Big Sky Tournament Moving?

[n.ogdencat]

Word on the street is that the Big Sky is contemplating moving the championship somewhere else. http://www.standard.net/weber-state/2017/07/20/Big-Sky-Conference-expected-to-announce-fate-of-basketball-championship-site-in-August-Reno.

I heard about this a couple of months ago, but was told that the conference wasn't going to make any moves until much later in the year if at all. Thank you to Garside for writing the story and getting it published. From what I have heard is that Commissioner Williams wasn't happy with Reno from the get go and wanted a change. However, the feeling was mutual (Williams is somewhat of a cluster F as commissioner). The City of Reno hasn't experienced the monetary windfall from the tournament that they were expecting, and probably weren't going to re-sign a contract unless there were major changes. Also, I heard that a few schools (most) have argued that Reno was too far away and was a bad choice. That they want a change. Boise, Denver, Vegas, Phoenix, and Spokane are in the mix.

You all know my opinion...this move is bad for this conference. It works for other conferences, but for a conference that struggles to get butts in the seats this situation won't change even if the host venue changes. It won't end up being the money making scheme that the presidents and commissioner expects. To me, it is proof that the deciding officials doesn't understand its community and audience. hno:

 

[oldrunner]

It was never about attendance. Otherwise, they would never have picked Reno, the closest venue to the smallest fan base in the BSC. Reno is too far away from the majority of BSC fans for Reno to really see much of a boost in gambling or sales. They probably had to cut some deals for teams and their delegations rooms. Reno's bid would likely be different this time around. Denver is also an outlier, for the same reasons. The logical choices are Salt Lake City or Boise. Anything else will suffer the same fate as Reno.

To me, the best choice is no tournament at all and play a full HnH within the BSC. If you must have this thing, 7 teams at a predetermined BSC venue.

 

[SWeberCat02]

"The City of Reno hasn't experienced the monetary windfall from the tournament that they were expecting"

No shit Reno, anyone could have told you that you weren't going to make money with this tournament.

"Also, I heard that a few schools (most) have argued that Reno was too far away and was a bad choice. That they want a change. Boise, Denver, Vegas, Phoenix, and Spokane are in the mix."

There isn't a city that isn't too far away, it's the Big Freakin Sky. The schools are spread out like no other conference in the nation. These other cities aren't going to change that fact or the fact that they aren't going to make money hosting this tournament. Vegas is the only one that might have a chance at being successful due to it being a true "destination" city. Those on the fence about going would probably go just because it's Vegas and there are other things to do, including other tournaments to attend. Plus, fans there to attend the other tournaments might take in a game or two of the Big Sky's tournament.

The best thing to do is give up this hope that a tournament will ever work and the misguided thought that a tournament is necessary, play a full home-and-home conference schedule, and scrap the tournament all together. Or, at most, play a one game championship between the two top teams or a small four team tournament at the conference champion's place.

 

[Webergrad02]

Looks like the Road to reNO was a dead end cul de sac!

 

[wazzuwildcat03]

I have gone to Reno both times and had a blast, but I still wish they would go back to the original way with the regular season champion hosting the tournament. Doesn't sound like they will do it that way though. The logical choices for host cities in my opinion are Boise and SLC. I just don't see Las Vegas being an option, but going to Vegas would be fun and is closer than Reno from Ogden. I like Boise Idaho as a host city and would be my pick if I had any say.

 

[oldrunner]

I have gone to Reno both times and had a blast, but I still wish they would go back to the original way with the regular season champion hosting the tournament. Doesn't sound like they will do it that way though. The logical choices for host cities in my opinion are Boise and SLC. I just don't see Las Vegas being an option, but going to Vegas would be fun and is closer than Reno from Ogden. I like Boise Idaho as a host city and would be my pick if I had any say.

The only two logical choices are SLC and Boise. IMHO, SLC has the edge with off campus arenas and lodging, but Boise is also a good choice on the BSU campus. All of the other places mentioned would have the same problems as Reno. SLC and Boise are within driving distance of 80% of the fan base for the BSC, international airports, plentiful lodging, good night life, good outside activities, friendly people, and the track record of hosting large athletic events. :thumb: :thumb:

However, left up to BSC presidents, you know they will pick something lame. :thumbdown:

 

[mattman_121]

I really miss the old tournament format, but totally understand why they decided to go a different direction. My favorite thing about the old format was that every regular season game mattered. Whether it was the teams at the top battling it out to get the right to host the tournament or the teams at the lower end trying to just make the tournament, loved that fight coming down to the last weekend. The regular season seems extremely marginalized now because everyone just makes the tournament anyway so what does Thursday conference game in the middle of January really mean anymore?

 

[n.ogdencat]

I really miss the old tournament format, but totally understand why they decided to go a different direction. My favorite thing about the old format was that every regular season game mattered. Whether it was the teams at the top battling it out to get the right to host the tournament or the teams at the lower end trying to just make the tournament, loved that fight coming down to the last weekend. The regular season seems extremely marginalized now because everyone just makes the tournament anyway so what does Thursday conference game in the middle of January really mean anymore?

:thumb: I agree 100% with you. Games just don't matter as much anymore because of the changed format. Not only does it make the regular season virtually meaningless, but it also takes away home court advantage from the best team in the conference and a chance for that community and university to show off a bit. There are far more reasons why the conference should return back to the previous format than going forward with a new host venue.

Now is the time to hit up President Wight and tell him your concerns with the conference tournament format. Also, I hope fans from Idaho, Montana, State, Eastern, and everywhere else tells their presidents the same thing. That the tournament should go back to the campus of the regular season winner.

Oh, on a side note, I heard that Boise or Spokane were the two most likely destinations.

 

[oldrunner]

Spokane would be just as big a failure as Reno, maybe bigger. Might just as well go after a bid from Grand Forks or Yuma, Arizona. Come on BSC, get a clue, think outside of the kickbacks. If you are going to consider all of these outlying places, open it up to the entire USA. Seems like the BSC sure knows how to ruin a good thing, or at least make a tolerable thing horrible.

Spokane..., give me a break. Like I said, leave it up to BSC presidents to plan something LAME. :tothehand: hno: :tantrum:

 

[pccatfan]

I hope the conference also takes this opportunity to realize that the men's and women's tournament do not need to be in the same location. I have never understand why they seem to think that the men's and women's are one in the same and must have the same location and time.

 

[DeeWildcatTailgater]

To bring regular season excitement back, 4/11 teams make the post season tournament.

Move the title game to any night ESPN will broadcast on 1 or 2, not ESPNU!

The BigSky Conference is the host, not any one school.The two day tournament takes place at the regular season winner's facility or a nearby arena if the conference decides the facility is too small or inadequate.

Attempt to recreate NCAA tournament neutral court environment. To do this, require the facility provider to remove hoops and hardwood as well as conceal all advertising. Bring in BigSky hardwood and hoops.All concessions & ticket staff will wear shirts with the BigSky Logo, not the facility owner's name. The PA announcer will be preselected by the conference.

The 3 traveling schools will be required to provide student and cheerleader/band bus travel. Each team should have a student section of at least 100. This sounds expensive, but remember, only 3 teams/fans need travel and hotels for 2-3 nights, not 12 teams for 5-6 nights. Because all teams are a top four seed and in the semifinals, fan attendance per team should increase.

To display neutrality, floor seating will be removed or recessed back a few rows. Banners covering seats or other spacing behind benches and baskets, along with a carefully placed arrangement of student sections, cheerleaders, band, each teams fans, etc should help.

Seating will be entirely determined by the conference and customized in each facility to create maximum TV viewing excitement. As an example, Weber's floor seats may be removed to make space for media etc.

Even though 90% of fans will still be from the host school, the goal is that the title game broadcast will have the appearance of a major conference, well attended, neutral site game.

 

[oldrunner]

Like it or not, none of that is going to happen. There is a greater chance that it would be dropped all together, and the chance of that is almost 0%.

There will be a tournament. It will include all eligible teams. It will include the women and men at the same venue. Lastly, the presidents will choose a lame site that has nothing to do with getting the fan base involved.

Might as well be prepared to accept those facts. It ain't going to change. The only thing that could change any of that is to change who is involved in making the choices and that will not happen. :wall: :yikes:

 

[n.ogdencat]

I'm thinking it is going to end up being Boise. Sky, at the moment, is definitely not planning on returning to the former, best, format.

 

[oldrunner]

I'm thinking it is going to end up being Boise. Sky, at the moment, is definitely not planning on returning to the former, best, format.

I could live with Boise. It doesn't look like they have asked anyone in SLC, or that no venue in SLC was interested in bidding on it. Anyway, Boise is within driving distance of more than 80% of BSC fans. The schools on the perimeter have very few fans. If it is too far for them to drive, you would still get their diehard fans to fly in. You would get larger contingents from WSU, UI, UM, MSU, EWU, PSU, and ISU than you would at any of the other venues mentioned. SLC would be even better, if it was an option.

Outside of BSU's facility, I'm not really sure what Boise has to offer for an arena and Boise does not have the hotel rooms that SLC has to offer, but it's not like we would be expecting 10,000 fans. It would be great to get 5,000.

I don't know what their totals were in Reno, but I would be surprised if there were much more than 2,000 fans the year I attended. The largest contingents were from WSU, UM, UI, ISU, EWU, and MSU. There were a smattering of fans from the rest of the league. My feelings are that Boise would likely double those numbers and that SLC would do even better, primarily due to WSU being a 45 minute drive away and likely to show with 4,000 fans by ourselves. Boise, of course, would get the most out of UI, ISU, UM, EWU, and good crowds from WSU, and MSU. You would expect small contingents from SUU, NAU, UNCO, and Sac.

 

[hdqweber]

It's off topic Tal...but why is the commissioner a cluster?

 

[Back2WSU]

It's off topic Tal...but why is the commissioner a cluster?

Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I haven't noticed anything vastly different or horrible between her and Fullerton

 

[oldrunner]

The commissioner can only reflect what the University presidents are doing. I suppose that there are some proactive things that could be done, but this one does not seem to have the desire to do anything outside of what she is told. It's too bad because I don't think that the presidents can agree on anything fruitful for the BSC. There are too many individual agendas and special interests. It's a lot like the NCAA governance. Little, substantial, ever happens, and the bigger programs throw their weight around.

Maybe in a few years, with more experience under her belt, she can actually get something done. She does seem happy to be here. Experience of her life. Maybe she should hook up with George's dad. :lol:

 

[Bengal!]

Outside of BSU's facility, I'm not really sure what Boise has to offer for an arena and Boise does not have the hotel rooms that SLC has to offer, but it's not like we would be expecting 10,000 fans. It would be great to get 5,000.

CenturyLink Arena is located downtown, and my guess is that would be the most likely choice. It seats just over 5,000 for basketball, and the Jazz had a DLeague team there. The arena was built mostly for hockey, so it's not an ideal setup. There are some new hotels downtown, and the arena is connected to the Grove Hotel.

The other option outside of BSU's arena is the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. It's not a bad arena, but it's not a central location either (maybe 20-30 minutes from Boise, give or take). I believe It seats around 12,000 for basketball.

The only positive for Boise is it is closer to more Big Sky schools.

 

[WILDCAT]

Outside of BSU's facility, I'm not really sure what Boise has to offer for an arena and Boise does not have the hotel rooms that SLC has to offer, but it's not like we would be expecting 10,000 fans. It would be great to get 5,000.

CenturyLink Arena is located downtown, and my guess is that would be the most likely choice. It seats just over 5,000 for basketball, and the Jazz had a DLeague team there. The arena was built mostly for hockey, so it's not an ideal setup. There are some new hotels downtown, and the arena is connected to the Grove Hotel.

The other option outside of BSU's arena is the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. It's not a bad arena, but it's not a central location either (maybe 20-30 minutes from Boise, give or take). I believe It seats around 12,000 for basketball.

The only positive for Boise is it is closer to more Big Sky schools.

More importantly closer to the Big Sky schools most likely to send the most fans (Weber, UM, EWU, MSU, UI and ISU)

 

[n.ogdencat]

I'm pretty sure that the Century Link Arena is the one being considered by Big Sky honchos and university presidents. Very similar to the venue currently being used in Reno. The Ford Idaho Center is bigger, but isn't that mainly used for Rodeos? To me, either are fine and would work.

I did hear that a couple of presidents have spoken pointedly about the failure of the tournament and think that the conference should explore the possibility of reinstating the previous format. It won't happen, but it is hope.