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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Jan 25, 2019 11:32:31 GMT -6
I want to be positive about this but it feels like a kick in the stomach right now. I am sure it will all work out but I am having a hard time seeing how this can be spun as a good thing for the league based on what is in that press release.
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Post by indtjb on Feb 2, 2019 1:44:04 GMT -6
In earlier comments in this thread, someone mentioned that the area around the IN State Fairgrounds doesn’t have much in the vicinity to easily walk to. That is true. The good news however is that Indianapolis is finishing up its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. This first of three lines - the Red Line - will link the fairgrounds Coliseum with the heart of downtown Indianapolis with this new frequent, extended hours service. New electric, double length buses will have a stop within a couple of blocks of the Coliseum with both south bound and northbound service. The buses will arrive every 10 - 12 minutes and will run from 5:00 am until 1:00 am every day. It’s about 4 miles from the State Fairgrounds to downtown so that should be about a 15 minute ride. The Red Line also travels north to the Broad Ripple neighborhood which is about 2 1/2 miles north of the fairgrounds. It has lots of restaurants, bars, stores, clubs, etc. Downtown has more than anyone could do in a couple of days. 200+ restaurants, several dozen bars / nightclubs/ comedy clubs etc. Also a handful of museums, numerous theaters, beautiful monuments, memorials and fountains, other major sporting venues, several parks, the canal district, and three or four additional entertainment districts. The Mass Ave District is in the NE part of downtown. It is lined with restaurants, bars, shopping, theaters & live music venues. The Wholesale District is the older “warehouse” district with probably the largest amount of clubs, theaters, restaurants, shopping, and dozens of hotels - huge as well as small. It is in the south-central part of the core of downtown. The Southeast corner of downtown has the “Fletcher Place” neighborhood and the “Fountain Square” District. Again - many more restaurants, bars, art galleries, live music venues, brew pubs, etc. throughout these two areas. The Red Line serves all of these areas very conveniently with stops in on very close to each area. It costs $1.75 for a ride and you can get free transfers to other buses within 2 hours of debarking from a bus. I’d suggest staying at one of the nearly 9,000 hotel rooms downtown and then taking the Red Line to and from the Coliseum. Indy is a great host city and we will be looking forward to hosting as many fans as possible for the Horizon League semifinals and finals. Hopefully Green Bay will make the “Top Four” and be playing. No matter who makes it here next year - it will be a great tourney and a fantastic time. We often get lucky and have temps in the 50’s and 60’s in early March - so that could be a plus. Although it was -10 here a few days ago, it is supposed to be in the 50’s and low 60’s over the next several days here in the beginning of February. Looking forward to March of 2020!
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 3, 2019 22:06:02 GMT -6
The tournament should not be played on a Monday and Tuesday if they want people there. End of story. That isn't a knock on Indy. I have been there for F1, Butler and the Pacers it's a cool spot. It's that fans in the area don't care about HL basketball. IUPUI doesn't draw well. The two best teams in the league who also happen to be a short car ride away and just played on a Friday and Sunday and didn't draw well either. Playing on short notice on weeknights is some of the only madness associated with this tournament.
Also, letting it be in IUPUI'S home gym is madness. Other than a promoter writing a check they have done nothing to deserve this. If you are going to give a program a home court advantage then give it to whichever team earns it in the regular season.
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Post by indtjb on Feb 5, 2019 18:31:34 GMT -6
Makes sense^^. I can’t argue with the last paragraph. The only reason I can think of for not wanting to have the finals happen at the top seeded team is that it means that all of the Horizon League schools need to keep their venue available for that Sunday - Tuesday time period (can’t book anything else there during that time period — at least until they know they are mathematically eliminated from winning the regular season title.) ( Of course, how much is really going on on a Sun - Tues evening at most of those venues in early March.)
One other issue with the “top seed gets to host the tourney” plan however is that the host school could lose in the semifinals - and then you’ve got the finals on national tv possibly not drawing too well - because the disappointed “home” fans could be angry about losing and will not want to go to the finals when their team isn’t playing. Hopefully the teams in the semifinals will have good fan bases - and will be from schools not too far from the tourney site - to bring in as good of a crowd as possible.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 6, 2019 13:12:06 GMT -6
I am totally opposed to the old format of the highest seed winning home court advantage. I want a true neutral site tournament that fans can plan around. In the event that IUPUI did make the last two rounds they are being given an advantage that isn't fair, one that I think should be reserved for a conference champion if you are going to give it out...home court advantage.
If IUPUI wasn't in the league I would be all for the Coliseum. In fact I was 6 years ago. With IUPUI in the league I would be fine with Indy if the tournament was at Bankers Life or Hinkle for example. These are buildings that are too big for IUPUI to fill and gain an advantage.
If IUPUI did make the semi final or final round I am sure they could bring in their normal fans, momentum driven students, band wagon locals and a bunch of school kids to fill half or more of the building with people in red and white. This is especially true with the Monday and Tuesday format compared to any other team in the league. That isn't cool by me.
You have to guess they are selling every recruit on the fact that they "host" the conference tournament for the next three years and they have a better chance to dance than they did before. That isn't cool by me either.
Finally, they gain the advantage of comfort in their routine and shooting lines etc in the building. It isn't a neutral experience even if they didn't pack it full of IUPUI fans. That isn't cool by me either.
What makes Detroit and LCA a neutral site is that building is too big for one fan base to take over and the game day experience is the same for all the teams.
The format itself, that is just insanity and has nothing to do with IUPUI and everything to do with a lack of leadership at the conference level. Since Butler's last year in 2012 the league hasn't won an NCAA tournament game. The seeds starting in 2012 have been 15, 14, 15, 13, 14, 15 and 14. This year what is the best case for for the league, 14 again? The "exposure" the league receives for a Tuesday night championship game is doing what exactly? I am not suggesting the championship game on a Sunday turns the league around. I am suggesting that the current exposure isn't worth a lot and while the league is figuring out how to rebuild the member programs that they should make this tournament fan friendly. Right now you have a bad tournament format and a bad league. One of those could be fixed much easier than the other.
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Post by phoenixphan87 on Feb 8, 2019 20:11:11 GMT -6
Somewhat related note: Received the ticket info for the potential first round game. It will be at the Resch Center if GB is in the top 4. I personally think that with it not being guaranteed and a potential quick turnaround, it would have been better suited on campus. Put the season ticket holders in the lower level if they reserve early and general admission for the rest. Could have been a nice student turnout mid week too
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 9, 2019 11:35:27 GMT -6
While I agree that this first round game would be a better atmosphere at the Kress more than likely, I do think that speaks to a bigger issue.
My guess is GB has maybe 1800 season tickets sold. Based on announced crowds of 1900 or less this year they certainly don't seem likely to have 2000 plus season tickets sold.
On very short notice on a weeknight you are asking 4 programs to get the word out about a home game. My guess is only NKU and WSU could/would have more season tickets sold than GB.
The first round games on campus have never been a draw around the league. This current format is going to be a total box office flop. Yet for some reason the powers that be either don't see that, don't care or are just hoping for improvement because I don't see them doing anything to make a positive change.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 13, 2019 9:00:52 GMT -6
If GB does host a first round game it is likely to be played on 3/5/19 based on a promotion that ticketstar sent out.
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