SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

Jokes about Cincy's early round choking aside, I am not sure that UConn and Cincy fans are going to pay to travel to a site that is too far away. Most years, these schools are in the NCAA Tourney and their fanbases have large expectations. If you are a Cincy or UConn fan, are you more likely to pay money to fly to see your team play in the AAC Tourney or are you more likely to save that travel budget assuming that your team is making the Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final Four and fly to see them represent the AAC in the Big Dance? Honest question.

(03-23-2017 11:14 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Surprised Tulsa is getting a look rather than New Orleans. Seems like Orlando and New Orleans would both make attractive alternate destinations for the tourney as they are fun places to visit. Tulsa? Nice town--but not really much of a tourist destination.

It doesn't need to be a tourist destination.

(03-23-2017 11:20 AM)Bogg Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:14 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Surprised Tulsa is getting a look rather than New Orleans. Seems like Orlando and New Orleans would both make attractive alternate destinations for the tourney as they are fun places to visit. Tulsa? Nice town--but not really much of a tourist destination.

Tulsa getting a look is a good indication that the conference knows Wichita has the votes. Tulsa fans will show, Wichita fans will show, SMU will show, and it's probably not too bad of a trip for Memphis or Houston. East Coast won't be happy, but the Midwest is unhappy about Orlando and (especially) Hartford, so that's the tradeoff.

Why they're looking at the women's site, I don't know. That tourney should stay parked at Mohegan for as long as UConn's in-conference, unless they're thinking of moving it to Hartford as a concession for the men's tourney not coming back.

This is a quality post.

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

We are worried our fans won't show up for the non SMU games

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

If Dallas is a central location, then Hartford is. Here is a map of the conference:

(03-23-2017 11:46 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

If Dallas is a central location, then Hartford is. Here is a map of the conference:

People are just being nice - what they are really saying is Hartford is a horrible town to visit. Literally noting to do

Most people don't seem to understand that the primary cost factor in airline travel is not so much distance as it is the difficulty to get to and how many connecting flights you have to go through.

Flying into Memphis, Tulsa, or Hartford will be more expensive overall for everyone than flying into major hubs such as Dallas, Houston, and Orlando.

The location of the tournament has never been driven by proximity to the geographic center, but rather by which fanbase will put the most butts in seats when it comes down to it.

(03-23-2017 11:11 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 10:51 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  omg enough Hartford...please

When Cronin can stop choking and advance beyond the 2nd round of the NCAA Tourney, maybe Cincy fans can earn the right to stop complaining about Hartford. Until then, deal with it.

I'm not sure an AAC all-star team with the best coach in the conference (your choice?) could've beat UCLA the way they played that game.

(03-23-2017 11:43 AM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

We are worried our fans won't show up for the non SMU games

Every host site deals with that. It's not like UCF or UCONN fans are showing up for the USF vs ECU 1st round matchup.

That being said, I think Dallas would be a fine location if they hosted at a slightly larger facility than Moody. Tulsa has the BOK Center available which is reasonably priced for rental (saving the conference $$$) and it's a good facility for the large number of SID's, media members, and conference administrators that show up for the conference tournament, as well as the fans. Everyone poo-poo's Tulsa as a host, but it seems like the NCAA tournament teams that come always have a good time when they're in town.

(03-23-2017 11:51 AM)Kruciff Wrote:  Most people don't seem to understand that the primary cost factor in airline travel is not so much distance as it is the difficulty to get to and how many connecting flights you have to go through.

Flying into Memphis, Tulsa, or Hartford will be more expensive overall for everyone than flying into major hubs such as Dallas, Houston, and Orlando.

The location of the tournament has never been driven by proximity to the geographic center, but rather by which fanbase will put the most butts in seats when it comes down to it.

Most people who ask for air travel also overlook the fact that airline tickets are MUCH more expensive than families or carpools of fans driving to the site. It costs a family of 4 roughly $400+ to fly anywhere in the conference. But if you make it driveable, it only costs that family about $100 if the host site is within 8 hours by car.

Also need to factor in how much a decent hotel costs and availability

(03-23-2017 11:53 AM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:43 AM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

We are worried our fans won't show up for the non SMU games

Every host site deals with that. It's not like UCF or UCONN fans are showing up for the USF vs ECU 1st round matchup.

That being said, I think Dallas would be a fine location if they hosted at a slightly larger facility than Moody. Tulsa has the BOK Center available which is reasonably priced for rental (saving the conference $$$) and it's a good facility for the large number of SID's, media members, and conference administrators that show up for the conference tournament, as well as the fans. Everyone poo-poo's Tulsa as a host, but it seems like the NCAA tournament teams that come always have a good time when they're in town.

Also doesn't hurt that the BOK doesn't have a major anchor tenant, which means you aren't paying extra to schedule in the middle of the NBA season at the home arenas of the Mavs, Grizz, and Magic. That sort of thing is much easier logistically.

(03-23-2017 11:50 AM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:46 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

If Dallas is a central location, then Hartford is. Here is a map of the conference:

People are just being nice - what they are really saying is Hartford is a horrible town to visit. Literally noting to do

There is some truth to that. However, even though there is "more" to do, Dallas isn't a place that I would spend money to vacation at either.

Orlando, Tampa, New Orleans and *possibly* Memphis are the only places on which I would spend money to visit, and I would only need to do Memphis once to check it off my list (since it is colder than the other cities I mentioned and doesn't have much once you leave the Beale Street area)

(03-23-2017 12:00 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:53 AM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:43 AM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:38 AM)FonzKnight Wrote:  SMU People, maybe you can answer this for me-- why not Dallas? I know the AAC has a packed schedule during the conference tournaments, but surely something could be worked out if SMU really wanted it, right?

Fairly central location, city fans wouldn't mind vacationing to, I get to go to all the games-- where's the drawback?

We are worried our fans won't show up for the non SMU games

Every host site deals with that. It's not like UCF or UCONN fans are showing up for the USF vs ECU 1st round matchup.

That being said, I think Dallas would be a fine location if they hosted at a slightly larger facility than Moody. Tulsa has the BOK Center available which is reasonably priced for rental (saving the conference $$$) and it's a good facility for the large number of SID's, media members, and conference administrators that show up for the conference tournament, as well as the fans. Everyone poo-poo's Tulsa as a host, but it seems like the NCAA tournament teams that come always have a good time when they're in town.

Also doesn't hurt that the BOK doesn't have a major anchor tenant, which means you aren't paying extra to schedule in the middle of the NBA season at the home arenas of the Mavs, Grizz, and Magic. That sort of thing is much easier logistically.

Yup. NBA level arena without the NBA pricetag.

(03-23-2017 11:40 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  Jokes about Cincy's early round choking aside, I am not sure that UConn and Cincy fans are going to pay to travel to a site that is too far away. Most years, these schools are in the NCAA Tourney and their fanbases have large expectations. If you are a Cincy or UConn fan, are you more likely to pay money to fly to see your team play in the AAC Tourney or are you more likely to save that travel budget assuming that your team is making the Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final Four and fly to see them represent the AAC in the Big Dance? Honest question.

One of the staff members on our 247Sports site asked the question why even go to conference tournament anymore? The selection committee has not placed any value on it the past couple of years and in fact the chair stated as much this year. UC and SMU were both six seeds and would have been six seeds regardless of what happened a couple weeks ago.

Rotate between Memphis and New Orleans every year. They're the most sensible geographically and in terms of attractive destinations.

(03-23-2017 12:17 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:40 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  Jokes about Cincy's early round choking aside, I am not sure that UConn and Cincy fans are going to pay to travel to a site that is too far away. Most years, these schools are in the NCAA Tourney and their fanbases have large expectations. If you are a Cincy or UConn fan, are you more likely to pay money to fly to see your team play in the AAC Tourney or are you more likely to save that travel budget assuming that your team is making the Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final Four and fly to see them represent the AAC in the Big Dance? Honest question.

One of the staff members on our 247Sports site asked the question why even go to conference tournament anymore? The selection committee has not placed any value on it the past couple of years and in fact the chair stated as much this year. UC and SMU were both six seeds and would have been six seeds regardless of what happened a couple weeks ago.

Exactly. Conference tournaments are fun to go to when you compete against regional rivals and other schools you have history with.

Does anyone here actually believe the AAC is going to look like it does now in 10+ years?

(03-23-2017 12:31 PM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 12:17 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:40 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  Jokes about Cincy's early round choking aside, I am not sure that UConn and Cincy fans are going to pay to travel to a site that is too far away. Most years, these schools are in the NCAA Tourney and their fanbases have large expectations. If you are a Cincy or UConn fan, are you more likely to pay money to fly to see your team play in the AAC Tourney or are you more likely to save that travel budget assuming that your team is making the Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final Four and fly to see them represent the AAC in the Big Dance? Honest question.

One of the staff members on our 247Sports site asked the question why even go to conference tournament anymore? The selection committee has not placed any value on it the past couple of years and in fact the chair stated as much this year. UC and SMU were both six seeds and would have been six seeds regardless of what happened a couple weeks ago.

Exactly. Conference tournaments are fun to go to when you compete against regional rivals and other schools you have history with.

Does anyone here actually believe the AAC is going to look like it does now in 10+ years?

It will probably look pretty similar. Where does everybody think they're going?

(03-23-2017 12:31 PM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 12:17 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 11:40 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  Jokes about Cincy's early round choking aside, I am not sure that UConn and Cincy fans are going to pay to travel to a site that is too far away. Most years, these schools are in the NCAA Tourney and their fanbases have large expectations. If you are a Cincy or UConn fan, are you more likely to pay money to fly to see your team play in the AAC Tourney or are you more likely to save that travel budget assuming that your team is making the Sweet 16/Elite 8/Final Four and fly to see them represent the AAC in the Big Dance? Honest question.

One of the staff members on our 247Sports site asked the question why even go to conference tournament anymore? The selection committee has not placed any value on it the past couple of years and in fact the chair stated as much this year. UC and SMU were both six seeds and would have been six seeds regardless of what happened a couple weeks ago.

Exactly. Conference tournaments are fun to go to when you compete against regional rivals and other schools you have history with.

Does anyone here actually believe the AAC is going to look like it does now in 10+ years?

Exactly. As a UConn fan, I would be totally into the conference tournament if we were in the ACC or the Big East and playing our old rivals. The AAC Conference Tournament? Meh.