Midwest, East Coast is screwed in 2008 NCAA tournament.

[Marquette84]

Just looking at the NCAA's page for the 2007 tournament, and noticed the 2008 sites are listed.

Omaha is the only ostentisbly midwest venue for 1st/2nd round games--but lets face it, most people dont' think of Nebraska as a particularly easy drive from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, etc. 

Meanwhile, if you're in the south/east you're golden.
Birmingham, Little Rock, Raleigh, Tampa.

Even DC, the token east-coast location is also considered by some to be part of the south.

I thought the pod system was supposed to improve the ability for fans to attend games closer to home--not give an excuse to the NCAA to load up in a particular region.

Here are the 2008 1st/2nd round locations.

1. Honda Center
Anaheim, California

2. Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado

3. Qwest Center Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska

4. Verizon Center
Washington, D.C.

5. BJCC Arena
Birmingham, Alabama

6. Alltel Arena
Little Rock, Arkansas

7. RBC Center
Raleigh, North Carolina

8. St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa, Florida

[spiral97]

I can handle us being in:
Denver, Colorado
Omaha, Nebraska
Little Rock, Arkansas

3/8 is not too bad!

(actually, I can handle us in ANY of the 8  8))

[WashDCWarrior]

Wow, those are pretty terrible.  I suppose the lower and eastern midwest would probably be closer to Little Rock than Omaha.  For comparison, here are the 2007 1st round sites.  More balanced, but the southwest is getting screwed.

Buffalo, NY
Lexington, KY
Sacramento, CA
Winston-Salem, NC
Chicago, IL
Columbus, OH
New Orleans, LA
Spokane, WA

[ChicosBailBonds]

Come on out to Anaheim, you can stay at my place.  I live about 15 minutes from the Pond and then we can head over to beach and get our drink on.

[spiral97]

Come on out to Anaheim, you can stay at my place.  I live about 15 minutes from the Pond and then we can head over to beach and get our drink on.

you realize that with an open invite like that, you could very well end up with 100+ people taking you up on it if MU gets slotted there...
GREAT party probably, but would your wife be kosher with it? 

[77ncaachamps]

HEY CHICO!

My gf and I are planning on visiting DLand in Feb. Can we bunk at your place?

[MeghanMU]

Hey if Chico can't handle 100+, my husband and I could take a few   We're also about 15 min from The Pond

[SqueallyDRyan]

If we are in Omaha I will buy anyone from these boards a beer pregame.

[Rocco]

My uncle lives in Lincoln(Big Huskers fan)  I will stay with him if we are slotted in Omaha.  Does anyone know how far Lincoln is from Omaha?

[spiral97]

lincoln is about 2 hours south from what I recall..
grew up in omaha..  where in omaha you at squeally?  I lived in bellevue area.

[MUCrisco]

I've been to Omaha for a couple of weddings.  I was surprised at how much fun I had.  The first time I was there, we mostly hung out a place not in the city called the Icebox or something like that.  The second time, we hung out in that Old Town area if that's what it's called.  Good time.  So, I guess Omaha wouldn't be bad.  We'd all get direct flights on Midwest Airlines.  Denver would be cool.  Anaheim would be better.  Party @ Chico's!

[spiral97]

If you go to Omaha, check out The Spaghetti Works restaurant in the Old Market area.  Excellent all spaghetti place that offers all you can eat spaghetti with a large selection of sauces (definitely try the Beer Cheese, Hot Naked, and Hot Spicy Italian).

you can also check em out online at: http://www.spagworks.com/

[rocky_warrior]

If you go to Omaha, check out The Spaghetti Works restaurant in the Old Market area.

Is there anyplace that you don't have a food recommendation for? 

[spiral97]

hmm.. a few.. if you can find a place I haven't lived

but for places I've lived I can usually recommend SOMEWHERE to eat 

[SqueallyDRyan]

I am in Omaha , not too far from downtown.  Lincoln is about an hour away. id compare it like getting from milwaukee to madison or a bit more

[4everwarriors]

just want to know if your invite pertains to me also? Thanks in advance.

[spiral97]

be careful..... chicos might have plans with warm water in a bucket while you're sleeping..