http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&...

You know, if they wanted it in Cleveland there's got to be better venues for a D-I Conference Volleyball Tournament.  (The Q, Cleveland State's Arena...etc)  It looks like a great facility for rec leagues, but a NCAA Conference Tournament?  I think not.

Plus on top of that, it's in the middle of nowhere, closest hotels are roughly 5-6 miles away!  And worst of all..NO TONY PACKO'S or FRICKERS!

(Note: As I am complaining some, I will just suck it up and make the best of it, just need to vent a bit)

Stunned.

Finances were no doubt a factor; I'm sure SeaGate was pricier, and the crowds never materialized in Toledo.

Still -- a sportsplex?  Really?

Wow.  Certainly will be a different experience.

Hopefully it will turn out okay --- but I'd be concerned that the athlete/fan experience has been sacrificed for the sake of saving a few bucks.  Is the MAC in that dire of financial situation?

This smacks of a minor league move.

Lower than minor league, Dragon.  Hope to heck an early season storm doesn't dump a foot of snow on that snow belt "city" the weekend of that tournament.  I'd love to hear from the powers that be the rationale behind this crazy move.

If you're going to have the tournament in Ohio the only place worth considering is Cincinnati.  That's the hotbed of talent and interest in this state.  Just look at the number of state championship teams out of that area.

Geneva is a joke.

Never made it to Seagate but just did a google/mapquest study of the MAC and Delta, OH, appears to be the geographic center.  That small town is just west of Toledo.

Nice thoughts, but what venues in those cities are you proposing?   Would need to be an arena-type setting which could be obtained for less rent than SeaGate (since in going from SeaGate to a sportsplex, rent was obviously the overriding factor, spectator/athlete experience be damned).

Geography is apparently less important than either money or the convenience of the MAC staff (given the MAC offices are in Cleveland).

It is what it is, folks.

I don't know how nice they are, as I've never been, but don't they have an arena or two at the state fairgrounds that host HS playoff basketball games? Would that potentially be suitable?

[/QUOTE]I don't know how nice they are, as I've never been, but don't they have an arena or two at the state fairgrounds that host HS playoff basketball games? Would that potentially be suitable?
[/QUOTE]

The Fairgrounds Coliseum, now known as the Ohio Exposition Center, hosts boys basketball district and regional games here. There are two distinct camps of people -- those that appreciate the tradition of having played at "The Barn" for decades and those who think the players/coaches should have a more modern and nicer venue for these games.

I happen to be more of a traditionalist as there have been some great players who have been there over the decades. And, we have some very good memories in the Dublin Scioto camp due to the Irish playing and winning some big games there in 2008 and 2009.

Cost is an issue for the Central District Athletic Board, which moved the sectional games out of the fairgrounds to high school sites four years ago. Based on attendance, it was much less expensive to use the high schools. And, you avoid parking charges.

In terms of sight lines, I don't think it would be very good for volleyball. The stands are far from the playing surface for basketball.  The best thing you could say is that it is a reasonable distance for the Ohio schools, but I'd say that it isn't a great option.

I have spent a quite a few days/evenings at this facility watching Optimist's younger bro play soccer. The facility is quite impressive. Two fullsize soccer fields, indoor track, large floor for multiple volleyball courts, etc. Wedged in between the two indoor buildings is a very nice football stadium for Geneva HS. The facility draws in soccer, basketball and volleyball teams from as far as Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo as well as most of Ohio.

As nice as it is, I agree with most of the sentiment above.

Geneva is 50 miles from Cleveland. Not a great location and I think any casual fans in the Cleveland/Akron area won't view this as a local venue. Alan's snow comment is relevant in perception. While they clear and move snow like nobody's business, the perception outside of Lake and Ashtabula Counties will affect attendance if there is a hint of snow.

There is one or two hotels at the exit and 1 sports bar, along with a host of fast food places. In town, there are a few more sit down places to eat.(one affiliated with a local winery is quite nice). I imagine the MAC's "official" hotel could be the lodge at the Geneva State Park.

Not sure how they will arrange seating for this. Now, fans view from a balcony that is on the 2nd level. There is limited seating on small multiple small bleachers.(3-4 rows, maybe 30 feet in length)

Rather than move bleachers in, my bet is that they set up a volleyball court in the 2nd building that has an indoor track and soccer field. There is plenty of seating(individual seat back stands) to accomodate the fans. The link below gives you a glimpse of what I mean.

For what it is worth, this facility hosted the NAIA National Championship and Horizon League Championship for indoor track. Their collegiate track invitational meet boasted 3 nationally ranked teams. So they do have some experience working at the collegiate level.

http://www.gareat.org/track/meets.html

You would think. Just not sure they could do that in the area where I have seen volleyball played there. It will be interesting to see what the set up is. How big are the crowds at the MAC Championship?