http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...S/60605036/1004

 

Indianapolis lands Big Ten tourney

By Michael Pointer

 

The Big Ten tournament will call Indianapolis its home court for five years starting in 2008, officials announced today.

 

The Big Ten’s men’s and women’s tournaments will be held at Conseco Fieldhouse under a deal that stretches to 2012.

 

Chicago was Indianapolis’ rival to host the tournaments.

 

Indianapolis has rotated hosting the men's tournament with Chicago since 2002. It has hosted the women's tournament every year except one since 1995.

Wow. That's hard to believe. There has been a stark contrast in the number of butts in the seats when the tourney is in Chicago compared to when it's in Indy. I know ticket brokers aren't happy, that's for sure.

What exactly did Indianapolis have to offer? Their arena has much less capacity, they have less to do, less hotel space, less transportation, and less infrastructure? This makes zero sense.

It's called NCAA HQ right down the street.

I remember when this originally was being announced that they were voting on a set site that a majority of the B10 coaches like Indy over Chicago.

I remember when this originally was being announced that they were voting on a set site that a majority of the B10 coaches like Indy over Chicago.

They probably asked that in '05. Nobody wanted to face Illinois at the UC in '05.

 

But who was afraid of IU & PU the last two seasons, no matter the venue?

They probably asked that in '05. Nobody wanted to face Illinois at the UC in '05.

 

But who was afraid of IU & PU the last two seasons, no matter the venue?

 

It was this past March.

 

If SoxTalk had an adequate search, I could show you the article.

I remember when this originally was being announced that they were voting on a set site that a majority of the B10 coaches like Indy over Chicago.

 

Ah, so the vote was the coaches, and not the fans. Now it makes sense. Brilliant. The Big Ten just turned down about potentially 5000 more fans per session, along with higher ticket prices because the coaches like Indianapolis better. It would have been one thing if they were playing this in the Dome to get more fans into the games, but moving to a much smaller arena is just dumb.

At least they have Nick Blaines

The teams would be more low key and less distracted in Indy. I'm guessing that's one of the factors in the coaches mind.

 

Now this could be a factor in my college choice between Butler and DePaul

I wish I could find the article, but I just remember them saying it's much easier on the team/players as far as hotels and traveling too. Because the UC is in the middle of nowhere as far as Chicago goes.

I wish I could find the article, but I just remember them saying it's much easier on the team/players as far as hotels and traveling too. Because the UC is in the middle of nowhere as far as Chicago goes.

 

The Kennedy is a mile and a half away, and the Ike is less than a mile away?!?!? Conseco is just as far off of the interstates as the UC.

 

As for hotels, downtown Chicago is about 2-3 miles away depending on if you are talking about Michigan Abe or the west loop.

The Kennedy is a mile and a half away, and the Ike is less than a mile away?!?!? Conseco is just as far off of the interstates as the UC.

 

As for hotels, downtown Chicago is about 2-3 miles away depending on if you are talking about Michigan Abe or the west loop.

Conseco is right in the middle of downtown. But then again, everything in Indy is "close" to each other compared to Chicago.

Conseco is right in the middle of downtown. But then again, everything in Indy is "close" to each other compared to Chicago.

 

I've been to all the arenas in Indy multiple times. Getting in and out of downtown Indy is just as hard, if not harder than getting out of the UC. With all of the one way streets and crap like that, I don't know that it is any easier.

 

And most importantly, the Big Ten is leaving a lot of revenue on the table, a lot of fans at home, and taking away from the experiences of the fans lucky enough to go, by picking a much smaller venue in a much smaller town.

Indy needs this more than Chicago does. Basektball means a lot to the state/city, and I'm happy the Big Ten was able to keep it in town.

 

And this was in the Trib's article about the tourney. Maybe this will change your opinion a bit more Mike.

 

"As part of the winning bid, Indianapolis agreed to pay the Big Ten $400,000 each year to make up for a possible loss in ticket sales -- Conseco Fieldhouse has about 5,000 fewer available seats than Chicago's United Center."

Bad for the Big 10 though.

 

The biggest city in the Big 10 area is Chicago. Its generally not a smart to move away from one of the biggest tv markets.

The Kennedy is a mile and a half away, and the Ike is less than a mile away?!?!? Conseco is just as far off of the interstates as the UC.

 

As for hotels, downtown Chicago is about 2-3 miles away depending on if you are talking about Michigan Abe or the west loop.

2-3 miles? There is the Crowne plaza right down madison past my condo. I walk to the loop and the UC. That obviously couldnt have factored into their decision.

 

Its just another attempt for Indy to try and act like a legit city.

Its just another attempt for Indy to try and act like a legit city.

:rolly

 

No it's not. OMG, THE BIG TEN B-BALL TOURNEY IS IN INDY, NOW IT'S A CITY!

 

That's comical.

:rolly

 

No it's not. OMG, THE BIG TEN B-BALL TOURNEY IS IN INDY, NOW IT'S A CITY!

 

That's comical.

Did I really need to put that in green for you to get it?

This isn't a surprise, but it will cost the Big 10 a lot of money in lost tickets sales by not having it in Chicago. Doesn't mean a whole lot though, so w/e.

If the Big Ten handles their tournament anything like the SEC, they won't lose a dime in ticket sales. For the hosting contract, the Big Ten gets a guarantee regardless of ticket sales. They would not have chosen Indianapolis if the guarantee was significantly less.

 

And YES, the coaches do have a major say in where the tournament is hosted. The SEC takes very strongly into account that their baseball coaches almost unanimously want their conference tournament in Birmingham (Hoover technically). Many factors are taken into account when making such a decision. Potential ticket sales and attendance is just part of it.

This move is a stupid one for the Big Ten

Indy needs this more than Chicago does. Basektball means a lot to the state/city, and I'm happy the Big Ten was able to keep it in town.

 

And this was in the Trib's article about the tourney. Maybe this will change your opinion a bit more Mike.

 

"As part of the winning bid, Indianapolis agreed to pay the Big Ten $400,000 each year to make up for a possible loss in ticket sales -- Conseco Fieldhouse has about 5,000 fewer available seats than Chicago's United Center."

 

$400,000 doesn't cover that. You are talking about 3 days worth of games, times 5000 seats, times how much money a ticket? Even if its just $30 each, the Big Ten is leaving money on the table, not to mention the 15,000 fans that just got left out of the tourney.

Conference tourneys for the major conferences are a joke anyways IMO. It means nothing for most of the teams, and only the bubble teams need to do well. Mid-major conference tourneys are where it's at.

I heard of this when they last had the tourney in Chicago. Basically, coaches think that players will get in a lot less trouble hanging in Indianapolis than in Chicago.