Comments on: More on Richmond…

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:44:10 +0000

Erik…Richmond could continue to be a fine, centralized location in the heart of CAA country, but it definitely should have a nicer venue and location elsewhere in Richmond.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:18:18 +0000

@Shawn – so you are saying that the CAA should DEFINITELY move the tournament from Richmond??

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:31:16 +0000

Shawn, Peoria, IL has a perfect sized arena, hotels, and it’s safe. I think that’s the closest city that I can name that fits your criteria.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:34:58 +0000

Norfolk? Come on, people…pick a city where fans don’t have to worry about their lives…

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:53:56 +0000

Berto said, on the record, to my face, that once the rfp’s go out, that’s about it for the conference. if the schools want to lobby with local government, they can go ahead.

The people who told you (“the media”) that the league has ongoing conversations were very liberal with their definition of “conversations” me thinks.

By: Erik

Erik — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:49:58 +0000

Unfortunately, I’m not convinced Norfolk is the answer. Better facility – check. Nicer town – check. Great fan support – check. Lots to do – check. Larger base of companies to pull from – check. However, it’s not at all convenient for the schools to get to. That will play into the voting. Also, I don’t think it helps you from a TV standpoint since it’s that much further from MASN / Comcast. Is it a better option, absolutely. It would be a much better overall experience for the casual fan. I live in Richmond and would make the trip (and I didn’t go to ODU). For those who will complain about an ODU homecourt advantage, at least Scope isn’t a few blocks from campus.

I’m not sure what the right answer is, but maybe leaving Richmond would get the city’s but in gear, although they lost the Braves and even though another team was lured back by a private investor, I still haven’t seen any movement on a new facility.

By: DaBigBlue

DaBigBlue — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:16:38 +0000

The point is, it needs to move around and Scope is a great option. Upgraded HD video board, new sound system, new lighting, newly redone seats, the restrooms completely redone. The area has more hotels, a very upscale urban mall next door and a ton more restaurants all within a 1/4 mile. It’s time to move, 20 plus years is long enough. Heck that’s longer than the Lady Monarch’s CAA run.
The Siegel had 7,500 last night and a very large part of that was from the 757, not the 804. If three of the teams weren’t from the 757 you would have half the crowd.

By: mlitos

mlitos — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:20:25 +0000

BigBlue–nobody’s arguing the merits of Norfolk as a sports town. But you don’t solve one of the problems people cite as needing to leave Richmond–the VCU home city advantage. All you’ve done is moved the advantage to ODU.

Moving the tourney to Norfolk solves the VCU home city advantage, but creates the ODU home city advantage. In the grand scheme, you’ve solved nothing. There are still 11 schools that won’t like this.

And I believe the high school states sold out the Siegel Center this weekend. Apples and oranges.

By: DaBigBlue

DaBigBlue — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:03:25 +0000

You think Mason would have made the Final Four if the Regionals hadn’t been played at the Verizon Center in DC. You can’t downplay the lift, of playing in a tournament at home. It’s a huge advantage.

Norfolk is more of a sports town than Richmond and it’s manor is going after this tournament. We had 8.5K at Scope for the High School Regionals Finals last week. Had over 44K for the total attendance, isn’t that about what the CAAs did.

By: BayFront

BayFront — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:23:46 +0000

Norfolk would be a step backwards, 1. even more remote location, bridges, tunnels, traffic issues at every turn, this would simply become on ODU affair, worse than the VCU situation now. 2. This moves the entire gig 2 hours farther away from every team and most fans. 3. Scope is the same age as Richmonds junk heap, less restaurants, etc. the Capital City is a better fit but no question the venue needs a major face lift at best. 4. Most of the larger members of the CAA started as commuter schools and just recently are becoming more campus oriented, I can tell you now, to move this event to a large venue in DC or else where would be a major mistake. The TV presentation looked good this year, mostly full, lots of good action, big fan response presented well on CSN as well as the ESPN final. I can tell you now, these fans are not going to do the $200/nite hotel rooms etc that would be the norm in DC and beyond, an empty venue would be a major embarrassment and would hurt the CAA in a major way.