the conference by being in the play in for a 16th seed.
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Fully agree!!!
In my very humble opinion, and as much as I hate to say it, the Sun Belt needs to swallow some pride and get back to basics on the tournament format. Many smaller conferences have gone to the higher seeded team hosting the early rounds and then the highest seed left getting the semis and champ game, or some variety thereof. It makes monetary sense and it makes fan base sense.
Re-grow the brand and then get back to an overall site that can host the whole tournament.
The Sun Belt has tried using the home courts in the past. The results have not been promising. Not many of the Sun Belt cities have a lot to offer to tourists. Folks come to the tournament to watch their team and then hit the town. I still believe that we have to have this event in a tourist town to bring in numbers. Might be wrong, but I haven't seen anything to dispute it.
Put it in New Orleans. Done. Takes care of everything. You'd be in the conference HQ city, fairly central location, and people from outside the area would find a way to go.
1. Hot springs is close to the little rock airport. No further than you would have to drive from the airport in NO or ATL.
2. The tournament is in Hsp because they made the conference a hell of a deal.
3. The MVC model works. The play at the best team's hosting is what we came from and it sucked after the home team lost.
4. Espn has as much to do with finals attendance as anything. They give the sbc a time slot and date that sucks
5. I would love to move the format to 8 teams. We did that a few years ago but schools complained about being left out.