Arch Madness Future

[johnaaa10]

Good news!

 

[SgtHulka]

I'm Happy

And I don't mean for StL to

The Tournament

 

[RedbirdFan9906]

I think there is this big dream that if MVC was in Chicago, there would be tons of ISU students there. Why would they go to a tournament in Chicago when the student attendance is not always the greatest at home games?

I agree with several posts about transportation in Chicago and getting to arena. It would be a pain.

You are aware of the enormous alumni base in Chicago right?

Because all of our alumni are basketball fans that care about the team, right?

 

[RedbirdFan9906]

Opinion on Chicago sites:

Allstate Arena: out of the question, old building, traffic issues right next to airport.

Sears Center: How many hotel rooms are around that area? Restaurants? I like the size of the building, but would people want to possibly drive 30+ minutes away to hotels. Plus we don't know about facilities for media, team personnel, etc....

New DePaul arena: too many unknowns at this point. The arena hasn't even hosted a single game yet.

 

[MPE773]

I think there is this big dream that if MVC was in Chicago, there would be tons of ISU students there. Why would they go to a tournament in Chicago when the student attendance is not always the greatest at home games?

I agree with several posts about transportation in Chicago and getting to arena. It would be a pain.

You are aware of the enormous alumni base in Chicago right?

Because all of our alumni are basketball fans that care about the team, right?

Yeah, you're right. Having the tournament near tens of thousands of ISU alums would have no affect because not every one of them likes baskeball.

 

[Sladerunningbear]

As someone who travels on Friday morning to the event, I am super happy it is staying St. Louis. SW Air from BWI, train downtown, drop off bags and I had my 1st beer before 11AM. I never need a car and walked everywhere. TRADITION!

Happy Redbird Fan!!

It's 11AM somewhere.

 

[DaveBird10]

I for one am glad that the tournament is staying in St. Louis. For me Arch Madness is tradition and its the best mid major conference tournament there is and a lot of that is the town. Its so much walking to and from bars to the games and I am not sure you get that type of atmosphere anywhere else. I love Chicago but lets face it Chicago isn't really geared for college athletics. Something that's telling about that is the B1G has its conference headquarters in Chicago and they don't even do the conference tournament there that much.

 

[Redbird28]

I for one am glad that the tournament is staying in St. Louis. For me Arch Madness is tradition and its the best mid major conference tournament there is and a lot of that is the town. Its so much walking to and from bars to the games and I am not sure you get that type of atmosphere anywhere else. I love Chicago but lets face it Chicago isn't really geared for college athletics. Something that's telling about that is the B1G has its conference headquarters in Chicago and they don't even do the conference tournament there that much.

Chicago is a pro sports nut that colleges try to crack. To date, the nut is well in tact.

What might work to get actual fans in seats in droves would be an "Illinois Tournament" that runs early in the season over a 3 or 4 day period. Have all the D1 Illinois teams play in a bracket. Gives a chance for the ones that Illinois or Northwestern won't put on the schedule to get a game at a neutral site and gives those same teams a chance to get the tournament format, as well as an understanding of what it takes to play multiple days, under their belt before these Puerto Rico / Bahamas / Maui / Diamond Head Classic / South Padre Tournaments take place. Plus you could ditch these cupcake home games that draw no fans anyway.

Something like that might actually spark interest in the college game from fans who otherwise could care less because of the options they already have on the pro sports scene available to them.

 

[DBird]

I'm Happy

And I don't mean for StL to

The Tournament

Both are awesome! Good choices Sgt!!!

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

They wouldn't. Clear indication it ain't going anywhere...

Agree 100%. I think it would be hard to fairly criticize the MVC for not moving the conference tournament away from STL at this time even though the conference membership is shifting away from STL. That said I also think it would be a mistake for the MVC to commit long term to STL until more can be learned about fan attendance at the conference tournament given new conference dynamics. If the announcement is for a commitment to STL for an extended period of time I would like to know the logic behind doing that at this time.

How does adding 2 Chicago adjacent schools to replace one from Nebraska and one from Kansas shift the membership away from STL exactly?

If they do end up moving some day, it needs to maintain the "eat, sleep, party and watch" in walking distance for the entirety that we enjoy now. Becoming a commuter based experience would chase many away. If I have to drive to the games, It's gonna be in doubt if I'm going to the games ISU isn't in.

I believe it shifts the MVC makeup significantly. When you factor in that:

1. Wichita State students/alumni are predominately from Kansas and surrounding states (likely heavy Kansas city area) and now are gone from MVC

2. Creighton students/alumni are predominately from Nebraska and surrounding states (likely heavy Omaha area) and now are gone from MVC

3. Loyola students/alumni are predominately from Chicagoland area

4. Valpo students/alumni are predominately from Chicagoland area and Indy area

With the Loyola and Valpo addition to MVC I would guess that now over half (and maybe significantly more than half.. could be 55 or 60%?) of the MVC alumni/student homes are from either the Chicagoland and Indianapolis cities/burbs or someplace in between. Beyond that the biggest single location of MVC students/alumni by far is the Chicagoland area.

All that said I do not believe Arch madness should move from STL unless it falters as I am not certain there is a better option at this time.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates is perfect. You wont need more than 12,000 seats and the location.

Where would you want to eat at if it were at the Sears Centre? Is it within walking distance?

Also, where are the hotels to accommodate 10,000 people? Little logistics problem with a 4 day event there.

HE is a 10 min drive to Schaumburg, which has all of these things.

 

[SgtHulka]

Agree 100%. I think it would be hard to fairly criticize the MVC for not moving the conference tournament away from STL at this time even though the conference membership is shifting away from STL. That said I also think it would be a mistake for the MVC to commit long term to STL until more can be learned about fan attendance at the conference tournament given new conference dynamics. If the announcement is for a commitment to STL for an extended period of time I would like to know the logic behind doing that at this time.

How does adding 2 Chicago adjacent schools to replace one from Nebraska and one from Kansas shift the membership away from STL exactly?

If they do end up moving some day, it needs to maintain the "eat, sleep, party and watch" in walking distance for the entirety that we enjoy now. Becoming a commuter based experience would chase many away. If I have to drive to the games, It's gonna be in doubt if I'm going to the games ISU isn't in.

I believe it shifts the MVC makeup significantly. When you factor in that:

1. Wichita State students/alumni are predominately from Kansas and surrounding states (likely heavy Kansas city area) and now are gone from MVC

2. Creighton students/alumni are predominately from Nebraska and surrounding states (likely heavy Omaha area) and now are gone from MVC

3. Loyola students/alumni are predominately from Chicagoland area

4. Valpo students/alumni are predominately from Chicagoland area and Indy area

With the Loyola and Valpo addition to MVC I would guess that now over half (and maybe significantly more than half.. could be 55 or 60%?) of the MVC alumni/student homes are from either the Chicagoland and Indianapolis cities/burbs or someplace in between. Beyond that the biggest single location of MVC students/alumni by far is the Chicagoland area.

All that said I do not believe Arch madness should move from STL unless it falters as I am not certain there is a better option at this time.

Good analysis. Thanks.

 

[ThisIsTheLineup]

Where would you want to eat at if it were at the Sears Centre? Is it within walking distance?

Also, where are the hotels to accommodate 10,000 people? Little logistics problem with a 4 day event there.

HE is a 10 min drive to Schaumburg, which has all of these things.

Driving....walking....driving...walking...I really think more people would want to walk around downtown STL than drive around the Chicago suburbs. That is why convention centers are in downtowns.

 

[MPE773]

I promise you The Valley tournament will never be in Hoffman Estates.

 

[Bdub777]

Very glad it is staying in St. Louis. While on the Eastern side of the Valley, Indy would be a fun location if it could be worked out. Chicago doesn't currently have a good venue for the MVC.

 

[MPE773]

Very glad it is staying in St. Louis. While on the Eastern side of the Valley, Indy would be a fun location if it could be worked out. Chicago doesn't currently have a good venue for the MVC.

I'm confused, how is a brand new, 10,000+ seat $175M basketball arena in the South Loop not a good venue for The MVC?

 

[RedbirdFan9906]

Very glad it is staying in St. Louis. While on the Eastern side of the Valley, Indy would be a fun location if it could be worked out. Chicago doesn't currently have a good venue for the MVC.

I'm confused, how is a brand new, 10,000+ seat $175M basketball arena in the South Loop not a good venue for The MVC?

I'm shocked you suggested this arena. It wouldn't have enough seats for all the ISU alums that you feel would be at the game.

 

[Redbird222]

Do you think the MVC extended the tournament prior to the first year without Wichita and real potential if significant drop in attendance?

 

[MPE773]

Very glad it is staying in St. Louis. While on the Eastern side of the Valley, Indy would be a fun location if it could be worked out. Chicago doesn't currently have a good venue for the MVC.

I'm confused, how is a brand new, 10,000+ seat $175M basketball arena in the South Loop not a good venue for The MVC?

I'm shocked you suggested this arena. It wouldn't have enough seats for all the ISU alums that you feel would be at the game.

How many did I say would come and why do you think it would not be more than St Louis?

 

[RedbirdFan9906]

I'm confused, how is a brand new, 10,000+ seat $175M basketball arena in the South Loop not a good venue for The MVC?

I'm shocked you suggested this arena. It wouldn't have enough seats for all the ISU alums that you feel would be at the game.

How many did I say would come and why do you think it would not be more than St Louis?

To be honest, I think ISU crowd would be about even between StL and Chicago. You might pick up more alumni, but I think you'd lose some of the downstate fans. I think the traffic congestion of Chicago would scare people away. I just think the alumni interest in ISU athletics is fair weather.

As far as the building, I'm not sure DePaul would want to lock in to having their last conference game be on the road every year. I know ISU has to do this because of IHSA girls tournament. Some might think of this as a weak excuse, but it's their building and they might not to give up the date.