Hawkfromnorwalk
Well-Known Member
They have had the Wells Fargo event director on KXNO before and he said they are making aggressive bids to get the NCAA in DM. If Barta can make an aggressive bid to the NIT, then DM should be money!
NCAA Why Not Des Moines
- Thread starter hawkihayes
- Start date
TecmoBowl
Well-Known Member
Whatever is attached to the Century Link center(across the street via skywalk) added well over 100 rooms in the last year with a massive expansion for added convenience with attending the ncaa games.
Omaha has well over 1000 hotels rooms within a 5-10 minute walk from the Quest as well. I don't really know DM's downtown set up, but Omaha is very accommodating in that area. Omaha also has the CWS downtown now, so there's already a favorable notion about it being a host city for such an event.
Neither arena is large enough. I know Omaha had to expand after a year or two in order to get the tournament to come there.
Iowa City is miles down on the list of possible sites for a lot of different reasons.
I did this last year when Boise was a host city and it was ******* me and a co-worker off. I spent a hole day at work on this. Sorry I didn't make a spreadsheet or anything. My source was the internet, so its all there for you already.
I'm guessing there may be some holes in your research.
DesMoinesHawki
Well-Known Member
I think not too far down the road Des Moines will get its shot. The city does a great job hosting. I think how it performs hosting the women's regional event this year, and the NCAA Wrestling next year will go a long way in making its case.
Hotels would not be a problem. There are plenty of hotel rooms to handle the influx of fans. We are most likely still a few years away but I think it will happen...
Hotels would not be a problem. There are plenty of hotel rooms to handle the influx of fans. We are most likely still a few years away but I think it will happen...
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
Yes they are. Wells Fargo =16,110
12,400 Dunking Donuts Arena - Providence
12,480 Taco Bell Arena - Boise
There are many others that have hosted the last 10 years that are under 17,000
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
Both arenas are larger than a number of sites that have been mentioned in this thread. Boise, Dayton, and Spokane are all smaller than the Well and CHA.
I think hotels is the primary reason this has not happened yet.
The reason the seats are so empty is because unless you are a fan of one of the teams the NCAA has made the tournament a boring event to attend in person. A few years ago a friend of mine bought tickets for a second round Saturday session in Denver(you have to buy ticket for all games that day or no games). We got to our seats and after about an hour I said "I'm going to get a beer". My friend said, sorry they don't sell beer because it's a college event. I said OK, in between games I'll go accross the street and grab some lunch and have a beer....um, "sorry, you can't leave and get back in". I didn't realize this, but no big deal, I don't necessarily need to have a beer to enjoy myself, it would be nice, but I'll live. Although only being able to eat concessions food for 8 or 9 hours was not all that appealing.
Then as we are watching the first game there was a sweet dunk, and I'm thinking I can't wait for the reply on the big screen because our seats weren't in the lower level and I wanted to see a closer view. However, I then found out they don't allow replays in the arena. They don't want the crowds to be able to see the replays because they feel it will just get them upset at the refs when they know there was a bad call. No beer, no replays, only concession stand food, and can't leave the entire day. Most of the games were not closely contested and the arena was not very full except the lower level, so not much electricity in the air. I'm a huge fan of basketball but the sterile environment they have created and keeping you on lock down the whole day makes it for a less than thrilling experience. Now that you can see all the games on TV, watching at home is a much, much better way to see the tournament.
Then as we are watching the first game there was a sweet dunk, and I'm thinking I can't wait for the reply on the big screen because our seats weren't in the lower level and I wanted to see a closer view. However, I then found out they don't allow replays in the arena. They don't want the crowds to be able to see the replays because they feel it will just get them upset at the refs when they know there was a bad call. No beer, no replays, only concession stand food, and can't leave the entire day. Most of the games were not closely contested and the arena was not very full except the lower level, so not much electricity in the air. I'm a huge fan of basketball but the sterile environment they have created and keeping you on lock down the whole day makes it for a less than thrilling experience. Now that you can see all the games on TV, watching at home is a much, much better way to see the tournament.
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
Omaha is definitely in a better position in terms of hotels. The Omaha Hilton has 600 rooms. Most in DSM believe we are a convention center hotel away from regularly getting these events.
DSM does or will have enough hotels by this year, the problem is most are in the 5-10 block range, not the 0-5 block range.
0-5 Blocks
Quality Inn 155 Rooms
Holiday Inn 251 Rooms
Ebassy Suites 234 Rooms
Raddison Savery
6-10 Blocks
Hyatt Place
Marriott 411 Rooms
Hampton Inn (to be completed in 2012) 128 Rooms
Extended Stay Hotel to be built in 2013-2015
Suites at 800 Locust 41 Rooms
11-15 Blocks
Hotel Fort Des Moines
olivecourt
Well-Known Member
One note: you can't really compare Des Moines to Boise. The NCAA is always going to want to have some geographical balance and there just aren't as many options for sites in the Mountain and West time zones. Des Moines isn't competing with Boise or Spokane for a spot-- they're competing with Omaha, Louisville, Milwaukee, etc.
Hawkeye101
Well-Known Member
I've been to Dayton a number of times. No great shakes.....they certainly have nothing more to offer than Des Moines does.
Hawkfromnorwalk
Well-Known Member
The skywalk minimizes the distance issue.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
Other than having more people within an hour of the arena than there are in the entire state of Iowa.
BumpThaBurrito
Member
i stayied in DES MOINES for a week. very nice town. very small thoug.
WestCoastHawk
Well-Known Member
Who would want to go to Des Moines?
H8IAST8
Well-Known Member
That has nothing to do with it
signed,
Spokane
El Paso
Dayton
Providence
Omaha
Etc
jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
Tiny Tim
Hawkeye34, it is a college sporting event so no beer being served makes sense, which is also a big reason why they do not allow you to leave and come back. If you have even been to a game in Kinnick you should be aware of ways of sneaking alcohol.
Because it was in a pro sports arena I just didn't think about the no-beer. They used to serve beer at the metrodome for Minnesota football games because it is also a pro stadium. I definitely learned my lesson.
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
From what I have observed (I would never do this) a well hidden flask and then buy a big a$$ soda from concessions.
