Ideal Conference Tournament Location

[Shoxcity]

New Orleans always hosts great events. They get my vote. Tulane needs to host something to feel a part of this conference.

Thoughts on Birmingham?

[shockmonster]

New Orleans always hosts great events. They get my vote. Tulane needs to host something to feel a part of this conference.

Thoughts on Birmingham?

You must live in Louisiana or close by. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Let's go to New Orleans and Tulane whose average attendance is just over 1000, and Houston is probably closest who averages maybe 2000-3000 at their home games. That's a way to have a big time tournament atmosphere on national television. (sarcasm intended) :)

[Kel Varnsen]

I'd go to a New Orleans conference tournament in a heartbeat.

[ShockerPhi]

New Orleans doesn't really entice me that much. I wouldn't bother making that trip probably. I've been to Nawlins once and it was kinda cool, but I don't have a desire to go back. Certainly not to Bourbon Street. Blech

[Perezident]

Great thread!

I like several of the ideas mentioned:

1. Rotating between three locations that make good geographical sense. My vote would be Philly-Orlando-Dallas. But DC instead of Philly might appeal to more folks, I get it.
2. Rotating based on previous year's winner. This would be a logistical nightmare I'm afraid. In theory I love it!
3. Making Nashville, as the coolest of the most centralized options, our permanent home.
4. One additional idea, what about more of a north-south rotation? The possibility of New Orleans got me thinking about this. Rotate between New Orleans and Chicago, for instance.

[Aargh]

What's with Chicago? That location seems to be completely out of the footprint, would eliminate most drive up fans. I know there are lots of flights there and some reasonable rates for flights, but Chicago seems incredibly "out of the way" for most. fans.

Chicago also isn't much of a "destination" city.

I once met a guy from Chicago. I told him I had a good friend who grew up in Chicago - a bad part of Chicago. The guy from Chicago who I had just met, said, "There is no good part of Chicago".

[Play Angry]

I like the idea of a continued rotation between the TX-OK/FL/Northeast corridors. The variety keeps the destinations from getting stale and it makes sense given the far-flung dispersion of fanbases.

I am excited for Orlando this season and even more jazzed at the prospect of OKC next year. This will be a really fun experience compared to what we've grown used to in STL.

[Shocker_Power]

New Orleans doesn't really entice me that much. I wouldn't bother making that trip probably. I've been to Nawlins once and it was kinda cool, but I don't have a desire to go back. Certainly not to Bourbon Street. Blech

I've been several times, all before Katrina. As I tell all my friends, outside of the food, it is like a cheap carnival. Once you've seen it, ehhhh.

[Perezident]

Just thinking outside the box.

And Chicago is absolutely a destination city, imo. A sports crazy town with loads of culture and food.

But no, it is def not in the AAC footprint. I was thinking more in terms of locations that were equidistance from a few of the more northern schools. But I guess using that rationale I might have suggested Juneau! I guarantee we will be the only game in town if Juneau hosts, and I hear it's beautiful! AND it's equally far from ALL AAC schools. :)

Maybe St. Louis would be a better option, thinking in terms of a two city north south rotation. New Orleans-St Louis anybody? That could also play on the Mississippi R. as the geo east-west conference divider. "Battle for the Mississippi"

[Perezident]

I've been several times, all before Katrina. As I tell all my friends, outside of the food, it is like a cheap carnival. Once you've seen it, ehhhh.

It's all about the food! And of course there's that little thing called Jazz; I've heard there's some decent music to be heard there. And it's surrounded by unique and beautiful scenery, the gulf coast and bayou. I was there recently, for the first time, and LOVED it. So much to see and do and eat. Of course none of it is on Bourbon Street. If that's where you were spending your time, then I understand being totally underwhelmed.

[Bluzrover]

What's with Chicago? That location seems to be completely out of the footprint, would eliminate most drive up fans. I know there are lots of flights there and some reasonable rates for flights, but Chicago seems incredibly "out of the way" for most. fans.

Chicago also isn't much of a "destination" city.

I once met a guy from Chicago. I told him I had a good friend who grew up in Chicago - a bad part of Chicago. The guy from Chicago who I had just met, said, "There is no good part of Chicago".

Don't want to bash on Chicago (I actually enjoy visiting as it is one of the cleanest downtowns you'll visit in America. Not Singapore clean, but for a big American metropolis, it's pretty clean), but the Valley thought bringing in Loyola would boost exposure to the conference. Wichita State, which was the biggest draw of any MVC schools, could barely entice a couple thousand to attend a conference game. And there was some serious NBA-level talent on those WSU teams.

Maybe the competition that will exist in the American would draw folks to United Center but count me as a skeptic. My vote is either OKC or Nashville.

[Shocker_Power]

It's all about the food! And of course there's that little thing called Jazz; I've heard there's some decent music to be heard there. And it's surrounded by unique and beautiful scenery, the gulf coast and bayou. I was there recently, for the first time, and LOVED it. So much to see and do and eat. Of course none of it is on Bourbon Street. If that's where you were spending your time, then I understand being totally underwhelmed.

Spent time all over the French quarter and at Jazz Fest.

[vbird53]

Don't want to bash on Chicago (I actually enjoy visiting as it is one of the cleanest downtowns you'll visit in America. Not Singapore clean, but for a big American metropolis, it's pretty clean), but the Valley thought bringing in Loyola would boost exposure to the conference. Wichita State, which was the biggest draw of any MVC schools, could barely entice a couple thousand to attend a conference game. And there was some serious NBA-level talent on those WSU teams.

Maybe the competition that will exist in the American would draw folks to United Center but count me as a skeptic. My vote is either OKC or Nashville.

I agree, the key is not necessarily to locate the tournament in world class cities, but instead to pack the gym for exposure. Obviously with the following the Shockers have gained over the last 10-15 years, tournaments close to Wichita would draw (Oklahoma, Dallas). If the AAC wants to move the tourney periodically due to the large footprint, it would also make sense to tie in Nashville/DC/Florida.

SMU, Houston, WSU, Tulsa, Memphis is a pretty strong group of schools from this "region".

[shockmonster]

I'll leave the entertainment to you guys. When I spend the time and money to go to a conference tourney, it'll most likely be because it is close enough to drive in my car and not miss work. My entertainment is to watch the basketball games, not a sight seeing vacation, or late night venues. OKC and Tulsa would be the best because I can stay for the entire tourney even if the Shox don't make it to the final game. Dallas and Memphis (maybe a Louisville) would be doable but I probably wouldn't stay for the Sunday final if the Shox don't play in it. Of course, if they play in the Final, I'll be there. I think this applies to most Shocker fans.

[UCONN_Husky]

I agree, the key is not necessarily to locate the tournament in world class cities, but instead to pack the gym for exposure. Obviously with the following the Shockers have gained over the last 10-15 years, tournaments close to Wichita would draw (Oklahoma, Dallas). If the AAC wants to move the tourney periodically due to the large footprint, it would also make sense to tie in Nashville/DC/Florida.

SMU, Houston, WSU, Tulsa, Memphis is a pretty strong group of schools from this "region".

Great post. This goes back to my initial thought that it's pretty much a guarantee that at least one of those 5 schools will playing in the semis/finals every year. And that Western group is much more geographically compact than the East coast schools, thus resulting in a good crowd throughout the tourney.