Re: St. Louis woos NCAA for permanant wrestling home

**Spider** · 03-26-2008, 09:57 AM

I didn't realize that. Still it would be nice for people to be able to drive only 6 or 8 hours every four years to attend. I agree that a big city is essential. There wasn't nearly enough hotel space near Iowa City or State College, PA.

**fanforlife** · 03-26-2008, 10:21 AM

There are a lot of factors that they look for in a host. I think that when the next bid process starts places like Detroit will be out of the picture.

I am not looking forward to Philly even though it is less than 2 hours from home.

**WrestlingTerp** · 03-26-2008, 11:37 AM

I believe Maryland is trying to put a bid together to host it at the Verizon Center in DC. It would be a great location. More hotels, restauatants and bars in closer proximity to the arena than St. Louis. The National Mall just a few blocks away. And there are actually people downtown. St. Louis looked like a ghost town.

**Dart Shark** · 03-26-2008, 11:42 AM

DC would be great ... pricey for hotels, but a short drive (depending on traffic).

Terp, didn't see you out there. I did run into Neil A., though.

**fanforlife** · 03-26-2008, 11:53 AM

I saw Terp quite a few times, including on my walks through Union Station. I guess it will be interesting to see who bids, but I know St. Louis would like to become the permanent host.

**jbresette** · 03-26-2008, 12:07 PM

I liked St. Louis better than Detroit, but I didn't enjoy having to drive 10 hours to get there and 10 hours back. I hope they rotate it instead of just locking it into one destination.

**GrapplerFan** · 03-26-2008, 12:29 PM

I think that if we want wrestling to continue to grow than the tournament simply has to rotate. While St. Louis is centrally located for most people it is right in the heart of the Midwest where wrestling already has it's most passionate following. Moving it around gives people who might not otherwise interact with the sport a chance to come out and see the best wrestling all year.

**JeepCreep** · 03-26-2008, 12:39 PM

I say give it to St Louis every other year, and rotate the other years between somewhere on the East and somewhere on the West. Example:
2011-St. Louis
2012-Nebraska
2013-St. Louis
2014-Philly
2015-St. Louis
2016-Cali
2017-St. Louis
2018-Columbus
2019-St. Louis

**Gantry** · 03-26-2008, 12:52 PM

I've been going to NCAAs every year since 2000 and I think St. Louis has been the clear winner so far. A couple places (KC & Detroit) had nothing around and/or the stadium was too far from the hotels. Anyone remember that "bridge of death" when trying to talk to the stadium in KC?

Albany is special because of Cael/Rohn, but I NEVER want a tourney to be that far from the midwest. Brutal trip for the majority of fans and another stadium that was too far from the hotels...

Oklahoma City was the 2nd best in my eyes. Iowa City was WAY undersized and the snowstorm wasn't much fun. Am I missing a venus?

I still don't know why Chicago hasn't ponied up for a tourney yet, they should get a shot....

If it was in St. Louis every year, I really wouldn't mind. The ability to walk everywhere is spectacular...

Thread Tools

Display