Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[ExpansionGRAD1314]

I personally believe that Belmont was #10. When they didn't accept Valpo took that spot. Had Belmont accepted I 100% believe that Murray State would be in the MVC today and that the MVC would be a 12 team league. I also believe that most of the MVC schools want to keep a balance of half public and half private going forward.

The "11" excuse is just that, an excuse. We all know that the MWC, Big Sky, and MAAC are doing fine with 11 teams. I also noticed that the Southland has 13. 11 is not that crazy of an idea.

I also believe that the 1% chance of Belmont ever wanting to join the MVC went to 0% after getting an at-large. They are directly in the center of the OVC and travel is super cheap for them. There is no reason for them to join. Personally I don't think Murray State should join either. I think there are more disadvantages for them joining than advantages.

National media reported MVC targeting 11 team league with Murray and Valpo. Might've been a deliberate leak to pressure Belmont. Murray fit the profile for the public/fb schools. Valpo/Belmont fit the profile for the private/no FB schools.

Belmont never showed interest so the league looked into no FB UWM and UNO. Drake, as the senior member of the league, might've pushed for them.

[TOPSTRAIGHT]

IMO the MVC needs to go to 12. Forget about Belmont--they have puny fan support and are comfy in the OVC. Murray is an obvious yes. But who is left? A school/team who really has got it going. NKU. They check every box. If they keep surging the A-10 will call them up in the next five years. Just do a little research on NKU and you will see my point.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

But, can they hire the right coach? Same question with Belmont.

[SalukiWorld]

IMO the MVC needs to go to 12. Forget about Belmont--they have puny fan support and are comfy in the OVC. Murray is an obvious yes. But who is left? A school/team who really has got it going. NKU. They check every box. If they keep surging the A-10 will call them up in the next five years. Just do a little research on NKU and you will see my point.

NKU would instantly have the best arena in the Missouri Valley and it wouldn't even be close. Absolute gem.

[BEARZ77]

IMO the MVC needs to go to 12. Forget about Belmont--they have puny fan support and are comfy in the OVC. Murray is an obvious yes. But who is left? A school/team who really has got it going. NKU. They check every box. If they keep surging the A-10 will call them up in the next five years. Just do a little research on NKU and you will see my point.

NKU would instantly have the best arena in the Missouri Valley and it wouldn't even be close. Absolute gem.

It's a great venue, but I can't go with the "wouldn't be close " assessment. It seats about 1800 less than JQH, has more bleacher seats and it's luxury boxes don't appear to be as nice . Also when assessing JQH you have to look at it as a complex with the attached HSC which brings into play the Bears practice facilities and weight room, additional locker rooms & another 9,000 seat arena.That gives MSU the 2 largest on campus arenas in the Valley. This setup is why MSU is able to host one of the nations best HS tournament [Tournament of Champions] yearly and wrestled the Missouri State HS basketball finals from MU, since you can have multiple games going and easy movement between both arenas for fans bouncing between different games. Again great arena for NKU and I'm not saying JQH is better, but the MSU setup is great and even JQH as a standalone is equal to or better than many P-5 programs.

One of the things that bothers me about many of the fan bases in the Valley is how little respect we have for our conference and the facilities that the Valley has. It's funny but when I read other boards, the minute a program has a little success their boards start talking about what a crap league we are in and when can they move forward, instead of promoting the league and it's members. When strong, this is still the premier BB conference at the mid major level with really decent venues at every stop except Valpo and Drake

[Kip Dynamite]

I can absolutely agree with that. I've been to BB&T Arena and while its a very beautiful facility, Its not better than JQH. In fact, almost all areas of JQH are nicer. From the concourse to the seating, to the luxury boxes.

I think NKU would be worth considering for an expansion but their campus doesn't look anything like a MVC type school. It has the look of a Central Arkansas commuter kind of feel to it.

[RacerJoeD]

NKU is a commuter school in a relatively urban setting. That "commuter feel" is deserved as 85% live off campus. The major difference between NKU and Central Arkansas (besides football), is that Conway, AR is part of the Little Rock Metro area (pop. 900,000) and Highland Heights, KY is in the Cincinnati Metro area (pop. 2,200,000).


When the OVC looked at them as they were moving up a few years ago, we did our research on NKU.

[E-Villan]

IMO the MVC needs to go to 12. Forget about Belmont--they have puny fan support and are comfy in the OVC. Murray is an obvious yes. But who is left? A school/team who really has got it going. NKU. They check every box. If they keep surging the A-10 will call them up in the next five years. Just do a little research on NKU and you will see my point.

NKU would instantly have the best arena in the Missouri Valley and it wouldn't even be close. Absolute gem.

It's a great venue, but I can't go with the "wouldn't be close " assessment. It seats about 1800 less than JQH, has more bleacher seats and it's luxury boxes don't appear to be as nice . Also when assessing JQH you have to look at it as a complex with the attached HSC which brings into play the Bears practice facilities and weight room, additional locker rooms & another 9,000 seat arena.That gives MSU the 2 largest on campus arenas in the Valley. This setup is why MSU is able to host one of the nations best HS tournament [Tournament of Champions] yearly and wrestled the Missouri State HS basketball finals from MU, since you can have multiple games going and easy movement between both arenas for fans bouncing between different games. Again great arena for NKU and I'm not saying JQH is better, but the MSU setup is great and even JQH as a standalone is equal to or better than many P-5 programs.

One of the things that bothers me about many of the fan bases in the Valley is how little respect we have for our conference and the facilities that the Valley has. It's funny but when I read other boards, the minute a program has a little success their boards start talking about what a crap league we are in and when can they move forward, instead of promoting the league and it's members. When strong, this is still the premier BB conference at the mid major level with really decent venues at every stop except Valpo and Drake

Agreed, apparently the Saluki poster hasn't been around the Valley. The fact that a large chunk of it is bleachers should knock it down some, and certainly keep it away from the top. JQH and the Ford Center are easily the top 2, and I would even suggest Redbird and the renovated SIU Arena could compete with BB&T.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

BB&T, like JQH, is chairback 3/4 around on both decks. Theatre seats on lower deck. So more comfortable seats than JQH/RA and no hockey-style seating like Ford.

BB&T also feels fresh and incredibly clean. Walking across the bridge to the arena is a unique touch.

JQH does a way better job filling its concourses. There’s the bear and a whole run down on MSU history. Ford has the incredible display of Evansville hoops history in the lobby and sells the books+DVD upstairs (+ the DoubleTree connection). BB&T’s concourses are spacious but empty and sold little.

BB&T nails it when it comes to sightlines, comfortable seating, & arena entrance.

[ExpansionGRAD1314]

NKY was ranked the Horizon League's worst venue.
https://www.valpofanzone.com/2016/08/17 ... no-s-10-6/