(03-29-2015 08:19 AM)ken d Wrote:  Maybe it's purely coincidental that none of the four teams in Houston could shoot worth a toot.

That was also true the last time the tournament was in that dome.

And it will be true when the Final Four is there next year.

(03-29-2015 07:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 01:56 AM)RaiderRed Wrote:  If UH were in the tourney, I doubt C2 would say nothing.

Huh? This is not a UH issue. It was spunky and revolutionary once but the time has passed for playing so many games in domes. Honestly, they should be on somebody's campus but since college basketball is so popular, its only a slight step up to play it at somewhere like MSG or the Staples Center, places and prominent cities that never get to host the Final Four. And its better from fan enjoyment aspect imo.

If not, then just hold it in the best host site every year and HQ of the NCAA, in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. As much as I love Houston and defend it from ridicule, I think its absurd that Houston gets to regularly host the FF and even New York never does (last time was in 1996, across the river at the Meadowlands).

(03-29-2015 03:11 AM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 02:11 AM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  What's wrong with domes?

I don't have an issue with using them for the Final Four but there is no reason to put the earlier rounds in them.

Actually there is. They are used as a dress rehearsal for a site that will host a Final Four, which is why Houston is hosting the South Regional this weekend and the Final Four next year. But every site which can host the FF, save University of Phoenix Stadium, has done so and its not really necessary for regionals to be hosted by them anymore.

Minneapolis will host the Final Four in 2019, that will be the first NCAA tournament game in that facility. I doubt we'll see regional rounds in domes anymore.

(03-29-2015 03:38 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 08:19 AM)ken d Wrote:  Maybe it's purely coincidental that none of the four teams in Houston could shoot worth a toot.

That was also true the last time the tournament was in that dome.

And it will be true when the Final Four is there next year.

Yep, see my last post. I was there for that brick-fest of a national title game.

(03-29-2015 03:42 PM)FargoBison Wrote:  Minneapolis will host the Final Four in 2019, that will be the first NCAA tournament game in that facility. I doubt we'll see regional rounds in domes anymore.

For Minny's new stadium yes, as a dress rehearsal but otherwise going forward, no unless another dome is built and needs a dress rehearsal.

(03-29-2015 08:14 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 12:33 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  As much as I like to brag about how a certain coach revolutionized college basketball by having UH play a significant game in the Astrodome, this is a step the NCAA needs to take.

While serviceable occasionally, basketball wasn't really meant to be played in large cavernous domes.

Why not? The games look the same on TV, which zooms in on the court no matter how big or small the venue, and the fans in the stands don't seem to be complaining, so what's your gripe?

Agreed. Go to Primesport right now and look at the prices for the "cheap" seats. Now imagine if you take 75% of those seats away and put in a 19,000 - 20,000 seat arena?

Like I said, jack up the prices for the seats not affiliated with the schools. As a matter of fact, just jack up the price on everything.

(03-29-2015 02:49 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  And I must say that the only exception to what I'm saying is the Carrier Dome since it at least regularly hosts college basketball.

Have you ever watched a basketball game in the Carrier Dome? I have.

(03-29-2015 03:48 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 03:38 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 08:19 AM)ken d Wrote:  Maybe it's purely coincidental that none of the four teams in Houston could shoot worth a toot.

That was also true the last time the tournament was in that dome.

And it will be true when the Final Four is there next year.

Yep, see my last post. I was there for that brick-fest of a national title game.

(03-29-2015 03:42 PM)FargoBison Wrote:  Minneapolis will host the Final Four in 2019, that will be the first NCAA tournament game in that facility. I doubt we'll see regional rounds in domes anymore.

For Minny's new stadium yes, as a dress rehearsal but otherwise going forward, no unless another dome is built and needs a dress rehearsal.

Does a stadium really need a dress rehearsal? It's not like the stadium won't have prior experience with 60,000+ people in the building. The architects have already laid out the plans for basketball, before a single item was taken from the Metrodome ahead of its demolition.

As with anything in life, there's nothing like knowing exactly what to expect by running through a test. Yeah, they may handle big crowds but not basketball. They need to know how to handle parking, how the court fits in the stadium and any adjustments needed, etc...

(03-29-2015 05:23 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 02:49 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  And I must say that the only exception to what I'm saying is the Carrier Dome since it at least regularly hosts college basketball.

Have you ever watched a basketball game in the Carrier Dome? I have.

No, is it good or bad?

(03-29-2015 05:45 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  As with anything in life, there's nothing like knowing exactly what to expect by running through a test. Yeah, they may handle big crowds but not basketball. They need to know how to handle parking, how the court fits in the stadium and any adjustments needed, etc...

(03-29-2015 05:23 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 02:49 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  And I must say that the only exception to what I'm saying is the Carrier Dome since it at least regularly hosts college basketball.

Have you ever watched a basketball game in the Carrier Dome? I have.

No, is it good or bad?

Depends on where you sit. I've had both good and bad seats. About a third of the seats require binoculars to see the action. But there aren't any obstructions to the line of sight, other than the people in front of you. But there are a lot of seats that are a loooong way from the action.

But like I said, the Carrier Dome at least regularly hosts basketball which is why it should be an exception to what I was talking about.

(03-29-2015 04:47 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Like I said, jack up the prices for the seats not affiliated with the schools. As a matter of fact, just jack up the price on everything.

They did that at the domes, and they STILL sold the seats. There is no reason to go back. They are already selling seats at premium prices, as well as luxury suites (the going rate for a suite this weekend is over$40,000, before you buy the tickets or amenities). If they were having to sell the nosebleed seats for pennies, there may be a point. But the cheapest seat available right now are $445, for the very top row in the 600 level on the east sideline. There is a suite available for $40,500, and it is in the corner. But don't worry, you can get a good upper level corner suite for "only" $22,500.

Supply and Demand is showing no reason to move it. Plus, I went to the Final Four in 2013. While you may think the view is horrible, with the gigantic TV screens they put up, unless you are in a corner, you can see the game fairly easily, but the atmosphere is so much different and better than being in a standard arena. There is simply no reason to change it for the big games. Regionals that don't sell out: sure. Final Fours? Not even a little bit.

I understand. But I still would like to see the occasional Final Four at an arena and city that doesn't have a dome.

Local radio host Matt Thomas also doesn't endorse NRG Stadium, he said he was too far from the action.

(03-30-2015 11:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I understand. But I still would like to see the occasional Final Four at an arena and city that doesn't have a dome.

Now that is a different argument.

The NCAA briefly relaxed the attendance rules for just that reason 3-4 years ago, so that areas in the NE like NYC and Boston could bid on the Final Four. It took not very long for them to realize how much money they would lose, and reinstituted the dome requirement.

Syracuse,NY is a basketball town. I hope the NCAA doesn't take away the East Regional from us. The city goes all out and puts on a great show for the 4 teams that visit Syracuse. NCAA can get 20k easy in the Carrier Dome and more if you get an eastern hoop power. Syracuse like Dayton,OH are basketball towns. Keep the NCAA eastern regionals coming back.

(03-30-2015 12:46 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 11:22 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I understand. But I still would like to see the occasional Final Four at an arena and city that doesn't have a dome.

Now that is a different argument.

The NCAA briefly relaxed the attendance rules for just that reason 3-4 years ago, so that areas in the NE like NYC and Boston could bid on the Final Four. It took not very long for them to realize how much money they would lose, and reinstituted the dome requirement.

Which just reinforces the conclusion that the only reason they play these games in domes is NCAA greed.

And as I said above, it's just excessively piggish greed, given that the NCAA is already paid over $700 million/year for the tournament TV rights and distributes less than a third of that money to the participating teams/conferences.

I remember that. I don't see them changing it.

(03-29-2015 03:11 AM)FargoBison Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 02:11 AM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  What's wrong with domes?

I don't have an issue with using them for the Final Four but there is no reason to put the earlier rounds in them.

Why not? It allows virtually all fans the opportunity to buy fairly cheap tickets.

You realize one of those domes is actually in the middle of a campus?