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

[smedindy]

I don't think the D-1 FCS championship will be germaine unless the D-3 hoops championship is played in someplace like Indianapolis that's really hoops crazy as Texas is football crazy. Put it in a pro sports town and it'll be dwarfed.

[sac]

A double hosting of the men's/women's tournaments sounds like a pretty great weekend, and I really have no opinion about it.   It could probably work, but I think the women enjoy having their own spotlight.




I think the last thing anyone who really loves D3 and understands its mission is for the Championships of this division to become slaves to attendance numbers and potential marketing revenue.   D3 schools are D3 for a reason, and it should avoid the pitfalls that have corrupted the 'higher' divisions of intercollegiate athletics.   I think all of us would like to see better attendance and better recognition but the truth is, the lack of those things is precisely why this division is so attractive for so many.

There's always a sense in the Championships at this level that this is an important thing but its not the most important thing.   I like that, and I think it should stay that way.

[AO]

I think the last thing anyone who really loves D3 and understands its mission is for the Championships of this division to become slaves to attendance numbers and potential marketing revenue.   D3 schools are D3 for a reason, and it should avoid the pitfalls that have corrupted the 'higher' divisions of intercollegiate athletics.   I think all of us would like to see better attendance and better recognition but the truth is, the lack of those things is precisely why this division is so attractive for so many.

There's always a sense in the Championships at this level that this is an important thing but its not the most important thing.   I like that, and I think it should stay that way.

The lack of recognition is the reason D3 is attractive?  How does this compute?  How are they attracted when they don't know about it?  Is this the elitist music lover way of thinking?  I loved this band, but then they got big and now I don't like them anymore. 

I guess I just hold the more optimistic view.  D3 basketball is worthy of mention in the major markets and moving the final 4 to one of those markets and maybe combining it with the women's might help drive that point home.

[David Collinge]

We could have it in Cleveland, there's no professional sports teams here at all!

Wait...what? Really? For how long? WHAT? You've got to be kidding me.

[sigh]

Never mind.

[smedindy]

I'd rather have the D-3 championship in a real basketball gym that can be full (or nearly full) than dwarfed in a large metro-plex arena where you have to shell out big money for rent. If you watched some of the smaller D-1 conference tournaments that were played on neutral courts, some of the games had ridiculously low attendance and it felt like people were watching scrimmages. Putting 3,000 to 4,000 people in some place like Banker's Life Fieldhouse or the United Center isn't a very attractive atmosphere.

[hickory_cornhusker]

I think the last thing anyone who really loves D3 and understands its mission is for the Championships of this division to become slaves to attendance numbers and potential marketing revenue.   D3 schools are D3 for a reason, and it should avoid the pitfalls that have corrupted the 'higher' divisions of intercollegiate athletics.   I think all of us would like to see better attendance and better recognition but the truth is, the lack of those things is precisely why this division is so attractive for so many.

There's always a sense in the Championships at this level that this is an important thing but its not the most important thing.   I like that, and I think it should stay that way.

The lack of recognition is the reason D3 is attractive?  How does this compute?  How are they attracted when they don't know about it?  Is this the elitist music lover way of thinking?  I loved this band, but then they got big and now I don't like them anymore. 

I guess I just hold the more optimistic view.  D3 basketball is worthy of mention in the major markets and moving the final 4 to one of those markets and maybe combining it with the women's might help drive that point home.

I think what is attractive is the fact Division III will only compromise their values so much to get more attention. For TV coverage of the championship games a few years ago, CBS Sports gave them something like noon on Saturday for a time slot. D3 dealt with it and slid the semifinals up a couple of hours to give the players a little more rest and allow the game to be nationally televised. But if ESPN came along and said we will show the Final Four and Final on TV but you have to play Wednesday afternoon and Thursday at 11pm, D3 may say no because that is taking the student-athletes out of school for a week.

[Hoosier Titan]

A double hosting of the men's/women's tournaments sounds like a pretty great weekend, and I really have no opinion about it.   It could probably work, but I think the women enjoy having their own spotlight.

This has been concerning me in this whole discussion.  I'm not sure what any women coaches or women players think of it, but at most women/men doubleheaders, the men are the headliners.  It's nice for women to have an event of their own.

[John Gleich]

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.

I wonder what the point would be, though... if you want to have the events in the same place, this splits them up for fully half of the event.  If there's a school that has two teams in the final four, they'd still have to choose for that first game.

Interestingly, UWSP men played at Hope and women at Calvin in the first pods this year... close to what you're talking about here!

[John Gleich]

I'd rather have the D-3 championship in a real basketball gym that can be full (or nearly full) than dwarfed in a large metro-plex arena where you have to shell out big money for rent. If you watched some of the smaller D-1 conference tournaments that were played on neutral courts, some of the games had ridiculously low attendance and it felt like people were watching scrimmages. Putting 3,000 to 4,000 people in some place like Banker's Life Fieldhouse or the United Center isn't a very attractive atmosphere.

Why would it have to be at the UC or Banker's Life though?

Chicago has quite a few gyms of various sized... but perhaps the perfect one would be the Gentile Center at Loyola.  Seats 5200.  If you want to go bigger, the UIC Pavilion.  Seats 6958.  Bigger still is Welsh-Ryan at Northwestern.  Seats 8117.

All of these are "basketball gyms" and they're also on the campuses of NCAA schools.  Would the NCAA have to shell out money to rent facilities of its constituent schools?  (I don't know... probably... but they might be able to get a deal compared to an arena on the open market).

I'm not necessarily supporting the entire idea... but you wouldn't have to be in the highest-profile gym in a metro area.

[diehardfan]

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.

Haha, I remember that. I think I slept basically the whole time like a punk. I am sure I made up for it by bringing cookies though. 

Oh, and yeah, that was really mean of you to just leave me there in Salem.

Actually, seriously I have no recollection on how I got back to Wheaton... 

Also PS. to any girls out there on D3hoops.com. Don't do this at home (ie. take random rides from guys that you've never met). Obviously Tom is not a psycho, but I seriously did a lot of crazy things for the love of basketball back in the day and I think it's probably I miracle that I didn't end up in more trouble than I did. That championship game is still one of the best games of basketball that I've ever seen though, so the risk kinda paid off. But still, don't try that at home anyway, haha.

On a more related topic, I think this is a terrible idea. Though I would probably be way more likely to see a women's final four game this way, I don't think they'd be wrong to feel like their championship felt like a JV game, and that's just not really fair.

Also, most d3 venues are waaaay too small. Also there would be no Mac&Bobs, just saying 

[Greek Tragedy]

Actually, seriously I have no recollection on how I got back to Wheaton... 

I think you had family in the DC area and you flew back.

[NCF]

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.

Haha, I remember that. I think I slept basically the whole time like a punk. I am sure I made up for it by bringing cookies though. 

Oh, and yeah, that was really mean of you to just leave me there in Salem.

Actually, seriously I have no recollection on how I got back to Wheaton... 

Also PS. to any girls out there on D3hoops.com. Don't do this at home (ie. take random rides from guys that you've never met). Obviously Tom is not a psycho, but I seriously did a lot of crazy things for the love of basketball back in the day and I think it's probably I miracle that I didn't end up in more trouble than I did. That championship game is still one of the best games of basketball that I've ever seen though, so the risk kinda paid off. But still, don't try that at home anyway, haha.

This would make a great public service announcement!! 

[smedindy]

I'd rather have the D-3 championship in a real basketball gym that can be full (or nearly full) than dwarfed in a large metro-plex arena where you have to shell out big money for rent. If you watched some of the smaller D-1 conference tournaments that were played on neutral courts, some of the games had ridiculously low attendance and it felt like people were watching scrimmages. Putting 3,000 to 4,000 people in some place like Banker's Life Fieldhouse or the United Center isn't a very attractive atmosphere.

Why would it have to be at the UC or Banker's Life though?

Chicago has quite a few gyms of various sized... but perhaps the perfect one would be the Gentile Center at Loyola.  Seats 5200.  If you want to go bigger, the UIC Pavilion.  Seats 6958.  Bigger still is Welsh-Ryan at Northwestern.  Seats 8117.

All of these are "basketball gyms" and they're also on the campuses of NCAA schools.  Would the NCAA have to shell out money to rent facilities of its constituent schools?  (I don't know... probably... but they might be able to get a deal compared to an arena on the open market).

I'm not necessarily supporting the entire idea... but you wouldn't have to be in the highest-profile gym in a metro area.

I was just taking it out to the extreme if you're going to 'put on a show'.

I think Hinkle Fieldhouse would be an ideal place for a D-3 finals, though.

[Hoosier Titan]

I think Hinkle Fieldhouse would be an ideal place for a D-3 finals, though.

Totally agree with this.  If anyone hasn't been there, it's the gym in the last scene of Hoosiers. Greatest gym in the world.

On a more related topic, I think this is a terrible idea. Though I would probably be way more likely to see a women's final four game this way, I don't think they'd be wrong to feel like their championship felt like a JV game, and that's just not really fair.

Yes, this is what I was saying before.  It's rare that the women are the Main Event, and think their Final Four should stay that way. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Actually, seriously I have no recollection on how I got back to Wheaton

Come to think of it, I think this is more scary than riding in the car with some Asian gangster you've never met!