2011 Final Four

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Doesn't Hinkle Fieldhouse hold about 10,000?  In my opinion, that's way too big. 

Even if all the stars align and we find the perfect location (allowing fans to get there and with a strong local base), and we have 4 teams that travel well, I think 5000 is about the most we'd ever have at the D3 Final Four.  (Most years it will be about 3500.)

Unless we want a mostly-empty building, I think the best bet is the civic center type place in a mid-sized community.  The kind of place they play minor league hockey and arena football in...maybe mix in a little Def Leppard/Journey concert...and a rodeo.  A 5000-6000 seat arena (basketball seating capacity) is about as big as we need.

I think the Salem Civic Center is just the right size actually. 

Honestly, when you look at all factors, there are more pros than cons to Salem.  Maybe we just need to accept the location issue and move on.

I agree that we really don't need a stadium any larger than 5,000-6,000 making Hinkle way to large. I also agree with an earlier comment that it would make no sense for Butler to go along with it either.

And the odds of more than 5,000 attending a DIII Final Four is probably pretty small outside of a scenario where the Final Four is in Grand Rapids and Hope and/or Calvin are playing.

[Pat Coleman]

Perhaps. I think a venue of 6,000 seats more centrally located would have a shot at filling those seats. I've long considered the epicenter of Division III to be somewhere around Columbus, Ohio. Amherst or Williams or an NJAC school may never bring 800 fans to Salem the way Hope, Calvin, Ohio Northern, Illinois Wesleyan, UW-Platteville and others have, but more might make the trip from other schools if the trip were different.

I don't think the Stagg Bowl is movable. But the Final Four could at least conceivably work in other venues aside from the Salem Civic Center. The thing is, the student-athlete experience is very important to those working on Division III sports committees, and Salem continually excels in this area. The fan experience and the Civic Center itself has improved as well from my first Salem Final Four (1998) to today.

[Ralph Turner]

http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/Assets/userfiles/PDFs/South_Endzone_Basketball.pdf

LOL!  

Might as well dream big!

Really I think Hinkle Fieldhouse would be great!

That lucasoilstadium pdf reminded me of the 1968 game between UHouston's Elvin Hayes and UCLA's Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar).

The nationally televised game before 52,693 fans in the Astrodome was dubbed the "Game of the Century".  UH won 71-69.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvin_Hayes

We old-timers can remember that one!

[Mr. Ypsi]

http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/Assets/userfiles/PDFs/South_Endzone_Basketball.pdf

LOL!  

Might as well dream big!

Really I think Hinkle Fieldhouse would be great!

That lucasoilstadium pdf reminded me of the 1968 game between UHouston's Elvin Hayes and UCLA's Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar).

The nationally televised game before 52,693 fans in the Astrodome was dubbed the "Game of the Century".  UH won 71-69.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvin_Hayes

We old-timers can remember that one!

Yep!  AND we remember the rematch in the national semi-final: UCLA 101, Houston 69!

[ScotsFan]

Perhaps. I think a venue of 6,000 seats more centrally located would have a shot at filling those seats. I've long considered the epicenter of Division III to be somewhere around Columbus, Ohio.

How about St. John arena on the campus of Ohio State?  There would be no scheduling conflict with hoops as the men's and women's teams now play at Value City Arena.  St. John Arena is now home to men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics and men's wrestling at OSU.

St. John Arena

St. John Arena - Wikipedia

[Ralph Turner]

Perhaps. I think a venue of 6,000 seats more centrally located would have a shot at filling those seats. I've long considered the epicenter of Division III to be somewhere around Columbus, Ohio.

How about St. John arena on the campus of Ohio State?  There would be no scheduling conflict with hoops as the men's and women's teams now play at Value City Arena.  St. John Arena is now home to men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics and men's wrestling at OSU.

St. John Arena

St. John Arena - Wikipedia

13,000 seats?  The event would be swallowed!

Gotta go thumbs down on that one. 

[ScotsFan]

Perhaps. I think a venue of 6,000 seats more centrally located would have a shot at filling those seats. I've long considered the epicenter of Division III to be somewhere around Columbus, Ohio.

How about St. John arena on the campus of Ohio State?  There would be no scheduling conflict with hoops as the men's and women's teams now play at Value City Arena.  St. John Arena is now home to men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics and men's wrestling at OSU.

St. John Arena

St. John Arena - Wikipedia

13,000 seats?  The event would be swallowed!

Gotta go thumbs down on that one. 

I've been to high school state basketball tournaments down there before the days of Value City Arena and St. John doesn't feel that big to me.  As it stated in one of the write-ups, the furthest seat in the house is only 155 ft. from center court.

[John Gleich]

The thing is, the student-athlete experience is very important to those working on Division III sports committees, and Salem continually excels in this area. The fan experience and the Civic Center itself has improved as well from my first Salem Final Four (1998) to today.

I totally agree.  We were treated right in Salem.  It might be possible to move that someplace else... but you'd need a lot of dedicated people  to commit to that.  I think the Final Four has been a Salem institution for long enough that it's an annual event for many Salem people (who are doing the behind-the-scenes work).  You may eventually get that someplace else... but I don't think it's a given right off the bat.  (How was Salem in the first few years Pat?)

I think that's sort of along the lines of what was mentioned with the Women's tournament.  Because it's bounced around every two years, there isn't a chance to work out the kinks, and I think Salem has worked many of those kinks out and made marked improvements to boot.

[John Gleich]

Perhaps. I think a venue of 6,000 seats more centrally located would have a shot at filling those seats. I've long considered the epicenter of Division III to be somewhere around Columbus, Ohio.

How about St. John arena on the campus of Ohio State?  There would be no scheduling conflict with hoops as the men's and women's teams now play at Value City Arena.  St. John Arena is now home to men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics and men's wrestling at OSU.

St. John Arena

St. John Arena - Wikipedia

13,000 seats?  The event would be swallowed!

Gotta go thumbs down on that one. 

I've been to high school state basketball tournaments down there before the days of Value City Arena and St. John doesn't feel that big to me.  As it stated in one of the write-ups, the furthest seat in the house is only 155 ft. from center court.

... But if 10,000 seats are empty, that close to the floor...  it very well might take away from the feel from the 3k who ARE there.

[Titan Q]

I totally agree.  We were treated right in Salem.  It might be possible to move that someplace else... but you'd need a lot of dedicated people  to commit to that.  I think the Final Four has been a Salem institution for long enough that it's an annual event for many Salem people (who are doing the behind-the-scenes work).  You may eventually get that someplace else... but I don't think it's a given right off the bat.  (How was Salem in the first few years Pat?)

I was in Salem the first two years ('96 and '97), following IWU.  I remember all of the coaches and players talking about how well they were treated, how well organized it was, etc..  The people behind the Salem experience have been doing it right from the very beginning.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

And what has helped Salem from the get-go is the fact that hosting tournaments, whether it is high school or college, is something they have been doing for a long time. The Men's Final Four wasn't the first tournament or championship they hosted... they have hosted quite a few.

What also helps... is the support they get from the ODAC and Roanoke College has to be invaluable and something I don't think is mentioned enough. From the ODAC commissioner Brad Bankston and his staff (including J.J. Nekoloff) down to the students and other assistance the Slame Civic Center gets from Roanoke College... it is a very well-oiled machine. As many have mentioned... a new hosting site would probably have to recreate everything from the very basics on up... and that is not easy to do and do well especially the first year.

[Pat Coleman]

The thing is, the student-athlete experience is very important to those working on Division III sports committees, and Salem continually excels in this area. The fan experience and the Civic Center itself has improved as well from my first Salem Final Four (1998) to today.

I totally agree.  We were treated right in Salem.  It might be possible to move that someplace else... but you'd need a lot of dedicated people  to commit to that.  I think the Final Four has been a Salem institution for long enough that it's an annual event for many Salem people (who are doing the behind-the-scenes work).  You may eventually get that someplace else... but I don't think it's a given right off the bat.  (How was Salem in the first few years Pat?)

I think that's sort of along the lines of what was mentioned with the Women's tournament.  Because it's bounced around every two years, there isn't a chance to work out the kinks, and I think Salem has worked many of those kinks out and made marked improvements to boot.

My first one was year three. But before that, they had hosted a couple of Stagg Bowls, so at least they had some volunteer and staff infrastructure in place and experience dealing with the NCAA.

[iwumichigander]

I totally agree.  We were treated right in Salem.  It might be possible to move that someplace else... but you'd need a lot of dedicated people  to commit to that.  I think the Final Four has been a Salem institution for long enough that it's an annual event for many Salem people (who are doing the behind-the-scenes work).  You may eventually get that someplace else... but I don't think it's a given right off the bat.  (How was Salem in the first few years Pat?)

I was in Salem the first two years ('96 and '97), following IWU.  I remember all of the coaches and players talking about how well they were treated, how well organized it was, etc..  The people behind the Salem experience have been doing it right from the very beginning.

Agree with Q having attended the IWU trips.  I'd also add the Salem-Roanoke community gets involved and supports the effort.  You might find other or better venues, but will you get the commitment from the community?  The other point which gives Salem Civic Center an advantage is the effort, along with financial investment, to constantly improve the experience.

[therock]

3. There are very few hotels, and they are all substandard.
http://www.visitroanokeva.com/venueSubCat.asp?CAT=1&SCAT=1 A comprehensive list of hotels in the Roanoke/Salem area. If you can't find one on that list that is good quality, you aren't trying at all.

4. The dining options are extremely limited, and equally mediocre.
http://www.visitroanokeva.com/venue.asp?CAT=3 Like the previous point, if you can't find a quality restaurant on there, you once again aren't trying at all.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

If you haven't noticed on the front page... Salem has been awarded the Final Four through next season, now.