Boy, Hot Springs sure does shut down early, esp. on Sundays.

We were at the Embassy Suites bar when WKU beat stAte, and they closed the bar with about a minute to go in the game.

Embassy was where most of the Western fans were staying. Didn't make a bit of sense.

Just got back from the MAC semi finals. The arena hosting the Sun Belt Tourney in New Orleans should really look at what the Cleveland Cavaliers and The Q have done with the MAC. Prior to Cleveland the Tourney had failed every where. If the Hornets get on board the Sun Belt tourney could be elevated to a big time event. Tonight there were over 10,300 at the semis and tomorrow's finals will top that.

If you have a chance, tune in tomorrow night at 6:30 on ESPN 2. When your in the arena you don't even notice the curtain in the upper deck which make the arena feel like a very high end 11,000 seat arena. Good luck to WKU and hopefully MTSU in the tournament.

Wish it were at New Orleans Arena.

I assumed that's where it was going to be. The Cleveland Cavaliers actually run the MAC Tournament. I thought it might be similar setup in NOLA.

(03-16-2013 10:11 AM)GalliaCat Wrote:  I assumed that's where it was going to be. The Cleveland Cavaliers actually run the MAC Tournament. I thought it might be similar setup in NOLA.

Nope Lakefront Arena home of former member UNO. About 2 miles from the nearest hotel and about 5 miles from the big tourist locations.

Not seen it since the remodel but not a bad venue just not the ideal location within New Orleans unless you have a car.

It's good to rotate the tournament around to different cities, but "no-name" Hot Springs will roll the red carpet out for the Sun Belt tournament more than any other place will. Maybe if things go as planned and in 30 years, Hot Springs becomes 2nd only to Vegas, then it'll be back and it'll be widely accepted(well hopefully we're not still in the SBC by then and it won't matter).

(03-11-2013 09:49 PM)galojah Wrote:  NOLA will be a GREAT venue. A quick Southwest flight, great food, great beverage, and another WKU SBC Championship.

UNO Arena is unfortunately nowhere near where hoops fans will hang out between games, for meals, drinks, hotels. They'll have to drive everywhere. Good location, but I don't expect the atmosphere of Hot Springs.

(03-14-2013 07:08 AM)jaguarbob Wrote:  If it is about the fans,,,where are they? Year after year half empty stands at the final.
The attendance at the final game was 3006. Take out the 2000 Hot Springs purchased seats and that leaves 1006 fans who stayed and enjoyed the finals, Oh yes, Hot Springs is all about Fan Fun.

By the way for all those cities I visited I stayed for the finals no matter who was playing.

You have the same problem in New Orleans. If the tourney was in New Orleans this year exactly how many people do you think would have stayed to watch WKU and FIU on a Monday Night?

The worst part about New Orleans is that there will be little interest in the city itself. Its not exactly a Sun Belt City, and there is little casual interest in College Basketball. You think Privateer fans are going to go out and watch their old conference playing its league tournament in their gym?