MVCfans.com

Per the UNI beat writer

Carson Tigges ‏@CarsonTigges
At 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Missouri Valley Conference will have a "historic announcement" regarding the future of the men's basketball tourney

Given this press conference is at the Hilton and not at Scottrade (or another St. Louis facility capable of hosting), it seems apparent the tournament will be leaving St. Louis.

Official release from the MVC

http://www.mvc-sports.com/mbasketball/n ... ign=buffer

I think this is a worst case scenario. If it moves to Chicago or Kansas City they may not be given the main venue in town while they get it ready for the B10 or Big 12. They might make a rotating series but that would be bad also, it'd be best to keep it in St. Louis. But with this "historic" announcement I cant see that happening...

Anyone hearing any rumors on this? I'd like to think since it's being held at a prominent STL hotel, that its staying in STL. You'd think they'd just be able to have the press conference at the MVC HQ if they were going to move it out of STL... I'd say best case scenario (for me) is announcing a looooong "historic" extension in STL

Redbirdfan21 wrote:Anyone hearing any rumors on this? I'd like to think since it's being held at a prominent STL hotel, that its staying in STL. You'd think they'd just be able to have the press conference at the MVC HQ if they were going to move it out of STL... I'd say best case scenario (for me) is announcing a looooong "historic" extension in STL

If it was about staying in STC, why not hold it there?

I don't think they really have press-conference space at the HQ, do they? Salon A-B at the Hilton sounds like it's just an available rented space to me. If it was going to continue to be at Scottrade, wouldn't they just have the press-conference there?

The actual options, as I see them, including long shots:

1. Stay at Scottrade
2. Stay in STL, smaller arena (SLU arena or the St. Charles one --- gross)
3. Sprint Center, KC
4. Kemper or Memorial Aud in KC --- gross
5. United Center, Chicago
6. Sears Center, Hoffman Estates --- gross
7. New Depaul Arena near downtown Chicago
8. Century Link Center, Omaha
9. Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
10. Intrust Arena, Wichita
11. iWireless Center, Moline, IL
12. Las Vegas (Thomas & Mack, MGM, Orleans, etc.???)
13. Return to on campus/host sites

Miss anything?

unipanther99 wrote:The actual options, as I see them, including long shots:

1. Stay at Scottrade
2. Stay in STL, smaller arena (SLU arena or the St. Charles one --- gross)
3. Sprint Center, KC
4. Kemper or Memorial Aud in KC --- gross
5. United Center, Chicago
6. Sears Center, Hoffman Estates --- gross
7. New Depaul Arena near downtown Chicago
8. Century Link Center, Omaha
9. Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
10. Intrust Arena, Wichita
11. iWireless Center, Moline, IL
12. Las Vegas (Thomas & Mack, MGM, Orleans, etc.???)
13. Return to on campus/host sites

Miss anything?

Rotating between any of the cities you list is an option.

Additional, non-location related options include format changes and date changes. I highly doubt a format changes, but it's very possible they reworked a new TV deal that would make it beneficial to move the dates of the event.

Reading around the various league message boards, one would think with all the people clamoring for the tournament to stay in St. Louis that a few of these people would actually ATTEND the event every once in a while.

The "Don't move it or I'll never go again because it's currently convenient for me to see if my team is still in it on Saturday and drive over to watch the game and then drive home" argument is really tiresome. It's also about par for the course for this league, so I expect those folks will be placated.

When half the teams are buying the league-imposed minimum it's time to try a new plan.