Indianapolis - A Superior Tournament City

[Benny B]

The premise here is that if a reformulated Big East consisting of Georgetown, Villanova, Seton Hall, St. John's, Providence, Dayton, Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Marquette, Saint Louis, Creighton were to ever lose the Garden for its conference tournament, there is no better alternative than Indianapolis.

The other contenders: Chicago, DC, Philly, Brooklyn

Pros:

Location - Indianapolis and Chicago are closer in proximity to seven schools... DC, Philly, Brooklyn to five.  Within driving distance (under 10 hours) for every school.  Omaha to DC, Philly and Brooklyn is 17, 18 and 20 hours, respectively.
Economics - Indy is just flat out more affordable than the other cities on just about everything.
Venues - Banker's Life is one of the better NBA arenas in the country and has served as a model for other NBA arenas around the country.  And if that wasn't enough, you also have one of the largest convention centers in the Midwest at your disposal.
Practice Facilities - Hinkle, IUPUI, Broadripple HS, Brebeuf, Bishop Chatard, etc.
Hotels - Over 5,600 hotel rooms downtown... everything from a two-star Days Inn to the 5-star Conrad.  And unlike the other cities, you don't feel dirty or unsafe staying in a room that's under $100/night.
Parking - $2.00 for 3 hours.  $4.00 for 4 hours.  All day for $20.00.  Try finding game parking in any of the other cities for less than $20.00.
"Walk-up" Attendance - Seriously... is there any place better than Indiana for attracting unaffiliated locals to a basketball game?
Shopping - Circle Center mall... quite literally in the heart of downtown.
Infrastructure - Downtown Indy is designed to host major sporting events.  Final Fours, NCAA Regionals/Second Rounds, Big Ten Tourney (and Championship), NBA and NFL games every week, the Super Bowl... all of them pulled off without a hitch and to rave reviews every time.  I don't think there's another city that has hosted more major sporting events.  The airport is a ten-minute drive away.  And the coup de gras...
All of the hotels, venues, restaurants, the mall, etc. are within walking distance of each other. 


Cons:

Dining - It is well known that people in Indiana don't patronize restaurants with fewer than 10 locations.  That said, you still have high-end places like St. Elmo's, Palomino, Capital Grille, etc., but not a lot of "culture" when it comes to foodie options that can be found in Chicago, Philly, DC and Brooklyn.
Accessibility - Chicago, DC and NYC have direct flights to every school's city.  Omaha, Providence, Dayton and Milwaukee would have to connect to get to Indy (although Dayton is a two hour drive, Milwaukee four).
Nightlife - You don't have the underground discotheques and clubs with naked ladies dancing in cages, but you do have your choice of various establishments downtown, on Mass Ave, and in Broadripple that would probably be more suited to the crowd that would attend a conference tournament.

[Tugg Speedman]

If the new conference picks Indy, it will be a mid-major in three years.

It HAS TO BE in a major media center.  MSG is the best option (Barclay's in Brooklyn has the A-10) followed by DC and Philly.  Fourth would be Chicago but the B10 already uses the UC.

[lurch91]

Indy is a great town for hosting events, it doesn't hold the same cache as NYC, but it is definitely above average.

Fountain Square, Mass Ave and a few other areas help with the foodies.  But over all, a solid summary of the city.

[mu03eng]

Agree with Another.

Indy is good venue, but it doesn't have any punch that makes the media interested.  Go back and read the reviews of the Indy Superbowl.  Almost universally the media said, I thought it was going to suck, turns out they did a good job, getting around was easy, but there was no real pop.  If the media isn't excited you aren't going to get fans excited.

Plus B1G is there every other year and we couldn't go up against them.

[Lennys Tap]

I ran in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon last month and was pleasantly surprised with downtown Indy - affordable, clean, good food and you could walk to everything. Not the energy/excitement of a New York, but I came away impressed.

[TheTulsaWarrior]

With the number of players from the Chicaago area in any future configuation of the BE that might be a good pick.  Easy air and ground connections and strong media hub.  Perhaps a two phase tournament with games in NYC and Chicago, with the title game alternate years in the two cities.

[MerrittsMustache]

As others have eluded to, you're missing the biggest Cons of all in that there's nothing special about Indy for the players i.e. there's no buzz around the city itself. Sure, it's cheap, it's manageable, the people are friendly and whatever else, but are HS kids out there thinking that they really want to play in the Big East so that they can play on the big stage of Banker's Life Arena? There's no history there. Indy has gotten great reviews from the usually fickle sports media on hosting the Super Bowl, Final Four, etc but I don't see a lot of people headed to Indy on vacation or saying that they'd really like to take in a game at Banker's Life Arena before they die.

To borrow a term from my mother-in-law, there's no pizazz.

[mu03eng]

To put it in business terms.

Indy is the finance person picking the venue, NYC is the sales guy picking the venue.  If we don't really care about the cost, why would we go with the finance person's choice?  Who's more likely to attract the big customers and opportunities?

[kmwtrucks]

If you have any hope of staying at least somewhat competitive with The Big 5 conf, It has to be MSG which is the most Iconic BBALL venue in US, In by far the biggest city and Media market in the US.  

I think that people are picking INDY becuase it would be easier for them to go, I live in Chicago and would be better for me if it was here.  But If I was a recruit from chicago or Milwaukee and had the choice or playing a Midwest city for my Conf tournament why wouldn't I go Big 10?  Playing in MSG is something every kid would think is Cool.  And being able to recruit is all that matter's when it comes to these kinds of things.  As soon as you cannot recruit top 100's, the quality of BBALL falls off, interest falls off and REV falls off. 

[warriorchick]

As others have eluded to, you're missing the biggest Cons of all in that there's nothing special about Indy for the players i.e. there's no buzz around the city itself. Sure, it's cheap, it's manageable, the people are friendly and whatever else, but are HS kids out there thinking that they really want to play in the Big East so that they can play on the big stage of Banker's Life Arena? There's no history there. Indy has gotten great reviews from the usually fickle sports media on hosting the Super Bowl, Final Four, etc but I don't see a lot of people headed to Indy on vacation or saying that they'd really like to take in a game at Banker's Life Arena before they die.

To borrow a term from my mother-in-law, there's no pizazz.

Seriously?

You really think recruits will be thinking, "Well, Marquette was my top choice, but their conference tournament is in such a boring city...."?

I think giving the players fewer opportunities to get into trouble is a plus.

By the way, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?  We are talking about the tournament location of a non-existent conference in a town that has no schools in the current conversation.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Seriously?

You really think recruits will be thinking, "Well, Marquette was my top choice, but their conference tournament is in such a boring city...."?

I think giving the players fewer opportunities to get into trouble is a plus.

By the way, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?  We are talking about the tournament location of a non-existent conference in a town that has no schools in the current conversation.

This is correct. I don't think it directly effects recruiting.

However, in order to keep the perceived value of "new conference" high, they should look for a location with a high perceived value. Indy is the Honda Accord of tournament locations. Practical, respected, well liked.

But, it doesn't have the a high perceived value.

It will be a struggle for "new conference" to not be an afterthought, so getting a premium location is important.

[Chili]

I cannot believe this is even a debate. On one hand you have the most famous arena in sports in the biggest media market in the US vs. the biggest city in the worst state of the great lakes?

Seriously, are you all drunk, high or both who are advocating Indy?  

[Benny B]

Agree with Another.

Indy is good venue, but it doesn't have any punch that makes the media interested.  Go back and read the reviews of the Indy Superbowl.  Almost universally the media said, I thought it was going to suck, turns out they did a good job, getting around was easy, but there was no real pop.  If the media isn't excited you aren't going to get fans excited.

Plus B1G is there every other year and we couldn't go up against them.

It's a good thing that media types world-wide now know that Indy doesn't suck....

Going up against the Big ? every other year is something that only Indy could pull off - it's not something I've contemplated, but it could easily happen if the Wed/Thur games were split between Hinkle and Banker's Life... nevertheless, in the years where the Big ? insists on being in Indy by themselves, you can take the BE tournament to Philly, DC, Chicago, East St. Louis, or wherever.

Of course, let's keep in mind that this is all predicated on the idea that the BE loses the Garden, which isn't likely to happen anytime soon.

As others have eluded to, you're missing the biggest Cons of all in that there's nothing special about Indy for the players i.e. there's no buzz around the city itself. Sure, it's cheap, it's manageable, the people are friendly and whatever else, but are HS kids out there thinking that they really want to play in the Big East so that they can play on the big stage of Banker's Life Arena? There's no history there. Indy has gotten great reviews from the usually fickle sports media on hosting the Super Bowl, Final Four, etc but I don't see a lot of people headed to Indy on vacation or saying that they'd really like to take in a game at Banker's Life Arena before they die.

To borrow a term from my mother-in-law, there's no pizazz.

Of course there would be no buzz around the city, Buzz would already be in the city.

At Banker's Life, no... there's no history.  But where's the history at any other arena (again, MSG is not an option here).  And if it's history you're after, the aforementioned Hinkle Fieldhouse probably has more history to it than just about every other NBA arena combined.  If MSG is the Lambeau of basketball, then Hinkle is Soldiers Field.

And no... people don't normally decide vacation in Indianapolis.  At least not any fewer that those who decide to vacation in Philly or Chicago.  DC & NYC, different story.  But you're not catering to people who want to take a vacation; you're catering to basketball fans who want to go see a conference tournament.

Screw the media... if you build it, they will come.  Big ? gets adequate coverage in Indy, and just as much as they do when they're in Chicago, so the whole "not sexy enough for the media" argument doesn't hold water.

To put it in business terms.

Indy is the finance person picking the venue, NYC is the sales guy picking the venue.  If we don't really care about the cost, why would we go with the finance person's choice?  Who's more likely to attract the big customers and opportunities?

Make no mistake, conference realignment is all about the money.  And who are these big customers?  High school recruits who will only pick a school that plays its tournament on the East Coast?  The Georgia Dome is a craphole and Greensboro Coliseum needs a good implosion more than another facelift, but you don't see the SEC or ACC having any recruiting worries.  Heck, if any burger boys have the United Center, Wells Fargo or Verizon on their "must-play" list, it's as an NBA player, not college.

I cannot believe this is even a debate. On one hand you have the most famous arena in sports in the biggest media market in the US vs. the biggest city in the worst state of the great lakes?

Seriously, are you all drunk, high or both who are advocating Indy? 

Wrong debate, Chili... the whole point here pro-Indy presumes MSG isn't an option.

[mu03eng]

By the way, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?  We are talking about the tournament location of a non-existent conference in a town that has no schools in the current conversation.

Can you think of a better use of an internet message board?

[/quote]
Seriously?

You really think recruits will be thinking, "Well, Marquette was my top choice, but their conference tournament is in such a boring city...."?

I think giving the players fewer opportunities to get into trouble is a plus.
[/quote]

I absolutely think if you have the venue of MSG, the most iconic basketball venue in the most iconic basketball city as a selling point recruits will be in with that.  Hell recruits have gone to a school for a lot less "relevant" reason.  I don't think it would be the sole reason to land a recruit but it's definitely a plus.

[Tugg Speedman]

Seriously?

You really think recruits will be thinking, "Well, Marquette was my top choice, but their conference tournament is in such a boring city...."?

No but Kevon Looney and Diamond Stone are big time players that want to play at a big time school.  Hundreds of reporters go to the Big East tourney voluntarily because it is easy, it's a 10 minute subway ride from their office.  They are not going to spend a week in Indy in March.  Period.

So, the new tourney will get a fraction of the attention the BE gets now.  It diminishes the schools cache and makes recruiting 5-star players harder.

Bad move.   Holding it at the all-state arena is better than Indy.

[MauraDay]

From a selfish standpoint, this would be awesome for me. Agree with all of the advantages of the city presented, but also that it doesn't have the "wow" factor.

[bilsu]

I think in the scheme of things moving the tournament to Indy would not matter much. The loss of marque teams as Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame, Louisville and West Virginia matters much more and keeping the garden will not offset that.

[Tugg Speedman]

If Kemba Walker single-handily won five games in five days to win a Major conference tourney in Indy, it would not be nearly as big a deal.

If a team wins in 6 OTs in front of 8,000 Hoosiers in Indy, no one would care.

Performances on the MSG stage like Walker, can mean attention and a higher draft spot.  It can mean millions to that player.

Yes, 5-star recruits understand this.

[🏀]

Indy is the Applebee's of tournament cities.

[jesmu84]

Yes, MSG is a hallowed venue. But to recruits now and in the future, is MSG that big a deal? I can imagine a scenario where a recruit could care less about MSG and its history and more about Jay-Z and the Barclay's Center. I'm not saying Banker's Life is the Barclay's... I'm just saying I don't think future recruits will care much about "old" MSG.

[Marqus Howard]

Seriously?

You really think recruits will be thinking, "Well, Marquette was my top choice, but their conference tournament is in such a boring city...."?

I think giving the players fewer opportunities to get into trouble is a plus.

By the way, aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?  We are talking about the tournament location of a non-existent conference in a town that has no schools in the current conversation.

I think everything helps in terms of recruiting. If the brand of shoe or number of fans with signs for them at a madness event is important to recruits, then I'm guessing where the conference tournament is played will matter.

Also, there are no schools in Indianapolis, but St. John's is in NYC - I'm guessing they would prefer to keep MSG as the championship location.

[Tugg Speedman]

Yes, MSG is a hallowed venue. But to recruits now and in the future, is MSG that big a deal? I can imagine a scenario where a recruit could care less about MSG and its history and more about Jay-Z and the Barclay's Center. I'm not saying Banker's Life is the Barclay's... I'm just saying I don't think future recruits will care much about "old" MSG.

Wrong!  This is for the 2-star recruit that will leave school without a degree and steal cars for a living.  For those that are all Big East and draftable, they want to be in Manhattan because they want to play in front of hundreds of reporters and scouts that will mean money for them.  Manhattan is easier than Brooklyn.

Besides Barclay's has the A-10 so that is taken.

[jesmu84]

Wrong!  This is for the 2-star recruit that will leave school without a degree and steal cars for a living. 

wow. forget the teal?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

If Kemba Walker single-handily won five games in five days to win a Major conference tourney in Indy, it would not be nearly as big a deal.

If a team wins in 6 OTs in front of 8,000 Hoosiers in Indy, no one would care.

Performances on the MSG stage like Walker, can mean attention and a higher draft spot.  It can mean millions to that player.

Yes, 5-star recruits understand this.

Without using the internet:

What city was Magic vs Larry in the NCAA?
What city did Jordan win the NCAA?
Where did Bryce Drew hit his miracle shot?
Where did Adam Morrison lose and cry on the court?
Where did (insert famous NCAA moment here) happen?

Location IS important... but you are really overstating it. Great moments and great games are remembered for what happened, not because of where it was played.

Dial it back a little bit.

MSG is important. Yes. But, it's not THAT important.

[Tugg Speedman]

Without using the internet:

What city was Magic vs Larry in the NCAA?
What city did Jordan win the NCAA?
Where did Bryce Drew hit his miracle shot?
Where did Adam Morrison lose and cry on the court?
Where did (insert famous NCAA moment here) happen?

Location IS important... but you are really overstating it. Great moments and great games are remembered for what happened, not because of where it was played.

Dial it back a little bit.

MSG is important. Yes. But, it's not THAT important.

NCAA is the big show, they could hold that in Gary Indiana and it will be the biggest show in College BBall.

This is about a conference tourney.  Indy is a mistake, period.