Quote from: SKUD on December 01, 2024, 12:25:53 PMShort notice? I don't understand 3 weeks ago (when every team selected for tourney was known) there were plenty of rooms all over Vegas for reasonable prices. There are still
Rooms available for $261 a night.
Why didn't you book everything early, as it all can be cancelled? What am I missing?
First, it's not accurate. Yes, the Motel 6 was available, but most the more mid-range chains were pretty outrageous when I was looking at hotels before the Elite Eight games were played. Flights from DC, ATL, CLT were also well in excess of $800 for red-eyes.
Second, it's the recent alums and wider communities that really miss out from this. At the Final Four in Greensboro, there were two W&L alums in their 80s who had played for a national championship in their day and made the trek, in addition to scores of young alums who made it work. (Most) parents will find a way, but the atmosphere will be more like an ECNL tourney than a college championship.
Third, the NCAA could have acted like any other convention and blocked rooms and made them available to travelers from the schools. They will do that for the revenue sports. I do recognize this would not be expected, but with the convention calendar very public and overbooked, it would have been appropriate foresight. There's also a large NCAA wrestling tourney the same weekend, and they blocked off hotels.
Finally, the idea that supporters are to be faulted for not booking in advance and cancelling is kind of absurd. As it is, my reservation is non-cancellable, but even if it were...
As far as giving feedback, don't hold your breath.