March Madness relocation

[tribecalledquest]

I agree with the hivemind. There's no need to have it in a venue as large as Enterprise Center, but there's no obvious alternative unless SLU made Chaiffetz available. Not likely.

The womens tournament is in Quad Cities. That location isn't bad but I don't know enough about the arena or area around it.

[ptownbraves]

St. Louis is the perfect location on name alone. You can’t do better than Arch Madness. I don’t care if they hold the thing at the local St. Louis YMCA.

[Southern Hoops Fan]

I agree with the hivemind. There's no need to have it in a venue as large as Enterprise Center, but there's no obvious alternative unless SLU made Chaiffetz available. Not likely.

In my opinion, Chaifetz Arena is a far superior venue for basketball and there isn't a bad seat in the place, which makes sense since that was it's intended purpose. I think things working against it, besides showcasing a non-conference school's arena, are the distance of parking and hotels from the arena. The nearest metro stop is not very convenient and some would say it is unsafe since it is on the other side of 64/40.

I have wondered where they could take the tournament if it isn't in St. Louis, I just can't think of a location that checks all of the boxes like STL does.

[Blers]

Wintrust Arena in Chicago would be pretty sweet; brand new facility in the heart of downtown; not too big at 10,000 seats plenty of hotel options, things to do, and a lot of alumni from plenty of schools in the area. Totally get that it can't be considered neutral territory though.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Wintrust Arena in Chicago would be pretty sweet; brand new facility in the heart of downtown; not too big at 10,000 seats plenty of hotel options, things to do, and a lot of alumni from plenty of schools in the area. Totally get that it can't be considered neutral territory though.

Ideal arena but messy logistics. Been to DePaul 3k attendance games where parking garage takes 45 minutes before and after. Garage multitasks for other things on weekends. Wintrust parking has nightmare potential for an mvc tournament.

IMO St Louis/Scottrade is logistically perfect. Everything is always smooth & easy.

[BCPanther]

Enterprise Center is a 10,000 seat arena with the upper deck curtained off. It's the right venue. It's right because we've still got room to grow. Going to a smaller venue is a bad idea with even worse optics

[All-MVC Fan]

The conference will be back in coming years. One of these days, we’ll need those 22,000 seats again. Keep it where it is!!!

[BearsCountry]

Another dumb thread and idea from SMSU65.

[PurpleAcesFootball]

It’s called Arch Madness for a reason.

Options A-Y: Kiel/Savvis/Scottrade/Enterprise/Whatever they call it next
Option Z1: Chaifetz
Option Z2: Family Arena (St Charles)

Both Z options are pretty much commuter-only options. People drive in and drive out, not really staying near the arenas. But the cost savings of moving to a smaller Venue would be much less than the cost in optics and brand value. That would be single-bid thinking.

[Sir Sci]

I'm just gonna echo that St. Louis is the perfect place to hold the conference tournament because it's decently central to the conference footprint (even if it's now a bit to the western side of the conference), close to a lot of member schools, and it's not actually in a member city. I like that it's essential a neutral location. Really, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Chicago are the only options, and Chicago isn't neutral. So St. Louis and Indianapolis are really the only good places, and Indy (as much as I love that city) already hosts enough high profile sports events. Keep it in St. Louis.