penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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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.
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2125
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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Re: Thoughts from a curmudgeon 03-14-17 12:54 PM - Post#226955
In response to palestra38
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.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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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.
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caughtinasnare
Senior
Posts: 362
Age: 35
Reg: 02-21-09
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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...
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10Q
Professor
Posts: 23193
Loc: Suburban Philly
Reg: 11-21-04
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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?
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 3988
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-14-17 03:32 PM - Post#226994
In response to 10Q
How would that help anyone beside the Ps?
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Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8141
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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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.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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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.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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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.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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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?
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2685
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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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.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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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
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caughtinasnare
Senior
Posts: 362
Age: 35
Reg: 02-21-09
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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.
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UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1116
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
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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.
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Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8141
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-15-17 12:16 PM - Post#227100
In response to UPIA1968
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.
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Cvonvorys
Postdoc
Posts: 4438
Loc: Princeton, New Jersey
Reg: 10-11-06
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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?
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Go Green
PhD Student
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Age: 52
Reg: 04-22-10
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Thoughts from a curmudgeon 03-15-17 12:31 PM - Post#227103
In response to UPIA1968
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.
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mbaprof
Senior
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Age: 66
Reg: 12-24-11
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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.
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Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8141
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-15-17 01:28 PM - Post#227114
In response to Cvonvorys
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.
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westphillywarrior
Sophomore
Posts: 196
Age: 43
Reg: 01-08-11
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03-15-17 02:17 PM - Post#227122
In response to Cvonvorys
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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