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Username Post: Thoughts from a curmudgeon        (Topic#20133)
penn nation 
Professor
Posts: 21081

Reg: 12-02-04
03-14-17 11:47 AM - Post#226941    
    In response to Old Bear

We had this thread not long ago in (was it the Ivy board)?

A few of us thought Webster Bank Arena made the most sense--close to the geographical midpoint of all Ivy schools, easy to get to (right off I-95 and a short walk to the Metro North/Amtrak station) and the arena itself is nice, modern, roomy and with great sightlines.

 
weinhauers_ghost 
Postdoc
Posts: 2125

Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
Re: Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-14-17 12:54 PM - Post#226955    
    In response to palestra38

  • palestra38 Said:
The closest appropriate venues in the NY Metro area are the RAC (8000), Alumni Hall at St. John's (5600) and the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport (10,000). Sun Bank Arena in Trenton (10,500) also would work. Although I hear Barclay's would love to host this event, I can't imagine that that would be a good spot given its size and location (same for St. John's for the opposite reason). Getting onto and off of Long Island sucks.



Are you kidding? Barclays Center sits atop perhaps the densest collection of subway lines in the entire city, plus the Long Island Railroad's Atlantic Terminal. Size-wise it might be too big, but for public transportation in NYC, you can't beat it. Just don't expect to be able to drive there and find parking.

 
penn nation 
Professor
Posts: 21081

Reg: 12-02-04
Re: Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-14-17 12:58 PM - Post#226956    
    In response to weinhauers_ghost

It's too big. Way too big.

But yes, a breeze for subway and commuter rail connections. A fairly quick subway ride to Manhattan.

 
caughtinasnare 
Senior
Posts: 362

Age: 35
Reg: 02-21-09
03-14-17 01:32 PM - Post#226964    
    In response to penn nation

Frankly, I went to a game in the Barclays Center 2 years ago for the A-10 tourney (George Mason vs Fordham, if I recall correctly). They had the entire upper bowl blacked out, which made it obviously a much smaller venue both seating wise and feel-wise, so that could conceivably be a solution. However, considering the ACC tourney is there again next year, followed by the next three years having the A-10 tourney return, it isn't really an option we should be considering...

 
10Q 
Professor
Posts: 23193

Loc: Suburban Philly
Reg: 11-21-04
03-14-17 01:46 PM - Post#226967    
    In response to caughtinasnare

Isn't there an arena in the Lehigh/Lafayette area that would be ok?

 
Old Bear 
Postdoc
Posts: 3988

Reg: 11-23-04
03-14-17 03:32 PM - Post#226994    
    In response to 10Q

How would that help anyone beside the Ps?

 
Streamers 
Professor
Posts: 8141
Streamers
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
03-14-17 04:57 PM - Post#227006    
    In response to Old Bear

I think something north of NYC would be favored if they move the tourney next year. The Westchester County Center is not a bad choice, although a bit small. I think one of the CT suggestions is likely the best bet. Mohegan Sun has the benefit of the hotel/casino on site.

 
penn nation 
Professor
Posts: 21081

Reg: 12-02-04
03-14-17 05:12 PM - Post#227012    
    In response to Streamers

I live 6 minutes away from the County Center. Plusses are that it's easy to get to by car or train, with ample parking.

Minusses--the facility itself is a drab one. On the smallish side as mentioned and if capacity is needed many of the temporary seats are less than ideal. Some hotel space in White Plains, although one could just as easily stay in Manhattan--it's a 31 minute ride up to White Plains on the Metro North express train.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-14-17 05:19 PM - Post#227013    
    In response to Streamers

Since when is 5,000 seating (Westchester County Center) capacity small? The only game that might have exceeded that this year was Penn vs Princeton and that was likely in part due to being a home locale.

Still love Mohegan Sun. There are hotels in the area and it's INSIDE! At Penn, I found that the mingling experience was compromised by frigid weather, parking challenges, and no single indoor location - other than the game itself. Only saw other schools once inside.

For an early March event, the pedestrian malls, restaurants, convention spaces, free parking, etc. is most conducive to a "League" gathering experience:
"More than 300,000 square feet of gaming excitement within three casinos - Casino of the Earth, Sky & Wind, including smoke-free areas. Two luxury hotel towers with a total of 1,563 rooms. Two world-class spas. The Shops at Mohegan Sun, a 130,000 square-foot retail shopping experience."

The casino floor is off limits to anyone under 21 so that would not be an issue. The buffet's might be though! Other college teams play there so I wouldn't worry about sports betting. Too high a variability anyway.

The indoor exhibition/performance venues can be used to host college entertainment (Whiffenpoofs, etc.). Possible to entice even non-basketball students for the festivities. A real "Ivy Fest" - for what ever that would mean. Imagine bringing recruits to a veritable Ivy Winter Festival! I'm booking my reservations right now!

Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 03-14-17 05:24 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
penn nation 
Professor
Posts: 21081

Reg: 12-02-04
Re: Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-14-17 05:38 PM - Post#227016    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

For County Center, they only get to the 5,000 by having temporary bleachers up on the stage well behind one of the end lines. You don't want to be sitting there, believe me.

I've also been to Mohegan Sun. Clearly night and day from anything else--the question is does the IL want to promote that kind of environment, including gambling, for its tourney?

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
03-14-17 05:38 PM - Post#227017    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

I have awful Westchester County Center memories.

Somehow, my 5th grade suburban rec all star team was entered (inadvertently I hope) in a county wide 6th grade tournament. Despite the flu (I missed two weeks of school) I played for an overmatched suburban squad that was pummeled something like 51-10 by a much bigger, stronger and older neighboring town team. It's not as pitiful as it sounds though, as I ended up starting for that opposing town's JHS team just and played on their HS varsity squad. (I lived in the smaller town and participated in that rec league but was zoned into and attended the neighboring larger town's schools.)

I never went back to the County Center.


 
penn nation 
Professor
Posts: 21081

Reg: 12-02-04
03-14-17 05:42 PM - Post#227018    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

The County Center was the site of one of the most incredible finishes to a championship game you'll ever see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZGLEY42SNY

 
caughtinasnare 
Senior
Posts: 362

Age: 35
Reg: 02-21-09
03-14-17 08:35 PM - Post#227030    
    In response to penn nation

Didn't realize we had so many Westchester folks on here. That makes me really happy.

 
UPIA1968 
PhD Student
Posts: 1116
UPIA1968
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
03-14-17 11:15 PM - Post#227040    
    In response to caughtinasnare

The simple solution from a basketball FAIRNESS standpoint is to play the tournament at the home court of the regular season winner. The Palestra is the obvious choice from a MARKETING standpoint. I vote for the fairness idea.



 
Streamers 
Professor
Posts: 8141
Streamers
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
03-15-17 12:16 PM - Post#227100    
    In response to UPIA1968

  • UPIA1968 Said:
The simple solution from a basketball FAIRNESS standpoint is to play the tournament at the home court of the regular season winner. The Palestra is the obvious choice from a MARKETING standpoint. I vote for the fairness idea.




The tournament itself is a marketing exercise. The old system was more fair. Leave it at the Palestra if we must have it, although I like the idea of the regular season winner getting the bye in a 3-team format.

 
Cvonvorys 
Postdoc
Posts: 4438
Cvonvorys
Loc: Princeton, New Jersey
Reg: 10-11-06
03-15-17 12:26 PM - Post#227102    
    In response to Streamers

So a three-team tourney with the first place team receiving a bye played at Mohegun Sun. I can get behind this. Anyone else?

 
Go Green 
PhD Student
Posts: 1124

Age: 52
Reg: 04-22-10
Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-15-17 12:31 PM - Post#227103    
    In response to UPIA1968

  • UPIA1968 Said:
The simple solution from a basketball FAIRNESS standpoint is to play the tournament at the home court of the regular season winner. The Palestra is the obvious choice from a MARKETING standpoint. I vote for the fairness idea.





The league also wants to host the men's and women's games together.

So unless you're proposing alternating the venue between the site of the men's and women's regular season champion...

Edited by Go Green on 03-15-17 12:32 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
mbaprof 
Senior
Posts: 342

Age: 66
Reg: 12-24-11
Re: Thoughts from a curmudgeon
03-15-17 12:57 PM - Post#227105    
    In response to Go Green

Personally Id love Mohegan Sun, especially if we could also have the "Ivy League" Poker tournament. League would never go for it.
NYC would be good as there are SO many PENN alums there who might come out for a tournament game. I think they have to try a NY venue and see what happens.

 
Streamers 
Professor
Posts: 8141
Streamers
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
03-15-17 01:28 PM - Post#227114    
    In response to Cvonvorys

  • Cvonvorys Said:
So a three-team tourney with the first place team receiving a bye played at Mohegun Sun. I can get behind this. Anyone else?



Alert the media; Colin and I agree on something ;-)

I wish there were a really good NYC based option, given the IL alum (not just Penn) concentration there, but all those sites have real flaws.

 
westphillywarrior 
Sophomore
Posts: 196

Age: 43
Reg: 01-08-11
03-15-17 02:17 PM - Post#227122    
    In response to Cvonvorys

  • Cvonvorys Said:
So a three-team tourney with the first place team receiving a bye played at Mohegun Sun. I can get behind this. Anyone else?



If we can't have first round games at higher seeds home courts, then I like this format. Like that it gives significant reward to 14 game tournament winner and does not give anyone an unearned home court advantage. I would suggest rotating to other neutral sites.


 
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