(02-15-2010 11:01 AM)UOFMGLENN Wrote:  I'm guessing they will get the leftover tickets for free.

if so then that would be awesome for them ! Maybe they will have it filled all day every day ?

(02-15-2010 11:05 AM)lenetzach Wrote:  by the way, I love how the conference office has been supported for the last number of years by Memphis fans' purchase of those all-session tickets, and how everyone in the conference has gotten a nice check from Memphis' NCAA tournament credits, and yet everyone else has some kind of sense of entitlement, as if Memphis has been unfair to the rest of the conference. we have been subsidizing the rest of the conference, and we do have more resources because of our fan base. that is the bottom line.

No one has a sense of entitlement, but the apocalyptic reactions from Memphis fans and Wolken about moving the tournament every once in a while is bound to stir up some emotions. Especially when those comments are accompanied by a couple low blows to the city and the fanbase.

(02-15-2010 11:16 AM)ctt8410 Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:05 AM)lenetzach Wrote:  by the way, I love how the conference office has been supported for the last number of years by Memphis fans' purchase of those all-session tickets, and how everyone in the conference has gotten a nice check from Memphis' NCAA tournament credits, and yet everyone else has some kind of sense of entitlement, as if Memphis has been unfair to the rest of the conference. we have been subsidizing the rest of the conference, and we do have more resources because of our fan base. that is the bottom line.

No one has a sense of entitlement, but the apocalyptic reactions from Memphis fans and Wolken about moving the tournament every once in a while is bound to stir up some emotions. Especially when those comments are accompanied by a couple low blows to the city and the fanbase.

Right! Wolken sounds like a teenage girl who got a pimple on prom night. Life isnt that bad buddy.

(02-15-2010 11:11 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  A rew points that might not have been stated clearly.

1) Memphis is the best venue/city for the tourney. I think most UTEP fans, Memphis fans, and others agree. However...

2) I believe other schools/cities would like an opportunity to host the tourney on occasion. Again, "on occasion" not yearly or even bi yearly. Which I believe would be fair since they are all member of the same conference.

3) Key point and well understood. UTEP is hundreds of miles from nearest CUSA school. Absolutely true. And also "Exactly" why UTEP would want to host the tourney at some point. Someone said why should the others schools "be punished" to go so far. Again UTEP fans must always travel that far so having the tourney close to home will help fans see their team in the tourney. Again, UTEP has the best home attandance after Memphis.

4) One point we all are missing is the opportunity other cities get to showcase the other CUSA schools in the tourney in front of their fans. I will throw random numbers here so cut me some slack...lets say Memphis averages 11000 fans including bottomfeeder teams vs bottom feeder teams that year. Lets say UTEP would average 9,000 and Tulsa would aveage 8,000. (again random numbers for example only). These 9,000 UTEP fans are likely to be different fans than would have attended the one in Memphis for example. And there is the reason for rotating the conference tourney. Others wouldl get to see the show.

5) Someone said once you get the tourney "put up or shut up". Totally agree. Need both a reasonable financial support and fan support at the games.

This post sticks to the points with no attacks on other schools or cities.

Well put.

And a good point that the distance to El Paso works both ways and how allowing UTEP fans the opportunity not to have to travel so far would be good too. Makes some sense and I would like to see the tourney moved around. I still would like Biloxi or New Orleans.

Curious- how often has the WAC tourney been held in Hawaii...I will google...

(02-15-2010 10:59 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 10:34 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 10:22 AM)missjtiger Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 10:17 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 09:07 AM)missjtiger Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 08:54 AM)UMTigerfan Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 08:25 AM)missjtiger Wrote:  If they do award El Paso the tourny, I hope they don't televise any of the games except the ones UTEP is in because it will be an empty arena and extremely embarrassing.

while that is true it is also true of the non-Tiger games when the tourny is here.

nobody in this conference travels well except for Memphis, so i can see where the distance may not necessarily be a factor.

what would concern me is hotel space, adequate practice, etc. i don't know anything specifically about it except many people have said El Paso lacks in those areas.

however, the bottom line is the bottom line. if the city of el paso ponies up big bucks to the conference, they should get a look (and pray UTEP makes it to the finals).

I haven't missed a game yet when the tourny was here, and yes, although the crowd was sparse for the non-tiger games during the day, at least there were several hundred tiger fans to watch.....I'm betting in El Paso it would be much much less.

the non utep sessions in el paso cant possibly do as bad as the non memphis sessions in memphis, like i said el paso has ft bliss

huh ? what is ft bliss ?

Fort Bliss is an Army installation located in the El Paso metropolitan area. The relationship between the presence of Army personnel and attendance at C-USA games is unclear to me unless there is evidence that hoards of soldiers presently go to UTEP C-USA games.

Ft. Bliss

Im pretty sure there is more soldiers and family here in El Paso from your neck of the woods then you guys have traveling fans. That holds true for every school in our conference... That is my correlation between Ft. Bliss and the cusa tournament.

Are military personnel in significant numbers attending games now between UTEP and C-USA foes? If not, then I cannot see a reason for a sudden increase due to the C-USA tourney.

God bless the Internet.

Hawaii has been in the WAC since 1979.

The men's tourney has NEVER been played in Hawaii.

Membership in the WAC has been very volatile...Under the basic current setup- starting in 1006- tourney has been:

Reno
Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Reno
Reno (this year)

Since 84, with Hawaii a
member the whole time...the tourney has been:

El Paso
El Paso
Laramie WY
Albuquerque
Provo UT
SLake City
El Paso
Laramie
Ft. Collins CO
SLake City
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Fresno
Tulsa
Tulsa
Tulsa
Fresno
Reno
Reno
Las Cruces NM
Las Cruces NM
Reno
Reno

Hawaii is beautiful- yet likely due to travel expenses they have not held the tourney...while El Paso in CUSA is not quite Hawaii- theer is precedent for not traveling to the outskirts of range.

(02-15-2010 11:22 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:16 AM)ctt8410 Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:05 AM)lenetzach Wrote:  by the way, I love how the conference office has been supported for the last number of years by Memphis fans' purchase of those all-session tickets, and how everyone in the conference has gotten a nice check from Memphis' NCAA tournament credits, and yet everyone else has some kind of sense of entitlement, as if Memphis has been unfair to the rest of the conference. we have been subsidizing the rest of the conference, and we do have more resources because of our fan base. that is the bottom line.

No one has a sense of entitlement, but the apocalyptic reactions from Memphis fans and Wolken about moving the tournament every once in a while is bound to stir up some emotions. Especially when those comments are accompanied by a couple low blows to the city and the fanbase.

Right! Wolken sounds like a teenage girl who got a pimple on prom night. Life isnt that bad buddy.

As the guy who wrote the article, I'm not trying to say that El Paso is a bad city. Hell Marty Robbins wrote a song about El Paso. But the point I want to make is that how many schools are willing to pay that much money for an expensive trip to El Paso for four day tournament? Think about it. When are the renovations going to be made to the Don?

(02-15-2010 11:11 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  A rew points that might not have been stated clearly.

1) Memphis is the best venue/city for the tourney. I think most UTEP fans, Memphis fans, and others agree. However...

2) I believe other schools/cities would like an opportunity to host the tourney on occasion. Again, "on occasion" not yearly or even bi yearly. Which I believe would be fair since they are all member of the same conference.

3) Key point and well understood. UTEP is hundreds of miles from nearest CUSA school. Absolutely true. And also "Exactly" why UTEP would want to host the tourney at some point. Someone said why should the others schools "be punished" to go so far. Again UTEP fans must always travel that far so having the tourney close to home will help fans see their team in the tourney. Again, UTEP has the best home attandance after Memphis.

4) One point we all are missing is the opportunity other cities get to showcase the other CUSA schools in the tourney in front of their fans. I will throw random numbers here so cut me some slack...lets say Memphis averages 11000 fans including bottomfeeder teams vs bottom feeder teams that year. Lets say UTEP would average 9,000 and Tulsa would aveage 8,000. (again random numbers for example only). These 9,000 UTEP fans are likely to be different fans than would have attended the one in Memphis for example. And there is the reason for rotating the conference tourney. Others wouldl get to see the show.

5) Someone said once you get the tourney "put up or shut up". Totally agree. Need both a reasonable financial support and fan support at the games.

This post sticks to the points with no attacks on other schools or cities.

I agree with your points. My main concern is selecting a city which makes the most financial sense. I do not want to see Memphis hit in the pocketbook because other C-USA schools believe it is "unfair" for Memphis to take advantage of the success it has earned.

(02-15-2010 12:38 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  

(02-14-2010 11:53 PM)lenetzach Wrote:  

(02-14-2010 11:48 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(02-14-2010 11:39 PM)newtiger Wrote:  lets do it in dallas at cowboys stadium

I vote for this. Hard to top that venue.

hey, they can put 108,000 CUSA fans in there, that would make tons of money for the conference!

all those SMU fans who have been frustrated over the years at being stuck on the wait list for tickets will finally get their chance...

Not so fast.

1) UTEP has the best fans right after Memphis based on numbers.

2.) If UTEP/El Paso can host the Sun Bowl 52,000 fans and have sell outs, I dont see why the tourney would not be a sucess. UTEP is a member of CUSA and deserves a shot at the tourney as well.

3.) Perhaps the Don Haskin center is not a newly build facility however it holds 12,200 fans so it is more than adequate for a tourney. With likely sell outs for every UTEP game.

4.) There plenty of practice courts; Memorial gym, Steven Foster Center and the Don Haskins center all on campus. The county Coliseum is mainly used for small concerts and rodeos. Dont know who even brought that up. Ever been to the Don Haskins Center or El Paso? Doesnt seem like it if you think the County Coliseum will be used.

5.) Playing on the home court of the only team in CUSA to win a National Championship with a full house...electric. Especially when the TV cameras focus on the banner that changed history hanging overhead.

6.) Not enough tickets for SMU fans? Joke of the day,right?

It may not be Memphis but a tragedy? Hardly. Makes the author seem blatently baised and ignorant.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorlo/3296738436/

While true UTEP is #2 behind Memphis they are very far behind and their attendance has been dropping even with leading the league. Combine this with the fact that even for most people in Texas, El Paso is very far away (Texas is huge) and the fact that the city itself frankly doesn't have a lot to offer fans from other schools and I'd say nyet.

Here are the attendance figures for CUSA:

(02-15-2010 11:39 AM)mullinsworld Wrote:  While true UTEP is #2 behind Memphis they are very far behind and their attendance has been dropping even with leading the league. Combine this with the fact that even for most people in Texas, El Paso is very far away (Texas is huge) and the fact that the city itself frankly doesn't have a lot to offer fans from other schools and I'd say nyet.

Here are the attendance figures for CUSA:

El Paso is closer to San Diego than it is to Houston, Tx.

(02-15-2010 04:45 AM)NTMB Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 03:19 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 03:09 AM)NTMB Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 02:56 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  If you guys say the tournament sessions that didnt involve memphis were empty in memphis then why not let another city hold the tournament.
Ill give you a couple good reasons why El Paso should have the tournament
1. With most of Juarez living in El Paso now, there is over 1 million people here.
2. The best food in the USA
3. Culture
4. Hospitality (Sun Bowl teams will tell you time and time again we provide a great atmosphere.)
5. The most important reason is.... FT. Bliss, with a high number of soldiers located in El Paso from all over the nation, why not give it a shot. Im sure there are soldiers touching all parts of our conference located here at Ft. Bliss, and I am sure they would love to go support their hometowns!

Ok, #1... are you really using Mexican illegals as an incentive?

You gotta be kidding! At what level did your education stop? Your sig says something about ignorance.

Ciudad Juárez is in Mexico, no? Si.

If "most of Juarez" is "living in El Paso," it stands to reason we aren't talking about the native citizens of El Paso, but people who claim Juarez as home. If this is the case, it sounds to me like we're talking about Mexicans of non-US citizenship. ergo... illegals living in El Paso.

See, there is logic at work here. It may be flawed in my original premise concerning the identity of the people referred to in the phrase "Juarez living in El Paso," but my logic works fine. So does my sarcasm.

It is not ignorant to recognize that there are quite a few illegal immigrants crossing the Texas border annually. But calling someone ignorant for mentioning it, is quite hypocritical... dumb@ss.

And if the following is any sign of what is being imported, I sure as hell won't be darkening the sands of El Paso any time soon...

El Linko

You Chihuahuans sure are a touchy bunch.

Quote:During his meeting with leaders, Calderón said a military strategy alone can't end the violence plaguing Juárez, now Mexico's murder capital. He said his administration will focus more on generating jobs and investing in education and drug treatment programs to end the violence and restore law and order. He pledged $230 million for schools and civic improvements in the city.

But he said that the thousands of troops deployed in Juárez would remain in place.

Well at least we know why most of Juarez is in El Paso, el comprendí

(02-15-2010 11:32 AM)Mimi Wrote:  God bless the Internet.

Hawaii has been in the WAC since 1979.

The men's tourney has NEVER been played in Hawaii.

Membership in the WAC has been very volatile...Under the basic current setup- starting in 1006- tourney has been:

Reno
Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Reno
Reno (this year)

Since 84, with Hawaii a
member the whole time...the tourney has been:

El Paso
El Paso
Laramie WY
Albuquerque
Provo UT
SLake City
El Paso
Laramie
Ft. Collins CO
SLake City
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Fresno
Tulsa
Tulsa
Tulsa
Fresno
Reno
Reno
Las Cruces NM
Las Cruces NM
Reno
Reno

Hawaii is beautiful- yet likely due to travel expenses they have not held the tourney...while El Paso in CUSA is not quite Hawaii- theer is precedent for not traveling to the outskirts of range.

Las Cruces and El Paso : 35 minute drive apart. LC is 1/5 the pop. of El Paso, and teams fly into El Paso airport. If Las Cruces can host a tourney succesfully no doubt El Paso can.

Hawaii to NMSU over 3,000 mi. Saying El Paso is like Hawaii in distance is a stretch.

I qualified that Hawaii is even farther- point is the farthest flung school- even one with the vacation potential of a Hawaii- no dice.

Don't take it personally.

(02-15-2010 10:28 AM)Clarence Iba Wrote:  UTEP would fill it up, with UTEP fans. Memphis will fill it up with Memphis fans. The fanbases in this league don't travel for basketball. If you want a neutral court venue that's fair to all, try Little Rock or Shreveport. There will be less than 10 people at most sessions but it will be completely fair.

Otherwise, it should rotate between Memphis/Tulsa/UTEP/UAB.

Memphis, New Orleans and Orlando are the only viable cities with enough to do outside the tournament to get people to go. For most it is a vacation taking off from work and they don't want to only attend games.

I've been to El Paso and frankly there are 100 cities in the US I'd rather go to than El Paso, although it is better than Tulsa.

If you want a rotation then have it in New Orleans and Orlando and maybe Dallas along with Memphis otherwise it will not make as much money as Memphis but as a fairness issue then NO, Orlando & Dallas make sense.

(02-15-2010 08:54 AM)UMTigerfan Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 08:25 AM)missjtiger Wrote:  If they do award El Paso the tourny, I hope they don't televise any of the games except the ones UTEP is in because it will be an empty arena and extremely embarrassing.

what would concern me is hotel space, adequate practice, etc. i don't know anything specifically about it except many people have said El Paso lacks in those areas.

Well...the City of El Paso has been the host of the annual Sun Bowl game for 75 years. Considering they have to accommodate many more traveling fans for that game (than the C-USA Tourney could ever hope of having), and there's never been a problem doing that, I don't think you or any Memphis fans would have a problem finding a hotel room (nice rooms too!) nearby the DHC. This really should not be a problem, since Memphis will be the lone fanbase traveling (as many here seem to think). El Paso hotels listing

As far as a practice facility, I do believe the brand-spanking-new Foster Stevens Complex, located right next to the DHC, will more than suffice as a place for all teams to prepare for their tournament games. Foster Stevens Basketball Complex

El Paso International Airport is plenty large enough to handle incoming flights. If you can catch a Southwest, United, Delta, Continental, US Airways or American Airlines flight from wherever you're located, you can get here with little-to-no hassle. You may have to change planes or suffer through a short layover in Dallas or Houston, or some city, but if that's the worst of your problems, you'll be doing OK. EPIA

You did state "etc..." in your post, so if you have any additional concerns, please let us know.

Oh...and if it's personal safety you're concerned with, please rest at ease. El Paso is continually ranked as one of the nation's safest big cities...even with the extreme violence happening across the international border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Please take a moment and read the following article. Thanks! The El Paso Miracle

(02-15-2010 11:11 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  A rew points that might not have been stated clearly.

1) Memphis is the best venue/city for the tourney. I think most UTEP fans, Memphis fans, and others agree. However...

2) I believe other schools/cities would like an opportunity to host the tourney on occasion. Again, "on occasion" not yearly or even bi yearly. Which I believe would be fair since they are all member of the same conference.

3) Key point and well understood. UTEP is hundreds of miles from nearest CUSA school. Absolutely true. And also "Exactly" why UTEP would want to host the tourney at some point. Someone said why should the others schools "be punished" to go so far. Again UTEP fans must always travel that far so having the tourney close to home will help fans see their team in the tourney. Again, UTEP has the best home attandance after Memphis.

4) One point we all are missing is the opportunity other cities get to showcase the other CUSA schools in the tourney in front of their fans. I will throw random numbers here so cut me some slack...lets say Memphis averages 11000 fans including bottomfeeder teams vs bottom feeder teams that year. Lets say UTEP would average 9,000 and Tulsa would aveage 8,000. (again random numbers for example only). These 9,000 UTEP fans are likely to be different fans than would have attended the one in Memphis for example. And there is the reason for rotating the conference tourney. Others wouldl get to see the show.

5) Someone said once you get the tourney "put up or shut up". Totally agree. Need both a reasonable financial support and fan support at the games.

This post sticks to the points with no attacks on other schools or cities.

Neither UTEP or Tulsa are even averaging those type of numbers for their own team home games, expecting them to do much better for the tournament is irrational.

(02-15-2010 11:36 AM)TheKidat3B Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:22 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:16 AM)ctt8410 Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:05 AM)lenetzach Wrote:  by the way, I love how the conference office has been supported for the last number of years by Memphis fans' purchase of those all-session tickets, and how everyone in the conference has gotten a nice check from Memphis' NCAA tournament credits, and yet everyone else has some kind of sense of entitlement, as if Memphis has been unfair to the rest of the conference. we have been subsidizing the rest of the conference, and we do have more resources because of our fan base. that is the bottom line.

No one has a sense of entitlement, but the apocalyptic reactions from Memphis fans and Wolken about moving the tournament every once in a while is bound to stir up some emotions. Especially when those comments are accompanied by a couple low blows to the city and the fanbase.

Right! Wolken sounds like a teenage girl who got a pimple on prom night. Life isnt that bad buddy.

As the guy who wrote the article, I'm not trying to say that El Paso is a bad city. Hell Marty Robbins wrote a song about El Paso. But the point I want to make is that how many schools are willing to pay that much money for an expensive trip to El Paso for four day tournament? Think about it. When are the renovations going to be made to the Don?

Wolken, I stand by my previous posts as stated. It would be succesful.

(02-15-2010 12:02 PM)mullinsworld Wrote:  

(02-15-2010 11:11 AM)TexasUTEPwestern Wrote:  A rew points that might not have been stated clearly.

1) Memphis is the best venue/city for the tourney. I think most UTEP fans, Memphis fans, and others agree. However...

2) I believe other schools/cities would like an opportunity to host the tourney on occasion. Again, "on occasion" not yearly or even bi yearly. Which I believe would be fair since they are all member of the same conference.

3) Key point and well understood. UTEP is hundreds of miles from nearest CUSA school. Absolutely true. And also "Exactly" why UTEP would want to host the tourney at some point. Someone said why should the others schools "be punished" to go so far. Again UTEP fans must always travel that far so having the tourney close to home will help fans see their team in the tourney. Again, UTEP has the best home attandance after Memphis.

4) One point we all are missing is the opportunity other cities get to showcase the other CUSA schools in the tourney in front of their fans. I will throw random numbers here so cut me some slack...lets say Memphis averages 11000 fans including bottomfeeder teams vs bottom feeder teams that year. Lets say UTEP would average 9,000 and Tulsa would aveage 8,000. (again random numbers for example only). These 9,000 UTEP fans are likely to be different fans than would have attended the one in Memphis for example. And there is the reason for rotating the conference tourney. Others wouldl get to see the show.

5) Someone said once you get the tourney "put up or shut up". Totally agree. Need both a reasonable financial support and fan support at the games.

This post sticks to the points with no attacks on other schools or cities.

Neither UTEP or Tulsa are even averaging those type of numbers for their own team home games, expecting them to do much better for the tournament is irrational.

Disagree. Numbers would probably average out about the same for a tourney. UTEP stands at 8,675 fans/game with a few games to go. so 9,000 is about right with sell out or near sell outs of 12,200 for next few games. So I stand by my UTEP numbers here.

(02-15-2010 11:57 AM)dude_miner Wrote:  Well...the City of El Paso has been the host of the annual Sun Bowl game for 75 years. Considering they have to accommodate many more traveling fans for that game (than the C-USA Tourney could ever hope of having), and there's never been a problem doing that, I don't think you or any Memphis fans would have a problem finding a hotel room (nice rooms too!) nearby the DHC. This really should not be a problem, since Memphis will be the lone fanbase traveling (as many here seem to think). El Paso hotels listing

As far as a practice facility, I do believe the brand-spanking-new Foster Stevens Complex, located right next to the DHC, will more than suffice as a place for all teams to prepare for their tournament games. Foster Stevens Basketball Complex

El Paso International Airport is plenty large enough to handle incoming flights. If you can catch a Southwest, United, Delta, Continental, US Airways or American Airlines flight from wherever you're located, you can get here with little-to-no hassle. You may have to change planes or suffer through a short layover in Dallas or Houston, or some city, but if that's the worst of your problems, you'll be doing OK. EPIA

You did state "etc..." in your post, so if you have any additional concerns, please let us know.

Oh...and if it's personal safety you're concerned with, please rest at ease. El Paso is continually ranked as one of the nation's safest big cities...even with the extreme violence happening across the international border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Please take a moment and read the following article. Thanks! The El Paso Miracle

thanks for the info.

like i said, i don't KNOW anything about what is available in El Paso. it has been well established that many don't think it would be feasible for a number of reasons.

you have addressed a couple and your arguments seem plausible.

but the main thing you cannot get past is that ridiculous distance that exists between UTEP and EVERY OTHER CUSA school. in a Conference where only ONE school travels in any significant number for basketball, you are basically saying "we don't care if any visiting teams come or not". it's just not going to happen.

if the Conf. wants to be "fair", they need to hold it in a central location.

however, i am on record stating that my guess is the conference doesn't really care how well attended the games are. El Paso, or Tulsa (or Memphis) are the ones, per my understanding, guaranteeing the Conference a set amount of $$.

"in a Conference where only ONE school travels in any significant number for basketball"

What school is that? Because from my seat, no school in this conference travels in significant numbers for basketball.