2023 Arch Madness Question

by **MiddleTnRacer** » November 17th, 2021, 5:00 pm

Murray State fan here. Any pro tips on best places to stay/eat/drink/etc during Arch Madness? About how much $$ for lower level seats to the entire tournament? Any other recommendations appreciated. Can’t wait!

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by **Bulldog2323** » November 17th, 2021, 6:01 pm

For 2019, all sessions were between $179 and $223. The upper deck has been curtained off in Enterprise Center since Wichita State left the conference. That said, if you go through the school box offices they can and often do offer better pricing. I know people who have gotten free all-session tickets on account of being a season ticket holder with their school.

Hotels obviously each team has their designated hotel. It will completely depend on though what else is happening. One year there was a big country music concert at The Dome Saturday Night of the tournament and you couldn't get anything downtown for less than $500 a night. If you're willing to commute in from the suburbs, you'll save bank.

Downtown by the arena it's been a few years now, but last I knew food options were pretty limited. There's a TGI Fridays and a couple bars but that was pretty much it. From my pep band days it was often a friendly competition between the bands as to who got their pizza delivered first as there weren't many other options. Downtown STL pretty much shut down at 5:00.

by **smidge34** » November 17th, 2021, 7:16 pm

MiddleTnRacer wrote:Murray State fan here. Any pro tips on best places to stay/eat/drink/etc during Arch Madness? About how much $$ for lower level seats to the entire tournament? Any other recommendations appreciated. Can’t wait!

You know something the rest of us Racer fans don’t lol?

by **SalukiWorld** » November 17th, 2021, 8:22 pm

Love that Racer fans are pumped for Arch Madness already, this is what the league needs

by **BearsCountry** » November 17th, 2021, 9:59 pm

Ballpark Village is always a good time. I like Drury Hotels for the free breakfast and supper options. My favorite St. Louis restaurant closed this year.

by **MSUBear42** » November 18th, 2021, 11:00 am

MiddleTnRacer wrote:Murray State fan here. Any pro tips on best places to stay/eat/drink/etc during Arch Madness? About how much $$ for lower level seats to the entire tournament? Any other recommendations appreciated. Can’t wait!

Arch Madness really is one of the best conference tournaments out there, even if attendance is half of what it used to be. STL does a great job hosting and there is so much to do.

There are a ton of hotels but if you're looking at walking only, look into the Hilton at the Ballpark or Union Station. There's also a new Fairfield right down market by the new MLS stadium that is decent.

Hit up the free AB Brewery Tour and do some brewery hopping (Urban Chestnut's Bierhall is always a must) and do a dinner on The Hill. City Foundry is a new food hall that is really cool, as well. Ballpark Village is always fun, too.

by **Adunk33** » November 18th, 2021, 11:13 am

Man. I went to Arch Madness like 20 years in a row. Due to the Birds being awful the past 2 years, I couldn't justify the spend. I am hoping they have an okay showing this season so I can justify a return. I haven't been to STL since the NLCS in fall of 2019. I'm told A LOT has changed. One of the biggest things close to the Enterprise Center now is the Aquarium, where Union Station was. I'm not sure how COVID impacted the city restaurant-wise but Sugarfire, Pappy's and Bogart's are musts if you're into BBQ.

Regardless of how the conference changes with expansion and whatnot, one thing they always need to do is keep this tournament in STL forever. The city really does embrace MVC fans. From a logistical perspective, you can really stay in any hotel in DT and have a 20-30 min walk to the stadium at most. For whatever reason, it seems the weather in STL that weekend is unseasonably warm. Once our group parks at the hotel, its rare the car leaves the garage. If we want to go out to Top Golf or something, we'll just grab an Uber or something. Ballpark Village is buzzing all weekend. The free tour at AB is awesome. You get a couple samples along the way plus a free one at the end.

Hopefully Murray State will bring some energy with them if they get the chance to join the MVC. They will finally get the chance to answer, "Is your team gonna win today?" If you know, you know....

by **Kyle_Saluki_17** » November 18th, 2021, 11:18 am

Adunk33 wrote:Man. I went to Arch Madness like 20 years in a row. Due to the Birds being awful the past 2 years, I couldn't justify the spend. I am hoping they have an okay showing this season so I can justify a return. I haven't been to STL since the NLCS in fall of 2019. I'm told A LOT has changed. One of the biggest things close to the Enterprise Center now is the Aquarium, where Union Station was. I'm not sure how COVID impacted the city restaurant-wise but Sugarfire, Pappy's and Bogart's are musts if you're into BBQ.

Regardless of how the conference changes with expansion and whatnot, one thing they always need to do is keep this tournament in STL forever. The city really does embrace MVC fans. From a logistical perspective, you can really stay in any hotel in DT and have a 20-30 min walk to the stadium at most. For whatever reason, it seems the weather in STL that weekend is unseasonably warm. Once our group parks at the hotel, its rare the car leaves the garage. If we want to go out to Top Golf or something, we'll just grab an Uber or something. Ballpark Village is buzzing all weekend. The free tour at AB is awesome. You get a couple samples along the way plus a free one at the end.

Hopefully Murray State will bring some energy with them if they get the chance to join the MVC. They will finally get the chance to answer, "Is your team gonna win today?" If you know, you know....

Agree here. I've only been to Arch Madness a couple of years but had an absolute blast when I did go. It's a long MVC party at Ballpark Village all weekend long. Great time! It will hopefully be a yearly trip for me and some friends from here on out.

by **ahunte1** » November 20th, 2021, 6:51 pm

BearsCountry wrote:Ballpark Village is always a good time. I like Drury Hotels for the free breakfast and supper options. My favorite St. Louis restaurant closed this year.

What restaurant?

by **BEARZ77** » November 21st, 2021, 8:49 am

Bulldog2323 wrote:Downtown by the arena it's been a few years now, but last I knew food options were pretty limited. There's a TGI Fridays and a couple bars but that was pretty much it. From my pep band days it was often a friendly competition between the bands as to who got their pizza delivered first as there weren't many other options. Downtown STL pretty much shut down at 5:00.

Not sure where you were, but don't think it was St Louis; there's a lot of things to say negatively about St Louis, but bars and restaurants probably isn't one. Not only is Ball park Village walkable from the basketball arena and most of the hotels servicing Valley fans, but you're easily within 10-15 minutes drive of tons of great restaurants and bars. One of my favorite hole in the wall places is O'Connells pub on Kingshighway just south of the I-44 interchange. Best burgers in the city , and of course The Hill has great Italian restaurants dotted thru out. Another name to note if you don't mind getting in the car is "Tuckers" ; there are 3 locations and it's a great place to get a really good steak for less than $25 . St louis has a lot of flaws, but it's still got great restaurants, entertainment venues from night life to family attractions like Forrest Park, which has world class art museums, the zoo, and the science center . Great blues and jazz can be heard at various venues in the evenings. Traffic in St Louis is generally not what you see in other more populated major cities as well.