40 - 50 K
- Thread starter ORCAT10
- Start date
I have to admit that I am often skeptical of numbers like that when they don't come from an unbiased source. A good example was the rally at PSU after sanctions. The organizers claimed to have a few thousand. USA Today said a few hundred. I saw the crowd. It was definitely a few hundred.
But, neverthless, there are a lot of UK fans down there!
But, neverthless, there are a lot of UK fans down there!
Why would the SECT not be held in Atlanta, where you could set the seating up to accommodate 35,000 fans instead of the 19,000 that the Nashville arena holds? It doesn't make any sense.
But 35,000 don't come to Atlanta. It can seat that much but looking back over the attendances online, I don't see one above 22,000 over the last 4-5 times it has been there.
Great demand for your product, create excitement in Nashville.
I think it's because of the cost of the dome IMO. Plus, if for some reason UK is out of the tourney early, that cost only goes higher. Also, Bridgestone Arena seems a little more intimate. May just be me though.
But do you think that this is a special year and that might move more fans to come to the game if they thought there was a good chance that they could get a ticket.
SECT sites thru 2025 will be in Nashville except:
March 7-11, 2018, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 19,260
March 9-13, 2022, Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa, FL 20,500
March 7-11, 2018, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 19,260
March 9-13, 2022, Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa, FL 20,500
I definitely agree with you Don.
Atlanta is the very best venue for the Tournament. The tickets are half the price, hotels are half the price and you have the Marta to go anywhere you want.If the SEC would have been there this year, the place would have 30,000+ Big Blue fans there.
Nashville gave that SEC everything they wanted and more to get the SEC Tournament there for so many years to come. So, the businesses jack the price up for everything(hotels, scalpers, restaurants, cabs, bars, etc.) for this week. Cat fans must not mind because they flood Nashville and keep demand high.
That's why we'll have to just bit the bullet and accept that it won't be in Atlanta for a while.
Atlanta is the very best venue for the Tournament. The tickets are half the price, hotels are half the price and you have the Marta to go anywhere you want.If the SEC would have been there this year, the place would have 30,000+ Big Blue fans there.
Nashville gave that SEC everything they wanted and more to get the SEC Tournament there for so many years to come. So, the businesses jack the price up for everything(hotels, scalpers, restaurants, cabs, bars, etc.) for this week. Cat fans must not mind because they flood Nashville and keep demand high.
That's why we'll have to just bit the bullet and accept that it won't be in Atlanta for a while.
Yeah, makes no sense to me. The ONLY thing I can imagine is that ATL already hosts the football championship and the SEC wants some other city to have basketball.
I could even see a 43city rotation w Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans making a lot of sense and spreading it around some.
I could even see a 43city rotation w Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans making a lot of sense and spreading it around some.
Main reason it is not in Atl. is that Atlanta does a lousy job. You go there and half the newspaper is about the ACC or the Hawks, usually Shultz or Bradley are writing about ACC tourney and the Hawks. Atl. does not care, it looks terrible to have a gigantic stadium and you have 10,000 Big blue fans and 5,000 remaining fans and than another 15-20,000 empty seats.
Atlanta regardless of what the locals say is not a safe environment, usually at least 10-12 major problems at this tourney.
Atlanta business doesn't give a rip, UGA does not give a rip, SEC office is catered to in Nashville, Nashville businesses cater, you have 2 universities that are in state and you have this massive fanbase north of town.
Atlanta always fail in my opinion, this tournament is great with all the hotels, restaurants, easy access, and the fact that Nashville cares. That is problem with Atlanta, they feel like they are too good to care or too big to care, that is the vibe from city and businesses. Atlanta is not a great place to travel, it terrible. New Orleans is better, St. Louis is better, Memphis is better, Louisville would be better. The only thing bad about Nashville is that Bridgestone arena is small.
IMO
Atlanta regardless of what the locals say is not a safe environment, usually at least 10-12 major problems at this tourney.
Atlanta business doesn't give a rip, UGA does not give a rip, SEC office is catered to in Nashville, Nashville businesses cater, you have 2 universities that are in state and you have this massive fanbase north of town.
Atlanta always fail in my opinion, this tournament is great with all the hotels, restaurants, easy access, and the fact that Nashville cares. That is problem with Atlanta, they feel like they are too good to care or too big to care, that is the vibe from city and businesses. Atlanta is not a great place to travel, it terrible. New Orleans is better, St. Louis is better, Memphis is better, Louisville would be better. The only thing bad about Nashville is that Bridgestone arena is small.
IMO
I have to say that my LEAST favorite airport in the US is Atlanta. When I fly, I never do a layover there anymore because I've had too many problems over the years. Flying into Nashville is SO much better!
Nashville definitely has one of the best set ups for this type of event - bars, restaurants, Opry, hotel, and stadium in staggering distance. Atlanta is terrible for this. NO obviously is outstanding, Louisville has a great set up. Tampa is awful, but there's the beach and golf. Haven't been to STL in years.
I'd be fine with a Nashville/New Orleans /Louisville rotation.
I'd be fine with a Nashville/New Orleans /Louisville rotation.
If Kentucky took an undefeated team to Atlanta we would probably have 40-50K there as well. We had 90% of the fans in Atlanta last year after a disappointing regular season and not expecting a big tournament run. Nashville is a rip-off. The tickets prices are sky-high and the parking is $25.
Thanks UKvisitor- gonna hit that Tampa 2022 tourney if Jenkem hasn't killed me.
Truthfully, I hope it does!!!! Go Cats!
Truthfully, I hope it does!!!! Go Cats!
Well if some of you want to sit way up in the Georgia Dome (if you think 30k are coming) then go ahead. EVERY seat in Bridgestone is a good seat and I'm looking forward to sitting in mine tomorrow. Again, basketball games were not meant to be in Domes (although yes I know the Final Four is).
The last time any SEC Tournament drew around 30k for any game was the mid 90's. The 95 game between #3 UK and #5 Arkansas drew just over 30k. Heck the NCAA Tournament game against Indiana in 2011 at the dome only drew 24k. Since 2000, no game at the Goergia Dome has drawn above 25k an most drawn low 20's. IMO, there is no reason to go to a dome for the SEC Tournament. I understand the ticket portion, but atmosphere wise, it just doesn't make sense.
He's at least close to correct. The entire arena is UK. Then I'd say at least three times that many are downtown. It's a mad house.
I love the city. But I wouldn't shed one tear if it never came here again. Nashville merchants and scalpers raped the masses the entire time.
I love the city. But I wouldn't shed one tear if it never came here again. Nashville merchants and scalpers raped the masses the entire time.
It's supply and demand and the American way. Sure they raise the prices on hotels etc.. If you look at downtown Nashville since Thursday night than you would know this is an event unlike Atlanta when you have to go to the suburbs to eat or worry about walking to your car and getting car jacked or mugged. I spoke to a guy who made the presentations on getting this event. Atlanta does not care, Atlanta did not send any of their columnists to Nashville for tourney, Tech is not going to make it UGA is in. Atlanta treated this tourney as if it was an after thought. NO, St Louis, Nashville went out of their way to make it a big deal. Atlanta does not deserve it, No offense to people that live there and work there. Atlanta is not a great sports town, they don't host things well. NO and Nashville do.
This tourney and the streets look great with all the people.
This tourney and the streets look great with all the people.
Since Hawg fans travel well, or at least used to when the program was relevant, I wonder how lopsided the crowd will be today.
Any guesses from people down there. 80-20? 90-10?
I know the Razorbacks want the Cats on a neutral court, but I don't think they understand this won't be neutral.
Any guesses from people down there. 80-20? 90-10?
I know the Razorbacks want the Cats on a neutral court, but I don't think they understand this won't be neutral.
I think it will be about 85-15. We stayed to watch the Arkansas/UGA game yesterday and they had a good showing and were pretty loud. It will be a great environment today!
History doesn't back up your claim there would be 30,000+ fans there. Even with tickets being more reasonably priced because of over-supply, there haven't been more than 21 or 22k fans for an Atlanta final in a long time.
The SEC wants to put product on TV that looks good. The championship game today looks great. Last years final in Atlanta looked beat.
This post was edited on 3/15 2:49 PM by From-the-stands