Final Four Trip

[35TangoTango]

Somewhat belatedly, I have created a picture album of our Final Four trip to St. Louis and posted it on the Internet. It may be viewed at Photoshopshowcase.com (http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=219139&AT=3).

We signed up for the OU travel agency package, which got us in the team hotel, and various other related perks. It was ridiculously expensive, but I figured we only do this once every seven years, so what the heck. There were 5 "official" hotels: four for the teams, and another one for WCBA. I was amazed at the level of organization. The NCAA manned information booths in each hotel with a wealth information ranging from NCAA activities to how to use the "metrolink" train system to get around. The booth personnel were friendly and well-informed. From the hotels to the various activity venues, everything was organized in meticulous detail. Even the room key cards at the hotels bore the NCAA logo (making great souveniers).

Anyway, the story is in the pictures. Hope you enjoy.

[tx4OU]

Somewhat belatedly, I have created a picture album of our Final Four trip to St. Louis and posted it on the Internet. It may be viewed at Photoshopshowcase.com (http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=219139&AT=3).

We signed up for the OU travel agency package, which got us in the team hotel, and various other related perks. It was ridiculously expensive, but I figured we only do this once every seven years, so what the heck. There were 5 "official" hotels: four for the teams, and another one for WCBA. I was amazed at the level of organization. The NCAA manned information booths in each hotel with a wealth information ranging from NCAA activities to how to use the "metrolink" train system to get around. The booth personnel were friendly and well-informed. From the hotels to the various activity venues, everything was organized in meticulous detail. Even the room key cards at the hotels bore the NCAA logo (making great souveniers).

Anyway, the story is in the pictures. Hope you enjoy.
Thanks Tango. Tell Ms. Tango what a cool idea for the t-shirt design. Now we're going to have to offer jackets next year. Curious.....did she get comments from people about our ribbon design?

[35TangoTango]

...did she get comments from people about our ribbon design?

Oh yes! Lots of comments, lots of questions. We had to explain the Big12, Pinkouts, and of course Hoopscoop!

[BearLady]

Tango, thanks for sharing your photoalbum. The pics are awesome!

I didn't realize that Union Station is now a hotel. Some years ago it was a very lively restaurant, gathering place and tourist catch. Now, I can relate to claustrophobic about the space available in the cars that take you to the top of the Arch! On my sightseeing adventure there many years ago, our car got stuck at the top! I should probably have been much more worried, but I was much younger then. Plus there were a couple of really good looking guys in the car :)

And not to be overlooked, I also saw the hotel where I stayed -- across the street from the Stadium -- on that last visit to St Louis, many years ago now. In addition to sharing highlights from the Final Four, you have also brought back many memories from my earlier visit to St Louis. Thanks much!

[35TangoTango]

I didn't realize that Union Station is now a hotel. Some years ago it was a very lively restaurant, gathering place and tourist catch.

There are three parts to Union Station. The Train Shed which is a semi-roof over an open area that used to be where you actually boarded the trains. This is huge, and covers a parking lot, Hard Rock Cafe, and Landry's - and half a shopping mall. The Midway, which connected the station with the train shed, and the station proper, which is now the Hotel.

www.stlouisunionstation.com (http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/)

[UCONN@BIG12]

Somewhat belatedly, I have created a picture album of our Final Four trip to St. Louis and posted it on the Internet. It may be viewed at Photoshopshowcase.com (http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=219139&AT=3).

We signed up for the OU travel agency package, which got us in the team hotel, and various other related perks. It was ridiculously expensive, but I figured we only do this once every seven years, so what the heck. There were 5 "official" hotels: four for the teams, and another one for WCBA. I was amazed at the level of organization. The NCAA manned information booths in each hotel with a wealth information ranging from NCAA activities to how to use the "metrolink" train system to get around. The booth personnel were friendly and well-informed. From the hotels to the various activity venues, everything was organized in meticulous detail. Even the room key cards at the hotels bore the NCAA logo (making great souveniers).

Anyway, the story is in the pictures. Hope you enjoy.

Love the pics! They're beautiful! :)

[Daddo]

OK, go to picture #10/32.
In the foreground is a man with light colored hair sort of looking up at us. Directly above the center of his head is a really really big guy in a pink colored shirt and ballcap facing away from the camera, towards the court. It's basically in the front row of seating, which was the "auxillary" press section. It was pretty nice seating (I know, anyone else would have killed for front row!) except that for a person of my, ahem, "build" they weren't terribly comfortable. The seats at Scottrade are designed for people who weigh less than 250 pounds (which I passed long, long ago) and we had to climb over this wall to get to the main floor and back to the locker rooms and press area, and by this point of the week my arthritis was acting like like mad (I know, great timing!) and getting back and forth over that wall was a real chore. The night of the final, I stole the seat of someone from The Sports Animal, whom I assumed (correctly) wouldn't be there since the Sooners were gone. The only reason to take anything good from the Sooners' early exit.
Anyway if you ever wondered what I look like, there's a picture of me!