MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[John Rusnak]

All this Final Four talk has got me thinking about Salem and the civic center (Salem).

Does anyone else think that Salem and its venue are not a very appealing place for the Final Four?

Personally the Stadium was not that large and was quite run down and outdated.  It reminded me of a 4 times larger civic center (Holland) with falling out ceiling panels and mediocre lighting.

Also while the city seemed to have lots of hotels, there wasn't much else to it and what I saw of it was pretty slumish (if that's a word).

I feel that the NCAA could do a whole lot better considering this is the Championship.

Why not some place a little further south so it will be nice and warm.  Or how about Grand Rapids and the Van Andel Arena?  I don't think it would be that more expensive than having it at Salem.

I know they have a contract with Salem but its time to move on to bigger and better.

P.S.  The drive through the mountains was fun though.

I agree that it would be nice to have the event more in the midwest, considering that there is always a team or two or three from this area participating.

The problem I have with Salem is that it truly is so far removed from the world of basketball.  Sure, a team might come from the northeast/atlantic area, but the real heart of basketball is out this way.  If they put the event here or in Ohio I think they would sell a considerably higher number of tickets both days.

However, I love going to Salem every year because the weather is so great.  The thought of having to walk around GR right now makes me ill.

With that said, I'd rather be ill and having the event located somewhere that true basketball fans, especially those from the participating schools, can enjoy the games.

[tniem]

Tneim: I agree.  The building is done, and as the above numbers indicate they have some, ah, flexibility.  You presented a very well reason answer for why the De Vos is the size it is, and now we are living with the decision.  In fact, your points were so well reasoned you could almost be mistaken for a Calvin grad. in some circles.

Realist, should I be flattered at the compliment or furious at the insult?   

My uncle graduated from Calvin many moons ago.  He has been a very influential member of my life in the post-high school years.  So I am going to go with the former.   

[Fun_Ron]

players from the teams only get 2 tickets

[Civic Minded]

I am laughing hystericly.........does anyone remember trying to get tickets for a 1250 seat on campus venue.......when you average 2500.

...of course I'm also laughing because I have seats.

I don't think I'd give up on tickets, the attendance figures from the previously mentioned attendance highs suggest there will be standing room only seats, which are damn fine seats actually.


Why is it a bad thing for Hope to be thinking National Title?  Isn't that what all this is about?  Is it going to hurt less if they lose and weren't thinking about a title....no. 

If your gonna be in it, ya might as well win it. 

Touche, Sir Sac!  I do remember waiting in line for tickets for the tiny Dow Center venue, now that you mention it (how quickly one forgets pain)!  So hey - I'm grateful for the seating at the DeVos (and I too have my tickets).

And good point about thinking Salem.  Yeah...yeah...what's wrong with a little thinking now and then???   

Gohope, do YOU have tickets???

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Tneim: I agree.  The building is done, and as the above numbers indicate they have some, ah, flexibility.  You presented a very well reason answer for why the De Vos is the size it is, and now we are living with the decision.  In fact, your points were so well reasoned you could almost be mistaken for a Calvin grad. in some circles.

Realist, should I be flattered at the compliment or furious at the insult?   

My uncle graduated from Calvin many moons ago.  He has been a very influential member of my life in the post-high school years.  So I am going to go with the former.   

I don't know, I would be insulted! I don't even like using the Beltline when I am in GR just to stay on the safe side

[hope1]

at least we dont have to wait around the cornor for seats outside like we did at the dow center  for  5 hours outside  now with the devos arena you can go right inside the arena with reserved tickets

[MIdoubleA]

at least we dont have to wait around the cornor for seats outside like we did at the dow center  for  5 hours outside  now with the devos arena you can go right inside the arena with reserved tickets

/offtopicon
So can the birds... has anyone noticed them yet? There are a few that always get in somehow...

I'm waiting for the time when one of them does something that interferes with the game... could you imagine how great that would be? Having a chickadee sitting on the rim during a free throw? Maybe a finch decides to "rain" on someone's parade during a timeout?
/offtopicoff

[dren]

at least we dont have to wait around the cornor for seats outside like we did at the dow center  for  5 hours outside  now with the devos arena you can go right inside the arena with reserved tickets

/offtopicon
So can the birds... has anyone noticed them yet? There are a few that always get in somehow...

I'm waiting for the time when one of them does something that interferes with the game... could you imagine how great that would be? Having a chickadee sitting on the rim during a free throw? Maybe a finch decides to "rain" on someone's parade during a timeout?
/offtopicoff

http://www.billybear4kids.com/postcard4/tropical_bird2.jpg



Shhhhh... no one is supposed to have seen those.... they are the yet to be released mascot for the Hope College "Flying" Dutchmen

[hope1]

nice won dern every home game i  see of them during the game 

[dren]

while we are off topic... I just googled "Flying Dutchmen" and thought you might get a kick out of some of the results...

http://www.flyingdutchmen.com/

-"We are The Flying Dutchmen, the oldest Cannabis seed cultivators from Amsterdam. We sell award winning Cannabis seeds and glass, quality smoking -and hemp...  "

http://www.sailingsource.com/sailfd/

-INTERNATIONAL FLYING DUTCHMAN CLASS SAILING

http://www.flyingdutchmentravel.com/
-2006 -2007 Cruises, Caribbean Golf Cruises, Luxury Hawaii Vacations, discounted Hawaii and Mexico air fare, World Wide Travel

http://www.kwflyingdutchmen.com/
-Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Dutchmen Radio Control Flying Club

http://ms.essortment.com/dutchmanflying_rrqy.htm
-"The legend of The Flying Dutchman is said to have started in 1641 when a Dutch ship sank off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope."

[iwumichigander]

I just got back from getting my tix at the DeVos.  There were only 480 available for season tix holders and when they're gone, they're all gone.  According to Tom Renner the 480 is part of the returned tix from the other teams.  So I'll be surprised if there are any left tomorrow for public sale.  He was pretty sure they would all be gone today.  There were around 200 people in line with people still arriving as I left.

So what ended up being the breakdown in ticket sales between the schools?  480 is only 14% of the stadium.  If it is true that Hope gets 50% plus returned tickets that seems to indicate the students bought up a lot of seats.  True?

I heard that returned tickets get evenly shared among schools requesting extras.

I believe that for the regional final tickets get split 2/3 for the host and 1/3 visitor.

Correct on the returned tickets UNLESS one of the other teams say Team C indicates it wants or needs less than, for example, a three way split; in which case Team C gets say the 50 tickets it wants and the remainder is divided equally between the two remaining schools.

[Fun_Ron]

i did a search on yahoo for "flying dutch".  came back with:

School in the midwest with lots of runner-up banners

[iwumichigander]

For me the question about IWU is how did they loose to Wheaton???

Turnovers

[realist]

Greg. S.  Football like war or politics makes for strange bedfellows!!
I also noticed that unique combination.  They needed a league, and our football playing amigos needed a team.  A marriage made in........

[NW Hope Fan]

i did a search on yahoo for "flying dutch".  came back with:

School in the midwest with lots of runner-up banners

Just racking up that negative Karma hey Ron?

An awesome view on the Oregon Coast is from the Flying Dutchmen Restaurant (located near this Inn)