Why St. Louis?

[WSUwatcher]

This map just shows me how isolated Wichita is from the rest of the conference.

True -- Wichita is the southwestern outpost. The league's center has shifted dramatically from the days when North Texas and Tulsa (not to mention New Mexico State for a while) were members.

[shocker3]

True -- Wichita is the southwestern outpost. The league's center has shifted dramatically from the days when North Texas and Tulsa (not to mention New Mexico State for a while) were members.

Don't forget West Texas St. being a member too in the 70s and early 80s. West Texas is located in Canyon, Tx (in the Texas Panhandle).

[shocktheheart]

Mileage to St. Louis for each school:
WSU 440, CU 435, DU 350, UNI 345, MSU 215, Ind St 170, UE 170, BU 170, Ill St 170, SIU 105

Mileage to Kansas City for each school:
UE 420, Ind St 410, BU 380, Ill St 380, SIU 340, UNI 320, WSU 195, DU 195, CU 185, MSU 165

Combined mileage for each school:
UNI 665, WSU 635, CU 620, UE 590, Ind St 580, BU 550, Ill St 550, DU 545, SIU 445, MSU 380

Now I understand what @SB Shock: was saying in an earlier post, but I think it would be interesting to compare, historically, pre-sale tickets for each school to the mileage being driven to the tournament. Eventhough it's basically a push for UNI and MSU, the mileage is slightly less to KC. The 2 schools most inconvienced by making the KC trip is Ind St. and UE (I'm guessing 2 of the weakest pre-sales), yet their overall mileage over 2 years is still less than WSU and CU (guessing 2 of the best pre-sales). SIU's total 2 year mileage is almost the same as WSU and CU do each year to St. Louis.

Just can't help but think revenues would be much greater in KC. If UNI and MSU would ever join WSU, CU, and DU, it would be a 5 to 5 draw. Wishful thinking, even if it won't happen.

The revenues for tickets may be bigger, but what corporate sponsorship will be the same if you have in KC besides maybe State Farm? There are a lot of local St. Lou companies that put money into this tourney. They are never going to move this tourney unless they have the same amount of corporate sponsors.

[ShockTalk]

The revenues for tickets may be bigger, but what corporate sponsorship will be the same if you have in KC besides maybe State Farm? There are a lot of local St. Lou companies that put money into this tourney. They are never going to move this tourney unless they have the same amount of corporate sponsors.

As I said, "even if it won't happen". Nevertheless, what's to say some of those other sponsors wouldn't be doing business in KC. If they're strickly local, with no MVC school closer than 100 miles away, wants to say there wouldn't be local KC businesses that also would sponsor if in KC every other year.

Personally, I think the best avenue for WSU fans (and CU fans) to show their displeasure of having to go to St. Louis every year is to still support their teams by going, but not supporting the downtown (or sponsored) hotels, not to spend a dime inside the arena, and, if tickets are so plentiful, buy them outside the arena at a discount and not up front.

[DoubleJayAlum]

As I said, "even if it won't happen". Nevertheless, what's to say some of those other sponsors wouldn't be doing business in KC. If they're strickly local, with no MVC school closer than 100 miles away, wants to say there wouldn't be local KC businesses that also would sponsor if in KC every other year.

Personally, I think the best avenue for WSU fans (and CU fans) to show their displeasure of having to go to St. Louis every year is to still support their teams by going, but not supporting the downtown (or sponsored) hotels, not to spend a dime inside the arena, and, if tickets are so plentiful, buy them outside the arena at a discount and not up front.

I've been as big of a critic about the tourney in St Louis as anyone. I think downtown St Louis is a dump with a tremendous lack of entertainment options if it isn't your first trip there.

The problem with moving it to KC is that KC hasn't shown that they want it. When the MVC put it out for bids in 2008 or so, KC's bid was not even the least bit competitive. In fact, it was downright insulting and screamed, "we don't want your mid-major basketball here. We are a Big 12 town and that is all we give a **** about!!!"

for those of us wanting it in KC, we have to hope that Mizzou's departure from the Big 12 costs KC the Big 12 tourney. KC has a new arena and entertainment district that they need to keep active. If the Big 12 pulls out, KC might actually show some interest with us.

I did read an article in the St Louis Post Dispatch that said that STL was going to put in a bid for the SEC tournament. If they get it, that might help those of us looking for KC to get a shot....

[pogo]

The revenues for tickets may be bigger, but what corporate sponsorship will be the same if you have in KC besides maybe State Farm? There are a lot of local St. Lou companies that put money into this tourney. They are never going to move this tourney unless they have the same amount of corporate sponsors.

True that!

[rrshock]

I hope STL does get the sec tourney. That would be good for KC getting the mvc possibly.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The revenues for tickets may be bigger, but what corporate sponsorship will be the same if you have in KC besides maybe State Farm? There are a lot of local St. Lou companies that put money into this tourney. They are never going to move this tourney unless they have the same amount of corporate sponsors.

You don't think "the MVC Tournament sponsored by Hallmark" will have the same ring to it? ;)

[WstateU]

http://missourisportsmag.com/?p=55325

[ABC]

Sullentrop thinks it is in St. Louis to stay:

"■I attended the Coach of the Year luncheon for the first time since 2006. That event reinforced how established the tournament is in St. Louis and how important the support of sponsorship is for the weekend. The Valley isn’t leaving St. Louis, so the next time discussion of a possible move to other cities comes up, dismiss it as a negotiating ploy."

Read more here: http://blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves/2...#storylink=cpy

[SubGod22]

I wasn't even there and have no desire to go back. The arena is average at best. The city is filthy and downtown, around the arena, has little going on.

If by some miracle it moves, I'll return. Or I'll just buy on the street and stay outside of the lou

[proshox]

Shockernet gets sillier every day. If it was such a terrible location and so poorly managed the tournament would not have the attendance it does. Many of the people I know have gone for 10 straight years or more and I can't really imagine the tournament elsewhere. I think KC could be a good spot, but they had their shot and blew it.

St. Louis is a good spot and I think people are underestimating the league's alumni base in St. Louis and the fact that many shocker fans arrive for the tournament are not based in the ICT.

The shockers typically do not play well enough to win in St. Louis. The failures have zero to do with Elgin, but our fan base can find villains everywhere.

[SubGod22]

I've been to STL 8 times. It's a **** city and I've thought so from day one. I've gone only to watch basketball. I've never spent money in the arena and normally the only money I spend downtown is for lunch (I'll find a Subway or something). My thoughts on STL aren't new. I don't personally know or have traveled with anyone who enjoys the city. It's well attended because CU and WSU fans love their basketball. You could put the tournament in Calgary and both fan bases would show up in much larger numbers than any other. But I'm not driving 6 1/2 hours each way to put up with this **** anymore.

[SubGod22]

I forgot that c-r-a-p is still censored.

[60Shock]

Caution before reading: The following may or may not contain some sarcasm.

So please explain how moving the tournament to a different location changes anything about the Shocks getting supposedly screwed every year by bad refs and the by the present conference Prez?

Or does the conspiracy lie deep in dear ol' St. Louis? It must be that the past and present misguided denisons of this once great city have put a secret curse on us and have also vowed to screw the Wichita State Wheatshockers at every opportunity.

Or does the fault lie with the real culprit, "The Spirit of St. Louis?" I have always thought that down deep, this curse was really Charles Lindbergh's fault. No telling what demons the man stired up on his initial solo flight across the Atlantic.

And gads, some of you even want St. Louis U to even join the MVC or for us to align up with them in another conference. Can you imagine how much bad karma would be aimed at us then every time we played an away conference game in St. Louis?

Of course, we could host the event right here at home in our brand new downtown arena. But, the only problem with that is we seem to get screwed on our home court by bad refs just as often as we do on the road.

Looking inwordly, perhaps: "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND HE IS US!" (Pogo comic strip, created by cartoonist Walt Kelly (1913–1973)