Bobcat Attack - Ohio Basketball - Poor crowds for Championship Week

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Topic: Poor crowds for Championship Week

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shabamon

3/11/2013 9:34 PM

One of the things Coach Groce said about the MAC was that he was impressed with the conference tournament and he felt that the championship game was a high-major environment. I didn't necessarily agree. I went to the championship game in 2010, and while it was my favorite win as a Bobcat supporter, there were still a noticeable number of empty seats.

Watching some of tonight's championship game, I'm beginning to agree with him a bit more. Lots of empties in the MAAC, SoCon, and Sun Belt games tonight. I realize that a lot of these schools don't have large, mobile alumni bases or a ton of athletic pedigree, but some of these conferences may want to consider keeping the games at campus sites. If they care about showcasing their leagues and all. Your championship game becomes exponentially more entertaining if a championship game participant is playing at home.

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ab54

3/11/2013 9:40 PM

The key is to have it in Vegas.....it's sold out lol

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shabamon

3/11/2013 9:46 PM

ab54 wrote:expand_more

The key is to have it in Vegas.....it's sold out lol

It helps to have the #1 team in the country involved. Actually, there are like four tournaments in Vegas this year.

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Columbus_Bobcat

3/11/2013 9:49 PM

With the majority of schools being a 4 or less hour drive to Cleveland, I expect a pretty big crowd for the Championship game.

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Gallia Cat

3/11/2013 9:53 PM

The MAC tourney in Cleveland is awesome. The semis and finals always have a great crowd and atmosphere. It doesn't hurt that Ohio, Akron and Kent have always occupied at least one spot and sometimes, both spots in the championship game. The true test will be when you have a Northern Illinois vs. CMU type match up.

The Sun Belt championship was great to watch but dear god where is Hot Springs? Move the freaking game to Nashville. I don't care how hot Hot Springs is it's not as hot as Nashville.

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catfan28

3/11/2013 9:55 PM

Bobcats_828 wrote:expand_more

With the majority of schools being a 4 or less hour drive to Cleveland, I expect a pretty big crowd for the Championship game.

Right, because the majority of schools haven't been within a 4 hour drive in previous years...

The attendance in Cleveland is disappointing, especially with Akron and Kent right there in the metro area. I mean, it's like if we got to play the tournament in Logan or Jackson. No reason they shouldn't bring 5,000+ to their games.

I've heard that our ticket sales are going very well, and I even received a call because I hadn't yet placed my order. It would be nice to see the Q filled with lots of green!!

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Columbus_Bobcat

3/11/2013 10:02 PM

catfan28 wrote:expand_more

Bobcats_828 wrote:expand_more

With the majority of schools being a 4 or less hour drive to Cleveland, I expect a pretty big crowd for the Championship game.

Right, because the majority of schools haven't been within a 4 hour drive in previous years...

If the tournament was in Columbus, I could see almost 10,000 Ohio fans, maybe more.

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Ozcat

3/11/2013 10:25 PM

catfan28 wrote:expand_more

No reason they shouldn't bring 5,000+ to their games.

Other than the fact that they don't even do this in their own gyms more than once or twice a year, I totally agree.

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Recovering Journalist

3/11/2013 10:26 PM

I'm biased as a Clevelander, but I hate the annual argument about finding the right location. Cleveland works and crappy attendance is all about crappy MAC fans from most of the other MAC schools.

I know it was a long time ago, but the tournament has been held in several other places before Cleveland, including Columbus, and none were even close to being better attended. In fact, most of the venues couldn't fit the crowds that the semifinal games draw in Cleveland. It's also worth noting that the league was a lot better (and better attended overall) in those years.

We draw better than everyone else in Cleveland for the same reason we draw better than anyone else on our home schedule. The problem isn't related to the cities. It's because the MAC has so few fans. We're the anomaly.

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bobcat695

3/11/2013 10:28 PM

ab54 wrote:expand_more

The key is to have it in Vegas.....it's sold out lol

I'm leaving for Vegas Thursday morning. I watch the MAC Tournament from Caesars Palace most years. I would fully endorse a move west for the event.

Last Edited: 3/11/2013 11:02:48 PM by bobcat695

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Pataskala

3/11/2013 10:45 PM

bobcat695 wrote:expand_more

ab54 wrote:expand_more

The key is to have it in Vegas.....it's sold out lol

I leaving for Vegas Thursday morning. I watch the MAC Tournament from Caesars Palace most years. I would fully endorse a move west for the event.

I'm surprised that the NCAA would allow the WCC to have its tournament inside a casino (Orleans). We'll see how well attended the MAC tourney is when the Cleveland casino has an arena.

In the past the MAC championship was held during most schools' spring break, so the kids were God knows where. With school in session at Ohio, maybe we should do what Davidson did tonight and bring three or four busloads of kids up for Friday's game.

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bobcat695

3/11/2013 10:51 PM

The WCC has held their tournament there for a while. They always have large crowds for it. This year the PAC 12 tourney is being held at MGM Grand and starts later this week. A couple years ago Ohio played in a holiday tournament held at The Orleans.

I think most people have moved past being bothered by the casino setting. It is a nice draw if you want to treat the conference tournament as a vacation with other things to do than watch hoops.

The next 2 weeks is a fantastic time to be in Las Vegas if you like sports.

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anorris

3/11/2013 10:59 PM

Interestingly, I read earlier the WCC can't be bet on at the Orleans, but the PAC-12 is available at the MGM's book.

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JSF

3/12/2013 12:14 AM

I don't understand why the Sun Belt thought Hot Springs was a good idea. Then again, where is a good location? Nashville, maybe, but that conference is just so far spread out. And the Summit plays its tournament in Sioux Falls! Sioux Falls! Might as well play it in Saskatchewan.

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anorris

3/12/2013 12:27 AM

JSF wrote:expand_more

Verizon Arena in Little Rock seems like a good option for the SBC, or the Convention Center in Birmingham, both of which seem to have plenty of availability in their arenas. Maybe even the FedEx Forum in Memphis, but you're probably looking at more limited availability and higher cost there.

Last Edited: 3/12/2013 12:34:05 AM by anorris

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JSF

3/12/2013 2:42 AM

I can't see Little Rock being much better than Hot Springs. Birmingham might be a good option. I think you want to go with a bigger city, though. That's why I thought Nashville wasn't a bad idea. Memphis could work, though not at FedEx. Maybe Atlanta?

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DublinCat

3/12/2013 7:55 AM

Downtown Little Rock seems to have more going on at night than downtown Cleveland. Several nice downtown entertainment districts. Although not that close to the arena in North Little Rock.

The MAC has come a long way since Rockford and the Seagate Center. The Q is nice but I think the crowds would increase at Nationwide vs. Q. Much more going on in the Arena District/Short North

Last Edited: 3/12/2013 8:01:23 AM by DublinCat

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Ohio69

3/12/2013 8:23 AM

If the MAC played its semi-finals and finals on Sunday and Monday night, the crowds would be very, very small.

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OUbobcat9092

3/12/2013 9:59 AM

shabamon wrote:expand_more

ab54 wrote:expand_more

The key is to have it in Vegas.....it's sold out lol

It helps to have the #1 team in the country involved. Actually, there are like four tournaments in Vegas this year.

The WCC Final drew 7,896 in attendance. Or in Ohio terms - less than a midweek matchup vs. crappy Miami with the students gone.

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MariettaCatFanatic

3/12/2013 10:54 AM

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Jeff McKinney

3/12/2013 11:13 AM

DublinCat wrote:expand_more

Disagree that the Columbus crowds would be bigger. The Q and Cleveland have proven themselves for 12 years now.

I also find it hard to believe that Little Rock would have more attractions than Cleveland. Maybe in warm weather months, but not in March.

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OU_Country

3/12/2013 12:00 PM

MariettaCatFanatic wrote:expand_more

http://www.emueagles.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=428

Here is the photo gallery of the EMU game last night. I warn you though, it's rough to look at. That 300+ number reported is probably generous. A chunk of that number is the pep band and I am not sure they didn't count the players, coaches, and trainers in that number as well. There are some photos in there of action shots where you can't see a single spectator.[/QUOTE]

The people up in Ypsi and in the MAC Offices have to do something about EMU, CMU, NIU, BGSU and Miami hoops. It's such an embarrassment. I've also asked it before, but what can a conference do about a school like EMU? They barely belong as a D1 school if they can't get more than 1,000 people at a home tournament basketball game.

Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more

[QUOTE=DublinCat]Downtown Little Rock seems to have more going on at night than downtown Cleveland. Several nice downtown entertainment districts. Although not that close to the arena in North Little Rock.

The MAC has come a long way since Rockford and the Seagate Center. The Q is nice but I think the crowds would increase at Nationwide vs. Q. Much more going on in the Arena District/Short North

I think Columbus and NW Arena could be just as good as The Q. It's closer or as close for a number of schools. Sure, it's farther for Akron and Kent, but otherwise travel isn't any different for most schools, and for many, it's better. I also feel that it could be just as good as Cleveland, though I enjoy Cleveland and don't expect a change because as you said, they've proven themselves.

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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead

3/12/2013 12:24 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more

Disagree that the Columbus crowds would be bigger. The Q and Cleveland have proven themselves for 12 years now.

I think it depends on which schools are there. As long as Akron/Kent/Buffalo continue to make deep tournament runs, it makes sense to keep it on Cleveland for the crowds. If Miami/BG/Toledo/Ball State ever get good again and are perennially making deep MAC tournament runs, I think it would be better to have it in Columbus.

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Ted Thompson

3/12/2013 12:29 PM

The thing is, Cleveland actually embraces this tournament. The Plain Dealer started coverage on Sunday and SportsTime Ohio coverage has been great. I'm not sure you'll get the same treatment in Columbus. I think the MAC Tourney is one thing the MAC does right. Why mess with it?

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OhioStunter

3/12/2013 12:32 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more

Agree 100 percent. Cleveland is so much better as a venue than Columbus (and...gasp...remember being at the tourney in Toledo? TOLEDO?)