JugadorHawk
Well-Known Member
Passing the NCAA litmus test this afternoon. Wells Fargo looks great for the women's regional. Next up, NCAA Mens tourney.
Des Moines
- Thread starter JugadorHawk
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KnightHawk9
Well-Known Member
I would pre buy a ticket for all sessions.
JugadorHawk
Well-Known Member
Last year I attended the 2nd and 3rd round sessions in Charlotte. Had decent seats behind the basket and was able to watch six games in two days for only $232. The atmosphere in and around Time Warner was amazing; hope to experience that in my home town in the near future.
ColoradoHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
Apparently you guys missed the news and interviews of the players and fans who said, "all they saw was views and fields, there was nothing open to eat after eight, and that it seemed like a ghost town to them".
Also, heard that ncaa wrestling was"cramped" in st louis.
FWIW.
Also, heard that ncaa wrestling was"cramped" in st louis.
FWIW.
Apparently you misheard the interviews. They said all they saw on the flight was cornfields and they said they went out to eat at 8:00 downtown and there was no one out, which that is not surprising at 8 on a thursday. I went to the games yesterday, then went to court avenue afterwards and talked with a bunch of tennessee fans and said they were having a good time in Des Moines.
I also saw some of the Fresno regional games last night on ESPN and that place was a joke, there was no one there and they had Stanford in their regional. I bet there were actually 3000-4000 people there. Wells Fargo's entire lower bowl was sold out, there were 8000-9000 people there. Pretty darn good for a Woman's regional.
The mens first two rounds would do well here.
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
The problem right now is quality hotel space within 0-3 blocks and continuing to bridge development in EV, Court Ave with the Iowa Events Center.
There are many ongoing & future projects and proposals that will help:
Hampton Inn
Strengthening of EV
Principal Riverwalk
BuzzardBillys
etc
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Golfer
Well-Known Member
Des Moines has done a good job with this. I remember when all there was for downtown lodging and housing in this area were flop hotels.
Quite a few state legislators at that time used to rent there. It was an eclectic population for sure.
Dubuque has done the exact same thing, and CR is doing it.
I believe the planners call this connectivity.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
As much as Iowa and Iowa State fans think they're different, we're all Iowans and Iowans love backing things like this...look at the Iowa Speedway and even the old fart's golf tour stop is one of the best on the Champions' Tour...a men's tourney stop would definitely sell out. As has been said, DesMoines just needs to get another hotel or 2 in the mix.
HawkeyeShane
Well-Known Member
While I'm sure DSM would sell out men's tourney games, I just don't see people enjoying the area. There's little to nothing to see/do or places to eat/drink in that general area. In addition to that DSM doesn't have what I think the NCAA would be looking for in way of hotel rooms in that area. Sure, I know WDM and Ankeny are spitting distance away for most/all of that stuff, but most people that visit a city for an event don't want to leave that area. Maybe if Court avenue had a little more happening and there were another hotel chain or two I could see something happening.
Stanzi
Well-Known Member
I wonder if some of you have ever been to downtown Des Moines. There was no one out on a Saturday? That is a flat-out lie. I have never been downtown on a Friday or Saturday where it hasn't just been crazy busy. There are a myriad of bars and restaurants. Royal Mile, Hessen Haus, High Life Lounge, El Bait Shop, Fong's Pizza, Johnny's, Legend's, 4th Down, and a whole bunch of other ones that I haven't been to. On top of that you have east village. Anytime I go downtown on the weekend I have trouble finding a parking spot because it's so busy. People who think there's nothing to do in downtown Des Moines should probably move to Chicago or New York since nothing else will satisfy you.
Stanzi
Well-Known Member
Please see my post right below yours. The bolded portion of your post is 100% wrong. Clearly you are not from the Des Moines area.
bandgrocks
Well-Known Member
As for hotels, the key is "full service" hotels - think Marriott, Embassy Suites.
This is from an article talking about Fresno State bidding. Note Fresno population is 510,000 and they are struggling with full service hotel space.
The pressing question for Fresno State in developing its bid could be whether the city has or will have enough full-service hotel space to accommodate eight teams along with administrators, bands, cheerleaders and fans.
The NCAA, which has selected host cities for next year and is expected to announce 2014 hosts next month, has hotel requirements that include a minimum number of suites, rooms and meeting spaces per team, and a full-service restaurant.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/22/2771984/fresno-state-plans-on-bidding.html
It's not a question of the number of hotels, it is the question of enough "full service" hotels, you can do it for four, but eight teams is where it becomes a challenge.
This is from an article talking about Fresno State bidding. Note Fresno population is 510,000 and they are struggling with full service hotel space.
The pressing question for Fresno State in developing its bid could be whether the city has or will have enough full-service hotel space to accommodate eight teams along with administrators, bands, cheerleaders and fans.
The NCAA, which has selected host cities for next year and is expected to announce 2014 hosts next month, has hotel requirements that include a minimum number of suites, rooms and meeting spaces per team, and a full-service restaurant.
It's not a question of the number of hotels, it is the question of enough "full service" hotels, you can do it for four, but eight teams is where it becomes a challenge.
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83Hawk
Banned
Not to mention the Farmers's Market.
Des Moines has enough to do but not too much. That is great for selling out arenas. When you half empty arenas the first two rounds that wouldn't happen in des moines. In those other large cities people that live there have a ton to choose from and just don't help fill the seats. In Des Moines the people around this area would fill it up.
Going to the womens games yesterday there were so many people from the state that went as fans and helped sell out the lower bowl. I saw fresno regional last night and raliegh regional today and they had half as many people there because all they got to attend were fans of the teams. Iowans would buy up those tickets quickly for the men.
Going to the womens games yesterday there were so many people from the state that went as fans and helped sell out the lower bowl. I saw fresno regional last night and raliegh regional today and they had half as many people there because all they got to attend were fans of the teams. Iowans would buy up those tickets quickly for the men.
BSpringsteen
Well-Known Member
Des Moines is smaller than Madison, WI, and WFA would be the smallest arena in the tournament. It's not going to happen.
