southpaw Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Just for a discussion point, here is the attendance numbers for the Big Sky championship game the last few years: 2014: 6294 @ Ogden 2013: 7172 @ Missoula 2012: 7042 @ Missoula 2011: 3182 @ Greeley 2010: 6308 @ Ogden 2009: 1546 @ Ogden 2008: 4113 @ Porland 2009 was the only year that the host school wasn't in the championship game. Here is the last two years attendance for all games of the WAC tournament held in Las Vegas: 2014: 1284 2013: 1092 I worry that a Big Sky Tournament in Reno might have numbers similar that of the WAC in recent years. Has anyone been to Reno? It's not exactly a destination city. I could see a rotation of Denver and Portland as those two are more likely to draw fans who want to do more than watch basketball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zonadub Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I would think the best location not only in the BSC footprint but an easy target for flights would be Denver. Salt Lake City would be more central, closer to the usual conference contenders (Weber, Montana, EWU) and has good flight connections, if they would make a bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darell1976 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Salt Lake City would be more central, closer to the usual conference contenders (Weber, Montana, EWU) and has good flight connections, if they would make a bid. Does Fargo or GF have direct flights to SLC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homer Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Does Fargo or GF have direct flights to SLC? Fargo does through Delta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choyt3 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Fargo does through Delta. Does the ridiculousness regarding UND recruits flying in/out of Fargo extend to UND fans as well? Or would that be allowed by operation forensic accountants at bisonation? I'm assuming the team would not be flying coach and would go direct from GF no matter the destination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Does the ridiculousness regarding UND recruits flying in/out of Fargo extend to UND fans as well? Or would that be allowed by operation forensic accountants at bisonation? I'm assuming the team would not be flying coach and would go direct from GF no matter the destination. Doubtful. I believe UND basketball normally flies coach and usually out of Fargo as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmksioux Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Doubtful. I believe UND basketball normally flies coach and usually out of Fargo as well. For what it's worth, I have flown out of gfk on the same plane as the Women's team...also was on a return flight into gfk with men's team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homer Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I've flown into Fargo with UND teams/athletes and I know they also fly out of Grand Forks. I believe everything is priced out and the cheaper flight is taken. I don't see it as a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I think the flight availability plays a big role too. Many more options out of Fargo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdub27 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Doubtful. I believe UND basketball normally flies coach and usually out of Fargo as well. Usually a lot to go west out of Fargo but they do fly out of GFK as well. Multiple factors determine which place they fly out of. Last week they did fly to MSP en route to Moscow out of Fargo but they will also typically catch flights to Denver out of Fargo rather than going east to MSP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!! Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 This article in the Pocatello newspaper discusses several Big Sky tournament topics. http://magicvalley.com/sports/local/troubles-looming-in-the-big-sky-conference/article_b7632335-3267-5aae-80c9-e8da9de552e8.html Future neutral sites: School presidents will vote on what to do and if a site is chosen, it’s expected to host for the next three years. But Kasper cautioned that university presidents don’t have to vote to go anywhere. This year's tournament should Sac State win the regular season: The conference is now looking at possibly playing the men’s tournament in either Stockton, Calif. or Reno, Nev. But if the cost is prohibitive and nothing can be worked out, the second place finisher will have the right to host the event on their home floor. Lack of BBall attendance across the league: Attendance, particularly for men’s basketball, is also a concern. As of the middle of January the men’s teams were averaging only 1,764 fans per game. If that stands it would be the lowest average attendance since the conference began keeping records in 1975-1976. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Loveland/Greeley and Flagstaff are out of the running....... Five Basketball Championship Locations Selected for Site Visits Billings a finalist for hosting Big Sky men's basketball tournament It seems as though the bid from Billings does not include the women's tournament. If they are going to do this, I don't understand why they would be separated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Just curious if there are any fans here that realistically would make a trip to the Big Sky tournament if it were held at a predetermined site. Personally speaking, if it did land in Billings, which is an 8 hour drive for me, I would probably make that drive IF UND were the #1 seed and there is a good chance that I'd see them make the NCAA Tournament. I would probably make the trip under the same circumstances to anywhere that I could fly from ND non-stop like Vegas, SLC, Denver. I can't imagine I would ever make the effort to get to a place like Reno. I am just curious if there would be any interest in this from regular fans if they did have time to plan the trip. I think the fact the Frozen Face Off is a week later is always going to limit attendance from the UND faithful. I plan on going to that every year that UND makes it, so two consecutive weekends of travel like that would be tough. Hence my #1 seed requirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 So it will just be me going to Billings then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homer Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 I would do Billings and possibly Salt Lake (if it was an option). Direct flight from Fargo to Salt Lake makes that easier (but more costly) than the drive to Billings. I would like to think that in the next two years, when/if we have a legit chance of winning I will go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIOUXFAN97 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 they need to keep it the way it is with league champ hosting...but if they do a neutral site either vegas or phoenix...warm and direct cheap flights.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfhockey Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Depends on what jerseys they wear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDPritch Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Gotta be at place of conf champ. Anywhere else, attendance lacks big-time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NODAK13 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Gotta be at place of conf champ. Anywhere else, attendance lacks big-time. Agree. The way it currently is when the home team plays the crowds are good and the other games which do not involve the home team the stadium is empty except family and friends. Neutral site every game will be basically empty because it's not the type of conference that will draw local people to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darell1976 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Agree. The way it currently is when the home team plays the crowds are good and the other games which do not involve the home team the stadium is empty except family and friends. Neutral site every game will be basically empty because it's not the type of conference that will draw local people to watch. Plus it makes the regular season more special, because everyone knows if you win the conference you host the tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodakhoops Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver would be the only places I would go, and it would have to be Men and Women so I could watch both. Spokane might be an ok option, but traveling from ND to there is tough. My ideal location would be Sioux Falls and I would go every year...yes joining the Summit League. I love the Big Sky for FB, but I would prefer the Summit for hoops because I could make at least 1-2 road games a year (NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, or Denver) and UND would also get those teams at home. I think that would help grow UND's basketball brand locally, and I think attendance would rise as well. Not going to happen, but that is my opinion. I have yet to make a Big Sky road game, and back in the NCC I could make many. The Summit allows that for fans and I think it would bring a lot more casual UND basketball fans out to games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkster Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver would be the only places I would go, and it would have to be Men and Women so I could watch both. Spokane might be an ok option, but traveling from ND to there is tough. My ideal location would be Sioux Falls and I would go every year...yes joining the Summit League. I love the Big Sky for FB, but I would prefer the Summit for hoops because I could make at least 1-2 road games a year (NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, or Denver) and UND would also get those teams at home. I think that would help grow UND's basketball brand locally, and I think attendance would rise as well. Not going to happen, but that is my opinion. I have yet to make a Big Sky road game, and back in the NCC I could make many. The Summit allows that for fans and I think it would bring a lot more casual UND basketball fans out to games. Well, I would say there is about zero interest in leaving the Sky for the Summit. Ain't gonna happen and the only advantage would be travel costs. Every other advantage is with the BSC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandalay Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Well, I would say there is about zero interest in leaving the Sky for the Summit. Ain't gonna happen and the only advantage would be travel costs. Every other advantage is with the BSC. What are those advantages? Not being a smart a$$. Just not sure what they are. Better brand maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bincitysioux Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver would be the only places I would go, and it would have to be Men and Women so I could watch both. Spokane might be an ok option, but traveling from ND to there is tough. My ideal location would be Sioux Falls and I would go every year...yes joining the Summit League. I love the Big Sky for FB, but I would prefer the Summit for hoops because I could make at least 1-2 road games a year (NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, or Denver) and UND would also get those teams at home. I think that would help grow UND's basketball brand locally, and I think attendance would rise as well. Not going to happen, but that is my opinion. I have yet to make a Big Sky road game, and back in the NCC I could make many. The Summit allows that for fans and I think it would bring a lot more casual UND basketball fans out to games. We did play at UNO, SDSU, and NDSU the last two seasons so there is 1-2 road games one could have attended of late. NDSU obviously draws fans, but other than them, I've come to the conclusion that most fans don't really care who the opponent is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sioux24/7 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver would be the only places I would go, and it would have to be Men and Women so I could watch both. Spokane might be an ok option, but traveling from ND to there is tough. My ideal location would be Sioux Falls and I would go every year...yes joining the Summit League. I love the Big Sky for FB, but I would prefer the Summit for hoops because I could make at least 1-2 road games a year (NDSU, SDSU, USD, Omaha, or Denver) and UND would also get those teams at home. I think that would help grow UND's basketball brand locally, and I think attendance would rise as well. Not going to happen, but that is my opinion. I have yet to make a Big Sky road game, and back in the NCC I could make many. The Summit allows that for fans and I think it would bring a lot more casual UND basketball fans out to games. I am going to agree with you on this. I really badly want UND to join the Summit or at least join the Dakota schools. Also, having Denver and Omaha would be cool too due to hockey. I really question what the advantages are of the Big Sky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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