redsoxn2004 said:
As for the tournament, there is a definite advantage for VCU to play in Richmond. I know thats a tired subject but almost all the northern teams have to travel pretty significantly to get to the tournament. It is absolutely an issue for the teams in the north and will continue to be until we find a more central location that makes the tournament equitable and fair for all teams. It's something that both players and coaches have major gripes about. Many coaches will say we'll play the games as they come but it's an issue for AD's and coaches and will likely be addressed when this contract with Richmond comes up.
Just when you thought you'd left all the cry babies on the 'Zone...
you want unfair? ok how's this... we had to play Rutgers on thier HOME COURT in the
NCAAs on the women's side, and had our men beat UCLA and played Villanova in the second round, we would have had to play them on a court that they actually use at times during the season!
Also, think of it this way, your team has just as many opportunities to play in the Richmond Coliseum as we do, if not more when you factor in playing on Friday. The only advantage I see is getting more of our fans in the building. The players/coaches are forced to stay in a hotel just like the other 11 teams. They don't sleep in their own beds as everyone claims. Sure, they might know a better place to get breakfast than the hotel lobby... but c'mon, give it a rest. If you really think the fans make that much of a difference, then get your hockey pals to give a darn about your other teams.
Another thought, how do you think GSU and UNCW would feel if you moved it to a "more central location", or in the terms that you meant to say, farther north. Now, if you are thinking DC area, this would constitute as GMU's home area, and you'd be griping about their advantage. Face it, the tournament HAS to be played near SOMEONE's school, and the CAA will make sure that it is a school that gives a darn about basketball. GMU would get the same advantage of fans by having it in DC. A move east or west doesn't really make any sense (it will anger or give your so called advantage to either JMU or ODU.)
If you really want it moved WAAYYY up north, the only thing I can tell you is get BIG TIME money. You'll have to recouperate the losses in ticketsales due to everyone being at a hockey game, you'll have to make up for the tv contract that was cut due to how pitiful the attendance looked on tv. Start digging for some big time dollars.
Something else for you to consider: NU and HU (and any other team that flies in for the CAA's; GSU perhaps? not sure on them) probably have it EASIER than a Drexel or Delaware or UNC-W that have anywhere between 3-6 hours on the buses. (By the way, UNC-W has done fairly well in recent memory in Richmond.)
Richmond makes sense, and here's why.
-Every school, save maybe Wilmington, that would take a bus has easy access to either I-64 or I-95, which happen to intersect in Richmond.
-You have 5 schools in VA. Clearly to make the most money on ticket sales, it should be in or VERY close to VA. a rough estimate of the center of those 5 schools? Richmond.
-The CAA offices are in Richmond, makes sense to hold the tournament near home office. (Maybe the A-10 (or 13, 16, 8, whatever it is!) should move their tournament to Richmond too, with their offices here, and a host school, it makes sense!)
-This IS the ticket in Richmond. There's nothing for the CAA's to compete with. Some areas have hockey, others have other types of basketball going on. If you're looking for a sporting event in Richmond, that IS your option, which leads to more ticket sales and the all mighty dollar.
-Your annual attendance leaders (I have no solid facts here, but just seem to recall this to be true, correct me if I'm off base) are probably ODU, GMU, and VCU. It is VERY clear at the tournament that those are your top 3. As a marketing plan, you know you'll sell more tickets if you have the tournament as close to your top groups as possible. It is about 2 hours Richmond - Fairfax(GMU), likewise Richmond to Norfolk(ODU). I'd estimate 3 1/2 to 4 hours (never had to make this trip) Fairfax - Norfolk. Now take those numbers and minimize travel for your top 3 while holding the event at a host school.
-@ ODU: VCU Travel - 2 hours. GMU Travel - 3.5 hours. Total = 5.5 hours.
-@ GMU: VCU Travel - 2 hours. ODU Travel - 3.5 hours. Total = 5.5 hours.
-@ VCU: ODU Travel - 2 hours. GMU Travel - 2 hours. Total = 4 hours.
-given this info, the shortest travel time for the top 3 schools would have the host city as Richmond, and even so, I doubt you'd be happy with the CAA's in any of these three cities, save maybe Fairfax. You ought to be thankful we aren't like the leagues that play the entire conference tournament on the top seed's home court. At least they make us play on an unfamiliar court/arena. I garuntee you we wouldn't have lost to W&M in 08 playing at home.
To me, it just makes sense as a business plan to hold the CAA's in Richmond. Sure, it probably sucks as a diehard fan of the other 11 schools, everyone would LOVE to have the CAA's in their city. I don't blame them for being bitter. I just blame them for crying about it without thinking it through.
.../rant
Sorry for the winded post!
