STL

[MacGuyver]

Does anyone know how the seating will breakdown, ie. what fans are sitting in what sections?

[Hersey Highway]

It would not be a financial loser. Depending upon the rental costs of the arena, it could make more money.

Saying it is the equivalent of moving back to campuses is idiotic.

As already mentioned, CU and WSU attendance would increase by at least 50% or possibly double. I think there would be more MSU folks too, and more UNI. There might be a slight uptick in Drake fans.

It provides more exposure to another major media market for the MVC.

A rotation would be great for the MVC.

From talking to some folks at the Kansas City Sports Commission, I am not sure they tried very hard to get this business. Maybe they underestimated the MVC.

Without a major, regular tenant at the Sprint Center I would think they would try hard to get a 4-day tenant.

However, they wouldn't want to screw anything up with the Big 12. The only way for the MVC to get to to KC would be to have the tourney when the Big 12 is in Dallas or OKC.

I wonder how the Big 12 becoming the Big 10 affects their post season tourney.

[unipanther99]

Even though it's about the same distance from Cedar Falls to either St. Louis or Kansas City, I think most Panther fans would prefer the tournament stay in St. Louis. Speaking for myself, the city has treated us fairly well with 3 MVC tournament championships in the last 7 years and our first Sweet Sixteen appearance. We have a familiarity and comfort level with the downtown St. Louis area. Moving to KC might just be a good excuse for some fans (of other schools as well) to "just sit this one out."

[Snaggletooth]

KC > STL

STL is a dump.

[blueblood]

The last time the tourney went up for bids the bid from Kansas City was terrible. They don't want it very bad.

[Snaggletooth]

Even though it's about the same distance from Cedar Falls to either St. Louis or Kansas City, I think most Panther fans would prefer the tournament stay in St. Louis. Speaking for myself, the city has treated us fairly well with 3 MVC tournament championships in the last 7 years and our first Sweet Sixteen appearance. We have a familiarity and comfort level with the downtown St. Louis area. Moving to KC might just be a good excuse for some fans (of other schools as well) to "just sit this one out."

A friend of mind wanted me to ask:

Given this SELF-PROFESSED resistance to change on the part of UNI fans, I am compelled to ask. Are there a large number of UNI fans who also still use rotary dial phones that hang on the wall and play an Atari 2600 game system? Do they still plow up the corn fields with oxen-powered plows? Do they fear the presence of bandits on the dusty road to Kansas City?

[TylerDurden]

It would not be a financial loser. Depending upon the rental costs of the arena, it could make more money.

Saying it is the equivalent of moving back to campuses is idiotic.

As already mentioned, CU and WSU attendance would increase by at least 50% or possibly double. I think there would be more MSU folks too, and more UNI. There might be a slight uptick in Drake fans.

It provides more exposure to another major media market for the MVC.

A rotation would be great for the MVC.

From talking to some folks at the Kansas City Sports Commission, I am not sure they tried very hard to get this business. Maybe they underestimated the MVC.

Without a major, regular tenant at the Sprint Center I would think they would try hard to get a 4-day tenant.

However, they wouldn't want to screw anything up with the Big 12. The only way for the MVC to get to to KC would be to have the tourney when the Big 12 is in Dallas or OKC.

I wonder how the Big 12 becoming the Big 10 affects their post season tourney.

Based on the numbers when it was up for bid, yes, it would be a financial loser in KC -- and it wasn't even close.

You are correct that KC didn't make as aggressive an offer to host it as it would have taken to move it.

The Big 12 tournament is on a different weekend - so its location is irrelevant.

Just like a lot of you, I like KC better than STL. But if we're using objective financial considerations, there isn't a comparison and STL wins without question.

The MVC isn't in a position to be losing hundreds of thousands on this tournament.

[DUBulldog]

It would not be a financial loser. Depending upon the rental costs of the arena, it could make more money.

Saying it is the equivalent of moving back to campuses is idiotic.

As already mentioned, CU and WSU attendance would increase by at least 50% or possibly double. I think there would be more MSU folks too, and more UNI. There might be a slight uptick in Drake fans.

I think Drake attendance would probably double as well, which isn't saying much. Instead of 100 people, there might be 200. Kansas City is about 3-1/2 hours from Des Moines, vs 5-1/2 to 6 hours to St Louis, and it's a straight shot down I-35 to KC, while the trip to StL involves a lot of different state and US highways, but no interstate. I don't have the figures to back this up, but I think Drake has a lot more alumni in the KC area than in St Louis.

It would definitely be easier for me if the tourney was in KC, but I think for the MVC as a whole, the tourney is better off in St Louis.

[MoValley John]

I think it's all a moot point, the tourney is and always will be in St. Louis. And even though it would be an easier weekend commute for Creighton, Drake and Wichita State fans (the three largest metros in the Valley) the event in St Louis is hardly a flop. As a negotiating tool, KC, Chicago, Omaha, Wichita, Des Moines and even Indianapolis should be in the mix, but the tournament isn't broken and it would be silly for the Valley to look for a change for the sake of change, or even a shorter commute for a few fanbases. While I have only been to the tournament a few times, I really don't think that the tournament being held in Kansas City rather than St. Louis would have much of an impact on my decision to attend or not. Having five kids and a hectic schedule has much more to do with my decision. And while the nightlife, restaurants and all of that other stuff is nice, people really should be there to see basketball and the last time I looked (quasi plagiarizing from Hoosiers) the rims in KC and St. Louis are all 10 feet high, both courts are 94 feet long, just as they are in Hickory, Indiana.

[Duan]

Does anyone know how the seating will breakdown, ie. what fans are sitting in what sections?

Does anyone even remember when the seating came out last year? All I remember is that CU was not anywhere near the court and was actually behind Bradley.....who they ended up playing first round! That was not even close to a perfect scenario.