Alpo Classic (for the old timers)

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone remember this event from the mid-80s?

Spokane used to host a tournament when Eastern was independent, with Eastern, Idaho (Big Sky), WSU (Pac-10), and Gonzaga (WCC). I think it happened two years in a row with Eastern finishing third each time.

I’m a little surprised some enterprising Don King-type wouldn’t try to bring that back as a marquee basketball event for Spokane. You couldn’t invite Idaho since I don’t believe two teams from the same conference can be in a season tourney, but you have Seattle U and Boise State that could be invites. Gonzaga, WSU, and Eastern would draw enough by themselves to make it work. I’d have to assume you could make a big profit off that kind of event. I don’t know if it would sell to national media outlets, but it would certainly work well enough on a regional level.

I guarantee you could sell out Spokane Arena for two nights of double-headers. Between the gate and media rights, you pay each school $200k and still come away with a healthy amount left over.

 

[clawman1]

Anyone remember this event from the mid-80s?

Spokane used to host a tournament when Eastern was independent, with Eastern, Idaho (Big Sky), WSU (Pac-10), and Gonzaga (WCC). I think it happened two years in a row with Eastern finishing third each time.

I’m a little surprised some enterprising Don King-type wouldn’t try to bring that back as a marquee basketball event for Spokane. You couldn’t invite Idaho since I don’t believe two teams from the same conference can be in a season tourney, but you have Seattle U and Boise State that could be invites. Gonzaga, WSU, and Eastern would draw enough by themselves to make it work. I’d have to assume you could make a big profit off that kind of event. I don’t know if it would sell to national media outlets, but it would certainly work well enough on a regional level.

I guarantee you could sell out Spokane Arena for two nights of double-headers. Between the gate and media rights, you pay each school $200k and still come away with a healthy amount left over.

Years ago I suggested to Chaves that Washington Wheat Growers assn would be a good title sponsor for this event.

 

[EWU98]

Anyone remember this event from the mid-80s?

Spokane used to host a tournament when Eastern was independent, with Eastern, Idaho (Big Sky), WSU (Pac-10), and Gonzaga (WCC). I think it happened two years in a row with Eastern finishing third each time.

I’m a little surprised some enterprising Don King-type wouldn’t try to bring that back as a marquee basketball event for Spokane. You couldn’t invite Idaho since I don’t believe two teams from the same conference can be in a season tourney, but you have Seattle U and Boise State that could be invites. Gonzaga, WSU, and Eastern would draw enough by themselves to make it work. I’d have to assume you could make a big profit off that kind of event. I don’t know if it would sell to national media outlets, but it would certainly work well enough on a regional level.

I guarantee you could sell out Spokane Arena for two nights of double-headers. Between the gate and media rights, you pay each school $200k and still come away with a healthy amount left over.

That would be a sweet tourney....GU would want 70% of the take though.
Yes I am bitter that we are not on their schedule on a yearly basis...especially this year when they were trying to "find" opponents. Dude make it happen.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone remember this event from the mid-80s?

Spokane used to host a tournament when Eastern was independent, with Eastern, Idaho (Big Sky), WSU (Pac-10), and Gonzaga (WCC). I think it happened two years in a row with Eastern finishing third each time.

I’m a little surprised some enterprising Don King-type wouldn’t try to bring that back as a marquee basketball event for Spokane. You couldn’t invite Idaho since I don’t believe two teams from the same conference can be in a season tourney, but you have Seattle U and Boise State that could be invites. Gonzaga, WSU, and Eastern would draw enough by themselves to make it work. I’d have to assume you could make a big profit off that kind of event. I don’t know if it would sell to national media outlets, but it would certainly work well enough on a regional level.

I guarantee you could sell out Spokane Arena for two nights of double-headers. Between the gate and media rights, you pay each school $200k and still come away with a healthy amount left over.

That would be a sweet tourney....GU would want 70% of the take though.
Yes I am bitter that we are not on their schedule on a yearly basis...especially this year when they were trying to "find" opponents. Dude make it happen.

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about basketball. But I think an in-season tournament against non-conference teams only counts as a single game. Therefore, Gonzaga would have to weigh the benefit of two games with 12,000 people in attendance and receiving a smaller cut, or a single game with 6,000 people getting the whole cut less the expense of buying the opponent. I'd have to think a four team tourney would be a much better deal for them financially.