Post by JustInCase on Dec 17, 2005 16:40:42 GMT -5
I heard a coach at the convention give a suggestion for sites for the NCAA Championships and its one of the most logical suggestions I have heard in a long time. I believe he was from Davidson, but I don't know his name.
Select 4 regional sites that are permanent sites. Select the 4 sites that would provide the largest crowds. His suggestion was for example purposes only, stating that researching for the sites would be necessary, but for example purposes he suggested Gainesville, FL, Omaha, NE, Madison, WI and Hawaii.
These 4 sites would be the regional sites year in and year out. Also, these 4 sites would also host the preceding opening rounds as well. These 4 sites would also be the sites for the national semi-finals and finals, rotating yearly among the 4.
What this would do is provide potentially 3 weeks (if you hosted the finals that year) of volleyball in the 4 largest volleyball markets. It would build synergy among those cities and in doing so, guaranteeing these cities business on a yearly basis (allowing them to be more competitive on hotel costs, convention center costs and arena costs). The cities would most likely take a more active roll in promoting all the rounds, not just the finals (somewhat like baseball in Omaha, NE, etc.).
The other opening rounds would be decided by the committee based on geographical needs to round out the brackets. He also suggested that he liked a suggestion that was made to guarantee the top 4 seeds to be able to host as well. In case like this year, where Nebraska was a top 4 seed, in his example, Omaha was already a determined site, so 2-5 seeds would be guaranteed to host. If say a Wisconsin and Nebraska were a top 4 seed and since in his example Madison and Omaha were predetermined regional and 1st round sites, then 3-6 would get a guaranteed first/second round host site. The other needed sites would be determined by the committee based on geographical needs.
I think there are probably issues with the above, but not ones that would be impossible to get around. When I heard this guys explanation, I thought it was one of the most logical and potentially beneficial plans that I have heard. He explained that there would be some inherent problems, like home court advantages to teams that are in the predetermined sites area (Nebraska, Hawaii, Florida and Wisconsin based on his example), but a sacrifice worth making to advance the sport. One that needs to be made in order to gain additional exposure....leading to a larger TV deal.
Select 4 regional sites that are permanent sites. Select the 4 sites that would provide the largest crowds. His suggestion was for example purposes only, stating that researching for the sites would be necessary, but for example purposes he suggested Gainesville, FL, Omaha, NE, Madison, WI and Hawaii.
These 4 sites would be the regional sites year in and year out. Also, these 4 sites would also host the preceding opening rounds as well. These 4 sites would also be the sites for the national semi-finals and finals, rotating yearly among the 4.
What this would do is provide potentially 3 weeks (if you hosted the finals that year) of volleyball in the 4 largest volleyball markets. It would build synergy among those cities and in doing so, guaranteeing these cities business on a yearly basis (allowing them to be more competitive on hotel costs, convention center costs and arena costs). The cities would most likely take a more active roll in promoting all the rounds, not just the finals (somewhat like baseball in Omaha, NE, etc.).
The other opening rounds would be decided by the committee based on geographical needs to round out the brackets. He also suggested that he liked a suggestion that was made to guarantee the top 4 seeds to be able to host as well. In case like this year, where Nebraska was a top 4 seed, in his example, Omaha was already a determined site, so 2-5 seeds would be guaranteed to host. If say a Wisconsin and Nebraska were a top 4 seed and since in his example Madison and Omaha were predetermined regional and 1st round sites, then 3-6 would get a guaranteed first/second round host site. The other needed sites would be determined by the committee based on geographical needs.
I think there are probably issues with the above, but not ones that would be impossible to get around. When I heard this guys explanation, I thought it was one of the most logical and potentially beneficial plans that I have heard. He explained that there would be some inherent problems, like home court advantages to teams that are in the predetermined sites area (Nebraska, Hawaii, Florida and Wisconsin based on his example), but a sacrifice worth making to advance the sport. One that needs to be made in order to gain additional exposure....leading to a larger TV deal.