Been to the center many times as this was where the Lone Star Conference held multiple conference tournaments.

Lots of good restaurants and things to do in the area.

I figured it would be moving to the Dallas area somewhere. Never been to the place but looks nice.

So....from Las Vegas back to Allen, TX where we played as D2

Should be Dickies Arena.

Dickies Arena is too big. The seating capacity for Dickies is 13,300, and there it would feel way too empty. And it was probably too expensive. Plus, it hosts the American Athletic Conference tournament and will be preparing to host the NCAA Men's 1st and 2nd Rounds.

While I understand the want to be bigger, that doesn't always mean better. I like the idea of an arena we could fill and make it a great, game-day atmosphere. The Credit Union of Texas Event Center is a 7,000-plus seat capacity at full-house or a cozy 2,700 seat facility at quarter-house setup (according to the arena website). I believe, depending on the matchups of course, we could make this a fun, loud environment!

^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

(08-25-2026 08:57 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

College Park is really nice but not neutral.

(08-25-2026 09:23 AM)Outsider Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 08:57 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

College Park is really nice but not neutral.

you would think not but we dont seem to win any more games there than the visitors do..

(08-25-2026 05:40 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 09:23 AM)Outsider Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 08:57 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

College Park is really nice but not neutral.

you would think not but we dont seem to win any more games there than the visitors do..

well, I guess I am wrong. even tho only having had a winning season 22 out of 65 seasons, the arena has been good to the mavs, having an over-all winning record there.

(08-25-2026 05:48 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 05:40 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 09:23 AM)Outsider Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 08:57 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

College Park is really nice but not neutral.

you would think not but we dont seem to win any more games there than the visitors do..

well, I guess I am wrong. even tho only having had a winning season 22 out of 65 seasons, the arena has been good to the mavs, having an over-all winning record there.

Personally, I would have preferred to have it outside of Texas completely and someplace that would have been a great getaway for everyone.

(08-25-2026 05:48 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 05:40 PM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 09:23 AM)Outsider Wrote:  

(08-25-2026 08:57 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(08-21-2026 02:05 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^Agreed. Dickie's would be a poor choice. In 2022, UTA played Texas State at Dickie's. 5,000 people attended the doubleheader and it sounded quiet. I'm told the place was designed acoustically for a great concert experience. But for sporting events, it killed the sound. I can't imagine a morgue would sound quieter than a few hundred that would show for a game with teams out of state.

I wouldnt chose Dickies. neutral sites never attract very many locals for "no name" tournaments. if we're asking most of the conference to fly to the metro area, my choice would be college park .

College Park is really nice but not neutral.

you would think not but we dont seem to win any more games there than the visitors do..

well, I guess I am wrong. even tho only having had a winning season 22 out of 65 seasons, the arena has been good to the mavs, having an over-all winning record there.

You kinda answered your own post before I could, but I'll offer some stats.

The men are 139-63 at CPC. 12 of the 15 seasons have winning records. One season was a .500. The worst year was a 6-8 record at home.

The women are 122-76. In that total are an 0-5 start when it opened, followed by consecutive 3-11 seasons.

The volleyball team is 115-60. Ten winning season, three losing ones and a .500.

A combined 376-199 is pretty impressive.

FoUTASportscaster, what did you think of the SBC's time in Hot Springs? It isn't a neutral site but you would not be dealing with UALR and ASU fans.

(08-26-2026 09:51 AM)ez272 Wrote:  FoUTASportscaster, what did you think of the SBC's time in Hot Springs? It isn't a neutral site but you would not be dealing with UALR and ASU fans.

I think a place like Bank OZK Arena would have been a really good option. I'll add the edit IF they update their scoreboard to be bigger and include screens, as well as add screens and ribbon lighting around the arena. I don't know what the locker room situation looks like.

(08-26-2026 10:21 AM)Outsider Wrote:  

(08-26-2026 09:51 AM)ez272 Wrote:  FoUTASportscaster, what did you think of the SBC's time in Hot Springs? It isn't a neutral site but you would not be dealing with UALR and ASU fans.

I think a place like Bank OZK Arena would have been a really good option. I'll add the edit IF they update their scoreboard to be bigger and include screens, as well as add screens and ribbon lighting around the arena. I don't know what the locker room situation looks like.

It does need upgrades. If I remember correctly, when the SBC left the arena Hot Springs went all in on High School basketball state tournaments played at the same time. So, probably a moot point now.

I had also thought about the Lander's Center in Southaven, MS. It is just across the border from Memphis; almost considered a suburb of Memphis.

(08-26-2026 09:51 AM)ez272 Wrote:  FoUTASportscaster, what did you think of the SBC's time in Hot Springs? It isn't a neutral site but you would not be dealing with UALR and ASU fans.

They switched right as UTA joined. UTA never actually played there. That said, the other SBC guys talked about how Hot Springs rolled out the carpet and created a great environment. Conversely, New Orleans was a ghost town inside and no one seemed to care on the outside.

I'd be highly in favor of a place that wanted us.

Of course I’m biased, llving in Little Rock, but I believe Hot Springs would be the perfect location for the UAC tournament. It is truly in the geographical center of the conference. Good restaurants and plenty to do including Oaklawn racetrack. It setup 2 courts for Sun Belt tournament early rounds. You could walk easily from the main arena court to the secondary court and visa versa. The city truly embraced the SBC Tournament and would do the same for the UAC. LR and UCA would insure a decent attendance baseline and it is a reasonable drive from most of the other schools. Would they bid for the UAC tournament with the Arkansas high school tournament now being held there? No idea but we should talk to them.

(08-28-2026 12:53 PM)mjs Wrote:  Of course I’m biased, llving in Little Rock, but I believe Hot Springs would be the perfect location for the UAC tournament. It is truly in the geographical center of the conference. Good restaurants and plenty to do including Oaklawn racetrack. It setup 2 courts for Sun Belt tournament early rounds. You could walk easily from the main arena court to the secondary court and visa versa. The city truly embraced the SBC Tournament and would do the same for the UAC. LR and UCA would insure a decent attendance baseline and it is a reasonable drive from most of the other schools. Would they bid for the UAC tournament with the Arkansas high school tournament now being held there? No idea but we should talk to them.

Looks like folks get to drive to Allen, Texas instead.

(08-28-2026 12:53 PM)mjs Wrote:  Of course I’m biased, llving in Little Rock, but I believe Hot Springs would be the perfect location for the UAC tournament. It is truly in the geographical center of the conference. Good restaurants and plenty to do including Oaklawn racetrack. It setup 2 courts for Sun Belt tournament early rounds. You could walk easily from the main arena court to the secondary court and visa versa. The city truly embraced the SBC Tournament and would do the same for the UAC. LR and UCA would insure a decent attendance baseline and it is a reasonable drive from most of the other schools. Would they bid for the UAC tournament with the Arkansas high school tournament now being held there? No idea but we should talk to them.

I would love this! I and a few friends have already made the trip to a game against UCA for football! I definitely think the tournament would benefit from being centralized.