Being that UAB won the CUSA Championship and the tournament was held in Birmingham, I was curious what the status of their membership is. Last I read, CUSA pushed off a decision when they met in January. Was any time frame given for a decision?
Personally, I hope they get to stay as UAB was a big proponent for ODU getting into CUSA. That and them losing football was not really their fault as it was more politics than anything. Still, if they were voted out , where would the basketball championship move to? Since, I doubt it would be kept in Birmingham.
Lastly, good luck to UAB in the tournament. I hope you represent CUSA well and I will be rooting for you.
Based on the incredible outcry on here and assuming UAB were to stay in CUSA, Birmingham won't likely host for a couple of years.
Others will try their hand at it and the numbers will be similar or worse compared to UAB. Eventually it will probably rotate to a few places like Charlotte, Birmingham, and Nashville. Nothing wrong with El Paso or Norfolk and they may get their shot too, but those are more geographical outliers.
Our total numbers by the way were actually better than UTEPs attendance numbers last year when they hosted.
Though I love Norfolk being an ODU fan, I am not sure attendance would be great if held there. ODU fans would come out to support the Monarchs but I doubt many fans from other schools would come. Norfolk is just to far from everyone else.
I think the best spots would be either Charlotte or Nashville. Charlotte is a little easier for folks to get to and Nashville has a bit more of a draw because of all the other stuff to do. Assuming you like Country music. :)
(03-15-2015 07:51 AM)Blazer85 Wrote: [ -> ]Based on the incredible outcry on here and assuming UAB were to stay in CUSA, Birmingham won't likely host for a couple of years.
Others will try their hand at it and the numbers will be similar or worse compared to UAB. Eventually it will probably rotate to a few places like Charlotte, Birmingham, and Nashville. Nothing wrong with El Paso or Norfolk and they may get their shot too, but those are more geographical outliers.
Our total numbers by the way were actually better than UTEPs attendance numbers last year when they hosted.
I think Birmingham did a good job hosting. If UAB stays, and I hope they do, moving the tourney to the highest bidder would be fine with me. Any school/city combo that can bid enough to cover any losses will work and there are several that should do a good job. Birmingham, Norfolk, Charlotte, Biloxi, El Paso, Shreveport and even Nashville if there are enough facilities available to accommodate both the SEC and C-USA at the same time. Las Vegas has multiple conference tournaments going on simultaneously, why not Nashville.
(03-15-2015 07:51 AM)Blazer85 Wrote: [ -> ]Based on the incredible outcry on here and assuming UAB were to stay in CUSA, Birmingham won't likely host for a couple of years.
Others will try their hand at it and the numbers will be similar or worse compared to UAB. Eventually it will probably rotate to a few places like Charlotte, Birmingham, and Nashville. Nothing wrong with El Paso or Norfolk and they may get their shot too, but those are more geographical outliers.
Our total numbers by the way were actually better than UTEPs attendance numbers last year when they hosted.
Good job and likely due to the home town team staying in the tournament until the finals, unlike UTEP going out last year in the qtr finals.
I would attend every game if it were in Huntington, but I don't know where they would host the girls games.
(03-15-2015 08:43 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]I would attend every game if it were in Huntington, but I don't know where they would host the girls games.
The C-USA presidents and AD's have discussed the possibility of splitting the 2 tournaments. I think that would be a good idea and put less stress on any given town that hosts.
CUsA let UAB students in for free which helped to make the numbers better. There were more people in nonUTEP games last year than nonUAB games this year.
(03-15-2015 09:00 AM)NanoDawg Wrote: [ -> ]CUsA let UAB students in for free which helped to make the numbers better. There were more people in nonUTEP games last year than nonUAB games this year.
Based on what? WKU and ODUs first games were well attended.
Letting host school's students in for free creates problems. VCU would absolutely load the arena in Richmond. If you want to give a host team an advantage thats the way. Plus a bunch of VCU students in one place is one of the most unruly bunch you ever seen.
Charlotte is where it should be. Major airport hub (cheap airfare without transfers) and reasonable drive from many schools.
(03-15-2015 09:00 AM)NanoDawg Wrote: [ -> ]CUsA let UAB students in for free which helped to make the numbers better. There were more people in nonUTEP games last year than nonUAB games this year.
Pretty certain UAB paid for those. Free to students doesn't mean they were free altogether.
A Charlotte, Nashville, Dallas, and Orlando rotation. Everyone gets a tournament somewhat close to the every few years.
I like it to rotate around, myself. UTEP did a really good job of hosting when I was out there in 2011, but there were very few non-Miner fans that were able to travel. WKU and MTSU fans traveled really well to Birmingham. Once USM gets it going again, they would also travel well to Birmingham. It needs to be held where the host team is likely to be a top 4 seed, so that they at least have a chance of making the finals. I like the tournament to rotate out of El Paso, Shreveport, Bowling Green, Birmingham, and Norfolk right now. Once the SEC moves out of Nashville, I'd like to see it there occasionally . Once Charlotte gets rolling again, I'd love to see it there too.
This version of the conference has the potential of becoming so much better than the previous version. I see this league annually becoming a multi-bid league again soon. I just hope we get a chance to stick around to experience it.
it should be in Birmingham every year.
(03-15-2015 09:56 AM)Dracorex Wrote: [ -> ]it should be in Birmingham every year.
Disagree. I know how angry fans got when Memphis was hosting every year. I was one of them. I like hosting, but I like traveling with it too.
(03-15-2015 07:51 AM)Blazer85 Wrote: [ -> ]Based on the incredible outcry on here and assuming UAB were to stay in CUSA, Birmingham won't likely host for a couple of years.
what message board posters think will not have any weight on where it is played.
That's said, I don't believe it was planned to be here more than one year anyway. It is being rotated. I suspect it will be somewhere east next year.
(03-15-2015 09:00 AM)NanoDawg Wrote: [ -> ]CUsA let UAB students in for free which helped to make the numbers better. There were more people in nonUTEP games last year than nonUAB games this year.
UAB bought those tickets.
(03-15-2015 10:11 AM)Marathon Blazer Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2015 09:56 AM)Dracorex Wrote: [ -> ]it should be in Birmingham every year.
Disagree. I know how angry fans got when Memphis was hosting every year. I was one of them. I like hosting, but I like traveling with it too.
A lot of Memphis fans were actually tired of hosting it as well. They were tired of the financial responsibility and were wanting to go on the road.
(03-15-2015 09:43 AM)Blazer85 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2015 09:00 AM)NanoDawg Wrote: [ -> ]CUsA let UAB students in for free which helped to make the numbers better. There were more people in nonUTEP games last year than nonUAB games this year.
Pretty certain UAB paid for those. Free to students doesn't mean they were free altogether.
Nope! CUSA changed the rule mid tournament to let students in for free both semi finals and final game. This was announced 5-6 hours before the first semi final between UTEP and MT.