Missouri Valley Conference Tournament

debaliviere · PostMar 03, 2006#12006-03-03T21:33+00:00

The MVC tournament really is a great event, and we're lucky to have it held here in St. Louis every year. I don't have a rooting interest in any of the teams, but I always look forward to watching it.

The event gets bigger and bigger each year, and each year the impact it has on downtown becomes more and more noticeable. Did anyone try getting a table at a downtown restaurant at lunch today? Fans of the MVC schools are everywhere! The tournament is great for the MVC and great for downtown!

brickandmortar · PostMar 03, 2006#22006-03-03T22:19+00:00

Being from the Peoria area, I have a soft spot for Bradley University's basketball team. I probably won't go to any games unless Bradley makes the championship.

I heard that this year's tournament set a record as far as selling all-session tickets. The number was around 10,000. Throw in the walk-up crowd and I bet this will be one of the more successful tournaments in MVC history.

I went out to lunch today at the Chinese buffet on Pine and it was much slower than normal, but I attribute that to it being a Friday in Lent.

all about stl · PostMar 03, 2006#32006-03-03T23:32+00:00

go salukis

trent · PostMar 04, 2006#42006-03-04T19:58+00:00

I went last night, it was a great time. My dad played at Missouri State back when it was Southwest Missouri College...and my uncle is an alum as well (most of my family is from the Springfield area), so we were pulling for MSU. Too bad they lost to UNI, but now I'm pulling for the Salukis.

coachjw · PostMar 08, 2006#52006-03-08T02:16+00:00

Go Dawgs! A proud alum here... I was fortunate enough to be able to see the game live! It sucked that one of our cheerleaders got hurt but that girl is getting at least as much pub as our team is. She's going to be on the Today Show tomorrow morning (Wednesday). Crazy!

Sorry, Trent, for the season ending as it did against Kirkwood. Every time WG was on television highlights, I'd think of you (even though I think you coach the JV).

all about stl · PostMar 08, 2006#62006-03-08T03:25+00:00

I went to SIU-C for a year so I'm kinda pulling for them also... it was good to see them finally win the MVC tournament.

I was glad to hear about the record attendance. I don't think it's any suprise though... the MVC is going strong and St. Louis is an awesome host city for this type of event. I went last year and had a blast.

Now that St. Louis has proven itsef with last year's final four, do you think the NCAA tournament be coming back to town soon?

trent · PostMar 08, 2006#72006-03-08T06:26+00:00

coach,

I'm head JV, and assistant varsity...so the loss was bad. We played our worst 15 minutes, and Kirkwood capitalized enough to be able to hold on. Frankly, we were the better team, and I feel that we deserved to win. But that's sports, I guess.

And I went to the Sunday final as well. It was a very enjoyable game, as I've become more and more of a Salukis fan over the years (except when they play one of my other teams...Mizzou, SLU or MSU).

I hope they have a HUGE NCAA tourney.

debaliviere · PostMar 08, 2006#82006-03-08T15:06+00:00

All About STL wrote:I went to SIU-C for a year so I'm kinda pulling for them also... it was good to see them finally win the MVC tournament.

I was glad to hear about the record attendance. I don't think it's any suprise though... the MVC is going strong and St. Louis is an awesome host city for this type of event. I went last year and had a blast.

Now that St. Louis has proven itsef with last year's final four, do you think the NCAA tournament be coming back to town soon?

I do think we'll get another Final Four - we've proven that we've been able to successfully host every sporting event that has come to town, and I think the selection committee was impressed by the job we did last year. And at the rate downtown is improving, St. Louis will be even better equipped to host it again in the future. The Missouri Valley Conference and the Sports Commission have done such a great job of helping make St. Louis a true destination for sporting events. I think that we're trying to host the 2012 Final Four.

PostMar 08, 2006#92006-03-08T15:07+00:00

BTW, I'm pulling for the Salukis and Mo State Bears as well! Let's hope the Bills can win the A10 tournament and make it back to the Big Dance.

jeff707 · PostMar 08, 2006#102006-03-08T15:19+00:00

I think a bigger question is, how can we get a Super Bowl?

hospitalityhelper · PostMar 09, 2006#112006-03-09T02:45+00:00

I don't know how serious this is, but it looks like we could lose the MVC tournament after 2007...

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports ... 026518.htm

Any of you real-estate guys got any ideas to help the Valley find a better office location in St. Louis?

I attended the entire tournament this year and for about 5-7 years running. It is a great time, well organized and a HUGE draw for downtown. I sure hope it stays in St. Louis.

Go Dawgs! SIU alumnus 1992!

debaliviere · PostMar 09, 2006#122006-03-09T04:13+00:00

I think they're bluffing - St. Louis is the perfect location for the conference tourney and the MVC headquarters. It's more central to the fan bases of the MVC schools than either Omaha or KC. That said, the city needs to work out a deal with them.

coachjw · PostMar 10, 2006#132006-03-10T02:12+00:00

I haven't been inside but the MVC offices do look a bit cramped! (The building looks cool from the outside though...) Hopefully, they can get the issues worked out, otherwise I think they could/would experience a loss in attendance at tournament games. I doubt college students and fans from Illinois State, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, or Evansville would want to drive to KC and I highly doubt they would drive to Omaha.

Trent, I didn't realize you were an assistant varsity coach, though it would make sense since most coaches from other levels help with scouting and other essentials.

Go Dawgs!!

I love the Valley and I used to run track for SIUC from '91 - '94 (Class of '94). MVC 400m hurdles champ in 1991 and 92. Have I already told you guys that? Didn't want to repeat any of that...

debaliviere · PostJun 15, 2007#142007-06-15T18:15+00:00

KC wooing Missouri Valley Conference

Sports commission is actively going after college events for KC-area venues.

By BLAIR KERKHOFF

The Kansas City Star

Kansas City is going after the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament.

And the league is listening.

“We’ve had discussions with Kansas City and we’re excited about the possibilities,” Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin said.

The Valley expects to send requests for proposals to Kansas City, St. Louis and Omaha, Neb., in July. The tournament will be played in St. Louis for the 18th consecutive season in 2008 and the Valley is looking at sites for the following five years.

The event has been a turnstile success story in St. Louis, attracting more than 22,000 for a session and 85,000 for the tournament — attendance records — at the Scottrade Center in March.

“But we have a responsibility to our 10 schools to see what is out there through the bid process,” Elgin said. “If it’s financially beneficial to relocate we have to look at that.”

Elgin didn’t specify Kansas City’s potential offer, but said “Kansas City has always taken an aggressive stance when it comes to big events.”

Link

courtland · PostJun 16, 2007#152007-06-16T03:43+00:00

This cannot happen..it will be a real shame for STL if it does.

tb1000 · PostJun 16, 2007#162007-06-16T04:18+00:00

They should be done putting the finishing touches on the Sprint Center/Arena and they DESPERATELY need someone to fill it.

I think they might be getting the Big XII tourney and tried to lure the Pittsburgh Penguins by offering them free rent or something crazy.

In all fairness, it should be rotated around a select group of cities but STL should definitely be the first priority as the track record has shown.

courtland · PostJun 16, 2007#172007-06-16T17:15+00:00

TB1000 wrote:They should be done putting the finishing touches on the Sprint Center/Arena and they DESPERATELY need someone to fill it.

I think they might be getting the Big XII tourney and tried to lure the Pittsburgh Penguins by offering them free rent or something crazy.

In all fairness, it should be rotated around a select group of cities but STL should definitely be the first priority as the track record has shown.

rotated...why?? if ain't broke don't fix it

framer · PostJun 17, 2007#182007-06-17T04:00+00:00

As much as we want everything to be here in St. Louis, I have to agree with TB1000. It's only fair that something like this be rotated amongst the other cities in the conferance.

threeonefour · PostJun 17, 2007#192007-06-17T06:24+00:00

TB1000 wrote:They should be done putting the finishing touches on the Sprint Center/Arena and they DESPERATELY need someone to fill it.

I think they might be getting the Big XII tourney and tried to lure the Pittsburgh Penguins by offering them free rent or something crazy.

In all fairness, it should be rotated around a select group of cities but STL should definitely be the first priority as the track record has shown.

Hopefully the powers-that-be recognize that Kansas City could be stiff competition and sweeten the pot to keep the MVC (and its tourney) here.

The last I heard, the Nashville Predators may be the next NHL franchise to look for a new home, so I'm sure Kansas City will be the frontrunner to land that team...

the central scrutinizer · PostJun 17, 2007#202007-06-17T13:50+00:00

ThreeOneFour wrote:The last I heard, the Nashville Predators may be the next NHL franchise to look for a new home, so I'm sure Kansas City will be the frontrunner to land that team...

The NHL failed miserably last time they tried KC. I wonder if they would give them a second chance.

bonwich · PostJun 18, 2007#212007-06-18T02:58+00:00

Framer wrote:As much as we want everything to be here in St. Louis, I have to agree with TB1000. It's only fair that something like this be rotated amongst the other cities in the conferance.

That would indeed be "fair," except that the only city bidding for the tourney that has a team in the conference is Omaha. St. Louis and Kansas City are "neutral sites."

threeonefour · PostJun 18, 2007#222007-06-18T05:03+00:00

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:The NHL failed miserably last time they tried KC. I wonder if they would give them a second chance.

Well, I don't now how credible the possibility really was, but earlier this year the Pittsburgh Penguins were supposedly one step away from relocating to KC, until Pittsburgh leaders put together a deal to replace Mellon Arena (aka The Igloo) in the 11th hour.

The powers-that-be in Kansas City are desperate to find a tenant and/or major events like the MVC tourney for Sprint Center, so I guess it's possible that the NHL or NBA may give that city a second chance...if the price is right...of course.

trent · PostJun 18, 2007#232007-06-18T16:49+00:00

It makes more sense for the tournament to be held in St. Louis. Look at the makeup of the conference:

Southern Illinois - 2:15 to STL, 6:03 to KC

Creighton - 6:38, 2:49

MSU - 3:24, 3:08

Indiana State - 2:54, 6:31

Evansville - 2:52, 6:38

Illinois State - 2:44, 6:22

Bradley - 2:46, 6:24

Wichita State - 6:47, 3:02

Drake - 6:12, 2:56

Northern Iowa - 6:00, 4:54

5 schools under 3 hours away, that's half the conference. One more (MSU), I've never taken more than 3 hours to get to Springfield. KC has two schools that close, with two more just over 3 hours.

It makes more sense for them to be in St. Louis. That being said, I think it's more fair to rotate. But Omaha doesn't make sense. Why not Indianapolis? Why not Des Moines? Chicago?

I think it makes the most sense to keep it in St. Louis, and I think KC needs events to put in their building. I guess I don't see why they (the Valley) get one, and not the other.

brickandmortar · PostJun 18, 2007#242007-06-18T17:26+00:00

I know the Big Ten has alternated sites for the Big Ten tournament between Chicago and Indianapolis. However, the next five years will be in Indy. Of course being the St. Louis urbanist I'm greedy about keeping the MVC's money in town every year. I'd be content if the Valley experiments a couple years in KC, but ultimately I think St. Louis is a better fit. KC should try it's hand at holding the Big XII tournament since it is a much more central location for that conference.

Next year's MVC women's basketball tournament is being held in St. Charles at the Family Arena. Granted women's bball doesn't draw as well as men's I think this is a good fit. Hopefully when SLU's new arena gets built, the women's tourney can move there.

debaliviere · PostJun 18, 2007#252007-06-18T18:41+00:00

I don't see any reason for the MVC to move the tournament to KC. The tournament has gotten more and more popular each year, so why tinker with success. If it ain't broke...

I sincerely hope that St. Louis is able to retain the tournament for a variety of reasons, one of them being the fact that if it moves, we will be subjected to an overuse of the "drop the ball" pun by our local media.

I'd REALLY like to see the MVC and the city work out a deal not only for the tournament to stay here, but for the MVC to build a new headquarters downtown as well.