Crowd is small tonight - wonder

[TheGimper]

Why hold the tourney in a state that doesn't even have a Big 12 team?

Because it's only a 45 minute drive from Lawrence and Kansas needs all the help they can get drawing fans to their games.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Why hold the tourney in a state that doesn't even have a Big 12 team?

At some point, an arena will be built in Kansas and it will become the home of the tournament. I think either Wichita will build one, or out by the Kansas speedway, or in Johnson County, but the state of Kansas will realize the 23 million that goes to Missouri will end up in their pockets. They are already inviting Missouri companies to move their offices to The Kansas side, so it's just a matter of time. I've even heard Sporting Park was built to add a roof at some point and it will easily seat 40K, which could put them in the mix to host a final 4. Or, I wouldn't be surprised to see the big 12 move the tournament to Allen Fieldhouse, but does Lawrence have enough hotels to accommodate? If the majority is KU fans in attendance, then that becomes a non-issue.

 

[152219]

If the Big 12 moves the tourney to AFH heads should roll and OU should find a conference to move to ASAP IMO. That is against the spirit of a conference tourney in the big conferences

 

[Ham]

I'm cool with it in KC. Even if it were only to throw them a bone.
But it sounds like they did more than well enough to warrant it.

I think, whether people want to admit it or not, this conference took a massive hit to basketball when Mizzou left. Not to mention, Nebraska - while never a great BB program, always has loyal fans. And A&M...well, they would send some peope up there. I think the XII hoops tourney, no matter where it is, has taken a permanent hit. And with OKC being more NBA-minded, it's just generally a lot of apathy. Even if you can tout ticket sales.

We went from 12 to 8, losing some significant fan support then added very smallish TCU and very distant WVU. It's a different conference than it used to be. Unfortunately.

 

[Big Old Booger]

If the Big 12 moves the tourney to AFH heads should roll and OU should find a conference to move to ASAP IMO. That is against the spirit of a conference tourney in the big conferences

I agree with you but the local sportstalk radio was talking about the lower numbers at this years tourney. They were saying they wouldn't be surprised if the Big 12 stops "divvying" the tickets equally to members and opens it up for anyone. We all know this would mean KU fans would gobble-up as many as they could get. If this happens, this would be as bad as moving it to AF if the tourney is in the KC area or in the state of Kansas, IMO.

At some point, the conference is going to realize the tournament shouldn't give money to Missouri (or any state without a member institution in the conference) and it will be moved. I don't think OKC would ever get it on a permanent basis because the 09 tournament was a disaster when both OU and OSU had early exits. Dallas won't ever host it permanently because nobody in Dallas even cares.

It will be interesting to see what happens, but if they move it to a member's home court, they eliminate costs to rent the arena. I could be all wrong though.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I'm cool with it in KC. Even if it were only to throw them a bone.
But it sounds like they did more than well enough to warrant it.

I think, whether people want to admit it or not, this conference took a massive hit to basketball when Mizzou left. Not to mention, Nebraska - while never a great BB program, always has loyal fans. And A&M...well, they would send some peope up there. I think the XII hoops tourney, no matter where it is, has taken a permanent hit. And with OKC being more NBA-minded, it's just generally a lot of apathy. Even if you can tout ticket sales.

We went from 12 to 8, losing some significant fan support then added very smallish TCU and very distant WVU. It's a different conference than it used to be. Unfortunately.

Nebraska fans never came to the basketball tournament, not since I've lived in KC. They are as bad as the OU fans turnout this year. Missouri was the big loss, as well as your point that 2 of the programs they added (TCU and WVa), one is a terrible basketball program and the other is half a continent away.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

At some point, an arena will be built in Kansas and it will become the home of the tournament. I think either Wichita will build one, or out by the Kansas speedway, or in Johnson County, but the state of Kansas will realize the 23 million that goes to Missouri will end up in their pockets. They are already inviting Missouri companies to move their offices to The Kansas side, so it's just a matter of time. I've even heard Sporting Park was built to add a roof at some point and it will easily seat 40K, which could put them in the mix to host a final 4. Or, I wouldn't be surprised to see the big 12 move the tournament to Allen Fieldhouse, but does Lawrence have enough hotels to accommodate? If the majority is KU fans in attendance, then that becomes a non-issue.

Most of that is news to me. I don't see an arena being built anywhere with the Sprint Center, Kemper, and Municipal still around. Although it doesn't have an anchor tenant the SC is like second or third in dates booked in the country. And contrary to popular belief the Legends isn't exactly rolling in money. The city and the taxpayers are taking a bit of a bath on that deal.

You could be right about Sporting Park. I haven't heard anything either way.

Move the tourney to AFH? I can tell you the vote would be 9-1 on that one.

 

[Vinny78]

So maybe it's just me and my eyes, but they keep saying how KC is sold out at 19,120 for all the games (like it was in OKC) BUT they don't show the upper sections for the KU/KSU game rarely and when they have they look empty. Maybe they are full and we just can't see them but I'm thinking they are quoting tickets sold and there are alot of empty seats up there. Could be wrong but I didn't see them. Bring that sucker back to OKC - more central anyhow and put the girls tourney next door - there were great crowds there last time - much more than the small ones they had in Dallas this year by splitting up the guys and gals. Plus, if you put them across the street at the same time, you are much more likely to get the guys tourney fans to come to some of the gals games. Most are not going to go two weekends in a row to different cities.

 

[tycat947]

At some point, an arena will be built in Kansas and it will become the home of the tournament. I think either Wichita will build one, or out by the Kansas speedway, or in Johnson County, but the state of Kansas will realize the 23 million that goes to Missouri will end up in their pockets. They are already inviting Missouri companies to move their offices to The Kansas side, so it's just a matter of time. I've even heard Sporting Park was built to add a roof at some point and it will easily seat 40K, which could put them in the mix to host a final 4. Or, I wouldn't be surprised to see the big 12 move the tournament to Allen Fieldhouse, but does Lawrence have enough hotels to accommodate? If the majority is KU fans in attendance, then that becomes a non-issue.

Wichita has a brand new arena.

http://www.intrustbankarena.com/

You can rest assured the Big 12 tourney will never be held at Allen Field House. If they decide to not hold the tourney in KCMO, it will be in OKC or Dallas. I don't think anyone wants to go to Wichita.

 

[152219]

I agree with you but the local sportstalk radio was talking about the lower numbers at this years tourney. They were saying they wouldn't be surprised if the Big 12 stops "divvying" the tickets equally to members and opens it up for anyone. We all know this would mean KU fans would gobble-up as many as they could get. If this happens, this would be as bad as moving it to AF if the tourney is in the KC area or in the state of Kansas, IMO.

At some point, the conference is going to realize the tournament shouldn't give money to Missouri (or any state without a member institution in the conference) and it will be moved. I don't think OKC would ever get it on a permanent basis because the 09 tournament was a disaster when both OU and OSU had early exits. Dallas won't ever host it permanently because nobody in Dallas even cares.

It will be interesting to see what happens, but if they move it to a member's home court, they eliminate costs to rent the arena. I could be all wrong though.

These are the same sports radio guys you quoted last month or so who said the Big 12 was likely to only get 2 teams in the NCAA tourney? If so, I recommend quit listening to them because it sounds like they DUMB.

 

[Big Old Booger]

These are the same sports radio guys you quoted last month or so who said the Big 12 was likely to only get 2 teams in the NCAA tourney? If so, I recommend quit listening to them because it sounds like they DUMB.

:ez-laugh:

Same guys, but that was back in November when they said that. It's actually a very good sports show, probably the best sports talk station I've ever listened to, and I've lived in 4 different markets. The host of the afternoon show has a tendency to make outlandish claims, but since Missouri left the Big 12, he's thought it was a matter of time before the Big 12 pulls out of the state of Missouri for any championships.

They never mentioned moving to member campuses for the tournament. However, they were asking if the Big 12 would consider removing the "equal" divvying of tickets to member institutions since that prevented more fans of KU/KSU/ISU who wanted to attend the tournament from going.

I do think the conference will make some decisions to try and correct things now that they see the loss of Missouri hurts the basketball tournament. What those decisions are will be interesting to find out.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Wichita has a brand new arena.

http://www.intrustbankarena.com/

You can rest assured the Big 12 tourney will never be held at Allen Field House. If they decide to not hold the tourney in KCMO, it will be in OKC or Dallas. I don't think anyone wants to go to Wichita.

I wasn't aware of this. I think Wichita could be in the mix at some point. It's 2 hours closer for the Texas and Oklahoma schools and a little further for ISU, so would even out the travel. Time will tell.

 

[Big Old Booger]

So maybe it's just me and my eyes, but they keep saying how KC is sold out at 19,120 for all the games (like it was in OKC) BUT they don't show the upper sections for the KU/KSU game rarely and when they have they look empty. Maybe they are full and we just can't see them but I'm thinking they are quoting tickets sold and there are alot of empty seats up there. Could be wrong but I didn't see them. Bring that sucker back to OKC - more central anyhow and put the girls tourney next door - there were great crowds there last time - much more than the small ones they had in Dallas this year by splitting up the guys and gals. Plus, if you put them across the street at the same time, you are much more likely to get the guys tourney fans to come to some of the gals games. Most are not going to go two weekends in a row to different cities.

Its sold out. The open tickets are the fans from other teams, who can usually sell their tickets outside the arena to the fans of teams still playing but can't this year since the demand is down. I'm glad I didn't purchase all session tickets since we lost on day 1.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Most of that is news to me. I don't see an arena being built anywhere with the Sprint Center, Kemper, and Municipal still around. Although it doesn't have an anchor tenant the SC is like second or third in dates booked in the country. And contrary to popular belief the Legends isn't exactly rolling in money. The city and the taxpayers are taking a bit of a bath on that deal.

You could be right about Sporting Park. I haven't heard anything either way.

Move the tourney to AFH? I can tell you the vote would be 9-1 on that one.

What do all 3 of those arenas (SC, Muni, Kemper) have in common?

They are all in Missouri. The state of Kansas is going after the tax dollars that currently reside in the State of Missouri. AMC theaters, HQ'ed in KCMO, is moving their HQ to Johnson County. So is a big law firm located in the plaza (Polsinelli). Between those 2 is a couple of thousand jobs. The mayor of KCMO and the governor have been making concessions to existing KCMO companies to stay on the Missouri side. At some point, Kansas will make a run for the events, and actually since they built the JOCO convention Center, they have been getting certain things that could have been in KCMO, like the Royals meet/greet that occurs every year in January.

 

[152219]

What do all 3 of those arenas (SC, Muni, Kemper) have in common?

They are all in Missouri. The state of Kansas is going after the tax dollars that currently reside in the State of Missouri. AMC theaters, HQ'ed in KCMO, is moving their HQ to Johnson County. So is a big law firm located in the plaza (Polsinelli). Between those 2 is a couple of thousand jobs. The mayor of KCMO and the governor have been making concessions to existing KCMO companies to stay on the Missouri side. At some point, Kansas will make a run for the events, and actually since they built the JOCO convention Center, they have been getting certain things that could have been in KCMO, like the Royals meet/greet that occurs every year in January.

What they have in common is that they have no permanent tenets of value

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

What do all 3 of those arenas (SC, Muni, Kemper) have in common?

They are all in Missouri. The state of Kansas is going after the tax dollars that currently reside in the State of Missouri. AMC theaters, HQ'ed in KCMO, is moving their HQ to Johnson County. So is a big law firm located in the plaza (Polsinelli). Between those 2 is a couple of thousand jobs. The mayor of KCMO and the governor have been making concessions to existing KCMO companies to stay on the Missouri side. At some point, Kansas will make a run for the events, and actually since they built the JOCO convention Center, they have been getting certain things that could have been in KCMO, like the Royals meet/greet that occurs every year in January.

I understand that. I just know that KCK doesn't have the money to make this happen. They are taking a bath on the concessions made when all that was built.

And the job/company poaching has been going on for years. Kansas gets someone to move across State Line and then Missouri does the same thing. I saw a report one time that if you add up both sides over the years the actual net jobs gained by one over the other is less than 1500.

JOCO Convention Center? Is that the one on Metcalf or the one on College Blvd?

 

[slappy in OP]

JoCo convention center is the one on College.

 

[IndySooner]

Its sold out. The open tickets are the fans from other teams, who can usually sell their tickets outside the arena to the fans of teams still playing but can't this year since the demand is down. I'm glad I didn't purchase all session tickets since we lost on day 1.

I didn't stay for the championship, but I'm shocked it wasn't packed last night, assuming that's true. There looked to be plenty of demand. Of course, it's very possible people decided not to pay outlandish scalper prices and opted to watch on the huge screen at P&L and drink beer.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I didn't stay for the championship, but I'm shocked it wasn't packed last night, assuming that's true. There looked to be plenty of demand. Of course, it's very possible people decided not to pay outlandish scalper prices and opted to watch on the huge screen at P&L and drink beer.

I know the subject of alcohol has been brought up more than once as has the whole idea of cost. When people can consume alcohol, inexpensive food, and watch on the huge screens why would they want to pay 80$, 100$, and more?
The in game experience isn't the end all be all that it once was. I've been in the upper deck of that place and it's not exactly the best seat in the house.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I know the subject of alcohol has been brought up more than once as has the whole idea of cost. When people can consume alcohol, inexpensive food, and watch on the huge screens why would they want to pay 80$, 100$, and more?
The in game experience isn't the end all be all that it once was. I've been in the upper deck of that place and it's not exactly the best seat in the house.

Exactly. The upper deck, and even the top level of suites is a long way from the court. The upper deck at Kemper didn't seem near as far away as at sprint center. The only saving grace for the suites is you can have beer and you have access to the founders club which also serves beer. In the upper deck, you just have bad seats. The seats in the upper deck behind the goals are way worse than the ones on the sides, too.