(03-05-2010 11:39 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Tournament needs to be in Nashville....Only four of five SBC school fan bases travel well or have fan bases, and those schools are close to Nashville....Forget ESPN, Let WKU broadcast the entire tournament on FCS and have the tournament thurs-sat format with only the top 8 teams making it....If you want to be included in postseason tournament then win in the regular season.......Our deal with FCS is great and then we get to the post season and have to play by SBC tournament rules and have a hard time figuring out how to watch or even listen for out of towns fans like me....For a WKU fan to not be able to see our games on TV until the championship game is a joke when we watched 26 regular season games on TV.....

Nashville aint happening they wont put up the effort for the tourney.

and this isnt the Western Kentucky invitational. We're nopt putting games on a TV network that most sun belt areas dont get with their cable providers.

we've tried the top 8 idea before and it failed miserably. schools hated it

(03-05-2010 11:39 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Tournament needs to be in Nashville....Only four of five SBC school fan bases travel well or have fan bases, and those schools are close to Nashville....Forget ESPN, Let WKU broadcast the entire tournament on FCS and have the tournament thurs-sat format with only the top 8 teams making it....If you want to be included in postseason tournament then win in the regular season.......Our deal with FCS is great and then we get to the post season and have to play by SBC tournament rules and have a hard time figuring out how to watch or even listen for out of towns fans like me....For a WKU fan to not be able to see our games on TV until the championship game is a joke when we watched 26 regular season games on TV.....

You can telecast your Sunday game. There is nothing preventing that.

FCS reaches less than half the homes of ESPN / ESPN2 and some sources claim that FCS number is based on homes that COULD get it but may not order it. I order the sports package on Uverse and until I did I couldn't get it and actually didn't even realize it was included until a couple months after I ordered the package.

As for Nashville, might as well say it would be better to be in the SEC. Nashville was contacted and said no thanks.

Only top 8 teams is another pipe dream. Presidents voted for 8 and after one year of complaints they rescinded that format for all 13.

The problem with the ideas is they don't survive the reality test.

I beg everyone to give Hot Springs a chance. These guys know how to make events come off well and they want us. This is probably the home of the SBC tournament for years to come.

I lived in Saint Louis and the MVC tournament had a fixed home. The posters on the MVC boards looked forward to going to Saint Louis all year long. Hot Springs can be the same as that. The Airport in Saint Louis is about 30 to 40 minutes from the Arena. Hot Springs has just as much or more to do then Saint Louis in a smaller area.

For the SBC tournament to grow into an event there has to be a fixed home. Moving the tournament every year just locks us into small crowds. Moving it to campus sites just means as soon as the host team is out the rest of the games will have small crowds.

Not too upset with the tourney being in hot springs mainly because they want us. Sure Nashville would be better, maybe knoxville, some place in bama or Georgia would work too. Hot Springs does make the SBC feel wanted and right now that is what Waters wants. The biggest problem is the games not being on Tv. Seriously, if it is not being broadcast by any of the major sports networks, then why not let the local broadcasters and the schools own broadcast teams come in and show the first few rounds.

Yes I would love to be in hot springs right now getting ready to head to the arena and enjoy some good basketball all day long. But not all of us have the resources to do it. I guess what i am trying to say is if WKU is not on any channel around here, then why dont the sunbelt or whoever decided how to broadcast the games say to FCS you can broadcast the first few games that are not being broadcast. That could only turn out good for the belt.

(03-06-2010 08:52 AM)Topperfisherman Wrote:  Not too upset with the tourney being in hot springs mainly because they want us. Sure Nashville would be better, maybe knoxville, some place in bama or Georgia would work too. Hot Springs does make the SBC feel wanted and right now that is what Waters wants. The biggest problem is the games not being on Tv. Seriously, if it is not being broadcast by any of the major sports networks, then why not let the local broadcasters and the schools own broadcast teams come in and show the first few rounds.

Yes I would love to be in hot springs right now getting ready to head to the arena and enjoy some good basketball all day long. But not all of us have the resources to do it. I guess what i am trying to say is if WKU is not on any channel around here, then why dont the sunbelt or whoever decided how to broadcast the games say to FCS you can broadcast the first few games that are not being broadcast. That could only turn out good for the belt.

No CUSA first round games are televised under their package and they are at a really remote site this year for most schools. Only five have a shorter drive to their tournament than Troy does and FIU/FAU/Denver are the only ones further out than Troy.

Games not telecast under the conference TV package are available for local telecast. Back in the good old days, a decade ago before our program was run into the ground, our local stations would carry games from the tournament. I watched UALR beat us in Biloxi on Little Rock TV with a shot that hit the rim bounced around and fell in. Had a PTSD flashback at Jack this year.

Thanks for the replies. I guess I was being selfish in wanting to SBT closer to Mobile. I'm glad to hear Hot Springs rolls out the red carpet. My wife and I may have to travel up their next year. Maybe I can make a business trip out of it.

For those going or already there, please take some pictures and post them on here if you have some time. Have a great time and best of luck to everyone. GO JAGS!

(03-06-2010 10:06 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-06-2010 08:52 AM)Topperfisherman Wrote:  Not too upset with the tourney being in hot springs mainly because they want us. Sure Nashville would be better, maybe knoxville, some place in bama or Georgia would work too. Hot Springs does make the SBC feel wanted and right now that is what Waters wants. The biggest problem is the games not being on Tv. Seriously, if it is not being broadcast by any of the major sports networks, then why not let the local broadcasters and the schools own broadcast teams come in and show the first few rounds.

Yes I would love to be in hot springs right now getting ready to head to the arena and enjoy some good basketball all day long. But not all of us have the resources to do it. I guess what i am trying to say is if WKU is not on any channel around here, then why dont the sunbelt or whoever decided how to broadcast the games say to FCS you can broadcast the first few games that are not being broadcast. That could only turn out good for the belt.

No CUSA first round games are televised under their package and they are at a really remote site this year for most schools. Only five have a shorter drive to their tournament than Troy does and FIU/FAU/Denver are the only ones further out than Troy.

Games not telecast under the conference TV package are available for local telecast. Back in the good old days, a decade ago before our program was run into the ground, our local stations would carry games from the tournament. I watched UALR beat us in Biloxi on Little Rock TV with a shot that hit the rim bounced around and fell in. Had a PTSD flashback at Jack this year.

So fcs or the local wkyu channel can televise the UNO game with WKU. I wonder why it is not being televised then. That is a real question, not as smart$$$ comment by the way even though it sounds like it

Not on FCS because they won't block out the entire day waiting to find out the bracket.

(03-06-2010 02:53 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Not on FCS because they won't block out the entire day waiting to find out the bracket.

In the age of the internet it looks like we would figure a way to put it on the web.

some places to consider...

Nashville Auditorium: 9,450


Desoto Civic Center (Memphis/Desoto County, MS): 9,000


i think both would work well for the Belt.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

As a fan, (not the SBC business office), I don't care about community buy-in or the financial package. I've not been to Hot Springs and I won't go next year either. Hot Springs doesn't interest me. I want a city with things to do when the ball isn't bouncing. I want a decent night-life, I want variation of restaurants, I want a metropolis area.

If this tournament was in New Orleans, I would go every year. EVERY YEAR. It is a destination city, unlike Hot Springs. College students would go to NOLA, not so much Hot Springs. I can get a round trip flight to NOLA for $200 from Southwest. (I just booked one for April). I'd actually be happier with it in NOLA than Nashville. I can do Nashville any day.

I give kudos to the SBC crew for sealing this deal with Hot Springs. Financially, it has been good. We have a good set up, and Hot Springs wants us. Problem is, I don't want them. No offense, just not a place I want to drive to.

(03-06-2010 12:05 PM)Topperfisherman Wrote:  So fcs or the local wkyu channel can televise the UNO game with WKU. I wonder why it is not being televised then. That is a real question, not as smart$$$ comment by the way even though it sounds like it

I believe it had something to do with it being in the convention arena and not the summit arena. The ability was not there.

(03-07-2010 01:03 PM)galojah Wrote:  As a fan, (not the SBC business office), I don't care about community buy-in or the financial package. I've not been to Hot Springs and I won't go next year either. Hot Springs doesn't interest me. I want a city with things to do when the ball isn't bouncing. I want a decent night-life, I want variation of restaurants, I want a metropolis area.

If this tournament was in New Orleans, I would go every year. EVERY YEAR. It is a destination city, unlike Hot Springs. College students would go to NOLA, not so much Hot Springs. I can get a round trip flight to NOLA for $200 from Southwest. (I just booked one for April). I'd actually be happier with it in NOLA than Nashville. I can do Nashville any day.

I give kudos to the SBC crew for sealing this deal with Hot Springs. Financially, it has been good. We have a good set up, and Hot Springs wants us. Problem is, I don't want them. No offense, just not a place I want to drive to.

Hot Springs has some very good eating establishments and places that will serve you a mixed drink or a beer, even after sun down. SW flies to LR and you can rent a car or take the shuttle.

(03-07-2010 01:03 PM)galojah Wrote:  As a fan, (not the SBC business office), I don't care about community buy-in or the financial package. I've not been to Hot Springs and I won't go next year either. Hot Springs doesn't interest me. I want a city with things to do when the ball isn't bouncing. I want a decent night-life, I want variation of restaurants, I want a metropolis area.

If this tournament was in New Orleans, I would go every year. EVERY YEAR. It is a destination city, unlike Hot Springs. College students would go to NOLA, not so much Hot Springs. I can get a round trip flight to NOLA for $200 from Southwest. (I just booked one for April). I'd actually be happier with it in NOLA than Nashville. I can do Nashville any day.

I give kudos to the SBC crew for sealing this deal with Hot Springs. Financially, it has been good. We have a good set up, and Hot Springs wants us. Problem is, I don't want them. No offense, just not a place I want to drive to.

If you don't think you'll like it here, there's not really any arguing with personal taste... But I've been to New Orleans, and I HATED it. I've been here two years in a row, and we still haven't run out of local restaurants or watering holes.

In the end, the main draw at any location is the basketball. But there's a lot of stuff to do here, and the night life/restaurant situation is just fine (in my opinion).

(03-06-2010 12:31 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-05-2010 11:39 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Tournament needs to be in Nashville....Only four of five SBC school fan bases travel well or have fan bases, and those schools are close to Nashville....Forget ESPN, Let WKU broadcast the entire tournament on FCS and have the tournament thurs-sat format with only the top 8 teams making it....If you want to be included in postseason tournament then win in the regular season.......Our deal with FCS is great and then we get to the post season and have to play by SBC tournament rules and have a hard time figuring out how to watch or even listen for out of towns fans like me....For a WKU fan to not be able to see our games on TV until the championship game is a joke when we watched 26 regular season games on TV.....

You can telecast your Sunday game. There is nothing preventing that.

FCS reaches less than half the homes of ESPN / ESPN2 and some sources claim that FCS number is based on homes that COULD get it but may not order it. I order the sports package on Uverse and until I did I couldn't get it and actually didn't even realize it was included until a couple months after I ordered the package.

As for Nashville, might as well say it would be better to be in the SEC. Nashville was contacted and said no thanks.

Only top 8 teams is another pipe dream. Presidents voted for 8 and after one year of complaints they rescinded that format for all 13.

The problem with the ideas is they don't survive the reality test.

Why can't we move the first round back to campus sites with the higher seed hosting? My problem with Hot Springs and why I can't go is that I would have to take too many days off work if you count travel time. If we move the 1st round to campus sites, I wouldn't have to take as many days off to go to the neutral site. Besides, how many fans from the lower seeded teams actual travel to Hot Springs to more than likely see their team bounced in the first round?

I am with some of the others that would like to see it in a place with a better nightlife such as Nashville, Memphis, or NO.

(03-07-2010 03:59 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  Why can't we move the first round back to campus sites with the higher seed hosting? My problem with Hot Springs and why I can't go is that I would have to take too many days off work if you count travel time. If we move the 1st round to campus sites, I wouldn't have to take as many days off to go to the neutral site. Besides, how many fans from the lower seeded teams actual travel to Hot Springs to more than likely see their team bounced in the first round?

I am with some of the others that would like to see it in a place with a better nightlife such as Nashville, Memphis, or NO.

We can't go to campus sites because the presidents and chancellors say we can't. They came to Hot Springs last year and came to the conclusion it was a great event that all should participate in.

If four days is too many then you wouldn't be able to go to the C-USA tournament which is four days in Tulsa, and rumored to possibly move to El Paso.

Again the funny thing is people who haven't been to the event say its a boring place with nothing to do. The people who have gone don't make that complaint. In weighing the credibility of the witnesses, those actually attending are more credible.

I dont really care where the tournament is at right now because I wouldnt be able to go anyway. Just wish they would man up and put it on tv where people can watch it, other than the semi's and finals.

So lets reward mediocrity with a trip to Hot Springs and the 10 fans the bottom feeders bring with them...So sick of rewarding everyone with participation..If the presidents and AD's do not like it, step it up and actually care about their basketball program and be one of the top 8 teams at Hot Springs..Problem is the SBC does not care about basketball and 3/4ths of the schools do not either....The SBC tournament needs to have 8 teams no more no less, anything else is ridiculous.......

The Sun Belt and it's members aren't different things. Nothing of any major import is done without a vote of the members. When the league chose a site or format that is the expression of the will of the members.

(03-07-2010 04:07 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-07-2010 03:59 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  Why can't we move the first round back to campus sites with the higher seed hosting? My problem with Hot Springs and why I can't go is that I would have to take too many days off work if you count travel time. If we move the 1st round to campus sites, I wouldn't have to take as many days off to go to the neutral site. Besides, how many fans from the lower seeded teams actual travel to Hot Springs to more than likely see their team bounced in the first round?

I am with some of the others that would like to see it in a place with a better nightlife such as Nashville, Memphis, or NO.

We can't go to campus sites because the presidents and chancellors say we can't. They came to Hot Springs last year and came to the conclusion it was a great event that all should participate in.

If four days is too many then you wouldn't be able to go to the C-USA tournament which is four days in Tulsa, and rumored to possibly move to El Paso.

Again the funny thing is people who haven't been to the event say its a boring place with nothing to do. The people who have gone don't make that complaint. In weighing the credibility of the witnesses, those actually attending are more credible.

You make good points earlier about the conference being wanted, but how important is that really? Isn't all that matters are that facilities are in place, its accessible, and fans and teams find it acceptable? Our coaches had their final coaches show before leaving for the tourney last week and said that last year in Hot Springs the site had a hard time feeding everyone. Feeding the teams and coaches for crying out loud!

Can people that are on the fence be expected to take off of work for several days, fork over the $ for an extended stay to a place that they know nothing about and that doesn't offer the tourist type attractions that does a N.O. or Nashville? Not to mention college students?? If it's in a larger city where there are other acitivites, I am much more likely to go because I know that I am going to get my monies worth out of my vacation, instead of just watching basketball and getting a beer. Sorry, just the way it is. I have no desire to try all the restaurants in Hot Springs, AR or watch Denver vs FIU.