March Madness relocation

by **MOST** » March 10th, 2019, 11:12 am

Some comments on ARCH Madness in St Louis. Arena dated, dirty, to big for MVC crowds, ????. MVC tourney. Question: where possible to move the MVC tournament?

Considerations; Middle of footprint, ability of location to support/host MVC, hotels, access (auto, bus, train, plane), arena, scheduling (disruption to other events--regional/state HS BB) entertainment, , etc.

Not a lot of appropriate places. No arenas in Springfield IL or Decatur. Chicago at the edge of the footprint, Indianapolis out of the footprint. May have to consider a MVC team home arena (i.e., Carver in Peoria, Illinois State Arena, Ford Center in Evansville at the edge of the footprint arena, but more central if Murray State and Belmont added .

Comments??

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by **MissouriValleyUnite** » March 10th, 2019, 11:20 am

MOST wrote:Considerations; Middle of footprint, ability of location to support/host MVC, hotels, access (auto, bus, train, plane), arena, scheduling (disruption to other events--regional/state HS BB) entertainment, , etc.

Comments??

Add Ballpark Village and walking distance hotels and that’s a perfect description of St Louis.

Just need the app to send a notification if there’s an I55 runaway fugitive in future years so I can take the Amtrak.

by **VUGrad1314** » March 10th, 2019, 11:27 am

Kansas City could work but that doesn't fit the direction the league is going. People think Enterprise Center is dated and dirty after the renovation? Yikes. Chicago or Indianapolis would be awesome for me but would never happen nor should they because that isn't fair to the western schools.

by **BCPanther** » March 10th, 2019, 11:35 am

It's perfect where it's at. Long term deal in place. It's still an even. No reason to even consider a move.

by **Bulldog2323** » March 10th, 2019, 12:00 pm

The Ford Center is already in use for the OVC tournament.

If you haven't been to the Enterprise Center in the last couple years, it's gotten a nice renovation. It's on par with most other arenas now.

The final on CBS is consistently one of the highest rated finals. As long as CBS still wants the final, it stays where it is.

by **SalukiBand** » March 10th, 2019, 12:09 pm

Enterprise Center outdated and dirty? I am sure the City of St Louis would love to hear that after spending close to $80 million over the last 2 summers (with Phase III to come this summer) that the area is outdated and dirty.

I wasn't there this weekend but I've been there for a couple of Blues games and think it's one of the nicer arenas around right now.

I know this comes up every year but I don't think there is a better place for the conference tournament. The MVC is based in St. Louis and is quite involved in the civic interests of the city. You don't want to have the tournament at an on-campus site because getting away from that was one of the main reasons the tournament was moved to St. Louis. I don't think there is a city that has the combination of venue, hotels and other attractions like St. Louis does.

One thing that I have heard is the issue of the price of the tickets. Does that affect folks on their decision to come to St. Louis?

Also, OVC championship had over 10,500 in the Ford Center in Evansville last night. MVC Semifinals had 7,800.

by **keane1** » March 10th, 2019, 12:13 pm

SalukiBand wrote:Enterprise Center outdated and dirty? I am sure the City of St Louis would love to hear that after spending close to $80 million over the last 2 summers (with Phase III to come this summer) that the area is outdated and dirty. I wasn't there this weekend but I've been there for a couple of Blues games and think it's one of the nicer arenas around right now.

I know this comes up every year but I don't think there is a better place for the conference tournament. The MVC is based in St. Louis and is quite involved in the civic interests of the city. You don't want to have the tournament at an on-campus site because getting away from that was one of the main reasons the tournament was moved to St. Louis. I don't think there is a city that has the combination of venue, hotels and other attractions like St. Louis does.

One thing that I have heard is the issue of the price of the tickets. Does that affect folks on their decision to come to St. Louis?

Also, OVC championship had over 10,500 in the Ford Center in Evansville last night. MVC Semifinals had 7,800.

The renovation looked great, noticed it right away. Even the bathrooms got a much needed upgrade. Looking forward for the last phase to be done. It doesn’t get much better than having “Arch Madness” as your motto.

by **MVCfans** » March 10th, 2019, 12:23 pm

When Creighton and Wichita State were here this conversation probably had more substance because they filled Scottrade. Now, I think it's almost certain the event doesn't leave St. Louis as long as Elgin is the commish.

by **IWokeUpLikeThis** » March 10th, 2019, 12:27 pm

Bulldog2323 wrote:The final on CBS is consistently one of the highest rated finals. As long as CBS still wants the final, it stays where it is.

2018 MVC Final was 6th highest rated of the 32 leagues. Doesn’t matter if it’s Les Moonves or the new person running CBS. That’s all they care about.

by **pafan** » March 10th, 2019, 2:39 pm

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.