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Ohio Volleyball

Topic: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Topic: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

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ODoyle110
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Member Since: 11/14/2006
Location: Lancaster, OH
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MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/2/2011 10:25:04 AM

http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&...

You know, if they wanted it in Cleveland there's got to be better venues for a D-I Conference Volleyball Tournament. (The Q, Cleveland State's Arena...etc) It looks like a great facility for rec leagues, but a NCAA Conference Tournament? I think not.

Plus on top of that, it's in the middle of nowhere, closest hotels are roughly 5-6 miles away! And worst of all..NO TONY PACKO'S or FRICKERS!

(Note: As I am complaining some, I will just suck it up and make the best of it, just need to vent a bit)

O'Doyle Rules!!!!

Aaron Romero
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 59

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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/2/2011 1:14:14 PM

I'm going to need a hug, a moment of silence, a Libby glass of fresh apple squeezins', and a bowl of mashed potatoes with saurkraut in order to get through this.

Radar
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Portsmouth, OH
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/2/2011 6:14:25 PM

Stunned.

Finances were no doubt a factor; I'm sure SeaGate was pricier, and the crowds never materialized in Toledo.

Still -- a sportsplex? Really?

Wow. Certainly will be a different experience.

Hopefully it will turn out okay --- but I'd be concerned that the athlete/fan experience has been sacrificed for the sake of saving a few bucks. Is the MAC in that dire of financial situation?

Forkme
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Member Since: 3/2/2011
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/2/2011 7:26:26 PM

Yes, guys. I finally submitted and assimilated.

This is probably one of the biggest mistakes the MAC has ever made, at least since the days of Fred Jacoby or Jim Lessig. Fans and, most important, student athletes are being sorely shortchanged.

Even more important, no more Packo's, Fricker's, or Blarney's.

We're bound for BFE, boys.

And Miami STIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL sucks!

JSF
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Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/2/2011 8:14:38 PM

This smacks of a minor league move.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

anorris
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Member Since: 7/6/2010
Location: Bristol, CT
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 10:36:44 AM

If they're looking to save money, what would've been wrong with a campus site?

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 11:55:45 AM

Bobcat Dragon wrote:

This smacks of a minor league move.

Lower than minor league, Dragon. Hope to heck an early season storm doesn't dump a foot of snow on that snow belt "city" the weekend of that tournament. I'd love to hear from the powers that be the rationale behind this crazy move.

stub
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 6:24:52 PM

Wondering what others think about other possible venues for the championship. I know little about the factors which go into site selection, especially financial ones, but if attendance is a primary consideration, they should consider, if they haven’t already, Columbus.

Obviously, it’s great for OHIO but it also gives the MAC tournament a much better attendance than Toledo could ever imagine. The city of Columbus would be a better attraction even though it would be a longer travel for most schools. But that shouldn't affect attendance because the people who went to Toledo (family, friends, & vb junkies primarily) will travel anywhere. I think lots of OHIO fans, which is essentially non-student (except for Dragon and a few others), would make the short trip.

One of my favorite basketball games I’ve attended was when we blew out Miami at the Nationwide Arena for the MAC Championship. So it’s not like C-Town is off limits to the MAC.

Last Edited: 3/3/2011 6:59:52 PM by stub

Alan Swank
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 8:57:55 PM

stub wrote:

One of my favorite basketball games I’ve attended was when we blew out Miami at the Nationwide Arena for the MAC Championship. So it’s not like C-Town is off limits to the MAC.

If you're going to have the tournament in Ohio the only place worth considering is Cincinnati. That's the hotbed of talent and interest in this state. Just look at the number of state championship teams out of that area.

Geneva is a joke.

Radar
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 9:08:15 PM

anorris wrote:

If they're looking to save money, what would've been wrong with a campus site?

Political/Logistical challenges.

Eight teams make it to the tournament site; for logistical purposes, you have to predetermine (before the season) where that site is going to be so that hotel rooms can be blocked.

How would you choose the site? Can't choose just one, or 11 other schools will complain. Rotate the site? So each school hosts once every 12 years? As far as I know, volleyball fever (let alone football fever, or basketball fever) has yet to hit Ypsi.

If you're suggesting all rounds of the tournament at campus sites (higher seed hosting), you add travel costs exponentially, in addition to additional missed class time.

Which brings us back to the neutral site. I have a hard time believing any "arena" wold have a cheaper rent than the SeaGate Centre. That is apparently the case, since the site that would be cheaper than an arena, is not an arena.

The sportsplex in Geneva is an excellent facility, as a sportsplex. As a venue for a Division I tournament (in ANY sport), sorry, but it falls way short. The only possible rationale is the saving of significant cash --- but you get what you pay for.

Alan Swank
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/3/2011 9:31:03 PM

Radar wrote:

anorris wrote:

If they're looking to save money, what would've been wrong with a campus site?

Never made it to Seagate but just did a google/mapquest study of the MAC and Delta, OH, appears to be the geographic center. That small town is just west of Toledo.

SpikeTown
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/6/2011 1:57:33 PM

Seagate is a cost-saving but less fan base and other things to do.
Columbus is a nice idea but what would out-of-state schools would argue.
Rotating for all schools could bring more hassles.
What about rotating between the three cities of the three main states: Columbus, Indy and Detroit.
That should be a "Happy Threedium" deal and all neutral locations.

Radar
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/7/2011 11:37:14 AM

SpikeTown wrote:

Nice thoughts, but what venues in those cities are you proposing? Would need to be an arena-type setting which could be obtained for less rent than SeaGate (since in going from SeaGate to a sportsplex, rent was obviously the overriding factor, spectator/athlete experience be damned).

Geography is apparently less important than either money or the convenience of the MAC staff (given the MAC offices are in Cleveland).

It is what it is, folks.

SpikeTown
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/9/2011 2:34:53 PM

what do u think?
Seagate has been dead for years. Cleveland would not be that far apart.
More fans in those three cities and added activities (learn from AVP) could bring in more $.
If Nationwide is too costly, some nice high school stadiums might do the work. Event the US national teams do scrimmages in high school courts.

We just can't keep doing the same things and expect different results.

anorris
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/9/2011 7:35:08 PM

SpikeTown wrote:

I don't know how nice they are, as I've never been, but don't they have an arena or two at the state fairgrounds that host HS playoff basketball games? Would that potentially be suitable?

SpikeTown
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/12/2011 9:26:15 AM

Well what was the main reason for change? Not enough fans? Would Cleveland site answer that? The decision is made, so they are going for it. Let them see and change as they see fit. I just hope it work out.

Joe McKinley
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Member Since: 11/15/2004
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/13/2011 10:11:53 AM

[/QUOTE]I don't know how nice they are, as I've never been, but don't they have an arena or two at the state fairgrounds that host HS playoff basketball games? Would that potentially be suitable?
[/QUOTE]

The Fairgrounds Coliseum, now known as the Ohio Exposition Center, hosts boys basketball district and regional games here. There are two distinct camps of people -- those that appreciate the tradition of having played at "The Barn" for decades and those who think the players/coaches should have a more modern and nicer venue for these games.

I happen to be more of a traditionalist as there have been some great players who have been there over the decades. And, we have some very good memories in the Dublin Scioto camp due to the Irish playing and winning some big games there in 2008 and 2009.

Cost is an issue for the Central District Athletic Board, which moved the sectional games out of the fairgrounds to high school sites four years ago. Based on attendance, it was much less expensive to use the high schools. And, you avoid parking charges.

In terms of sight lines, I don't think it would be very good for volleyball. The stands are far from the playing surface for basketball. The best thing you could say is that it is a reasonable distance for the Ohio schools, but I'd say that it isn't a great option.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 3/14/2011 6:39:24 PM

It will be interesting to see how the seating is configured. I'm assuming they would be bringing in temporary bleachers?

MedinaCat
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Location: Lakewood, OH
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 4/11/2011 11:50:50 AM

I have spent a quite a few days/evenings at this facility watching Optimist's younger bro play soccer. The facility is quite impressive. Two fullsize soccer fields, indoor track, large floor for multiple volleyball courts, etc. Wedged in between the two indoor buildings is a very nice football stadium for Geneva HS. The facility draws in soccer, basketball and volleyball teams from as far as Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo as well as most of Ohio.

As nice as it is, I agree with most of the sentiment above.

Geneva is 50 miles from Cleveland. Not a great location and I think any casual fans in the Cleveland/Akron area won't view this as a local venue. Alan's snow comment is relevant in perception. While they clear and move snow like nobody's business, the perception outside of Lake and Ashtabula Counties will affect attendance if there is a hint of snow.

There is one or two hotels at the exit and 1 sports bar, along with a host of fast food places. In town, there are a few more sit down places to eat.(one affiliated with a local winery is quite nice). I imagine the MAC's "official" hotel could be the lodge at the Geneva State Park.

Not sure how they will arrange seating for this. Now, fans view from a balcony that is on the 2nd level. There is limited seating on small multiple small bleachers.(3-4 rows, maybe 30 feet in length)

Rather than move bleachers in, my bet is that they set up a volleyball court in the 2nd building that has an indoor track and soccer field. There is plenty of seating(individual seat back stands) to accomodate the fans. The link below gives you a glimpse of what I mean.

For what it is worth, this facility hosted the NAIA National Championship and Horizon League Championship for indoor track. Their collegiate track invitational meet boasted 3 nationally ranked teams. So they do have some experience working at the collegiate level.

http://www.gareat.org/track/meets.html

Jeff McKinney
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 4/11/2011 3:47:13 PM

MedinaCat: Wouldn't they want to have the fans closer to the court than would be the case if they use the soccer field building?

MedinaCat
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 4/11/2011 5:16:17 PM

You would think. Just not sure they could do that in the area where I have seen volleyball played there. It will be interesting to see what the set up is. How big are the crowds at the MAC Championship?

JSF
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RE: MAC Volleyball Tournament has a new home

Posted: 4/11/2011 7:39:46 PM

Small. Doubt they get more than a thousand with any regularity.

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