MVC Tourney

[Panthers to the Bone]

It sounds as though KC is making a strong push to get the MVC Tourney. St. Louis is still a front runner though.

Interview with Doug Elgin:

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/07/sports/doc4616cdae5289d104745142.txt

[UNIChippewa]

My guess is that Kansas City might be trying to get a tournament to replace the Big 12 when that conference is in Dallas or Oklahoma City. It used to be in Kansas City all the time, but it's now on a rotating basis, I beleive.

It's hard for me to see the MVC moving away from St. Louis though. It's a lot more centrally located to everyone than KC is.

[Matt Trump]

I would love it in KC. I would definitely be more able to attend if it were there.

[CincyPanther88]

Couldn't call it "Arch Madness" anymore, could they?

[Newsbreaker]

Couldn't call it "Arch Madness" anymore, could they?

Now THERE's a loss.

They will keep it in STL, even with a reportedly fantastic offer from KC, because decision makers at the league offices are married to people with personal, financial stake in doing so.

Now that SHOULD make each school in the league very nervous, but it won't.

[Khan4Cats]

Now THERE's a loss.

They will keep it in STL, even with a reportedly fantastic offer from KC, because decision makers at the league offices are married to people with personal, financial stake in doing so.

Now that SHOULD make each school in the league very nervous, but it won't.

It would be a loss to not be able to use the Arch Madness tag because it has a chance to become a real identifier for the conference.

I agree that there some behind the scenes ties with StL, but the Conference Offices are there and half of the conference schools are east of STL making it centrally located, as opposed to only one (2 if you count CU) being west of KC. I'm not so sure how much there is to be nervous about.

I think the only way the Tourney moves is a change in membership (i.e. a SLU comes in, so move to avoid a 'homecourt'), an absolutely ridiculous offer from KC or some other locale, or a TV contract.

[jegbomb52]

I would be extremely dissapointed if they would move the tourny to KC. In Stl. every where you go in town it revolves around the valley tourny, it would be like that in KC. Things are too spread out! They have nothing downtown. Everyone would have to drive to plaza or westport.

[NorthernIowaBacker]

I would be extremely dissapointed if they would move the tourny to KC. In Stl. every where you go in town it revolves around the valley tourny, it would be like that in KC. Things are too spread out! They have nothing downtown. Everyone would have to drive to plaza or westport.

Well in the past your comment would be correct. But you are forgetting that with the opening of the Sprint Center in the fall...its part of a $2 Billion Power and Light District http://www.powerandlightdistrict.com/overview.htm that is currently under development with it. Just the entertainment portion alone is over 9 blocks.

3+ years ago= Crappy downtown
Present= Definitely improving with some good stuff.
Near Future= Downtown KC will be a lot better than downtown St. Louis.

[Newsbreaker]

I would be extremely dissapointed if they would move the tourny to KC. In Stl. every where you go in town it revolves around the valley tourny, it would be like that in KC. Things are too spread out! They have nothing downtown. Everyone would have to drive to plaza or westport.

You do realize that many people say that once you've seen the riverfront, gone up in the Arch, and taken a Brewery tour, there's absolutely nothing to do in Downtown St. Louis, right?

I've never had a chance to attend the league tournament, but this board is the only place that I've ever seen such reverence for downtown St. Louis.

[panther2317]

Why couldn't it rotate between St. Louis and KC? The Big Ten does it with Indy and Chicago (there's going to be a change there...but it's been done) and many other leagues (SEC, ACC, Big 12) rotate their conference tournament as well. I think WSU and Creighton fans would love it. MSU might bring LESS to KC as they have a very large alumni base in St. Louis (drive time from Springfield to KC is the same as St. Louis). UNI might bring more fans and I would hope Drake would be able to as well.

I LOVE St. Louis...but I wouldn't mind seeing it in KC every other year.

[jegbomb52]

For a young person to go out with friends KC doesn't hold a torch to what St. Louis has to offer. Casino's, The Landing area with over 30 bars and restaurants, chains like H00TERS and Show'mes which are great. Not to mention all of this is within walking distance from one another. Even if it is not you can take a train anywhere. I was just in KC less than three weeks ago. I spent two nights at the Hyatt-Regency (the nicest hotel downtown, four blocks from the new Sprint Center) and had an alright time, but, just because we drove to the plaza. Downtown KC has nothing to offer, at least not now and it will take years to get people to stop going from Downtown to the Plaza or Westport.

[Newsbreaker]

Here is an important question, then.

Does the "ammenities" of a community have a substantial impact on the number of fans who turn out for this tournament?

Are people (in very large numbers, recently) attending the tournament in St. Louis to see basketball, and everything else is secondary, or are they going to experience the city, and see some basketball while they are at it.

Secondly, does the event make the people, or do the people define the event?

I think moving it, thus establishing a greater sphere of interest in the region, is an absolutely brilliant idea. Over the course of six years, rotate between KC and STL. If, after that, it seems that one is clearly outpacing the other, then make a perminent move.

It just seems that tying a league that is trying to be a major, national, conference to a single mid-sized, regional city is unwise.

[Marc Wigim]

And doesn't the Big XII rotate their sites on a yearly basis?

[Newsbreaker]

And doesn't the Big XII rotate their sites on a yearly basis?

Yes, they do. Dallas and KC are popular spots, althought Oklahoma City was this year's host.

[Marc Wigim]

Then I say it's something worth looking into. I've seen a major-scale college b-ball event in KC in 1998 when the Women's Final Four was there, and it was a great weekend. I think KC is a definite option.