The argument is as tired as it is silly. We hear it every March, and this year it began in December: move the CAA Tournament out of Richmond.
That would be a stupid thing to do.
Let’s get this unassailable fact out from the get-go: other than NCAA tournament credits, there is no bigger revenue generator for the CAA than the men’s basketball postseason tournament. This money goes to support all sports at all schools. Therefore, the number one goal of the CAA tournament is to make money. The NCAA admits it, and so should we.
For the CAA tournament, that revenue not only comes from ticket sales, but a guarantee received from the city and the sponsorship opportunities that revolve around the tournament (Virginia 529, Army, etc.). A key fact that you may not know: the CAA is a non-profit group, meaning when it does well financially, that means more money is sent back to the member schools at the end of the year.
It would be incredibly irresponsible in any business to risk your second largest asset for reasons that fall short of “monumental opportunity.” Your largest assets must be protected. Nobody has ever presented to me reasons that come close to that mark for the CAA and its tournament location.
Do you really think the AD at Your School is going to risk the second biggest revenue generator without a darn certain reason that the revenue is protected or will be enhanced? These people have jobs and bosses and performance evaluations, too.
Now, let’s get past the money thing, kind of, and address the main arguments I hear to move it. I’d be happy to address others at any point.
VCU has a homecourt advantage.
Well, duh. We’ve crippled each other with the back and forth of home court versus home city. VCU has no home court advantage in the sense that it doesn’t step on the floor of the Richmond Coliseum any more than any other team.
However, VCU carries a tremendous home city advantage that manifests itself with the large crowds due to home city, and due to the geographical advantage of being able to buy up spare tickets from teams that lose as the tournament progresses.
That is undeniable and not trivial.
But here’s the thing with that. Move it to Norfolk and it’s no different, only replace VCU with ODU. DeeCee, it’s Mason. Baltimore, it’s Towson. Philly, it’s Drexel. Unless you move the tournament to someplace like Des Moines, you haven’t solved the core problem of somebody playing close to home.
Leadership rule #1 states: do what’s best for the collective group you are charged with leading. Richmond allows for a tremendous Virginia Advantage: VCU, JMU, W&M, Mason, Towson, and Old Dominion can all travel with roughly two hours. That’s half the conference. When it won, UNCW “traveled well.”
I also wonder if VCU was, say, Towson, if everybody would be up in arms as much. And that brings me to a side note.
It is clearly an advantage to have loud home fans, but teams have to perform. VCU did not build a big lead on Old Dominion because of the large crowd. They buildt a big lead on Old Dominion because they pressed and made steals and hit threes.
Likewise, the crowd didn’t bring ODU back. The Monarchs won that game because they switched to a zone VCU never figured out, and Gerald Lee won the MVP award on the strength of his second half performance.
In eight of the last nine years, the #1 seed has won the CAA tournament. The lone year was 2008 when Mason as a three seed beat five seed William & Mary. Eight of nine.
Want more? Since 1990, the #1 seed has reached the CAA championship game 17 times out of 21 tournaments. The #1 seed has a 12-5 record in those 17 games.
As for VCU, the Rams have reached the championship game six times and are 4-2 in those games. All four times VCU won the championship it was the #1 seed (1996, 2004, 2007 and 2009). VCU was the #3 seed in 2002 and lost to #1 UNCW and were the #2 seed in 2005 and lost to #1 Old Dominion. (We can all agree on what a great basketball game that was.)
VCU has a 20-4 record when playing lower seeds in the tournament and are 3-7 when facing higher-seeded teams.
Yes, the location makes it tougher on the northern (and southern) schools. But there’s one correlation I keep going back to: Northeastern used to bring about 25 fans. Then, they started winning. This year, they had two full student busses and about 500 fans. Hofstra’s numbers in 2006 were far greater than this year. Everybody was pleased to see the turnout for William & Mary. On the other side, UNCW used to bring several thousand fans, and now a UNCW game is church-like.
Common theme: win games and the people will show. That includes VCU.
Now, let’s say we do move the tournament. Call it The Palestra in Philly. You bet your bippy that VCUs 8,000 fans becomes about 4,000 fans. (Don’t argue specific numbers—this is an abstraction.) Old Dominion travels by half as well.
In fact, the 42,000+ that were in Richmond this past week is cut by half, which cuts the vibe you felt all weekend by tenfold. If you were there, you felt it. You know it was impressive, and made it that much more fun.
Take a gander at some of these other tournaments. I did, taking special note of the crowd and the feel. The Summit and Sun Belt finals looked downright awful and boring.
You’re telling me it’s smart to move the tourney, lose the money, lose the branding/national appeal, lose the attendance, losr the vibe, and jeopardize funding of other, non-revenue sports, all in the name of appeasing 200 Hofstra fans and 100 Drexel fans? Or in the name of a vocal minority who want better restaurants?
It isn’t what you gain, it’s what you lose. It’s called opportunity cost.
Rotating the location has been brought up. Seems decent on the surface, but at the mid major level traction is a very important concept. We don’t have a ton of transient or casual fans.
The CAA has that very important traction in Richmond. You need a home, and place that is familiar for people—fans, teams, administrators, etc. Fans are more likely to return once they have a lay of the land and establish their patterns.
Where was last year’s ACC tournament held? This year’s? Next year’s? The year after that? That’s my other point. You know where you’re going, when you’re going, where you’ll stay, eat, etc. That is very important. If you have an expectation based on history, you’re more likely to return and enjoy—do the things you liked, and eliminate those you didn’t.
I think what people are failing to see is that just because something is slanted towards one team/city, that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong answer. I also think most of the angst isn’t that the advantage exists, it’s that the advantage doesn’t slant their way.
The Richmond Coliseum is a dump, and there’s nothing to do in Richmond.
Okay, you got me with the dump thing. That building needs major help or a wrecking ball. But can we all agree it’s the right size?
I’ve lived in Richmond since 1986 (sans two years), and the “nothing to do” line is baloney. I’d also argue you don’t need as much to do as you think.
If you’re a student or young adult, there’s a sports bar on site at the Marriott complete with basketball fans eager to do the fan thing. You know, the banter you saw and participated in this year.
Shockoe Bottom and that whole club scene is close by, as are middle of the road places like Captial Ale House. For the older or family set, there’s a Children’s Museum, Science Museum, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, malls, movies, golf, etc.
Shoot, getting here is easy. The Richmond airport is as difficult to navigate as second grade math, and the train station dumps you eight blocks from the Coliseum. Comparatively speaking, hotels are pretty darned cheap.
I’d argue what you want is an agreeable meal, a cold beer, a decent wine list, and good company, preferably those who talk basketball. That’s what you get. If you’re going out to two restaurants/bars, does matter if there are 15 or 50 to choose from?
A friend told me a story that galvanizes this: A group of eight went to a restaurant fairly close to the Coliseum. (Immediate seating with a large group on weekend night–unrealized bonus.) Unsolicited, the server asked if they were in town for the tournament.
They said yes, and the server/manager said it’s a great event, but they can’t really capitalize on it because most of the people who go aren’t going to drop a ton of money on dinner with so much basketball going on.
My friend said that the local businesses and restaurants all asked if they were in town for the tournament. They knew about the tournament as fans from schools visited those places during the tourney.
So inasmuch as you being familiar with Richmond, Richmond becomes familiar with you. And that increases your experience.
It’s also this: yes, there are cities with better restaurants, more to do, nicer faclilities, etc. But (1) do you access—really access—all that stuff, or is it nice to talk about? (2) Does it make your arena/basketball experience (you know, the reason you are there) any better?
I’d say marginally. Think about what you are sacrificing for a “better building.” Richmond has what you want. I think there’s a difference in what you say you want to do and what you actually do.
Every year people have a venue answer based on nothing but geography. Nobody has ever put in the time to give a complete answer. “Baltimore’s inner harbor is better because it has better restaurants, a better bar scene, and a better venue.” Congratulations, you are 10% complete.
It’s like the transition from assistant coach to head coach. The difference in making suggestions and making decisions is a lot greater than moving three seats down on the bench. Finding the right place for the CAA tournament is far bigger than picking a building.
***
All that said, commentor Metsox, an all around good guy and smart guy, brings up a very salient point. If the conference truly wishes to embrace this Boston to Atlanta thing, they are going to have to do a better job marketing themselves in cities like Philadelphia.
I agree. The schools certainly need to do their share, but I believe the conference’s job is to make it easy for for them.
Metsox is also right in that it is a mistake to not try to make things better. That accepting things as they are and trying to make the same things just percentage points better is a losing strategy. We are in a world where tomorrow’s version of today is terribly shortsighted and lazy.
All I’m saying is that the conference tournament is not where that needs to occur. How do you defend yourself if it were to fail and Your School’s baseball or lacrosse or women’s basketball were on the chopping block?
Perhaps some of the crazy ideas you read here aren’t as crazy as they appear. Put a preseason conference kickoff in Philadelphia. Dump Bracketbusters and put everybody in one place for Feb 20 and Feb 23 games. Heck they could all ride the trains down together and we’d have a CAAravan that winds up in Richmond.
If indeed Richmond is the great money-maker—and it is—then take some of that money and create something college basketball has not seen. There is an answer, and it takes guts.
Taking the tournament out of Richmond isn’t that answer. At the mid major level, economics takes on a heightened importance.
I close with this: Jerry Beach of Defiantly Dutch was one of the naysayers. He wrote frequently of southern bias and of the pain of the Virginia league.
March 11th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
RE: VCU home court/home city. I think you need to reexamine the advantage they have. Obviously people wouldn’t be as up in arms if the tournament were in Baltimore every year giving Towson a big geographical advantage. But if it were in D.C. or Hampton Roads you would. You rightly point out that for the most part VCU has won/lost the games it was “supposed” to. But even the years where they are a 2-6 seed they are still a legitimate threat to win the tournament. I think you should look at their success as a 3 or a 5 seed compared to other teams seeded in that range. Especially in how often they advance a few rounds in. You can’t say that about other teams. I agree the “home” fans give those games a great atmosphere. But totally unfair for Hofstra, Drexel. Northeaster, UNCW etc. Each of which has produced contenders, but doesn’t get the advantage of the “home” buzz. I know it’s great for the conference when VCU/ODU meet on Sunday or Monday. But it’s not so great if you are a poor UNCW student sitting in Wilmington watching on TV because you would have had to drive 6 hours and get a hotel room for the weekend. Instead of walking out of your dorm and moving a few blocks down the street.
I know there is no perfect solution, and this is a Virginia league. That doesn’t eliminate how patently unfair that is for the southern/northern teams. The current situation is great if you are a neutral observer or VCU/ODU/GMU fan. But for everyone else it kind of sucks, unless you have the funds and time to make the trip to Richmond. There is no way to argue that VCU doesn’t have a HUGE advantage over every other team. No matter how their talent stacks up to the rest of the conference. All they have to do is perform that weekend in front of their home crowd and their season continues.
March 11th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Litos, my friend. You might be exactly right. I even said to my wife over the weekend that I hate it, but Richmond is the perfect place for the tournament.
However, without significant renovations to the Coliseum, the conference may have to be willing to take a hit for a couple of years (by moving it), otherwise, we will be in a dump forever, and that is a reflection on the league. Yeager can send all of the letters he wants, but unless he’s willing to put his money where his mouth is, Richmond knows he’s not going to move it, and thus, they have no incentive to fix the dump.
It would be one thing if people called it a dump simply because they didn’t like it, but here’s a true story from my weekend. My wife took our 2-year old daughter to the bathroom on Saturday, and our daughter literally started crying. She said, “P-U, Mommy, it’s too stinky in here. I no want to go potty,” and the tears were streaming down her face. I would think that story to be hilarious, only if it weren’t true.
Now, I know it’s not very likely, but I’d bet attendance at JPJ in Charlottesville wouldn’t be far from what it is in Richmond.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Terry–I very much appreciate the struggle, but the numbers don’t lie. Hofstra and Drexel were both a 3 seed when they made it to the finals. VCU is like anybody else: if you are a top four seed you are a threat. Also, every team has 9 home games to win the top position, and I urge you to re-read the success of the # 1 seeds in this tournament. As for VCU, I go back to 3-7 when facing higher-seeded teams.
Coach–I’m thinking nobody will disagree with the Coliseum needing major help.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
But, if the city cries that the money is not there, the league has to move the tournament, right?
March 11th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Is there a reason why the tournament could not be played up to the final in Richmond, then the championship game at a later date (either during the week or next weekend) at the site of the higher remaining seed?
March 11th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Love Kirk’s idea – but doesn’t the CAA “own” the Monday night at 7 pm timeslot on ESPN? The America East used to “own” 11:30 AM on Saturdays on ESPN, and then they moved the championship game midweek, and it got bumped to the Deuce, and it took them years to get it back on Saturdays.
The only problem is that on Monday, you don’t have much competition from the “Big Boys”. Now that the BE starts on Tuesday, ESPN would rather show the #12/#16 game in the BE than the CAA Finals.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Kirk, that’s the most anti-climatic, basketblueball idea I’ve ever heard of.
March 11th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Well rounded arguments to a point.
First off, I like Richmond. This past weekend is a highlight of my year every year.
My wife and I love going to the tournament, seeing fantastic basketball, interacting with other basketball lovers, and the rivarlies.
We also like hitting the bars in the stadium, chilling at the Marriot, walking to Penny Lane Pub, and checking out the beer selection the Capital Ale House.
The arguments of nothing to do, imo opinion are overdone.
However, despite the record of VCU as you stated, VCU is spotted a few points in each of their games – in the sense Vegas gives the home team a few points. There really can’t be any denying this if you have been to any of the tournaments the last few years.
For instance, ODU and Mason fans had the second and third most fans at the stadium and combined we were outnumbered 5-1.
With respect it was your book that really completed my education of how much home court advantage helps.
A conference tournament needs to be a Neutral location or at least try to keep Neutrality at the forefront of the competitive agenda.
Those of us who book rooms, dine in the city and know the bartenders in ‘The Zone’ by name are putting out a pretty penny to be there. VCU fans in many cases have no vested economic interest (hotel room or cost of a ticket) or sacrafice (travel time) with the school filling the stadium with there presence.
Frankly, if the CAA were to stay in Richmond, I think the solution is finding a way to compensate schools out of Virginia to bring their fans in and forbid VCU from granting their masses free access – in the name of Neutrality.
Otherwise this continues to be the VCU Invitational sponsored by the CAA.
side note: this isn’t sour milk. VCU’s spotting of 3 points doesn’t eliminate a 15 point loss.
March 11th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Mike,
I will leave the debate for others…but if Richmond wants to be big time then the city has to act big time. My wife and I parked in the 7th street garage Sunday and when exiting the garage all the trash cans were over flowing with garbage, obviously left form Saturday. How can that happen? It is inexcusable and leaves nothing but a sour taste,much less a nasty appearance for all. So for your reasons for the tournament staying, I am afraid there are that many or more for it leaving.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
IF the tournament moves out of Richmond in 2013, and it’s a big if, there is only 1 place that the conference can go and that’s Scope. The reason is the site selected will have to have very low risk based on the attendance and $. Overall both should stay the same and actually could grow larger since moving to Norfolk adds VaBeach into the attraction and the larger ODU fan base. The fact is that ODU leads the league in attendance, and has always traveled better than any other school in the league, added to the fact that football drew over 140,000 for 7 games proves there are a lot of Monarch fans in the area. There will be very large drop off of VCU fans, agreed, but the decrease would be more then made for by ODU, and other schools – Mason, Madison, UNCW etc. The Richmond location made sense when there were 2 local schools but its time to take the risk and get out of our comfort zone.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
I didn’t even get into the issues of Richmond now being a second rate city. Leave that to others, but to argue that moving out of Richmond will cost $ is a very weak case.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Pavarotti, perhaps having a few days or even a week to prepare for the CAA final would have 2 rested and prepared opponents. You still reward the higher seed with a home game and you might have a build up of excitement not necessarily an anti-climax. I doubt the players would view it as an anti-climax and the students and alumni of the 2 schools in the finals would have a week to lose their minds.
You might even have a better game.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:03 am
You’re not selling me on the economics:
Tickets – this tournament will sell tickets. In fact, I’d argue that it would sell more in a larger metro area – more people to pull from. Just because you argue VCU and ODU wont travel as well to Philly doesn’t mean that Hofstra, Northeastern, Drexel and Towson won’t turn out in droves. To suggest that only Richmond can draw 42,000 fans is naive, at best.
Money from the city – you don’t think other cities would pay a few bucks or offer incentives for this tournament with its track record?? I doubt it. Cities do this sort of thing all of the time to attract other tournaments, conventions, etc. EVERY CITY DOES THIS.
Sponsorships – please. Virginia 529 didn’t get announced until 10 days before the tournament!! It doesn’t sound like people were knocking down the door to take Aeropostale’s spot. To get a title sponsorship a couple of weeks before a tournament must have come at a steep discount. I’d argue that a larger city with more company HQ would be an easier sell or at least have a larger pool of possibilities. Besides, Virginia 529 could be used anywhere in VA. The Army and Geico will get booths just about anywhere this tourney is played, too.
One thing you forgot – TV!! If this were in a location further north, maybe the CAA could have coaxed a better TV deal out of Comcast/MASN (since it’d be in their backyard), rather than the junk they got this year. There is the money you’d be “missing.”
I agree with Jay – Richmond thinks its big time, but doesn’t act like it. They lost the Braves and with good reason. No one supported them and the Braves got tired of dealing with a Mickey Mouse operation of a city. Need more proof? Why is it that big musical acts go out of their way to play concerts in Charlottesville? Charlottesville is not convenient for a tour, but its worth the drive considering the crowds and amenities at JPJ.
Not only is the Coliseum a dump, but its treated that way. The bathrooms are a mess, the concession stands ran out of food, and every time I got up from my seat, I would have to boot someone out of it upon my return. For s city that “wants this tournament,” they don’t act like it.
As for places to go – I can’t believe the “hot spot” being mentioned is a Marriott bar. Mmmm – I do love $4 Miller Lites. C’mon. I know where to go, but for an out-of-towner, its not so easy. Its not like there is a resaurant row or area where you have your choice of a couple of places. Everything is scattered, so you have to hope you get lucky.
I live in Richmond, so I want this place to be great, but Richmond doesn’t have the interest in making itself great. Several cities have successfuly done revitalization in recent years; Richmond is still talking about it. I wouldn’t mind seeing the tournament in a place where the CAA can really shine – the way this conference deserves.
March 12th, 2010 at 4:07 am
[...] Mike Litos, CAA guru writes this excellent take on why the CAA Tourney should stay in Richmond. http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/ [...]
March 12th, 2010 at 8:35 am
This debate can and will go on no matter where the tournament is played. But a few things to note.
For all of those who are crying for JPJ, the Palestra, or any other venue where other teams play…you can stop. Unless the CAA changed their policy, the CAA bans their conference sanctioned championships from being played on another university’s floor/gym. Before I was in college, the CAA hosted their swimming and diving championship at Hargrave Military. In case you haven’t been there, the closest hotel is 30 minutes away. Same reason while last year, when ODU screwed up and double booked the TED for the wrestling championship, they moved it to a high school instead of NSU or Hampton. So JPJ…not happening.
I agree with the folks who said if Richmond wants to eb big time, act big time. I saw the same trash overflowing, I think I tried to use the same two broken sinks in the restrooms near section 31L three times, and traffic control after the championship games was horrible (30+ minutes to get out of the garage). RC aside, the city needs to show that they WANT and VALUE the tournament.
As is the case with everyone (VCU fans included), I have horror stories from the RC. But we all agree. There needs to be a better venue to host the CAA’s showcase event.
This debate can’t end because people will complain anywhere they put the tournament. Richmond, Norfolk, or DC= home court advantage. Philli, Boston, New York, Atlanta= not the heart of CAA basketball=little interest in the city. Truly neutral site such as Atlantic City, Charlotte, etc=no local ties to the conference. So each one has flaws.
The tournamnet supports itself financially. Each city would pay or have incentives to bring the tournament to their city. If the RC and Richmond can’t shape up, then we got to ship out.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Gents, will address all this morning. Stuff to do…
March 12th, 2010 at 10:21 am
I don’t have a problem with Richmond Coliseum they have made some improvements, still a dump. The CAA just needs to follow their own guildlines and make it more like a NCAA tourny. Guildlines say the bands shall be 30 members. ODU shows up with 30 and VCU shows up with 42. The guildlines say only students in the student section and there’s Pavarotti and a dozen more former Rowdy Rams. The GL states players will have a place to set, two years ago ODU had to stand for two hours before their game and the other team sat. Another problem VCU gets 3000 tickets for their students for 5 bucks, buying a home court for 15K and that’s cheap. The semis were soldout by Sat nite, shutting out ODU and WM fans from making the trip. While the staff has gotten better, I saw dozen of VCU fans being let in without tickets thru the smoking area, by just opening the gate. Standing talking to a WM fan at the top of the lower section. A staff member said I had to move, while five VCU fans were standing on the other side of her. She never told them they had to move. This just a few things, I could go on and on. The CAA just needs to keep it fair and remember that VCU doesn’t own the place. Maybe add voluntaries from different schools. Run it under the NCAA guildlines for a tourny. ODU can help with that we have hosted many NCAAs including two Final Fours. If this is were we are going to keep it, we need to be fair it’s for all 12 teams in the conference.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Wow…passionate topic. I’m very impressed with the feedback here from all sides. My point of view is simple: The Coliseum is a dump and an embarrassment, and having the games feet from VCU isn’t fair to the other CAA schools. It’s not rocket science. As for where else to hold the games…well, most of you are right: Somebody will have an advantage no matter where you go. That’s why I prefer rotating the conference tourney around the Eastern seaboard. If the fans are devoted or think their school can win it all, they’ll show up for at least the weekend games, even if staying for Monday’s night’s title game is impossible based on the tourney’s location.
Litos is right on one topic: Money drives everything. The ADs around the conference and the CAA will do whatever they can to bring in the most dough. “It’s the economy, stupid” as the famous quote goes…and it’s valid here as well.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I sorry, but your arguement about the sponsorships is a complete JOKE! Just say the tourney was moved to Norfolk. You don’t think the Navy/Armed forces wouldn’t have a piece of the action( the military presence in the area is one of the largest in the nation), and Gieco’s national headquaters is located in Virginia Beach ( I guarantee you that they would be the major sponsor{ have a good friend who is employeed by Gieco and he said that would be a fore-gone conclusion, he said they would secure a block of tickets for employees and turn the weekend into a employee-family package}). The shipyards, construction moguls, and big business(another example other than Gieco> USAA insurance) would provide the same, if not more sponsorship revenue than what is currently the case.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Lots of great stuff here, and we’ll get to it after lunch. I want to let the post with the opposing view marinate, and I’d like to eat lunch.
March 12th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Richmond is a central location for the tourney, but just geographically. Think about it for a second. If the tourney was moved to Norfolk, ODU, WM, JMU, GMU, and VCU whould all have good fan bases. Of course ODU and WM would have nice numbers, but the amount of JMU alum in the area would definetly boost ticket sales. One of ODU’s sellouts every year is the home game against JMU (go figure). The drop-off in attendence would come from the fact that VCU doesn’t travel well. Say there were 4500 VCU fans at the colisuem during the semis. I would bet a ton, that the number would be in the 2000 range, if the game was held at scope. VCU’s huge numbers at the tourney are not the result of your alumni fan base. It is directly correlated to the amount of student tickets bought up by your school, and the “turning of heads” when VCU students were flowing into the arena from “multiple” entrances that weren’t “offical” entrances. I asked a RC employee if I could come through the door that VCU students were filing through before the Mason game, and he said no it wasn’t an “official entrance” and I would have to go to an entrance where they are “TAKING TICKETS”. I proceeded to ask him if this was the student entrance and he said “no”. I then asked if there was anybody I could talk to about the situation and he politely pointed me in the right direction. I brought the “manager” (what a joke she was) over to the area, and she said they were just trying to get the students in so there were no problems outside. Ok, then I asked, “are you checking their tickets”, she said “no, they’re students”. I then asked her if this was the student entrance, and she responed by saying, “It is now”. Aren’t their supposed to be only 200 “free” student tickets handed out to each school for their respected games? I guess, unless your VCU.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
The message we are hearing is VCU wants all the control. The CAA is stagnant and not growing partially because of VCU, they are holding us back. I feel I am being held hostage in Richmond – VCU doesn’t play fair. Would ODU have an advantage at Scope with ½ the fans being ODU, or same with Mason in DC – sure they would. The short answer is – SO WHAT. VCU wants the control – and they are afraid that moving out of Richmond could provide the spark the league needs. Many fans I talk to refuse to travel to Richmond anymore. I have attended every CAA tourney since ODU joined and just about every year – except this year – I swear I will not go back. It time to give it up, take the chains off and lets move now. CHANGE – yes we can!
March 12th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
…besides, let’s also not forget one additional key fact: Most of your non-Mason grads have to move to the DC area for jobs anyway, so you may as well put the tourney in DC. There’s plenty of sponsorship $$s up here, too. If Richmond built a new arena near Short Pump, I’d show up. But, my Coliseum days are done…plus, I don’t want to get mugged in inner city Richmond.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
It’s important that this doesn’t run into an anti VCU discussion. When the CAA and whoever else makes these decisions, their minds are based on VCU’s home city advantage. It is (or hopefully) based on what will 1) bring the CAA the most positive attention 2) bring the conference the most revenue 3) will provide the best experience for the fans (#3 is a distant third).
Lets hit on each topic. What will bring the conference the most positive attention? How about a well lit, well attended arena? I walked into the RC and thought they didn’t have the lights on. I watched the replay of the finals and its dark. Not good sign. A packed house? Looks so much better on TV.
So for everyone wanting the Verizon Center (if it was available), picture the place less than half full. Picture Yeager handing out an award during a commerical and the arena is half empty. Basically, picture Georgia State football in the GA Dome(cheap shot…sorry). Looks terrbile.
Then you have to look at what will bring the CAA the most revenue. I think it is important that you keep it close to its roots. That eliminates the newbies from the conference. Though they are in large markets, the corporate base has no association or connection with the CAA. The SEC is in Atlanta, the Big East is in NYC, and the A-10 is in Atlantic City (Philli). So are they going to take their corporate dollars and place them with us?
So that leaves Norfolk/Hampton, Richmond, and Mason/D.C. There has been very little corporate (or at least title sponsor money) since Aeropastle. Would there be more in Hampton Roads (Geico, Navy, Stihl, Norfolk Southern) or D.C. (Government money, Sirius XM, Lockheed Martin) than Richmond (Virginia 529)? I am not sure that the Richmond market has given up on the CAA. Competition could jump start this. I find it hard to believe that there isn’t someone besides Virginia 529 who would slap their name on the tournament and give a fatter pay day to the 12 schools.
Ticket sales would be the same. if the tournament is in D.C. area (or even Baltimore), replace the VCU fans with Masn fans, VCU fans will travel like Mason did to Richmond, ODU would travel the same. Now Hofstra, Drexel, georgia State, Towson, W&M and NE will still have limited support. JMU and UNCW are realitivley solid bases and there support will expand as their team improves.
And third question is what will rpovide for the fans? You must have quality hotels (all three have them), easy to get to (all three have them) and plenty do outside of basketball near the arena (all three have them). So with three being a wash, what does that leave? The all mighty dollar!! The RC is NOT driving the dollars into the door, and a change of location would do the CAA more good. Might even attract a better TV offer!!
March 12th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Great article.
We’re about to start hearing a ton about a new Richmond Coliseum. In the two years it will take to build that, the tournament will get a chance in another location. Then we’ll see how well that works.