Big Sky to Continue Study of Tournament Formats

[wsucatfan]

I wasn't able to head up to the Dee tonight, so I had to listen/watch online. The halftime show had Bovee on, apparently there are about 7-8 sites that have made a bid for a 3 year pre-determined location for the Big Sky tournament. Some of the sites included, Ogden, Reno, Seattle, Flagstaff, and Missoula (I don't remember the rest). He said the Big Sky President might have an announcement during the tournament this year who they are going to reward the bid too.

7 sites bid for the Men's only tournament:

Billings is one of seven locations that have made binding proposals to host either the men’s tournament, the women’s tournament, or both. The city is competing for the men’s tournament with Missoula (in conjunction with the University of Montana), Ogden, Utah (Weber State), Flagstaff, Arizona (Northern Arizona), Spokane/Cheney, Washington (Eastern Washington), Greeley/Loveland, Colorado (Northern Colorado), and another neutral site, Reno, Nevada.

The bids from Spokane/Cheney, Greeley/Loveland and Reno seek to host combined men’s and women’s tournaments. Spokane/Cheney and Greeley/Loveland have each put in a bid for only the women’s tournament, too.

Missoula has also bid on the women’s tournament, but does not have an interest in being a dual-tournament host.

“Theirs is more of an either/or proposal,” said Ron Loghry, a veteran deputy commissioner and the director of championships for the Big Sky Conference.

Loghry said the Big Sky’s projected timeline calls for a final decision on tournament sites to be made in early March. It’s expected that the men’s and women’s tournaments will include all 12 teams beginning next year. The current format allows only the top eight.

http://mtstandard.com/butte/billing...cle_343a243d-b17c-58b1-a1b5-dc6c3dc3e967.html

 

[n.ogdencat]

Big Sky...get rid of the tournament. The conference has totally shown their whole initiative. To make money off the athletes. They don't care about fans, about who represents the conference in the NCAAs. All they now care about is $$$. Time to end the tournament. The team with the best record who wins the Sky should represent. If there is a tie, have the two teams face off at a neutral location. End of story. To change something that is working is crazy.

 

[SWeberCat02]

Big Sky...get rid of the tournament.

Agreed. Play 22 conference games and send your regular season champ.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Big Sky...get rid of the tournament.

Agreed. Play 22 conference games and send your regular season champ.

Agreed. No need for a tournament if the Reg. Season Champ can't host. Send the best team to the NCAAs.

 

[SWeberCat02]

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2015/01/26/reno-bids-host-big-sky-basketball-tournaments/22360333/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Certainly that's one of the major priorities where you have the playing venue and hotels all located within two blocks of each other," Fine said. "Plus, we're a destination where people can come and have fun in. You don't just come to watch basketball. You can have fun in other ways. There are other adult things to do. Some of those other smaller towns have nothing to do but watch the basketball games."

:lol: Gotta agree. If there's going to be a tournament, I'm on board with Reno.

 

[WeberSki]

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2015/01/26/reno-bids-host-big-sky-basketball-tournaments/22360333/

"Certainly that's one of the major priorities where you have the playing venue and hotels all located within two blocks of each other," Fine said. "Plus, we're a destination where people can come and have fun in. You don't just come to watch basketball. You can have fun in other ways. There are other adult things to do. Some of those other smaller towns have nothing to do but watch the basketball games."

:lol: Gotta agree. If there's going to be a tournament, I'm on board with Reno.

Reno is such a ghetto hole... How depressing if thats where it ends up. Just imagine 400 fans in the stands in Reno of all places. uke: uke: uke:

I guess a D List conference deserves a D List tourney site.

Does anybody know if Fullerton believes in aliens?

 

[PURPLEFORLIFE]

Fullerton is an alien.

This is a great opportunity. Why not have the tournament in Maui? The conference won't need a stadium larger than Sacramento States if they want to have a predetermined location. So, why not hit up a small high school and see if we can host at their venue.

 

[SWeberCat02]

Fullerton is an alien.

This is a great opportunity. Why not have the tournament in Maui? The conference won't need a stadium larger than Sacramento States if they want to have a predetermined location. So, why not hit up a small high school and see if we can host at their venue.

We'll probably get the opportunity to see what the tournament would be like in a small high school gym this season, thanks to Sac St. Blame Fullerton all you want, but it's the coaches and ADs that are pushing for this.

 

[WeberSki]

Fullerton is an alien.

This is a great opportunity. Why not have the tournament in Maui? The conference won't need a stadium larger than Sacramento States if they want to have a predetermined location. So, why not hit up a small high school and see if we can host at their venue.

We'll probably get the opportunity to see what the tournament would be like in a small high school gym this season, thanks to Sac St. Blame Fullerton all you want, but it's the coaches and ADs that are pushing for this.

That's what they tell you. If you believe them you're a sheep.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Fullerton is an alien.

This is a great opportunity. Why not have the tournament in Maui? The conference won't need a stadium larger than Sacramento States if they want to have a predetermined location. So, why not hit up a small high school and see if we can host at their venue.

We'll probably get the opportunity to see what the tournament would be like in a small high school gym this season, thanks to Sac St. Blame Fullerton all you want, but it's the coaches and ADs that are pushing for this.

Foolerton is still an alien.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Big Sky...get rid of the tournament.

Agreed. Play 22 conference games and send your regular season champ.

:+1: Reality check, the little Big Sky tournament anywhere, predetermined or not, isn't going to make big $$$ on fan attendance or TV coverage, it'll take a sponsor with deep pockets, so if any bidding site offers that, then that's likely the only sensible incentive (if it's for the $$$ as some assume).

 

[bincitysioux]

If it must be a predetermined or neutral site, I am disappointed that SLC is apparently not in the running. SLC has direct flights from 4 Big Sky cities: Missoula, Bozeman, Sacramento, and Portland. Fargo, Denver, Phoenix, and Spokane have direct flights for 5 nearby Big Sky schools. And it is a short drive for 3 Big Sky schools. Perhaps most importantly, it is within spitting distance of Weber St, the one Big Sky school that really really gets behind basketball. I may be wrong, but I assume SLC is to Weber alumni what Minneapolis-St. Paul is to North Dakota alumni. I think having it in Weber's backyard, SLC, would be similar to the Final Five (the highley successful tournament of our former hockey conference) in the Gophers backyard in St. Paul. No, I am not saying I think there would be 17,000 fans in SLC, but there may be 6,000-8,000 for games that Weber is involved with. I figure half that at best anywhere else (except Ogden). Since SLC isn't an option, I guess I am hoping for Ogden for all these reasons. SLC would be a tad more "neutral".



Seems like Reno & Billings have the most steam right now. Reno would be the better "destination" in my opinion. But Reno is not easy to get to by any means. I guess Reno would be the more enjoyable city to pass the time in between games. I can't imagine what one would do in Billings for 3 days if your team lost the first day. Go home I guess. Spokane makes way more sense to me than Billings.



If I were to put a Top 5 out there from the sites mentioned in the article, mine would be:
1.Ogden---Weber's home town, short drive from SLC airport which is a major hub
2.Spokane---Short drive for 3-4 BSC teams, decent air service
3.Billings---Selfishly, I put Billings ahead of Reno just because it would be faster to drive from GF to Billings than fly from GF to Reno
4.Reno---Truly neutral, fun non-basketball things to do, not so easy to get there though
5.Missoula---The Griz draw pretty good for basketball so attendance would be OK here. Short drive for a few BSC teams

As I said, if travel costs and attendance are the two biggest factors for this tournament, then IMO SLC is the best location to satisfy both collectively for the entire conference. Since SLC isn't option, I'd say Ogden is the way to go, although I don't really love the idea of having it at the home venue of a conference member under a "predetermined site" format.

I really like the current format though. It is certainly not perfect but it does make the entire regular season exciting, and it gives the best chance to put the league's best team in the NCAA tournament. I imagine it is a major hassle to set things up in a week's time or less, but I still don't see why the regular season couldn't end a week earlier than it currently does, which would allow for twice as much time for everybody to get their poop in a group.

 

[sasquatch]

We'll probably get the opportunity to see what the tournament would be like in a small high school gym this season, thanks to Sac St. Blame Fullerton all you want, but it's the coaches and ADs that are pushing for this.

The Big Sky told Sacramento State upon entering the conference that they could never host the tournament in their gym. Problem is, all of the local arenas are booked with other events this year. It's possible - not likely - but possible this year's tournament could be in Reno should Sacramento State win the regular season.

Deputy Commissioner Ron Loghry said he’s in constant contact with Sacramento State officials and plans to visit the community late next week to look at prospective locations. He said the league would be open to having Sacramento State host the tournament “in Stockton or Reno” if necessary.

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/college/mens-basketball/article8527373.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[SWeberCat02]

We'll probably get the opportunity to see what the tournament would be like in a small high school gym this season, thanks to Sac St. Blame Fullerton all you want, but it's the coaches and ADs that are pushing for this.

The Big Sky told Sacramento State upon entering the conference that they could never host the tournament in their gym. Problem is, all of the local arenas are booked with other events this year. It's possible - not likely - but possible this year's tournament could be in Reno should Sacramento State win the regular season.

Deputy Commissioner Ron Loghry said he’s in constant contact with Sacramento State officials and plans to visit the community late next week to look at prospective locations. He said the league would be open to having Sacramento State host the tournament “in Stockton or Reno” if necessary.

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/college/mens-basketball/article8527373.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also possible the 2nd place team hosts the tournament if Sac St wins the conference and can't find a suitable venue.

 

[catscratched]

Bin;

You make a lot of sense. For all of the reasons you mention, I would think that the final four sites for consideration would be SLC, Boise, Denver, and Las Vegas. In that order.

Would I like to see Ogden picked? Sure! However, it just doesn't seem like the fairest thing to do. When Boise St was in the BSC, and they won a similar bid, it was hugely unfair and was put back the way it is now. Will history repeat itself? We will see.

 

[Skippy]

NFM

 

[Skippy]

Bin;

You make a lot of sense. For all of the reasons you mention, I would think that the final four sites for consideration would be SLC, Boise, Denver, and Las Vegas. In that order.

Would I like to see Ogden picked? Sure! However, it just doesn't seem like the fairest thing to do. When Boise St was in the BSC, and they won a similar bid, it was hugely unfair and was put back the way it is now. Will history repeat itself? We will see.

No point in getting excited about it all -- history has shown us that no matter what format or approach the Big Sky chooses, it will change it within two or three years anyway, because SOMEBODY is going to be unhappy.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Bin;

You make a lot of sense. For all of the reasons you mention, I would think that the final four sites for consideration would be SLC, Boise, Denver, and Las Vegas. In that order.

Would I like to see Ogden picked? Sure! However, it just doesn't seem like the fairest thing to do. When Boise St was in the BSC, and they won a similar bid, it was hugely unfair and was put back the way it is now. Will history repeat itself? We will see.

For strictly financial reasons, I don't see the sense of SLC bidding, wouldn't it be renting the Jazz's ESA for it, which is costly & why would a sponsor step up, knowing that some 90% of incoming fans would be driving each day from Ogden? Unless the tickets prices are ratcheted up to cover expenses. Las Vegas is ruled out with being booked up by others; WCC, WAC, MWC. Why would a Denver sponsor be interested, didn't that go bust on the MWC years back? The only sense is Reno & Billings, because they have the sponsor otherwise spelled MONEY to host. As bengalvisitor states, it's very likely to be a BUST & 3 yrs later it's back to square one. Impossible to please everyone. :twocents:

 

[oldrunner]

What about SJCC or UU. Those are potential sites, smaller venues, and less costly for the BSC. SLCC's arena is nicer than 80% of what we have in the BSC. I'm sure that arrangements could be made. I'm not sure what the capacity is, but it seemed large enough the last time I was there.

 

[Purple_Posse]

There is the Maverik Center as well. Not sure how much it would cost, but they have had the Utah high school championship games there in the past.