Indianapolis - A Superior Tournament City

[Aughnanure]

Sweet, Indy' had the opportunity to host a bunch of Final Fours and Super Bowls because of their awful football stadium. So, yeah, I hope they're good at them, but that shouldnt be an accomplishment when you've had so many opportunities/practice.

If Indy's a possibility, then why not St. Louis, Cincinnati, Providence, Newark, hell Dayton hosts the NCAA play-in games everywhere - I bet they're good at it.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

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.

I agree that Indy would be a mistake, but you're acting like it would be the end of the world, and then extrapolating a lot of stuff to support that.

People watch and remember good games, regardless of venue. MU tried to play on a FUCKING AIRCRAFT CARRIER!

NYC is very important to the Big East's reputation, but you are WAY overstating it.

[robmufan]

What city does the ACC play their games in?  Last I checked I don't think any city in North Carolina is a big market and the ACC seems to be ok with it...

[Niv Berkowitz]

Indy is the Applebee's of tournament cities.

I'd say it's the Golden Corral in the smorgasboard of cities. Sure, it might be a sweet idea at first, but then you try it, and you pay for the decision for shortly after.

[Niv Berkowitz]

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.

Those are all great examples....of the NCAA TOURNAMENT. NOT a conference tournament. The only conference tourney w/any cache is the Big East. Period.

[🏀]

I'd say it's the Golden Corral in the smorgasboard of cities. Sure, it might be a sweet idea at first, but then you try it, and you pay for the decision for shortly after.

Well done.

[Abode4life]

I saw this the other day and it describes Indy well. "No Zip".  I think it would be a mistake to play our conference tournament there.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/67472/b1g-cant-ignore-convenience-of-chicago

[WarriorInNYC]

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.

I recently spent 6 months on a project working directly across the street from the Barclay's Center.

Barclay's is actually super easy to get to.  It sits right above one of the biggest NY subway hubs and is easily accessible from almost anywhere in the NYC metro area.  The stadium itself is absolutely gorgeous inside and you can definitely tell Jay Z has had his influence on it.  Not many basketball arenas do this, but this one wowed me.

I really think if MSG is an option, take a shot at the Barclay's if possible.  Especially if we are grabbing a few A-10 schools, who knows what might happen to their current contract.

[mr.MUskie]

Been there, didn't forget anything, no reason to go back.

[frozena pizza]

1.  Indy is a weak option.  Nothing against the city, but it has zero tourist appeal and is the center of the B1G, which also creates a scheduling issue in March.
2.  Not having as many options for players to get into trouble?  Huh?  So let's do it in Iowa.  I need ways to get me into trouble if I'm going to go.
3.  Assuming we can't keep it at MSG (which is a dump by the way), Barclay's would be an excellent option in my book and I'd put Chicago a distant second, followed by DC or Philly.
4.  Having said all that, where they play the conference tournament is not as big a deal as people make it out to be.

[brewcity77]

What city does the ACC play their games in?  Last I checked I don't think any city in North Carolina is a big market and the ACC seems to be ok with it...

North Carolina has three large markets, but they rarely get the recognition because they are combined areas. Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point has around 1.6 million, Charlotte Metro has around 2.5 million people, and Raleigh-Durham has 2.7 million. They are surprisingly major markets despite not being perceived in that way.

[Tugg Speedman]

North Carolina has three large markets, but they rarely get the recognition because they are combined areas. Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point has around 1.6 million, Charlotte Metro has around 2.5 million people, and Raleigh-Durham has 2.7 million. They are surprisingly major markets despite not being perceived in that way.

In other words, all three are bigger than Indy.

And again the B10 plays their tourney in Indy.  They could pile in 25,000 Hooiser fans alone.  What would we get?

Why would anyone think a second major conference tourney in Indy is a good idea?  When and where would they play it?  It would have t be the same weekend, unless the we want to go first and play a week earlier with all the mid-majors.

No, I'm not overstating it, Indy is a disastrous idea.  Purge this idea from your thoughts.

[Dish]

Gotta go outside the box, forget those cities. Send the tourney to Atlantis.

Each school is close enough. It's spring break, play to that. It may not matter that much to overall recruiting, but each team would get to play there. If you're a team in this new conference and you go to Maui and Atlantis in a season, squeeze in a trip to Europe over the summer once in a while, that's something to play to.

It's different and outside the box. I'd go in a heartbeat.

[hairy worthen]

Gotta go outside the box, forget those cities. Send the tourney to Atlantis.

Each school is close enough. It's spring break, play to that. It may not matter that much to overall recruiting, but each team would get to play there. If your a team in this new conference and you go to Maui and Atlantis in a season, squeeze in a trip to Europe over the summer once in a while, that's something to play to.

It's different and outside the box. I'd go in a heartbeat.

I like that idea and I think it would help recruiting.  I think your idea of the whole conference recruiting for one school is kind of silly though. But you are right, do things differently and outside the box to draw attention to the new conference.

[brewcity77]

In other words, all three are bigger than Indy.

Indy's metro area is about 1.7 million, so about the same size as Greensboro/Winston-Salem.

And again the B10 plays their tourney in Indy.  They could pile in 25,000 Hooiser fans alone.  What would we get?

Why would anyone think a second major conference tourney in Indy is a good idea?  When and where would they play it?  It would have t be the same weekend, unless the we want to go first and play a week earlier with all the mid-majors.

They don't have it there exclusively, the B1G alternates between Indy and Chicago. But I'm sure they have some kind of contract and wouldn't want to give it up to an upstart conference.

No, I'm not overstating it, Indy is a disastrous idea.  Purge this idea from your thoughts.

MSG is a much better idea. Or Barclay's. Or Verizon in DC. But I really like MUDish's idea of Atlantis or some other tropical destination. Outside the box and a legitimate attraction point for recruits.

[Aughnanure]

Indy is the Applebee's of tournament cities.

this X1000

[Blue Horseshoe]

This is such a terrible thread. Indy has the facilities and has accommodated the Big Ten just fine for years. It will continue to accommodate the Big Ten and host other large events. Including, but not limited to, Final Fours and Super Bowls. If Indy is a future host city (or rotating host city) it seems like a fine choice by me.

Also, geography of a game doesn't make it less of a "big deal". It won't cost a player draft position nor millions of dollars. NBA scouts DO NOT CARE. NBA execs DO NOT CARE. Unlike college basketball "atmosphere", the NBA is about production. Simply put, be good at basketball.

[brewcity77]

Also, geography of a game doesn't make it less of a "big deal". It won't cost a player draft position nor millions of dollars. NBA scouts DO NOT CARE. NBA execs DO NOT CARE. Unlike college basketball "atmosphere", the NBA is about production. Simply put, be good at basketball.

You lost me here completely. Are you saying where we play doesn't matter to NBA scouts? Probably not, but who cares what they think? How is that relevant? If we play at MSG, that could motivate an impressionable teenager who would rather be guaranteed playing annually in the World's Most Famous Arena instead of in Indy or Milwaukee or Dayton. Though spending the time around Spring Break at Atlantis every year might be an even bigger motivator.

[Benny B]

Well... this wasn't much of a debate.  What I've learned here is that if given the choice of any place that isn't MSG, most people will still choose MSG.

Mea culpa... I should have known damn well you can't reason with a group of people who has proven that they will still vote "Warriors" even after they're told not to vote "Warriors."

[Blue Horseshoe]

You lost me here completely. Are you saying where we play doesn't matter to NBA scouts? Probably not, but who cares what they think? How is that relevant? If we play at MSG, that could motivate an impressionable teenager who would rather be guaranteed playing annually in the World's Most Famous Arena instead of in Indy or Milwaukee or Dayton. Though spending the time around Spring Break at Atlantis every year might be an even bigger motivator.

I care what NBA scouts think because it is their job to evaluate talent.

I'm talking about when AnotherMU84 stated,

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.

This is completely false and ridiculous. How do you even define "no one would care"? Totally left out of this thread was the fact that UConn went on to win the National Championship. That is the goal every season. To build on that and my original point, the real end goal is to make it to the NBA. That road knows no geographical boundaries.

To me, using a host city of a conference championship is a weak recruiting talking point.

[🏀]

To me, using a host city of a conference championship is a weak recruiting talking point.

Buzz Williams, Larry Williams, Trent Lockett and Junior Cadougan all spoke at various points about NYC and MSG. That's four mentions from four Marquette people all in one media day. You can go back in history and I have a good feeling there is always NYC/MSG comments from Marquette players at Big East Media Day.

Come on now.

[Blue Horseshoe]

Buzz Williams, Larry Williams, Trent Lockett and Junior Cadougan all spoke at various points about NYC and MSG. That's four mentions from four Marquette people all in one media day. You can go back in history and I have a good feeling there is always NYC/MSG comments from Marquette players at Big East Media Day.

Come on now.

Pointed questions get pointed results. Notice that Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague didn't have a problem playing their conference championship in New Orleans.

[🏀]

Pointed questions get pointed results. Notice that Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague didn't have a problem playing their conference championship in New Orleans.

Neither would I, NOLA is awesome.

[ChicosBailBonds]

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.

I am a huge Indy fan having gone to grad school down the road.  It's a wonderful city and does sporting events proper.  BUT, I would still say no.  Let's add to your cons list

1)  Big Ten tournament already there on alternating years....do you really want to compete against the Big Ten with two large Indiana schools just outside Indy and other schools within a 7 hour drive for a number others (Ohio State, Michigan, MSU, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Illinois)

2)  No teams in this proposed new conference from Indiana and the two closest to Indianapolis are small, private schools that travel so-so. 

3)  More than half of the C7 are from the East Coast corridor where NYC or Philly is easy to get to for five of those schools and their alumni, which dominate in those areas

4)  Local support.  Why would a non-alum from Indianapolis attend this event moreso than the Big Ten tournament?

5)  Getting to Indianapolis from outside the midwest is a pain in the rear.  It is much easier to get into Philly, NYC, or D.C. in terms of flights.  Granted, hotel rooms are not going to be as cheap, but air travel is a no brainer for those coming from further out (California, Colorado, Texas, Florida) to get to Indianapolis.  More direct flights.

[brewcity77]

To me, using a host city of a conference championship is a weak recruiting talking point.

I think many conferences see their tournament venue as a statement about the conference itself. The Pac-12 identifies with LA, the undisputed capitol of the West Coast (though they are moving to Vegas, maybe for a bit of flair). Chicago, a regular B1G venue, is the Midwest capitol. NYC is the capitol of the East Coast, which is why the Big East (and A-10) want to be there, and why the ACC expressed interest after landing Syracuse. All of which are notably bigger locations than typical mid-major venues like St. Louis (MVC's Arch Madness), Cleveland (MAC), or Paradise, NV (MWC) are clearly a step down in prestige.

I wouldn't say it matters to NBA scouts, but I do think it matters to recruits where they are able to showcase their skills. Playing in NYC, Chicago, or LA has a lot more name cache than playing in Cleveland.

Though I still vote for Atlantis