Des Moines

The NCAA doesn't give a rip about how many people work/live downtown when making selections for host cities.

It's all about FULL SERVICE hotels, and the number of rooms in the FULL SERVICE hotels. As for downtown, the only full service hotels are the Marriott, Embassy Suites, Savery, and Hotel Fort Des Moines. Once you have established this, you have to ask:

-How many suites do they have in the full service hotel
-How much meeting space do they have in the full service hotel
-Do they have a full service restaurant

If they meet the NCAA requirements, then they qualify as hotel rooms that can be used by the NCAA and the schools participating.

I'm sorry but the Quality Inn, Hyatt Place, and new Hampton Inn don't qualify for the NCAA requirements, yes they will work for fans, but the NCAA won't use them because they aren't full service hotels.

The NCAA provides buses to transport the teams, so they can go anywhere, but they have to stay within a certain mile radius of the arena.
 
H8IAST8 said:
Ticket sales would not be a problem. Everyone but you agrees with that.

Dayton was rewarded because they held the play-in games.

I KNOW for a FACT Des moines has more employees downtown, than Omaha. Des Moines has more employees downtown than cities twice its size.
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I don't think ticket sales would be a problem, I think the NCAA doesn't think it would be one anywhere that has a 16000+ capacity arena.
 
bandgrocks said:
The NCAA doesn't give a rip about how many people work/live downtown when making selections for host cities.

It's all about FULL SERVICE hotels, and the number of rooms in the FULL SERVICE hotels. As for downtown, the only full service hotels are the Marriott, Embassy Suites, Savery, and Hotel Fort Des Moines. Once you have established this, you have to ask:

-How many suites do they have in the full service hotel
-How much meeting space do they have in the full service hotel
-Do they have a full service restaurant

If they meet the NCAA requirements, then they qualify as hotel rooms that can be used by the NCAA and the schools participating.

I'm sorry but the Quality Inn, Hyatt Place, and new Hampton Inn don't qualify for the NCAA requirements, yes they will work for fans, but the NCAA won't use them because they aren't full service hotels.

The NCAA provides buses to transport the teams, so they can go anywhere, but they have to stay within a certain mile radius of the arena.
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I have stated from the very beginning DSM is missing 1 full service convention hotel. That is it. That isnt to say they can not or will not host a 2nd or 3rd round in 2014-2016, it just makes it more difficult.

-There are 1,000+ rooms at Full Service hotels downtown.
-The Embassy Suites alone fills the suite requirement.
-You are forgetting the Holiday Inn is Full Service
-All Full Service Hotels listed have large amounts of meeting rooms
 
BSpringsteen said:
And both have the same chance of hosting an NCAA men's basketball tournament round: ZERO
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This is my 18th year living in Des Moines and 10th year working downtown. One of my very good friends works for the group that is trying to make Des Moines a stop for the men's tourney. He, and his staff, feel very good about the city's chances to eventually host the men's tournament.

The full-service hotel by the arena will get built. In fact, there are a couple of properties nearby Hy-Vee Hall that are being considered for demolition. The hotel will happen. It make take a few years but Des Moines is positioning itself nicely.

And don't think the NCAA won't notice Des Moines leading the attendance figures for all four regions. And the fact DSM landed the Wrestling championships. And the fact that every event the city has hosted has been a major success (i.e. think of the golf tournaments that drew record crowds).

And one of my favorite stats my friend shares with me ..."One quarter of the U.S. population can drive to Des Moines in one day and 56 million people live within a 700 mile radius of Greater Des Moines."

I say that does not hurt our chances. We have a nice, newer arena; we have shown we know how to put an event on ... and the hotel space issue will be resolved. Trust me, the city of Des Moines and the decision makers know that a full-service hotel by the arena is a must.

And while flight options may be limited right now and the Des Moines is definitely not one of the most affordable airports to fly in and out of, that will change with Southwest soon joining the Des Moines market.

So I disagree wholeheartedly with your comments that say Des Moines has no chance. I will go with my friend's opinion -- someone who actually is in the know; someone who is working on a team to make it happen, and someone who feels very good about the work they are doing and the case they are building for Des Moines.

Maybe you have a different source ...
 
Get over it people. There is nothing wrong with Des Moines, but it is Des Moines. It is not Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, etc.

I hope they get some games. However, Des Moines is fighting an uphill battle.
 
ColumbusHawk said:
Get over it people. There is nothing wrong with Des Moines, but it is Des Moines. It is not Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, etc.

I hope they get some games. However, Des Moines is fighting an uphill battle.
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Get over what? Some people have preconceived opinions that have all pretty much been debunked.

Andwe are not comparing ourselves to those cities. We are comparing DSM to Omaha, Albuquerque, Tulsa, Boise, Little Rock, Dayton, Spokane, etc.
 
H8IAST8 said:
Get over what? Some people have preconceived opinions that have all pretty much been debunked.

Andwe are not comparing ourselves to those cities. We are comparing DSM to Omaha, Albuquerque, Tulsa, Boise, Little Rock, Dayton, Spokane, etc.
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The trouble is Des Moines is not competing with Albuquerque, Boise, Spokane, Tulsa, etc. The NCAA spreads the sites out geographically. Des Moines is competing against Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Louisville, Indianapolis, etc. That is the sad state of affairs.

Sure, Des Moines may be better than Albuquerque, Boise, Fresno, Salt Lake City, Spokane, etc. However, Des Moines isn't going to host teams from the west coast.

Let's face it, Des Moines is facing stiffer competition for NCAA games than cities in the west.
 
ColumbusHawk said:
The trouble is Des Moines is not competing with Albuquerque, Boise, Spokane, Tulsa, etc. The NCAA spreads the sites out geographically. Des Moines is competing against Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Louisville, Indianapolis, etc. That is the sad state of affairs.

Sure, Des Moines may be better than Albuquerque, Boise, Fresno, Salt Lake City, Spokane, etc. However, Des Moines isn't going to host teams from the west coast.

Let's face it, Des Moines is facing stiffer competition for NCAA games than cities in the west.
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Des Moines is closer to Tulsa and Little Rock than it is to Cleveland, Columbus or Dayton
 
Not a huge fan of Des Moines, but it is being unfairly characterized by many on this thread.

It's downtown is as vibrant, or more vibrant than many urban areas of the same population density.
 
And one of my favorite stats my friend shares with me ..."One quarter of the U.S. population can drive to Des Moines in one day and 56 million people live within a 700 mile radius of Greater Des Moines."
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So less than 20% of the country can get to Des Moines in an 11 hour car trip?

That being said, it is the hotel situation that is for sure holding it back. Also, no one has any idea what kind of deal is being offered up by the arena vs the competing buildings, that is the biggest deal once the hotel thing is dealt with.

You think arena's aren't offering up food and beverage revenue share, box office kick backs, and rebates?
 
Next year the 2nd & 3rd round games are being held in Philadelphia, Auburn Hills, Dayton, Lexington, Kansas City, Austin, Salt Lake City & San Jose. (from east to west).

Des Moines is not competing against Salt Lake City & San Jose. Other than Dayton, which cities can Des Moines compete against? I live in Ohio & I don't get the Dayton infatuation. Other than having more people within an hour of Dayton Arena than there are in the entire state of Iowa, I don't think Dayton has anything more to offer than Des Moines.

To be honest, I still can't figure out Dayton.
 
ColumbusHawk said:
Next year the 2nd & 3rd round games are being held in Philadelphia, Auburn Hills, Dayton, Lexington, Kansas City, Austin, Salt Lake City & San Jose. (from east to west).

Des Moines is not competing against Salt Lake City & San Jose. Other than Dayton, which cities can Des Moines compete against? I live in Ohio & I don't get the Dayton infatuation. Other than having more people within an hour of Dayton Arena than there are in the entire state of Iowa, I don't think Dayton has anything more to offer than Des Moines.

To be honest, I still can't figure out Dayton.
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Especially with Lexington as another site.

Again, as I said, my hunch is that the arena is throwing everything at the NCAA that they can, and that with the offices being in Indianapolis, they want something close by.

That being said, your city is one of the most underrated in the country. Columbus did a really nice job revitalizing the town.
 
funny thinking. my home in china lives 8 million people more. we have basketball team that very popular in all province. arena hold 4000 people.
 
BumpThaBurrito said:
funny thinking. my home in china lives 8 million people more. we have basketball team that very popular in all province. arena hold 4000 people.
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Highly unlikely the NCAA will be hosting a tournament there anytime soon. Tell them to upgrade the arena and get more full service hotels. :D
 
It's obvious that the Boss has something against Des Moines. Did you not get the kind of deal you were looking for from Wells Fargo Arena or what?? ;)

I'll call it right now, Des Moines WILL host tourney games in 2014. Bank on it. Like previous posters have pointed out, it's not due to capacity issues or location, it's due to the lack of full service hotels within a close enough proximity of WFA. That issue will be solved by 2014.
 
GoHawks24 said:
It's obvious that the Boss has something against Des Moines. Did you not get the kind of deal you were looking for from Wells Fargo Arena or what?? ;)

I'll call it right now, Des Moines WILL host tourney games in 2014. Bank on it. Like previous posters have pointed out, it's not due to capacity issues or location, it's due to the lack of full service hotels within a close enough proximity of WFA. That issue will be solved by 2014.
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HA! That's pure comedy. Not only do you not have any idea about events or event planning, but you are also a stand up comedian. Is there an approved project in place right now? Because to build the type of hotel you'll need they had better start breaking ground.

Has the NCAA been notified of this? Because it seems as though the 2013 tournament games have already been decided.

Better hurry up!
 
You conveniently left out the part before that where he states hoe fierce the competition is to host a round.

Look, I hope you guys get it. I've lived in cities where it takes place before and it is a lot of fun.

If I were Des Moines, I would entrust the CVB to create an ad hoc "Bring the NCAA Tournament to Des Moines" committee and get to work.
 
BSpringsteen said:
I've lived in cities where it takes place before and it is a lot of fun.
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I believe they have games in Chicago every few years. I have never gone to it and I don't care to go to it unless Iowa is playing. I went to Nassau to see Iowa in 2001 when I lived in NY. I would be surprised if even 5% of the population of NY or Chicago even realizes it is in town. I don't think most people in a city give two rips about it being hosted there unless (a) the town generally doesn't have a lot going on or (b) their team is in it.

Anyway, before you continue to bash Des Moines, please realize there is a South Park episode about it, therefore it is by definition, relevant.
 
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