O Article... UP Trying To Make Inroads In Portland

[Pounder]

UP started thinking out of the box. That's done something for soccer.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2013/07/q-and-a_scott_leykam_talks_abo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could PSU partner with the Blazers? Peregrine?

 

[martymoose]

UP started thinking out of the box. That's done something for soccer.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2013/07/q-and-a_scott_leykam_talks_abo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could PSU partner with the Blazers? Peregrine?

I like that comment about a PSU / UP doubleheader (my wife went to UP and I went to PSU, so that would be a great event for us), or co-hosting an in-season tournament at the Rose Garden.

Is it me or does it not seem to be that much of a challenge for UP and PSU team up and put put a tournament on in Portland? Attract some programs (Gonzaga, BYU, Hawaii, etc) that have a strong following in the (or any region for that matter) that could support ticket sales. I think that both UP and PSU would face a huge challenge trying to do this alone, but together, perhaps it would be possible.

 

[Pounder]

How many of those tournaments still exist? The days of the Far West Classic are long gone. I see little to no hype for the Great Alaska Shootout anymore (only Maui seems to be a tournament of note). Bigger schools will structure these 3-games-in-3-days round robin events (4 teams) to mimic a conference tournament run, but no conference mates EVER join those (hence forget about Gonzaga or BYU as long as they're in the WCC). The chances are limted for getting a school better than the host schools.

I was in Vegas on the weekend before Christmas and caught the second day of a two-day "tournament" involving 6 schools... at MGM Grand Garden, capacity 14,000 or so. The crowd I saw would have looked small in Stott Center, and that included Boise State the day after their bowl game IN VEGAS. The two-day crowd (Oregon State played the night before), from the announced attendance and observation, MIGHT have sold out Stott. BTW, the PAC-12 put on this show.

 

[martymoose]

How many of those tournaments still exist? The days of the Far West Classic are long gone. I see little to no hype for the Great Alaska Shootout anymore (only Maui seems to be a tournament of note). Bigger schools will structure these 3-games-in-3-days round robin events (4 teams) to mimic a conference tournament run, but no conference mates EVER join those (hence forget about Gonzaga or BYU as long as they're in the WCC). The chances are limted for getting a school better than the host schools.

I was in Vegas on the weekend before Christmas and caught the second day of a two-day "tournament" involving 6 schools... at MGM Grand Garden, capacity 14,000 or so. The crowd I saw would have looked small in Stott Center, and that included Boise State the day after their bowl game IN VEGAS. The two-day crowd (Oregon State played the night before), from the announced attendance and observation, MIGHT have sold out Stott. BTW, the PAC-12 put on this show.

You broke the first rule of Vegas, you're not supposed to tell us went on. ;-)

Good point, I've seen some of these tourneys on television and the crowds are awful. As you said it seems that everyone just wants to go to Hawaii. I guess that Phil Knight tourney in a couple years in Portland will tell if it can actually work. Hopefully it does, and it'd be sweet if somehow PSU could be involved.