(03-12-2013 09:55 AM)galojah Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 09:09 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 07:48 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Yep its moved now even farther from WKU....Against New Orleans..I agree Biringham would have been a really good option..I bet the rest of the SBC teams are glad its gone from Hot Springs for everyone not named WKU...

new orleans sounds good till you get there..my experience has been that it is pricey and dirty and a good place to go once so you can say you've been there but I have no desire to go again..but for a conference that is mostly situated in that part of the country..what would be a better choice?..maybe nashville or atlanta..but no one in atlanta would be very excited about a sun belt tournament..so maybe nashville would be a good choice. memphis might even be glad to have it..

I go to New Orleans every year. But I can respect it isn't for everyone.

Nashville would be good but the OVC already has their tournament there in the Municipal Auditorium the same time as the SBC Tournament. The only other venues are Bridgestone Arena (home of the NHL Predators) but that is too big and would make our attendance look even worse, or Vanderbilt's Memorial Coliseum (I have issues with using another conference's home court for our tournament.) Also, the C-USA has mentioned the possibility of moving their tournament to Nashville.

Which is the case in New Orleans.

(03-12-2013 11:20 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 09:55 AM)galojah Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 09:09 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 07:48 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Yep its moved now even farther from WKU....Against New Orleans..I agree Biringham would have been a really good option..I bet the rest of the SBC teams are glad its gone from Hot Springs for everyone not named WKU...

new orleans sounds good till you get there..my experience has been that it is pricey and dirty and a good place to go once so you can say you've been there but I have no desire to go again..but for a conference that is mostly situated in that part of the country..what would be a better choice?..maybe nashville or atlanta..but no one in atlanta would be very excited about a sun belt tournament..so maybe nashville would be a good choice. memphis might even be glad to have it..

I go to New Orleans every year. But I can respect it isn't for everyone.

Nashville would be good but the OVC already has their tournament there in the Municipal Auditorium the same time as the SBC Tournament. The only other venues are Bridgestone Arena (home of the NHL Predators) but that is too big and would make our attendance look even worse, or Vanderbilt's Memorial Coliseum (I have issues with using another conference's home court for our tournament.) Also, the C-USA has mentioned the possibility of moving their tournament to Nashville.

Which is the case in New Orleans.

You are correct. Either place, we would need the floor done in a way that the other school and conference is not represented.

(03-11-2013 10:09 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-11-2013 09:34 PM)Gallia Cat Wrote:  First, where the heck is Hot Springs and why would the Sun Belt bury it's tournament their? Why not Nashville? You may or may not know this but Benson was also the MAC Commissioner way back when and was responsible for putting our tournament in awful locations. A few years after his departure the tournament moved to The Q in Cleveland and it's been a great event every sense.

I would think Nashville would be the perfect spot. Ohio played there in the 2012 and 2005 in the NCAA tournaments and it was awesome. GREAT city with a ton to do. WKU would have had a huge crowd had it been there.

Just curious so I thought I would ask the Belts fans.

I have a hard time believing ANYTHING in Cleveland is great.

It is hard to imagine. I am more of a Cincinnati guy myself so complimenting Cleveland is something I don't do often. That being said, The Q is located in the heart of the city with a ton of things to do. My first trip to Cleveland I was a little surprised at how nice the downtown area is. Hard Rock cafe, Hall of Fame and tons of cool little restaurants, clubs, shopping, etc. The reason I thought the Sun Belt would go great in Nashville are pretty much the same. An MTSU vs. WKU would have filled Bridgstone. The MAC doesn't fill the Q. The upper arena is curtained off but the lower arena seats just over 11,000. It's actually amazing it tightens up the venue and you don't really notice the curtain. Every year you can expect between 9000-11,000 fans for semis and finals. The largest crowd went over 14,000 one year and the upper curtained was raised on one side.

What's the venue in NOLA?

I believe Lakefront Arena, home of UNO, former Sun Belt members.

Lakefront Arena

(03-12-2013 11:52 AM)galojah Wrote:  I believe Lakefront Arena, home of UNO, former Sun Belt members.

Lakefront Arena

That is exactly correct, and UNO will be full members of the Southland Conference next season. The facility is good for basketball as all seats are very close to the action.

The big negative about Lakefront Arena is simply this, it is pretty much a car ride from the more exciting parts of town. It is in a residential neighborhood and there is simply no good way to get there except your own vehicle. Then the parking lot is only partially paved, limestone parking lot is not fun.

Saw a couple of comments, not yours, about things that are just plain silly. For the record Bourbon Street is great if you are an 18 year old male, but the entire French Quarter is geared to music, art, food, and history. It is the place that the NFL comes back to over and over again.

I have never ever had to look over my shoulder worrying about my well being in the French Quarter, and most of the city. I have lived near New Orleans most of my adult life, and never had a moment of fear in the city. Of course I do not go to the fringe areas of the French Quarter, don't visit grave yards at night, never been to Harrahs Casino where I would fear losing most of my fun money.

Just like Nashville in this regard, you could spend a lifetime finding unique and great music in this city, just like great country music in Nashville. The food is world class. In fact New Orleans and surrounding Louisiana are known for their unique and fascinating food. No doubt Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Georgia all do bar b que better, but nothing else.

Exactly, so much more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street. Go do Bourbon Street once, say you did, and then spend more time than you have exploring the rest of the city.

(03-12-2013 02:20 PM)galojah Wrote:  Exactly, so much more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street. Go do Bourbon Street once, say you did, and then spend more time than you have exploring the rest of the city.

Hot Springs was the perfect location for the Sun Belt tournament. The Arena was the perfect size. Having a second court right next door was great. Plenty for everyone to do. Casino's, horse racing, and nice restaurants for adults. Plenty of attractions for kids and families. Reasonable priced hotels and restaurants. Hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the arena.

But the main thing was that Hot Springs embraced the tournament. Signs and banners all along bath house row. Great coverage in the local paper. No one in New Orleans will give a crap about the Sun Belt tourney. It will way out on the lakefront near nothing. No hotels. No restaurants. No chance for comraderie among fans.

I understand it should be moved around. I think Huntsville would have been good. Another small city that might embrace the tourney. Biloxi would have been a lot better than New Orleans. South Haven, MS would have been another good possibility. I think New Orleans is a big mistake- especially at a nonconference school's home court, away from everything the city has to offer.

I've said before I think rotating sites is a good idea. I understand you have to do 2 or 3 year deals to get maximum bids from cities but I'd like to see it shift after each contract.

(03-12-2013 08:27 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-12-2013 02:20 PM)galojah Wrote:  Exactly, so much more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street. Go do Bourbon Street once, say you did, and then spend more time than you have exploring the rest of the city.

Hot Springs was the perfect location for the Sun Belt tournament. The Arena was the perfect size. Having a second court right next door was great. Plenty for everyone to do. Casino's, horse racing, and nice restaurants for adults. Plenty of attractions for kids and families. Reasonable priced hotels and restaurants. Hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the arena.

But the main thing was that Hot Springs embraced the tournament. Signs and banners all along bath house row. Great coverage in the local paper. No one in New Orleans will give a crap about the Sun Belt tourney. It will way out on the lakefront near nothing. No hotels. No restaurants. No chance for comraderie among fans.

I understand it should be moved around. I think Huntsville would have been good. Another small city that might embrace the tourney. Biloxi would have been a lot better than New Orleans. South Haven, MS would have been another good possibility. I think New Orleans is a big mistake- especially at a nonconference school's home court, away from everything the city has to offer.

I agree no one will care about the tourney it will be about 100 on a list of 100 things to do in New Orleans that 4 days.

There will not be any more fans than what showed up at Hot Springs. I will predict a 30+% drop. ULL and USA are the closes schools but unless they are having great seasons neither will bring as many as UALR (who almost filled the convention center (90%)...what ever it holds) or Ark St.

If anyone paid any attention to the actual people that came to the tourney you would see a lot of middle age folks (mid 30s up). Not really the Bourbon St type of crowd. But maybe the more mature entertainment and New Orleans does offer a diverse range for that.

I personally like the darker side New Orleans (spirits, graveyard) well my wife does and that's what really counts since I drag her to a lot of places to watch a sporting event.

But given the two I would go to Hot Springs..can't beat it for the basketball and that's what I come for. But I didn't have any problem finding something enjoyable to do either.

Given that we hope the next stop is the NCAA Tourney and the expense that goes with that...New Orleans and the high prices will limit those that go to both. For people on a budget and still want to fly into New Orleans a car rental and parking will add a couple hundred to the budget.

New Orleans is the most uncentral location for the tourney you could get but this tourney hasn't been about the fans for a long time.

I really enjoyed my (first) trip to the tournament this year. I agree with mjs, I don't think New Orleans will embrace the Sun Belt tournament the same way Hot Springs does.

BOo on New Orleans, been there done that, was great to go as a college student back in '02, but now not so much in the more grown up real world life I live now..We might as well have the conf. tournament on highest seeds home floor..ONly way to get more than 300 fans at the game and the seasons where WKU is back as top seed,(which is coming) we will have a sell out and maybe set the record for highest attendance tournament ever...Which I believe last tournament in Diddle (2003) has record attend. for Sun Belt..If your the Sun Belt you have to cater to your powerhouse school in hoops....



SO any word if WKU can get the Hot Springs court laid down in practice facility?..After all we own it (15 and 2)....

The problem with Hot Springs is ... It is Hot Springs.
Every time Hot Springs is attached to our conference it sounds like a bad joke.
Of all the places in the world we picked Hot Springs or..They picked us.
If our conference is that big a joke why do we have to advertise it.
A high School Gym in Memphis would Sound Better. Live from Memphis TN its.....
Also empty seats are empty seats.
I am open minded and have not minded traveling. Did not go to UNT because of illness. I have been to conference championships in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Mobile, Birmingham, Hampton, New Orleans, Little Rock, ULL , Wku, and Mtsu.
But going to Hot Springs.. NO WAY

(03-12-2013 10:25 PM)jaguarbob Wrote:  The problem with Hot Springs is ... It is Hot Springs.
Every time Hot Springs is attached to our conference it sounds like a bad joke.
Of all the places in the world we picked Hot Springs or..They picked us.
If our conference is that big a joke why do we have to advertise it.
A high School Gym in Memphis would Sound Better. Live from Memphis TN its.....
Also empty seats are empty seats.
I am open minded and have not minded traveling. Did not go to UNT because of illness. I have been to conference championships in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Mobile, Birmingham, Hampton, New Orleans, Little Rock, ULL , Wku, and Mtsu.
But going to Hot Springs.. NO WAY

So you boycotted for five years?

You do understand that boring two-bit Hot Springs draws 1.3 million visitors per year? That's an average of more than 3,500 tourists a day. Little Rock was OK but the place most Little Rock residents go to for a weekend get away a couple times a year wasn't?

I'm not anti-New Orleans, I'd just rather do a fake court at the Convention Center and have the games actually near hotels and restaurants.

(03-12-2013 10:25 PM)jaguarbob Wrote:  The problem with Hot Springs is ... It is Hot Springs.
Every time Hot Springs is attached to our conference it sounds like a bad joke.
Of all the places in the world we picked Hot Springs or..They picked us.
If our conference is that big a joke why do we have to advertise it.
A high School Gym in Memphis would Sound Better. Live from Memphis TN its.....
Also empty seats are empty seats.
I am open minded and have not minded traveling. Did not go to UNT because of illness. I have been to conference championships in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Mobile, Birmingham, Hampton, New Orleans, Little Rock, ULL , Wku, and Mtsu.
But going to Hot Springs.. NO WAY

I had the same thoughts...

Till I went and it was one of the most enjoyable trips I made for a sporting event. Not the top but up there.

I'm 52 so what I like and younger folks could be different but I'm a really young 52 at heart and body so not a lot of differences unless it's bar hopping and I'm not into that.

It is not about the level of my fun.. It is what it says about the conference.
The conference had other offers.. But the exec committee CHOSE Hot Springs. Yes MTSU and WKU representatives voted for da Springs. If Da Springs is so much fun where are the people.. There were more MTSU and WKU fans in Mobile years ago than Hot Springs.

Maybe someday BRANSON...a really fun place

Actually it is about the fans. It makes zero difference to the basketball world where we play, so we want the tournament to be a place that fans can say, if my team loses the first day am I going home or have other interesting things to do? New Orleans, yes, Nashville, yes, Memphis, yes, Atlanta yes, Orlando of course. Hot Springs is not hell, but sounds like hell to the typical fan. Sorry but I am not really that interested in where Baby Face Nelson, and other gangsters hung out.

The real question is can the SBC currently (and in the future) support a neutral site? I know it is what the coaches want for an even playing field. But for financial support and fan support, is it working?

I sense it was pushed because WKU and MTSU were always putting the max bid in for the tournament each year and the coaches in the league didn't want to play in front of our crowds to win the tournament. I get that, it is a disadvantage. But the alternative sure doesn't look that great either.

(03-13-2013 08:06 AM)CajunExpress Wrote:  Actually it is about the fans. It makes zero difference to the basketball world where we play, so we want the tournament to be a place that fans can say, if my team loses the first day am I going home or have other interesting things to do? New Orleans, yes, Nashville, yes, Memphis, yes, Atlanta yes, Orlando of course. Hot Springs is not hell, but sounds like hell to the typical fan. Sorry but I am not really that interested in where Baby Face Nelson, and other gangsters hung out.

This has always been my issue with Hot Springs. It has no draw to most fans beyond the tournament itself. And after you've been there once, you've "done" Hot Springs. Some of the other cities have enough attractions, and diverse selection of attractions, to keep people entertained and coming back.

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.