AAC tourney to Mohegan Sun

[EricSD]

Have you ever been in either casino and checked out the daytime visitor demographics? That they are "mature" is an understatment.

Then they should fit right in with the demographics of UCONN and WCBB!

 

[vtcwbuff]

it would be nice to stay overnight at their hotel... trying to take out a loan right now, 3 nights

DaddyC - There's a new Hyatt, Best Western and a Microtel all within a mile of the casino. The Microtel and Best Western are about $100 a night. The Hyatt is just a bit higher.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

. . .I find parking in Hartford to be a pain in the butt. I've worked it out through the years, going to various games, but, it's a pain. The traffic patterns aren't real user-friendly either, particularly in the dark . . .

Every time people complain about parking in Hartford I point out that there is
plenty of free parking east of the Bushnell in the vicinity of Capitol Ave. and West St.

Yes, it is about a 10 minute walk to the XL center, but unless you have mobility issues
how can a 10 minute walk be a problem? I've parked in that area for years, and once
I'm back in my car it's no more than 5 minutes to I91.

 

[uconnell]

Have you ever been in either casino and checked out the daytime visitor demographics? That they are "mature" is an understatment.

I resemble that remark!

 

[pinotbear]

Every time people complain about parking in Hartford I point out that there is
plenty of free parking east of the Bushnell in the vicinity of Capitol Ave. and West St.

Yes, it is about a 10 minute walk to the XL center, but unless you have mobility issues
how can a 10 minute walk be a problem? I've parked in that area for years, and once
I'm back in my car it's no more than 5 minutes to I91.

Oh, I know: that's what I've worked out through the years. But, think about a 10- minute walk at 9:20 at night in the dead of winter, wind howling and 20 degrees..and, no matter how many times I've done it, getting on 91 north to 84 east to 2 southeast isn't smooth. When I started doing this, I was in my 30's, and now I'm in my latter 50's, and it's a pain. I find Gampel games much simpler to deal with, and Mohegan Sun games even easier. I've been to WNBA games, dog shows, music shows, and softball conventions at the Sun, and, for me, it's not been as difficult to deal with.

 

[hthusky74]

.
I'm a little surprised to just discover that Uncasville is 10 miles closer to Westport than Storrs is, at least from my driveway. Why did the trip seem so damned long the last time I drove there?

Driving on 95 is a pain in the ass.

 

[hthusky74]

Mohegan Sun is no panacea. In my view, restaurants in Hartford compare favorably to the overpriced fare available @ the casino. And the casino is located in the middle of nowhere. If you acknowledge that a majority of the fans attending the early round games are of a more mature vintage, I question whether they will traipse out to the boondocks to see mediocre WBB and then have to make late night return trips on roads that are unlighted. Beyond that, the new management @ XL promises major improvements. And the complaints about parking are overblown. At XL, we parked across the street @ the Saints lot for ten bucks - big whoop! In sum, having the Big East tournament @ XL was a success. I see no reason for the AAC to abandon a location that has proven its worth.

Both the people that go to the games at the Mohegan Sun will probably enjoy them.

 

[Vicki]

Daddy Choc lives 5 min from the XL and can understand his POV. You live where?

I agree. We live about 20 minutes away and for the past 5 years we have made a mini vacation of the tournament. We stay Thursday thru Sunday and the Marriott residence inn and besides basketball, it's like a "taste of Hartford" for us. Good friends, good times, good food, what's not to like? I am afraid the room rates, at Mohegan, will be prohibitive, especially a Friday nite and Saturday nite stay. I guess the committee wasn't thinking about its fans...and I know there are motels in the area, but to be able to stay, park the car, and walk to everything was great. The food at Mohegan is NOT comparable to a Maxx Downtown or Agave, etc. Many offered specials on dining daily. The Mohegan will not give you ANYTHING, and will take, take, take... Rooms on a friday or saturday night, and we are talking a simple room, are in the $300 range. Go online and price it for yourself. People who have not been there do not realize it is a money making cash cow for the Indians and the State, who profits from the gambling. The fans were definitely not a consideration....

 

[Waquoit]

The very fact that you think that a personal resource for parking and route directions is necessary, speaks volumes.

It speaks that I'm here to help those that can't handle navigating two blocks. What can I say? I'm a giver.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

The tournney had 9k in a 16k arena for a compelling final game. Considering after next year's transition year when Ville and RU leave, what will be left? USF is decent, Tulsa was a 16 seed. Where is the in-conference interest going to come from, at least initially? There are threads here now discussing the needs and challenges of having a much stronger OOC. I dont have a problem with Hartford at all but as much as things have changed recently, next year seems like a perfect time to try something new/different. The people who run the Sun are in the hospitality bussiness, maybe they will offer package deals of some sort? MGM can provide close alternative entertainent options nearby and there are plenty of hotel/motel choices locally, especially at that time of year. If it works out, great. If it doesn't than go back to Hartford or try Bridgeport, its a small state.

 

[meyers7]

The tournney had 9k in a 16k arena for a compelling final game. Considering after next year's transition year when Ville and RU leave, what will be left? USF is decent, Tulsa was a 16 seed. Where is the in-conference interest going to come from, at least initially?

Initially it may (may) come from the newness. There is going to be a bunch of new crappy teams. I'd be more interested in seeing them than the old crappy teams we already have seen a dozen times. Don't know how much interest or how long it may last, but I would think there would be some with the "newness" of it.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

New Crappy over old Crappy...the new AAC marketing program.

 

[zls44]

Initially it may (may) come from the newness. There is going to be a bunch of new crappy teams. I'd be more interested in seeing them than the old crappy teams we already have seen a dozen times. Don't know how much interest or how long it may last, but I would think there would be some with the "newness" of it.

That's actually a good way to look at it.

You've seen Seton Hall be crappy forever...now you can watch SMU be crappy for the very first time!

 

[vtcwbuff]

That's actually a good way to look at it.

You've seen Seton Hall be crappy forever...now you can watch SMU be crappy for the very first time!

The question is - will the new conference and exposure provide an incentive and an opportunity for the new crappy to strive to be less crappy than the old crappy? There was a reason that teams like SH, Providence etc. were so crappy. Their administrations didn't give a crap.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Initially it may (may) come from the newness. There is going to be a bunch of new crappy teams. I'd be more interested in seeing them than the old crappy teams we already have seen a dozen times. Don't know how much interest or how long it may last, but I would think there would be some with the "newness" of it.

How the new teams travel is going to be an interesting question. Actually - will the year after be a question for RU in the B1G. And that's for football and MBB, as well.

At RU, fan club regularly ran trips to away venues, as a lot were close. For these new teams in the AAC (and RU in the B1G the next year) not so much. And even in the old BE, I never thought contingents from the more distant teams (ND doesn't count) were large at the BET and if you watch other conference tourneys on TV you may get an idea what to expect. Meh.

 

[Wonkster]

It speaks that I'm here to help those that can't handle navigating two blocks. What can I say? I'm a giver.

I need a copilot getting out of Hartford after a nighttime game. I got badly lost last year one time when I had no psssengers to help figure stuff out.

Some mother#$%@!! employee/dolt in the parking garage forced me to go out an unfamiliar exit and things went to hell quickly after that.

 

[Wonkster]

The question is - will the new conference and exposure provide an incentive and an opportunity for the new crappy to strive to be less crappy than the old crappy? There was a reason that teams like SH, Providence etc. were so crappy. Their administrations didn't give a crap.

Heh, heh - he said 'crap.'

 

[meyers7]

I need a copilot getting out of Hartford after a nighttime game. I got badly lost last year one time when I had no psssengers to help figure stuff out.

Some mother#$%@!! employee/dolt in the parking garage forced me to go out an unfamiliar exit and things went to hell quickly after that.

Ding ding ding, well there's your problem right there.