C-USA basketball tourney all session tickets sales at 500

[MinerInWisconsin]

Does anyone remember and/or have a link to the all session ticket sales numbers when UTEP hosted in 2011 and last year? The UAB interim AD makes a statement that so far, Birmingham and UAB have accounted for only 500 all session tickets and that when Tulsa and UTEP hosted the total of all session tickets sold was between 2,000 and 2,500. I thought UTEP sold more than that.


"Our reality is that ticket sales are way behind expectations and I am pleading for your support and encouraging your participation. To date, we have only sold approximately 500 all-session ticket books, compared to the 2,000 to 2,500 our peer hosts in Tulsa and UTEP have traditionally sold. UAB Athletics has approximately 2,000 season ticket holders and we respectfully ask that everyone (donors, season ticket holders, single-game purchasers, faulty/staff, community, etc.) gives strong consideration to purchasing all-tournament tickets for the greater good of our athletics program and community, rather than just attending the UAB games.

To host this event, in order to give our programs home court advantage and the best opportunity to return to NCAA post-season play, has required us to pledge $500,000 as a guarantee to Conference USA. It is projected to cost another approximately $500,000 to $600,000 to run the championships so we are obligated for an investment in excess of $1 million."

UAB hosting

 

[picks up]

A lot of UAB fans have vowed not to give the school any money until they bring back football., maybe that has something to do with it. On the upside I think this really increases our chances of getting the C-USA tournament back in El Paso next year

 

[MistaBinks]

I will look it up but I thought ours were 4500 the first time.

 

[sweetlou#1]

Good luck. Going to Bama for hoops is not my cup of tea! It is too damn far and not to fond of grits and gravy for breakfast.

 

[PickAx]

Here is an article recapping the attendance for us and other years. Doesn't say how many session tickets were sold.

BBall tourny article recapping attendence

 

[MistaBinks]

I know we set a record for most all session passes the first time we hosted. It's all at cusabbs, I'm sure.

 

[shyminer81]

UAB has been boycotting for years... Their attendance has always been subpar.

 

[Minerforlife]

We just need to find two permanent locations and rotate the tournament between a western location and an eastern location. I would prefer san antonio and Nashville. There are other locations that would work. We need destination locations within easy traveling distance of several schools.

 

[El Paso Chihuahuas]

Originally posted by Minerforlife:
We just need to find two permanent locations and rotate the tournament between a western location and an eastern location. I would prefer san antonio and Nashville. There are other locations that would work. We need destination locations within easy traveling distance of several schools.

I never liked neutral site locations (UTSA doesn't count since they don't draw fans). Unless it's a premier conference, people will not travel to the conference tournament. The tournament succeeded here twice with nothing but rave reviews. Why not just keep the tournament here?

 

[Minerforlife]

Originally posted by El Paso Chihuahuas:

Originally posted by Minerforlife:
We just need to find two permanent locations and rotate the tournament between a western location and an eastern location. I would prefer san antonio and Nashville. There are other locations that would work. We need destination locations within easy traveling distance of several schools.

I never liked neutral site locations (UTSA doesn't count since they don't draw fans). Unless it's a premier conference, people will not travel to the conference tournament. The tournament succeeded here twice with nothing but rave reviews. Why not just keep the tournament here?

Honestly, i think on campus sights for conference tournaments are bush league. If we were in a tight geograpical conference then El Paso would work. However, being how far flung El Paso is from the rest of the conference they would never agree to have tournament in El Paso every year. The commisioner said last year the guaranteed money would no longer be the deciding factor in who hosts the tournament. That tells me we arent getting the tournament back until 2020.

During the time we've been in cusa the only school that has packed their arena for the tournament was Memphis. At the time Memphis was outdrawing the Grizzlies. It was electric in the forum when the Tigers played. It makes more sense to host the tournament In locations where several schools fans can easily attend. We could have a tournament in San Antonio or Houston and we could get about 500-1500 fans from the West schools and a few from the east schools as well. For the east we could use Nashville, Miami or raleigh. Those are all nice destinations that fans would go too. You get a nice vacation and watch some hoops its a win win situation.

 

[picks up]

Originally posted by Minerforlife:

Honestly, i think on campus sights for conference tournaments are bush league. If we were in a tight geograpical conference then El Paso would work. However, being how far flung El Paso is from the rest of the conference they would never agree to have tournament in El Paso every year. The commisioner said last year the guaranteed money would no longer be the deciding factor in who hosts the tournament. That tells me we arent getting the tournament back until 2020.

During the time we've been in cusa the only school that has packed their arena for the tournament was Memphis. At the time Memphis was outdrawing the Grizzlies. It was electric in the forum when the Tigers played. It makes more sense to host the tournament In locations where several schools fans can easily attend. We could have a tournament in San Antonio or Houston and we could get about 500-1500 fans from the West schools and a few from the east schools as well. For the east we could use Nashville, Miami or raleigh. Those are all nice destinations that fans would go too. You get a nice vacation and watch some hoops its a win win situation.

Actually the commissioner said that he prefers having 2 venues that are near each other so that the men's and women's games could be player simultaneously. I think only UTEP and UAB are able to accommodate that. I'm guessing that it will be back next year

 

[allminer]

San Antonio is a destination city, yes. But you've got to have the support of the locals. The support for UTSA basketball is zilch...nada. The Convocation Center is a high school gym and the AT&T center would be one huge empty.

 

[El Paso Chihuahuas]

Originally posted by Minerforlife:

If we were in a tight geograpical conference then El Paso would work. However, being how far flung El Paso is from the rest of the conference they would never agree to have tournament in El Paso every year.

During the time we've been in cusa the only school that has packed their arena for the tournament was Memphis.

The fact is the tournament had tremendous success here and exceeded all expectations. I don't think having the tournament here every year is ever going to happen, but out of all CUSA schools, UTEP would sell the most tickets.

The CUSA tournament was pretty packed when they had it here twice- it didn't attract Memphis's numbers- but did well all week long.

 

[Minerforlife]

Originally posted by El Paso Chihuahuas:

Originally posted by Minerforlife:

If we were in a tight geograpical conference then El Paso would work. However, being how far flung El Paso is from the rest of the conference they would never agree to have tournament in El Paso every year.

During the time we've been in cusa the only school that has packed their arena for the tournament was Memphis.

The fact is the tournament had tremendous success here and exceeded all expectations. I don't think having the tournament here every year is ever going to happen, but out of all CUSA schools, UTEP would sell the most tickets.

The CUSA tournament was pretty packed when they had it here twice- it didn't attract Memphis's numbers- but did well all week long.

El Paso has done well and i cant wait until we can host at the new arena downtown. I like going to the conference tournaments i would just like them in nice spots. Memphis was alot of fun, and Tulsa exceeded my expectations. Im not very psyched about Birmingham but hopefully it will be a pleasant surprise. I just think more tournaments in centrally located destination cities will significantly help the atmosphere. I hope one day the c-usa tournament can have an atmosphere like the MWC tournament does in Vegas.

 

[Texas_UTEP_Western]

I think the conference championship should in large part be where there is fan support. I think it would be more bush league to have at a neutral site with no butts in the seats. It seems a two or three city rotation would be great. If other cities want to host Im all for it but have a decent turn out if they want to host.

This post was edited on 2/20 7:29 AM by Texas_UTEP_Western

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Posts on the C-USA board claim that the Mississippi gulf coast area is bidding for the 2016 tournament. Casinos, golf, beaches, etc, might be a decent draw.

 

[Rocketsr]

It should be at the home of the regular season champion like it used to be. Some conferences have the teams host a first round game on their home court.
I know the argument is that it is tough on travel, and hotel, etc. I still think that they should reward the regular season champion. At worst they should have it in a city like Vegas, which is neutral and easy access for all fans.

 

[MistaBinks]

I think El Paso should/can host every 3rd year. Let the conference go through some growing pains. They can claim it isn't about guaranteed money right now. Lets see how much money is lost in Birmingham this March. The can try it at a destination spot as well. I don't see it making money there either. It will be back in El Paso soon enough. Besides money generated, the logistics make too much sense. Memorial Gym and The Don are great spots.

 

[El Paso Chihuahuas]

Originally posted by Rocketsr:
It should be at the home of the regular season champion like it used to be. Some conferences have the teams host a first round game on their home court.
I know the argument is that it is tough on travel, and hotel, etc. I still think that they should reward the regular season champion. At worst they should have it in a city like Vegas, which is neutral and easy access for all fans.

Having it is in Vegas is one the worst possible destinations for Conference USA teams.

 

[utep2step]

UAB struggled this year and the news of their program had to have contributed directly to slump. Hope it gets better.

 

[utep2step]

I hear the BP dipped and fried shrimp is to die for!

 

[utep2step]

USM pushing hard for this. (Article attached)


I'm willing to give Leatha's Bar-B-Que Inn a try.

USM AD wanting CUSA tourney

 

[develman]

Does anyone know if CUSA or the Host set ticket prices for the tournament . UTEP traditionally has one of the lowest season ticket prices ? Just wondering if this also applied in the CUSA tournament UTEP hosted ?

 

[artistarts28]

UAB has more important things to think about than sessions tickets at this moment. With football program dropped doesn't really matter if they represent strong cause they are out of CUSA. They got the shaft in the worst way.

GO MINERS!