RebKell's Junkie Boards

[NFL1]

In previous cycle decisions we often heard which cities were in the mix...I'm curious, and hope we get to go West!

Thanks.

[StevenHW]

If you mean by "west", as in the Pacific Standard Time Zone, it has hosted the Final Four only five times: 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 1999.

Below is a list of previous Women's Final Four locations, and also including the 2015 and 2016 sites.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Women%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Championship#Women.27s_NCAA_Division_I_basketball_champions

It seems to me that in recent years, the NCAA has preferred to have the women's Final Four located in the Midwest or the South.

I find it interesting that it has never been in Arizona.

[thefutureisbright]

[beknighted]

[Phil]

New Orleans was 2013, so only 2017 would be within the four years. My guess is that it will not be New Orleans in 2017. For the same reason, I don't think Tampa Bay will be in the mix until 2020.

Nashville was a hit, so likely to be a repeat.

If we think that Tampa Bay is high on the list, then they have to be 202.
That means Nashville, which could be 2019 or 2020 is locked into 2019.

I'll be surprised if Columbus makes the final list. I was a bit surprised to see Dallas on the list, but maybe shouldn't be. There's a lot of basketball in Texas but (sorry SMU) Dallas isn't the first place that come to mind. That said, basketball isn't always the draw. Neither Boston or Denver are hotbeds of basketball; the attractions in those cases are the non-basketball attractions.

My guess is that either Houston or Dallas but not both, will make the final cut. No strong reasons, but I'll go with Houston.

New Orleans is a hit for first timers. I enjoyed my second time around, but it wasn't the same. If they go there again I'll go back, but it will be more because I'm going anyway than the attraction of yet another trip to New Orleans. My guess is that there is enough rotation in the attendees that the repeat will not be a problem. If they do New Orleans, it looks like the earliest is 2018, and if my other guesses are right, that's the only option.

That leaves Columbus (meh), Pittsburgh (meh) or one of the Texas cities for 2017. I think they like Texas, witness the four trips to the state, more than any other state. Fans like San Antonio, but there's some reason (arena issue?) why it isn't on the list, so I'll guess that the Texas location beats out Pittsburgh and Columbus. If not Pittsburgh is my second choice.

My guess:

2017 Houston (or Pittsburgh)
2018 New Orleans
2019 Nashville
2020 Tampa Bay

[purduefanatic]

http://boards.rebkell.net/viewtopic.php?t=79275

We discussed this in January when they made the initial announcement. Here is what I posted back then:

[Phil]

[thefutureisbright]

I would guess ...

Nashville
New Orleans
Pittsburgh or Columbus (same region ... seems like they want it there)
Houston or Dallas (two from same state would make me think same way as above)

Dallas would be better than then Men's because the game would be at American Airlines and things wouldn't be all over as much IMO

[purduefanatic]

[beknighted]

[Phil]

I liked Denver, so was slightly surprised not to see it in the list of sites considered.

The regional sites committee likes (needs?) to have a west coast presence. It is tougher to justify a west coast for the Finals, but I thought there might be some in the mix. That happened early, LA and Tacoma, each twice and San Jose, so five west coast sites in the first 18 years, and none since, depending on how you count Denver. I thought Denver worked as a not-quite-a west-coast location, but close enough to qualify as a less than two time zone trip for west coast teams.

All of the upcoming locations and options are east or central time zone, none in mountain or west.

[ClayK]

It would seem to me that if you wanted to grow the game, you would put the championships in the largest metropolitan area in the country now and again ... but there's only been one trip to Southern California ever.

Granted, L.A.'s a lousy sports town, and the arenas there probably aren't falling all over themselves to give the NCAA a great deal, but if growing the game is a factor at all, a trip to SoCal seems almost mandatory at some point.

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Oṃ T�re Tutt�re Ture Sv�h�

[Phil]

[dinkytown]

Does anyone know if Albuquerque has ever bid or even if they fit requirements? Probably not a big city attraction but would be a tremendous atmosphere in The Pit and a western location.

[Phil]

[beknighted]

[ArtBest23]

[Phil]

[beknighted]

[calbearman76]

If the NCAA would get off their high horse, Las Vegas would be the perfect venue for the Final Four. It is the most inexpensive city for travelers with the best hotels for the money, tremendous food at every level, excellent airline coverage and has multiple venues to choose from. It is already the venue for the WCC, MWC, Pac 12 (men's only) tournaments and has been a tremendous success. And most people actually like going there.

If they asked, I'm sure the casinos would even agree to not take bets on the Women's Final Four.

[ArtBest23]

[Queenie]

I know everyone's tired of the Eastern Seaboard on the W side, but I'd kill for Philly or Boston. Those FFs were before I got into going to the FF as a thing, and I am so pissed that I missed out.

_________________
Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[ddubdawg]

I thought Boston was a fantastic site. It was the first one I had attended that had door clings on all the doors trumpeting the WFF and they had tables set up in the outer lobbies of the airport for fans coming in for the games with info on the city. And it was my first time to Boston and I kind feel in love with the city.

[NFL1]

I'm really surprised there isn't a West or Mountain site. Last decision cycle Phoenix was in the mix, but the density of hotel rooms was an issue, and they've hosted the Superbowl since, I really expected it to be a lock (or returning to Denver at least). Are the arenas in Portland or Seattle too small?

Boston and Philly were great, I am surprised that Philly didn't get on the final list - there are so many colleges that could combine to host again.

I'd really like to see new cities in the mix...going every year makes too many duplicates a challenge for the non-hoop touring.

[acsuc99]

If the committee picks New Orleans and Tampa again than you know no one even cares anymore.

Almost everytime they got back to a PREVIOUS host city, the crowd is a non sell out. St. Louis was a sell out in 2001. It had tons of empty seats in 2009. San Antonio had like 32,000 in 2002. In 2010 it had 20+. New Orleans was a sell out in 2004. Tons of empty seats in the empy deck in 2013, perhaps due to Baylor fans not going but still...non sell out. Indy who got about 29,000 in the RCA Dome in 2005, couldn't even sell out the smaller NBA Conseco Field House with Notre Dame there in 2011.

Now you got 2 more previous hosts coming up in 2015 and 2016 in Tampa and Indy again. I guarantee Tampa will have a non sell out next year unless Tennessee make it. They made up 80-90% of the crowd in 2008.

The best crowds I have seen lately at Final Fours- Boston, Denver, and Nashville. And you know why? They NEVER hosted before. There is always excitement by the locals for the first time. And than the novelty wears off.

It is a shame that such natural area for the sport never bid. Seattle, the Bay Area, NYC, Oklahoma City.

Out of the 7 finalists, if they have a clue and truly care about growing the sport...I'd pick, Dallas or Houston, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and I guess Nashville seeing they got great feedback.