Move the Tournament Around Again

[Crimson King]

I'd rank arenas: BOK, AA, Sprint, OKC, with not enough separation to justify exclusion.

Local interest: KC, TUL (speculation), OKC (it's an NBA town now), DAL

Gathering area: P&L, Bricktown, Brady District/Downtown, Victory Park

Geography relative to teams: TUL and OKC (tie), KC, DAL

We go every year, so I'd love to see it in as many different cities as possible. But if it gets lost in Dallas, worse geography/alumni bases would mean even less interest in Houston or SA. Des Moines and Wichita just not big enough, and St. Louis is no longer in the conference footprint.

 

[tycat947]

Some towns just aren't college towns... I lived in Denver for 7 years and never got the impression anyone in Denver gave a damn about college sports. They care about Broncos, Avalanche, Rockies, Nuggets, Weed, X-Games, Hiking, and Biking (in that order).

I lived there 11 1/2 years and totally agree!

 

[tycat947]

It would be great if, when they do move it back to OKC, they also move the women to the same weekend. In 2007, a ticket to the women's championship game was a tougher ticket than any men's session the entire weekend.

That may no longer be possible with how the women's NCAA is scheduled, but who knows.

I think they've split the tourney's for good. Not only different locations, but now a week apart. The women's tourney will be done tonight and the men's doesn't start until this weekend.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the dates of the women's tournament were changed because OKC was the best city to have both tournaments simultaneously.

KU/KSU & ISU are the only beneficiaries of having the tournament in KC every year.

 

[skyvue]

KU/KSU & ISU are the only beneficiaries of having the tournament in KC every year.

Them, and the state of Missouri, which no longer has a member of the Big 12 within its borders.

 

[TillyBubbs]

It's an outrage.

 

[209sooner]

I would be down for that. I feel like it would be a lot easier to land
Then the Chesapeake arena. Only problem is it goes from being an OVERWHELMING sooner home crowd to a more SLIGHTLY OSU based crowd (Stillwater closer to tulsa)

We had a great crowd in OKC in 2003 at the NCAAs. Not as good for the Big 12 in OKC. In 2007 we played KU in front of a pro KU crowd. In 2009 we had a great team but no better than 50/50 crowd support against Osu. And there were still plenty of empty seats even with the two state schools playing each other. Our fans need to have a much better turnout if the Big 12 ever comes back to OKC.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Them, and the state of Missouri, which no longer has a member of the Big 12 within its borders.

I'm surprised that it took 25 posts for this one.

 

[Crimson King]

We had a great crowd in OKC in 2003 at the NCAAs. Not as good for the Big 12 in OKC. In 2007 we played KU in front of a pro KU crowd. In 2009 we had a great team but no better than 50/50 crowd support against Osu. And there were still plenty of empty seats even with the two state schools playing each other. Our fans need to have a much better turnout if the Big 12 ever comes back to OKC.

I was there for all 3 and totally agree. I attribute this to the gradual creep of the NBA/Thunder. The events got to be less of a big deal to the city over time. We were down as a program in 2007, so it was somewhat understandable, but 2009 was an Elite 8 year and we still didn't outdraw the Ags.

 

[IndySooner]

It needs to stay in KC. For those that go, it's the absolute best atmosphere and it's not close.

 

[WTSooner]

It needs to stay in KC. For those that go, it's the absolute best atmosphere and it's not close.

I don't disagree, I just disagree that that should be the only factor (best atmosphere). It's not fair for any even like that to stay put in one place, IMO. Heck, I'd be in favor of something like KC, Oklahoma, KC, Dallas, KC.....and just repeat. At least that spreads it out some.

 

[campbest]

Outside of the arena...Tulsa sucks.

Know I'll get lambasted for that from the pro-Tulsa crowd, but don't think it's that great of a place for a bball tournament.

 

[AdaSooner]

It needs to stay in KC. For those that go, it's the absolute best atmosphere and it's not close.

Serious question. What makes KC the best atmosphere to host the tourney? Is it the arena, the city and it's accommodations, the people, or all of the above? If so, I get that. Doesn't mean a similar and acceptable atmosphere can't be created in another location, though.

It does indeed seem a little unfair to give any school an advantage by holding the tournament in their backyard every year. IMO, the Big 12 should move it around more. I like WT's idea of doing it on a rotating basis with most of the stops going to KC.

 

[IndySooner]

Serious question. What makes KC the best atmosphere to host the tourney? Is it the arena, the city and it's accommodations, the people, or all of the above? If so, I get that. Doesn't mean a similar and acceptable atmosphere can't be created in another location, though.



It does indeed seem a little unfair to give any school an advantage by holding the tournament in their backyard every year. IMO, the Big 12 should move it around more. I like WT's idea of doing it on a rotating basis with most of the stops going to KC.

It's all of the above. OKC does a great job. Dallas sucks. The only thing Tulsa would have going for it would be the arena. San Antonio could be fun for sure.

 

[usedtobe1]

Them (KU, KSU, and ISU), and the state of Missouri, which no longer has a member of the Big 12 within its borders.

It is a valid point. The Sprint Arena is in Missouri although part of KC is in Kansas ….. and about 40 miles from Lawrence. Missouri has zero B12 members, Kansas 2, Iowa 1, Oklahoma 2, and Texas 5. It's ridiculous for the tournament to be held in Kansas City every year IMHO.

I think OKC and Tulsa should get some consideration as should DFW. Personally, I love going to the Riverwalk in San Antonio ….. gone to 2 Final 4's there and it's great.

 

[Sooner04]

If San Antonio would have the tourney inside the Alamodome it could be fun. Words cannot express what a dump the SBC Center is. Coupled with the location, woof.

You guys need to go to a Big 12 Tourney in KC sometime. It's a blast. Total community involvement.

And are there any Pac-12 schools in Nevada? I don't believe there are any WCC schools in Nevada either. I doubt any of their fanbases give a lick about that.

 

[WTSooner]

Outside of the arena...Tulsa sucks.

Know I'll get lambasted for that from the pro-Tulsa crowd, but don't think it's that great of a place for a bball tournament.

Have you been to downtown Tulsa lately? 100% different then it was even 12-18 months ago, and still growing/improving/changing.

I admit that our entertainment area downtown might be a little bit farther away from the arena than some of the other options, but we're talking 2-3 blocks farther, not a mile.

The NCAA had nothing but great things to say when we hosted the Tourney a few years back.

 

[JDSooners]

Where would West Virginia fans want it to go?

In terms of West Virginia travel expense, I'd think Dallas be the cheapest, KC next, then OKC or San Antonio and then Tulsa

Due to the conversations in this thread and the schools success in the area, Dallas would give all the schools the least home court advantage, and supposed to draw fans from Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU.

If I'm WVU I'm not wanting it in KC because ISU and KU travel to it well.

If KU fans help sell out the home OU game why arent they travelling to Dallas?

 

[WTSooner]

Where would West Virginia fans want it to go?

In terms of West Virginia travel expense, I'd think Dallas be the cheapest, KC next, then OKC or San Antonio and then Tulsa

Due to the conversations in this thread and the schools success in the area, Dallas would give all the schools the least home court advantage, and supposed to draw fans from Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU.

If I'm WVU I'm not wanting it in KC because ISU and KU travel to it well.

If KU fans help sell out the home OU game why arent they travelling to Dallas?

That is why it needs to move. Different locations would give different benefits to different groups of fans. If KC puts on a show that cannot be matched, fine, give it to them every other year. But we could still rotate in those other years as well.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Outside of the arena...Tulsa sucks.

Know I'll get lambasted for that from the pro-Tulsa crowd, but don't think it's that great of a place for a bball tournament.

What is great about the arena besides the exterior?