Comments on: In Defense of Richmond… http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/ Life As A Mid Major Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:53:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mat http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2449 Mat Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:21:18 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2449 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. 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.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 Ryan Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:36:47 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2441 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!! 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!!

]]> By: Shawn http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2440 Shawn Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:02:14 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2440 ...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 $$s up here, too. If Richmond built a new arena near Short Pump, I'd show up. But, my Coliseum days are done...plus, I don't want to get mugged in inner city Richmond. …besides, let’s also not forget one additional key fact: Most of your non-Mason grads have to move to the DC area for jobs anyway, so you may as well put the tourney in DC. There’s plenty of sponsorship $$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.

]]> By: monarch http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 monarch Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:05:07 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2438 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! 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!

]]> By: Monarch Phan http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2436 Monarch Phan Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:40:47 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2436 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. 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.

]]> By: mlitos http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2434 mlitos Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:16:51 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2434 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. 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.

]]> By: Monarch Phan http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2433 Monarch Phan Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:16:20 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2433 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. 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.

]]> By: Shawn http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2432 Shawn Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:10:00 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2432 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. 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.

]]> By: DaBigBlue http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2431 DaBigBlue Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:21:31 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2431 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. 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.

]]> By: mlitos http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/in-defense-of-richmond/comment-page-1/#comment-2430 mlitos Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:19:09 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2462#comment-2430 Gents, will address all this morning. Stuff to do... Gents, will address all this morning. Stuff to do…

]]>