Attendance

[Big12Bear]

I hate to complain but the numbers are terrible for the quality matchups that are going on. 5,482 for last night's semi? I realize that the BU men's game went into OT, and the ISU men's game was going on, but that is no excuse for that many empty seats. I don't think there has been one sellout the whole tourney in an arena that doesn't seat a whole lot, to be honest. I hope the final should be packed, but given the distance from the 2 schools, I don't think it will. The average KC person needs to chip in and head out there. I can't wait for the tourney to come back to Dallas next year. The UT-Tech finals in the SWC Classic would draw more than Municipal even holds.

It's something I don't like to complain about and most people don't want to hear, but for as well as our conference drew in the regular season, there should be much bigger crowds than have been there for these great matchups.

[schooner2]

Kind of agree. And now with ISU not in the championship game for the first time in several years, it is likely that the championship game will not be as well attended as last night's game.

Good KSU crowd - good to see them there. Good ISU crowd as usual. OU's crowd got bigger this year. And BU has a decent amount of fans here as well.

Considering the travel, expense, not knowing how long your team will be in the tourney, etc., I can understand why it is not sold out.

Sometimes is just really hard to travel. I had to stay home two extra days because of work. Glad I'm here in K.C. now.

[RaiderPower1]

I for one would never be able to go to KC because of school, so we never even considered going any of the years it was there. With it going to Dallas next year, you'll find a heck of a lot more Tech, Baylor, and UT fans because it is closer, plus the alumni bases are big there. I know for sure that I will make an effort to go because that will be where I am going to school. Someone said a while ago that some already knew Dallas wasn't going to draw as much money as KC does but I don't remember why. Does anybody remember that?

[cycofan]

The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau had a very disappointing night last night with both ISU teams losing! Lots of cancelled hotel reservations for the next two nights, I think.

This brings up the topic of the relocated tourney next year. Will it help attendance to be closer to those South division schools? Isn't it even a little farther for OU next year?

[Jennifer]

Dallas is much closer to Norman. Last year during regionals, I left downtown Dallas at 4:00 and pulled into Lloyd Noble Center at 6:30. It's a straight shot on I-35.

The Texas schools (except A&M) will pull real well here. It's only 3-4 hours to Austin, and I think about 5 to Lubbock?

[Big12Bear]

Jennifer is correct. Not to mention the thousands of alumni here for all Big 12 schools. It's also a little bit closer drive for OU alums in OKC. We've already discussed Reunion being a quality venue for such an event, and I think new tourney records will be set here next year. I plan on attending the men and women's sessions. This year the American Airlines Center hosts 1st and 2nd round games and they said that Dallas sold out the event 3rd-fastest out of 8. I think you'll find it a success here next year, but I do like the idea of a consistent rotation, like they do for football.

[schooner2]

Dallas is much closer for OU than K.C. A good 6 hours to K.C., and 3 at the most to Dallas.

And yes, it looked like lots of ISU fans leaving. As we were walking back to the hotel last night, saw a line already forming of ISU fans wanting to check out at the Doubletree.

Have to think that more fans on average will be drawn to the tourney next year in Dallas. ISU is the only team that really sent fans to the tourney in K.C. KSU fans finally showed up this year though. But next year, lots of UT, Tech, and probably BU fans will make it. Probably more OU as well.

[swok34]

I think Dallas will have really good attendance. Count in OU's attendance numbers, the Sooner Club of Dallas. When OU played at SMU this year.....OU had more fans than SMU and a lot of those were Sooner Club members and also quite a few young girls who had attended OU's camps the past summer.

I know I plan to purchase my tickets as early as I possibly can....
I managed a good seat for last night's game, but I felt guilty as all get-out and didn't enjoy the game as much.......

[ISUbballfan]

Attendence does seem to be up from last year.
4652 - afternoon March 5
7126 - evening March 5
4781 - afternoon March 6
4715 - evening March 6 - this figure surprised me thought would be more.
5482 - evening March 7
26,756 total so far.
Last years total waas 31,831

As much as I hate to see it leave Kansas City it is fair to share.

[Big12Bear]

By the same token ISU, I hated to see the SWC Tourney leave Dallas and be in KC every year. There was always a decided advantage for the North schools. But you're right---A rotation is the fair thing to do for all parties involved, just like for football. Hopefully, there will be a good crowd to see what promises to be a tremendous final today.

[YCN]

I was reported a couple of days ago here in Denver that Denver is considering making a bid to host the Big 12 tournaments in 2006. They already will have had experience in hosting the MWC tournament, but I am just not very confident that they can get good crowds in Denver.

Denver would plan on scheduling the 2 tourmanents in such a way that all the games would be played at the Pepsi Center, which would seem cavernously empty if there wasn't a good turnout for the women's games.

And it is a LONG day's drive from most schools in the Big 12 to Denver, not to mention the cost of accomodations in Denver is considerably higher than either KC or Dallas.

Personally, I think that OKC should try to get into the hosting mix, because it is the most centrally-located city in the conference.

Just my .02.

[RaiderPower1]

I think Dallas is a great spot to have it. Maybe they should consider Amarillo. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif Just two hours from Lubbock. hehehe...j/k.

[Jennifer]

I to think OKC would be a good place to hold it, as it is probably the most centrally located. And just a short drive up from OU. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif
OKC has always done well with the baseball tourney as well as the softball conf. tourney and NCAA championship, so I think it would do well with basketball too.

[vickie1ok]

Jen, another good thing about OKC is they could have the men's games in the new arena and the women's in the Myriad which are only a few blocks from one another. It would be easy for fans to hop over to the other arena to support both programs. Also, both are located on the edge of Bricktown which has a lot of bars/restaurants for the fans to choose from.