Loyola leaving for the Atlantic 10 ?

[Dawgbit]

According to wiki the Ford center capacity is 10,000 for basketball. As I recall the MVC tourney had much larger crowds in the past. Would it be large enough?

The MVC got away from playing at member campuses a long time ago, and it was a great move. When SIU was at the top of their game, I remember Savvis Center selling out, 18,000+. SIU has a large STL alumni base. SIU will be back, book it. Let the OVC have the Ford Center, they think it is big time.

[mvfcfan]

In all seriousness I'm second guessing whether or not I even want to go back to the Lou next year. I'm on a 6 or 7 year streak, but after this year I just question whether I want to see any of my money go to that dumpy town that doesn't appear to be interested at all in our tournament. Their only goal it seemed was to make everyone as miserable as possible.

[Adunk33]

Quite frankly I wish the MVC would leave St Louis. Every year I go back it seems like the city is just getting worse and worse. I went to the OVC tournament in Evansville and the Ford Center is actually in a safe and nice area. Time for the MVC to find a nicer medium sized city for our tournament too.

Worst take of the year.

"Hey, our conference isn't taken serious enough and seen as small-time. I know what we'll do! Let's take the conference tournament away from the MVC headquarters in a major city and tourist attraction and move it to one of the smallest schools in the conference's home gym. Yeah...that'll be the ticket..."

Regardless of where the tournament is held, it's up to the fans to return it to glory. You can't count 2021 against STL/the MVC tournament. I'm sure they did as good as they could given the situation. Prior to that, its really been a perfect storm of meh. The best team as of late (Loyola) doesn't bring thousands of fans like Creighton, Wichita, UN, and ILST do when they are playing well. Somehow, we need to get the 1-6 seeds to bring more people which will reenergize the city to care that the tournament is there. Now, I haven't been since 2019 (bad Birds team and COVID) but even then there were signs around town, and a billboard or two. Unfortunately, that weekend the city was overrun by some country star's concert at the Edward Jones Dome.

I grew up going to the tournament in STL and it seems the city does a very nice job embracing the MVC. So, no. I would never be an advocate of moving it to Evansville.

[Dawgbit]

Quite frankly I wish the MVC would leave St Louis. Every year I go back it seems like the city is just getting worse and worse. I went to the OVC tournament in Evansville and the Ford Center is actually in a safe and nice area. Time for the MVC to find a nicer medium sized city for our tournament too.

Worst take of the year.

"Hey, our conference isn't taken serious enough and seen as small-time. I know what we'll do! Let's take the conference tournament away from the MVC headquarters in a major city and tourist attraction and move it to one of the smallest schools in the conference's home gym. Yeah...that'll be the ticket..."

Regardless of where the tournament is held, it's up to the fans to return it to glory. You can't count 2021 against STL/the MVC tournament. I'm sure they did as good as they could given the situation. Prior to that, its really been a perfect storm of meh. The best team as of late (Loyola) doesn't bring thousands of fans like Creighton, Wichita, UN, and ILST do when they are playing well. Somehow, we need to get the 1-6 seeds to bring more people which will reenergize the city to care that the tournament is there. Now, I haven't been since 2019 (bad Birds team and COVID) but even then there were signs around town, and a billboard or two. Unfortunately, that weekend the city was overrun by some country star's concert at the Edward Jones Dome.

I grew up going to the tournament in STL and it seems the city does a very nice job embracing the MVC. So, no. I would never be an advocate of moving it to Evansville.

Absolutely. I have this odd feeling that we are going to see more Harry Potter fans this year, and I hope we do, they need to support that program. I had tickets to fly up from Florida this year, which is blissfully “open”. I did my research on Operation Continuing ClusterF**k, and how things were going down in STL and said screw it. I would not let this year hold me back though, it is a blast, especially when the Dawgs are in gear! Salukis, not Bulldogs!

[Salukimadness86]

March to the Arch is a great slogan. Leave the tournament where it currently is. Ballpark Village is nice, and the Arch is super cool to stare at. Salukis return to greatness will mean much bigger crowds. Get er done Mullins!

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

Quite frankly I wish the MVC would leave St Louis. Every year I go back it seems like the city is just getting worse and worse. I went to the OVC tournament in Evansville and the Ford Center is actually in a safe and nice area. Time for the MVC to find a nicer medium sized city for our tournament too.

Worst take of the year.

"Hey, our conference isn't taken serious enough and seen as small-time. I know what we'll do! Let's take the conference tournament away from the MVC headquarters in a major city and tourist attraction and move it to one of the smallest schools in the conference's home gym. Yeah...that'll be the ticket..."

Regardless of where the tournament is held, it's up to the fans to return it to glory. You can't count 2021 against STL/the MVC tournament. I'm sure they did as good as they could given the situation. Prior to that, its really been a perfect storm of meh. The best team as of late (Loyola) doesn't bring thousands of fans like Creighton, Wichita, UN, and ILST do when they are playing well. Somehow, we need to get the 1-6 seeds to bring more people which will reenergize the city to care that the tournament is there. Now, I haven't been since 2019 (bad Birds team and COVID) but even then there were signs around town, and a billboard or two. Unfortunately, that weekend the city was overrun by some country star's concert at the Edward Jones Dome.

I grew up going to the tournament in STL and it seems the city does a very nice job embracing the MVC. So, no. I would never be an advocate of moving it to Evansville.

Absolutely. I have this odd feeling that we are going to see more Harry Potter fans this year, and I hope we do, they need to support that program. I had tickets to fly up from Florida this year, which is blissfully “open”. I did my research on Operation Continuing ClusterF**k, and how things were going down in STL and said screw it. I would not let this year hold me back though, it is a blast, especially when the Dawgs are in gear! Salukis, not Bulldogs!

Exactly. An Evansville fan thinks we should go to Evansville. That's convenient. I personally think if we're going to move it, it should be Carbondale. That makes a convenient trip for me.

Seriously though, St. Louis is the only major city in a central location of the conference. To leave that behind would just be plain stupid.

[Birdfan2018]

How long was the contract with St. Louis extended for?

[Majik45]

Seriously though, St. Louis is the only major city in a central location of the conference. To leave that behind would just be plain stupid.

Ideally to move it to a central location means, going to Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield or Decatur. Obviously you won't pick Peoria, or Bloomington for neutrality reasons, and Springfield and Decatur don't have a big enough arena. St. Louis is the most logical choice for it right now.

[VUGrad1314]

The reality is that outside of Indianapolis where the tournament would likely be an afterthought since it often hosts the much higher profile Big 10 and with the presence of the Pacers during that same time there is no more suitable truly neutral location than St Louis. Even if Indy would embrace the MVC tournament with open arms it's still too far east for our western members. Like it or not St Louis was is and will remain the best location for the tournament. The only other candidate would probably have been Kansas City back when the MVC still had Creighton and Wichita State but that would have inconvenienced the eastern members of the conference.

[E-Villan]

Exactly. An Evansville fan thinks we should go to Evansville. That's convenient. I personally think if we're going to move it, it should be Carbondale. That makes a convenient trip for me.

Seriously though, St. Louis is the only major city in a central location of the conference. To leave that behind would just be plain stupid.

Pretty sure he is a Trees fan. This Evansville fan doesn't want to see it on any Valley home court, including our own. Plus, I like to get out of town for the weekend.

The Evansville Sports Corp has done a damn good job hosting tournaments since the opening of the Ford Center. The OVC and D2 Elite Eight are committed for at least the next 3 years. It's a great arena connected to a hotel, and there is enough to do within walking distance that you can have a decent weekend between games. Most Murray State fans prefer coming here versus the old site in Nashville. A lot of it has to do with the arena, but let's face it, Nashville has a lot more going on than downtown St Louis these days. SIze of the city is irrelevant. I don't think Belmont got left out because someone on the selection committee said if they had just played that tournament in a major city.

I am not a St. Louis hater. I am a lifelong Cardinals and Blues fan, and have spent countless weekends and business trips there since Brock and Gibson were playing at the old Busch. The vibe has indeed changed in the last few years though, and I get the concerns some are posting about it.

If there was a NEUTRAL facility comparable to the Ford Center, in a similar, mid-sized city that was somewhat centrally located, I wouldn't be opposed to it. The only city that comes to mind is Springfield, IL and I am sure the arena there isn't close to being suitable. Maybe we can get Illinois to cut loose of all that extra cash they have and build us a 12-15K seat arena there. Until then, St. Louis is the only place that makes sense.