Springfield bidding for A-10 Tournament

AlPatino · Post by **AlPatino** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:38 pm

Springfield bidding for A-10 Tourney. Would be great for UMASS and city but not a great track record for attendance. Hall of Fame tie-in perhaps might help?? Says 4500 tickets sold for Saturday's game. Hope the weather cooperates but it doesn't look good.

Here's hoping my home town can impress the new Commish.

http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ss ... tic_1.html

Rocks22 · Post by **Rocks22** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:55 pm

Remember, this game was part of the season ticket package, so the 4500 number is a little misleading.

Winslow05 · Post by **Winslow05** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:15 pm

Call me bias but I think Springfield would be a great fit for this event. The Mass Mutual Center is small enough that even if the arena is half full it will look full like there is good attendence. Also, with the Hall of Fame and the convention space that the Mass Mutual Center there is plenty of room for teams to hold functions.

You could also have a great reception at the Hall's center court for all the teams.

Would be great for UMass and the city of Springfield.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:10 pm

This is good news. And what'll ya know, the Republican broke the news! Crazy!

I think this is good news. Would be great to get this close!

Old Cage · Post by **Old Cage** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:24 pm

Let's not be too sure about who broke the news. I read it here:

http://www.gazettenet.com/blog/umass-sports

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:27 pm

4:04 for the repub... I was just busting balls.

Post by **MikeUMA** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:28 pm

Winslow05 wrote:Call me bias

You're biased.

Outside of the Hall of Fame, which is a great tie in for a college hoop tourney, Springfield doesn't offer anything for the fans. Atlantic City is a good place for other activities. Philly has a lot to offer (and in my opinion it never should have left there). Cincy and Dayton were mistakes. Moving it to Springfield won't be widely accepted.

It'd be great for UMass. Springfield would bend over backwards to get it. Fans in the rest of the A-10 won't like it, in general.

Jackman · Post by **Jackman** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:35 pm

How does the DII Tournament do in Springfield?

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:36 pm

MikeUMA wrote:
Winslow05 wrote:Call me bias
You're biased.

Outside of the Hall of Fame, which is a great tie in for a college hoop tourney, Springfield doesn't offer anything for the fans. Atlantic City is a good place for other activities. Philly has a lot to offer (and in my opinion it never should have left there). Cincy and Dayton were mistakes. Moving it to Springfield won't be widely accepted.

It'd be great for UMass. Springfield would bend over backwards to get it. Fans in the rest of the A-10 won't like it, in general.

Two words:

Fat Tuesday.

The other cities aren't even close in that department.

Winslow05 · Post by **Winslow05** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:39 pm

I think the draw to a 6500 seat arena is better than any other city can offer. Springfield is also close to Bradley and I really think the draw to the Hall of Fame cant be understated.

I also think if our new comish wants to try and get ESPN involved Springfield is nice proximity to Bristol.

Feato · Post by **Feato** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:11 pm

Jackman wrote:How does the DII Tournament do in Springfield?

pulled 17,000+ total this past year in 3 days. Think it was 5600 for the championship game.

Would be hard pressed to think the A-10 would do just as well, if not slightly better based on their attendance in AC this past year. As for what the city offers aside from the Hall of Fame & the downtown bars, well, that's debatable...

AC did put in another proposal for 2010...since the tourney location at that point goes to 3 days, with the final game on Selection Sunday...

AGldFinch6 · Post by **AGldFinch6** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:30 pm

MikeUMA wrote:
Outside of the Hall of Fame, which is a great tie in for a college hoop tourney, Springfield doesn't offer anything for the fans.

And besides gambling , AC doesn't offer anything for the fans.

wsjer88 · Post by **wsjer88** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:06 am

Winslow05 wrote:I think the draw to a 6500 seat arena is better than any other city can offer. Springfield is also close to Bradley and I really think the draw to the Hall of Fame cant be understated.

I also think if our new comish wants to try and get ESPN involved Springfield is nice proximity to Bristol.

Good point I never thought of the proximity to ESPN. I don't think that Springfield is that bad, but I know I am biased I'm from West Springfield

skizz · Post by **skizz** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:18 am

Chris20 wrote:Two words:

Fat Tuesday.

The other cities aren't even close in that department.

Two better words:

Mardi Gras

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:46 pm

Not a good location for the tourney, as much as I'd like it to be there. It's a bit too far from Philly to ensure that those fans make the trip. Besides us, there's not a team in the conference within a 5 hour drive to Springfield. The A-10 has become a mid atlantic, even mid west conference with few exceptions.

UMassHoops.com

Springfield bidding for A-10 Tournament

Springfield bidding for A-10 Tournament

not a good spot