Same Site for Championship Weekend: Let's Do It!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

'Traveling' for the Women between the two venues wouldn't be ideal, but it would be a way to allow one big championship event without really screwing anyone over.

If you were going to double up on venues, something I thought about, there's probably better locales to do it - larger cities with a number of big enough facilities.  D1 doesn't use gyms as small as d3 needs for their opening round, the only potential conflicts might be HS championships.

Philadelphia, for example, has the Palestra and also Temple's gym, which each seat about 8,000.  That's probably a little bigger than Salem, but have to be other cities with similar sets ups (Chicago, maybe).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

I went to Grand Rapids once, it was closed.

I was born in Grand Rapids.  Left at 9 months old; I have never been back.

[Just Bill]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

'Traveling' for the Women between the two venues wouldn't be ideal, but it would be a way to allow one big championship event without really screwing anyone over.

If you were going to double up on venues, something I thought about, there's probably better locales to do it - larger cities with a number of big enough facilities.  D1 doesn't use gyms as small as d3 needs for their opening round, the only potential conflicts might be HS championships.

Philadelphia, for example, has the Palestra and also Temple's gym, which each seat about 8,000.  That's probably a little bigger than Salem, but have to be other cities with similar sets ups (Chicago, maybe).

We've learned over time that D-III championships in large metro areas suffer from being overshadowed and ignored (see Danbury, CT). Medium size cities work much better (see Salem, Holland, Bloomington, Terre Haute)

[cciwrabblerouser]

It would be good for us staffing-wise but I'm thinking of the fan and player experience and I'm not sure it's worth it. The women's championship would definitely play second-fiddle in the local media. The soccer folks may love it but I'm not sure how much play either championship got in the San Antonio media, and if it did, I'm sure women's soccer got less, especially if you exclude almost-local Hardin-Simmons from 2010.

Believe me, we've certainly heard much crazier ideas, but not sure this one would be an enhancement to the championship. And despite what was said above, I'm not sure Salem would actually be interested in hosting such an event.

as someone who has been tp several finals fours at the same site in soccer, i can tell you that the athletes and the fans LOVE being together -- especially, if both your teams (like illinois wesleyan this year, and possibly amherst could have been in the same situation -- but their men were forced to go on the road in the sectional round).  it's easy enough to come up with a practice schedule and have the banquet on the same date (thursday).  i would also say that the media coverage was equal.

every other year, the men and women switch back and forth between playing in the afternoon and the evening.  only chauvenists would complain about the men having to play in the "perceived" afternoon spots.

the basketball committees need to talk to the soccer committees.  there are significant advantages to having both championships at the same sites on the same weekend.  it is awesome.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

'Traveling' for the Women between the two venues wouldn't be ideal, but it would be a way to allow one big championship event without really screwing anyone over.

If you were going to double up on venues, something I thought about, there's probably better locales to do it - larger cities with a number of big enough facilities.  D1 doesn't use gyms as small as d3 needs for their opening round, the only potential conflicts might be HS championships.

Philadelphia, for example, has the Palestra and also Temple's gym, which each seat about 8,000.  That's probably a little bigger than Salem, but have to be other cities with similar sets ups (Chicago, maybe).

We've learned over time that D-III championships in large metro areas suffer from being overshadowed and ignored (see Danbury, CT). Medium size cities work much better (see Salem, Holland, Bloomington, Terre Haute)

Colorado Springs has 10,000 seat World Arena and the Air Force Academy gym seats about 6,000-8,000.  Geographically that's a mess, but there could be others.

I recognize that having the city glad to host is important, but we already compete with the second round of the NCAAs - there's only so many locals who are going to be interested and that would likely happen anywhere.

Maybe I'm naive.  Is Salem its own media market?  Does local TV cover the final four well?

I like the idea of both tournaments happening in the same place, but I agree, you may need two arena to accommodate it on a weekend.

I wonder if d3 could bid its tournament separately.  That new NBC sports network is going to need major sport programming - they might foot the bill for an extra day to fit all the games in.

[Pat Coleman]

Roanoke is a media market and they do alright by the Final Four in terms of TV and newspaper coverage, considering what else is going on in sports and basketball at the same time.

[Pat Coleman]

It would be good for us staffing-wise but I'm thinking of the fan and player experience and I'm not sure it's worth it. The women's championship would definitely play second-fiddle in the local media. The soccer folks may love it but I'm not sure how much play either championship got in the San Antonio media, and if it did, I'm sure women's soccer got less, especially if you exclude almost-local Hardin-Simmons from 2010.

Believe me, we've certainly heard much crazier ideas, but not sure this one would be an enhancement to the championship. And despite what was said above, I'm not sure Salem would actually be interested in hosting such an event.

as someone who has been tp several finals fours at the same site in soccer, i can tell you that the athletes and the fans LOVE being together -- especially, if both your teams (like illinois wesleyan this year, and possibly amherst could have been in the same situation -- but their men were forced to go on the road in the sectional round).  it's easy enough to come up with a practice schedule and have the banquet on the same date (thursday).  i would also say that the media coverage was equal.

every other year, the men and women switch back and forth between playing in the afternoon and the evening.  only chauvenists would complain about the men having to play in the "perceived" afternoon spots.

the basketball committees need to talk to the soccer committees.  there are significant advantages to having both championships at the same sites on the same weekend.  it is awesome.

I did read what you said earlier about soccer but I am not sure basketball is the same.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Roanoke is a media market and they do alright by the Final Four in terms of TV and newspaper coverage, considering what else is going on in sports and basketball at the same time.

Thanks.  That makes a difference.  I'm just hoping to get to a final four one of these years - hopefully it stays close enough to drive.

[Greek Tragedy]

I live in Wisconsin.  When Stevens Point went to the Final Four three times, I considered Salem driving distance. LOL 

The 1st one, I picked up diehardfan on the way there.  I then left after Saturday's championship game, which was at 6 pm (I think) at the time, and drove back that night (left around 9:30 with Swampgoon, diehardfan stuck around) so I could get back on time for...SOCCER on Sunday (indoor league).  The 2nd one I rode with friends, so that was easy and the 3rd one, I convinced my pregnant wife to sit in a car for 15 hours.   

[ronk]

I live in Wisconsin.  When Stevens Point went to the Final Four three times, I considered Salem driving distance. LOL 

The 1st one, I picked up diehardfan on the way there.  I then left after Saturday's championship game, which was at 6 pm (I think) at the time, and drove back that night (left around 9:30 with Swampgoon, diehardfan stuck around) so I could get back on time for...SOCCER on Sunday (indoor league).  The 2nd one I rode with friends, so that was easy and the 3rd one, I convinced my pregnant wife to sit in a car for 15 hours.

[/b]

  I'm going to have to hit you with a flagrant intentional foul on that one.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I live in Wisconsin.  When Stevens Point went to the Final Four three times, I considered Salem driving distance. LOL 

The 1st one, I picked up diehardfan on the way there.  I then left after Saturday's championship game, which was at 6 pm (I think) at the time, and drove back that night (left around 9:30 with Swampgoon, diehardfan stuck around) so I could get back on time for...SOCCER on Sunday (indoor league).  The 2nd one I rode with friends, so that was easy and the 3rd one, I convinced my pregnant wife to sit in a car for 15 hours.

[/b]

  I'm going to have to hit you with a flagrant intentional foul on that one.

His wife is obviously a saint, and probably deserves better than Tom!

[KnightSlappy]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

'Traveling' for the Women between the two venues wouldn't be ideal, but it would be a way to allow one big championship event without really screwing anyone over.

If you were going to double up on venues, something I thought about, there's probably better locales to do it - larger cities with a number of big enough facilities.  D1 doesn't use gyms as small as d3 needs for their opening round, the only potential conflicts might be HS championships.

Philadelphia, for example, has the Palestra and also Temple's gym, which each seat about 8,000.  That's probably a little bigger than Salem, but have to be other cities with similar sets ups (Chicago, maybe).

We've learned over time that D-III championships in large metro areas suffer from being overshadowed and ignored (see Danbury, CT). Medium size cities work much better (see Salem, Holland, Bloomington, Terre Haute)

Colorado Springs has 10,000 seat World Arena and the Air Force Academy gym seats about 6,000-8,000.  Geographically that's a mess, but there could be others.

You could do it in Grand Rapids also -- skipping Holland -- Calvin's Van Noord arena seats ~5000 and Van Andel Arena downtown is ~10,000. And I don't know how you could say that Grand Rapids isn't a "big enough city".

[Pat Coleman]

1997 aside, I think Van Andel is too big for this event. But 5,000 would probably be good for a MBB/WBB title doubleheader.

[NCF]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

'Traveling' for the Women between the two venues wouldn't be ideal, but it would be a way to allow one big championship event without really screwing anyone over.

If you were going to double up on venues, something I thought about, there's probably better locales to do it - larger cities with a number of big enough facilities.  D1 doesn't use gyms as small as d3 needs for their opening round, the only potential conflicts might be HS championships.

Philadelphia, for example, has the Palestra and also Temple's gym, which each seat about 8,000.  That's probably a little bigger than Salem, but have to be other cities with similar sets ups (Chicago, maybe).

Chicago would be a great site for the Final Four! Plenty to do around here. Easier access in and out as far as flying as well.

[NCF]

Crazy idea:

Women's Semifinals in Holland, MI on Friday
Men's Semifinals in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday
All Star Game + Women's Final + Men's Final in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday.

I went to Grand Rapids once, it was closed.   

Hahahahahahahahahaha. I must've been there on the day they were open