Should MU stop hosting the NCAAT ?

[Mu8891]

That’s a fairly serious question..

I think MU and FF are set to host again in 2025.  But , what is the upside??
Really.  What does MU gain ?

Most MU fans I have spoken to feel like been there, done that. It’s a lot of work
( I presume) for the Athletic Dept. 

And … of course … WORST YET … you now routinely set up home games for your biggest rival and help facilitate the red hoard moving to the S16

Thoughts?

[panda]

Their money is still green. Find something else to complain about.

Or actually please don’t.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Of course they should host.  It benefits the city tremendously and its a fun event to attend.

Maybe the Marquette fanbase should grow a pair and learn how to deal with UW's success 90 miles down the road.  I mean the thought process is "I don't like when I see UW fans at the Forum so therefore we shouldn't host NCAA tournament games in Milwaukee?"  Jeez what a snowflake line of reasoning.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Their money is still green. Find something else to complain about.

Or actually please don’t.

Agreed. Let's turn our focus (and money) on actually earning a protected seed like the Badgers did.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

At least start hosting Thu/Sat pods. Having to play on Thursday every year we’re in gets old.

[mu_hilltopper]

Your bitterly hated neighbors get to come in to your living room and host a huge party that makes them elated, and you pissed off.   Snowflake here.   Stop hosting.   

Oh noes, the bars and restaurants around FF won't make bonus coin. 

Life isn't all about profit.  Sometimes it's more important to have a bitter hatred in your heart that makes you feel alive.   #Arbys

[brewcity77]

We'll see what happens tomorrow, but MU hosted 8 times, in 1984, 1992, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2022. Bucky played here in 3 of those, including this year. They failed to advance out of the first weekend in 1999 and that 2014 team was advancing no matter where they were placed.

We still get money for hosting and bring attention and business to Milwaukee. I do wish Madison would host more. The only time they've hosted in the modern era was the 2002 regional, but I'm not sure the city meets hotel needs to host 8 fanbases in an opening weekend.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

We'll see what happens tomorrow, but MU hosted 8 times, in 1984, 1992, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2022. Bucky played here in 3 of those, including this year. They failed to advance out of the first weekend in 1999 and that 2014 team was advancing no matter where they were placed.

We still get money for hosting and bring attention and business to Milwaukee. I do wish Madison would host more. The only time they've hosted in the modern era was the 2002 regional, but I'm not sure the city meets hotel needs to host 8 fanbases in an opening weekend.

I also don't think the Kohl Center has the availability to do so unless they drop the WIAA tournament for a year. 

[Gato78]

I have no problem with us hosting and allowing obnoxious and clueless Badger fans to be at their worst in Fiserv. I do have a problem with the banners at Punchbowl and MECCA that claim this is the “home of the Badgers.”

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I also don't think the Kohl Center has the availability to do so unless they drop the WIAA tournament for a year.

This is the bigger conflict, imo.

A crap ton of hotels have been built in Madison the last 10 years.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Yeah if Greenville, SC can host, I am sure Madison can.
'
I also think the UW athletic department doesn't want to deal with the headaches of hosting and potentially having three teams playing in the postseason at the same time.  (men's BB, women's hockey, men's hockey)  That happened just last year.

[brewcity77]

Also worth noting if Madison did host, Marquette hasn't been earning many protected seeds. Only 3 of the past 25 years, compared to 8 for Bucky.

[MUfan12]

I have no problem with us hosting and allowing obnoxious and clueless Badger fans to be at their worst in Fiserv.

Sure, but it doesn't get covered that way.

MU should host, but I can totally understand the frustration. It sucks being here when they're in a situation like this year. Four home games and a good path to New Orleans.

Shaka and co. gotta get this thing turned around. Make March fun again.

[MuggsyB]

I have no problem with us hosting and allowing obnoxious and clueless Badger fans to be at their worst in Fiserv. I do have a problem with the banners at Punchbowl and MECCA that claim this is the “home of the Badgers.”

Great point Gato.  How are you?  And how is Mrs. Gato?

[Mr. Nielsen]

I have no problem with us hosting and allowing obnoxious and clueless Badger fans to be at their worst in Fiserv. I do have a problem with the banners at Punchbowl and MECCA that claim this is the “home of the Badgers.”

Those banners were odd to look at. UW Credit Union was the sponsor. Had to pay big coin for them.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Your bitterly hated neighbors get to come in to your living room and host a huge party that makes them elated, and you pissed off.   Snowflake here.   Stop hosting.   

Oh noes, the bars and restaurants around FF won't make bonus coin. 

Life isn't all about profit.  Sometimes it's more important to have a bitter hatred in your heart that makes you feel alive.   #Arbys

The Arby’s Arena at the White Folks Bay Casino will be operational to host NCAA games in 2032 once the special operation to annex Glendale winds down, Mayor Topper Putler announced today.

[Viper]

That’s a fairly serious question..

I think MU and FF are set to host again in 2025.  But , what is the upside??
Really.  What does MU gain ?

Most MU fans I have spoken to feel like been there, done that. It’s a lot of work
( I presume) for the Athletic Dept. 

And … of course … WORST YET … you now routinely set up home games for your biggest rival and help facilitate the red hoard moving to the S16

Thoughts?

like most of urban America, Milwaukee has significant problems…crime, unemployment, blight. Car theft in Mke is off the charts. Murder rate YOY up 100%, and ‘21 was record setting, unfortunately. Hence, tourney games at FF are good, very much a positive, even if RED invades. Hopefully visitors of Mke leave with a positive impression. Money is put into the local economy…bars, restaurants, hotels. I’m wondering if Marquette’s banners are allowed to hang, or if the ncaa requires they be furled so as to create a generic game site. It would be nice if our basketball heritage could be displayed. Otherwise FF becomes Kohl Center East. (My 2nd fav team Colgate hung tough. My 2nd fav team Iowa State, ball in)

[Viper]

I also don't think the Kohl Center has the availability to do so unless they drop the WIAA tournament for a year.

Madison is a cowtown. They’d have to drop the tractor pull.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Madison is a cowtown. They’d have to drop the tractor pull.

I mean, that's wholly inaccurate but sure....

[mu_hilltopper]

The Arby’s Arena at the White Folks Bay Casino will be operational to host NCAA games in 2032 once the special operation to annex Glendale winds down, Mayor Topper Putler announced today.

Your intel is wrong.  Annexing Fox Point.

[mu_hilltopper]

Oh, crap.  Did I say that out loud?

[MUfan12]

Oh, crap.  Did I say that out loud?

A special operation on the way to invading Mequon.

[axaguy]

I believe the "host" school can not appear in its own regional location. Hence Wisconsin here but not MU. What if UWM, another local NCAA major school, was host as I believe they were once. Couldn't we THEN be placed here???
Madison can't host and have the Badgers play there. Hotel rooms not of significance.
Am from Chicago and been to several of the other regionals when at Bradley Center. Was at one when my daughter was MU student and Badgers LOST the Sunday game....was like a morgue walking out....20,000 people in mourning silence..
Anyway, was hoping maybe Loyola or Illinois got pleased here, too .....

[brewcity77]

I believe the "host" school can not appear in its own regional location. Hence Wisconsin here but not MU. What if UWM, another local NCAA major school, was host as I believe they were once. Couldn't we THEN be placed here???
Madison can't host and have the Badgers play there. Hotel rooms not of significance.
Am from Chicago and been to several of the other regionals when at Bradley Center. Was at one when my daughter was MU student and Badgers LOST the Sunday game....was like a morgue walking out....20,000 people in mourning silence..
Anyway, was hoping maybe Loyola or Illinois got pleased here, too .....

You also can't play in a venue you played in more than 3 times during the regular season. So Milwaukee or the Horizon could host, but we still couldn't play at Fiserv if we'd played 4+ games there already.

[fjm]

No. Keep hosting.

Keep letting the badgers come here if they are good enough. I don’t care. I made $1300 yesterday. And stand to make equal or more on Sunday.

I hate the badgers. But they were gonna play their basketball game somewhere… why not make bank off it.

[Warriors4ever]

Yes, I was also going to say that it’s about the venue, not the host.
Marquette’s banners are hanging, I saw them yesterday.
I could see not having Milwaukee followed by Chicago  the following weekend, because they are so close together. I wish I had been able to get Chicago tix when they went on sale, if the Badgers get there, probably could have made some money. I didn’t make that much, but did make some on my tickets from last night.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Your intel is wrong.  Annexing Fox Point.

My source? The Bavarians to the West, Herr Hans.

[willie warrior]

Your bitterly hated neighbors get to come in to your living room and host a huge party that makes them elated, and you pissed off.   Snowflake here.   Stop hosting.   

Oh noes, the bars and restaurants around FF won't make bonus coin. 

Life isn't all about profit.  Sometimes it's more important to have a bitter hatred in your heart that makes you feel alive.   #Arbys

Life may not be all about profit but the sports world is all about the fookn $
Take a gander at baseball, nfl nba, nil  etc.

[MUeng]

What are the chances the fifo hosts the final four? State of the art, great bar/restaurant scene around the arena. I get it's not a football stadium but it's not about cramming 50k people in for a basketball game anymore. Give 17k a much better experience.

[Uncle Rico]

What are the chances the fifo hosts the final four? State of the art, great bar/restaurant scene around the arena. I get it's not a football stadium but it's not about cramming 50k people in for a basketball game anymore. Give 17k a much better experience.

Zero

Also, not hosting because you’re afraid of Wisconsin playing there is some little brother, chicken &$(/ nonsense.

[MUCam]

I have to assume the original post was satirical in nature and meant not to be taken seriously.

Please tell me I’m not wrong? Please?

It has to be satire, no? It can’t be a serious question can it?

[Uncle Rico]

I have to assume the original post was satirical in nature and meant not to be taken seriously.

Please tell me I’m not wrong? Please?

It has to be satire, no? It can’t be a serious question can it?

.

Given his posting history, it is not satire

[CountryRoads]

The only downside is that it takes away a Midwest location where MU cannot play.

[Gato78]

Great point Gato.  How are you?  And how is Mrs. Gato?

Things are good. Cannot wait until next season!

[Dickthedribbler]

I don't have any problem with Wisconsin here. They're only benefitting from a "system" that was put in place before the Badgers started going to the Tournament. MU would gladly do the same thing if the facts were different.

My beef ( and it's legitimate) is with the "protected seed" itself. 20-25 years ago many first weekend sites were domed football stadiums with a lot of empty seats. So the Blue bloods and the NCAA got together and concocted this idea that if the top 4 seeds in each region were assigned a site closest to their home base, there would be more local fan interest in the Tourney, more tickets would be sold, etc. And this may have had some truth for awhile. Never mind that it was all a guise in the first place to enable schools like Duke, Carolina and a handful of others who were routinely top 4 seeds, to play their way to a Final 4 without ever having to get on an airplane in some cases.

But that original excuse for "protected seeds" is no longer in play. First weekend games don't use domed stadiums ( or very rarely) anymore. All these sites are now basically like Fiserv Forumn. And if a city can't host 8 schools from all around the country, and sell out a 17,000 seat arena without having the local team there, then it shouldn't be awarded the gig in the first place. The Milwaukee site would have easily sold out, with or without UW.

In the current day and age, "protected seed" is merely another way for the NCAA to put it's thumb on the scale in favor of some to the detriment of others.

[CountryRoads]

How many tickets do Marquette season ticket holders get for these games? Seems it should be way less considering they just look to make a profit on their tickets and have no interest in going. Probably under 200 MU fans at the game from what I saw yesterday. Just give a bigger allotment to the other teams is my recommendation. Would be less badger fans as a result.

[jfp61]

It makes the city at least 2 million dollars every year. There is no reason not to do it unless you are convinced Marquette is a top 4 team in the country.

[Dickthedribbler]

Well I have no beef with the Badger fans there. They are just supporting their team. My bitch is with the idea of the "protected seed". I mean the whole purpose behind "seeding" is to reward a team ( or not) 1-16 based on their performance throughout the regular season; match them up with another team accordingly; and let's play. What gives one team, in addition to their well earned wonderful seed, the further advantage of getting to play a home game. Nothing in my opinion.

The "protected seed" messes with the competitive nature of the Tournament. It was first done under the ruse of selling more tickets. Now it just serves to "protect" a few programs.

As an aside, the Colgate/UW game was a tossup at the 4:00 mark of the second half. Think that game may have turned out differently if it was played in Portland or Fort Worth rather than at Kohl Center East???

[Warriors4ever]

There is no way to know how many MU fans were there, if you are looking at clothing. My friends and I were at the afternoon games,  MU was out of the tourney so we weren’t wearing MU gear. I had an Illinois shirt on, my friend who goes to MU games with us wearing gold and is a Wisconsin alum had of course Wisconsin gear on.
I’m sure we weren’t alone in not wearing MU colors.

[CountryRoads]

There is no way to know how many MU fans were there, if you are looking at clothing. My friends and I were at the afternoon games,  MU was out of the tourney so we weren’t wearing MU gear. I had an Illinois shirt on, my friend who goes to MU games with us wearing gold and is a Wisconsin alum had of course Wisconsin gear on.
I’m sure we weren’t alone in not wearing MU colors.

That’s true, I take that back. My point is many MU fans bought tickets with the sole intention to sell them for a profit (to badger fans). That’s a pretty loser move if you ask me.

[dgies9156]

No. Keep hosting.

Keep letting the badgers come here if they are good enough. I don’t care. I made $1300 yesterday. And stand to make equal or more on Sunday.

I hate the badgers. But they were gonna play their basketball game somewhere… why not make bank off it.

Just thoroughly fumigate the place once the Badger fans leave.

[Ardmore Mug]

+1000  Please sanitize those seats as well ! ! ! 

[Warriors4ever]

Yes I’m sure some did buy for that reason. We sold some of our Friday night tickets because the games were so late and we didn’t want to be driving back to Chicago at 1 am, two of our group did use their tickets. And all of us are going tomorrow.

[Mu8891]

Cam … I don’t care what u think of my posting history.  It was / is a legit question

And … honestly, I don’t see what MU gets out of it.  Feel free to disagree

[MU82]

I have no problem with MU hosting, and I have no problem with the concept of "protected seeds."

I do have a problem with Marquette not being a protected seed more often.

[rocky_warrior]

That’s true, I take that back. My point is many MU fans bought tickets with the sole intention to sell them for a profit (to badger fans). That’s a pretty loser move if you ask me.

That's a smart investment if you ask me.  The fact that you would rater leave an easy $1k on the table in name of spite is silly.

[Viper]

I mean, that's wholly inaccurate but sure....

middleton resident? Don’t be prickly. Just a hack at RED.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Cam … I don’t care what u think of my posting history.  It was / is a legit question

And … honestly, I don’t see what MU gets out of it.  Feel free to disagree

Judging by the responses, it's actually a pretty dumb question.

[4everwarriors]

like most of urban America, Milwaukee has significant problems…crime, unemployment, blight. Car theft in Mke is off the charts. Murder rate YOY up 100%, and ‘21 was record setting, unfortunately. Hence, tourney games at FF are good, very much a positive, even if RED invades. Hopefully visitors of Mke leave with a positive impression. Money is put into the local economy…bars, restaurants, hotels. I’m wondering if Marquette’s banners are allowed to hang, or if the ncaa requires they be furled so as to create a generic game site. It would be nice if our basketball heritage could be displayed. Otherwise FF becomes Kohl Center East. (My 2nd fav team Colgate hung tough. My 2nd fav team Iowa State, ball in)

Careful dude, some here want to cancel authentic police reports and shoot the messenger, hey?

[GB Warrior]

Keep finding every way to rake in the money as host. Since it's their home stadium, there's no chance of playing there anyway even if we were a protected seed.

[wisblue]

I have no problem with us hosting and allowing obnoxious and clueless Badger fans to be at their worst in Fiserv. I do have a problem with the banners at Punchbowl and MECCA that claim this is the “home of the Badgers.”

That aggravates me too.

Not only is it factually wrong, but it’s a slap in the face to MU, UWM and the fans of the other participating teams.

[Shooter Flatch]

That’s true, I take that back. My point is many MU fans bought tickets with the sole intention to sell them for a profit (to badger fans). That’s a pretty loser move if you ask me.
[/quote]

Country, that’s a pretty clueless statement. Pretty typical of a whiny weasel fan. As a season ticket holder, I had to buy my tickets before the season even started. Long before I knew the Badger fans were going to be dragging their manure through the arena.

[brewcity77]

The Badgers were picked what, 9th in the Big 10? No one was buying tickets thinking they'd be in Milwaukee. It's more likely Dayton fans were buying season tickets to get First Four seats to sell to Bucky. They've had a remarkable season but no one saw it coming in the preseason.

[Viper]

Zero

Also, not hosting because you’re afraid of Wisconsin playing there is some little brother, chicken &$(/ nonsense.

harsh

[Uncle Rico]

harsh

It’s embarrassing watching Marquette fans get up in arms over this.  Wisconsin fans eat that up

[BrewCity83]

Ha!  I passed up my chance as an MU STH to buy tickets to these games because I too thought that bucky would suck this year and would be unlikely to play here.  So my gamble lost and I left $1000-$2000 on the table.  But don't think I wouldn't have happily gouged the badger fans for every penny I could get out of them.

[Warriors4ever]

I love the first weekend of games. We bought the tickets intending to go to all the games. It was really only the lateness of Friday’s games that caused a shift in plans. Luckily as Wisconsin was playing then, we sold at a profit.

[Newsdreams]

Careful dude, some here want to cancel authentic police reports and shoot the messenger, hey?

Well sometimes totalitarian messengers should be erased.

[The Lens]

Badgers or no Badgers the NCAA Tourney is one of the very best sporting events out there and the opportunity to have it in Milwaukee every few years is fantastic.  I will go each and every year.  Losing this would be real blow to the sports scene in Milwaukee.  If you don't want the Badger to win, show up and cheer for Iowa State.  That's what I did.