BallReviews
General Category => USBC Tournament => Topic started by: riggs on June 05, 2012, 05:28:24 AM
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Hope this happens!
The 11th Frame: Vegas stadium for USBC tournaments a hot topic but apparently not a done deal
http://www.11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5132
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One can only dream.
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While another stadium venue in Las Vegas would be great, one wonders if the bowlers east of the Mississippi would support it. Many of them complain that they are tired of the western sites and that it should be in the East more often. I do find it interesting however that the numbers for Baton Rouge this year were not huge. Last time I checked, while not on the shores of the Atlantic, it is not the West.
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Every time the tournament is held in Vegas, the numbers are huge. There are also
a tremendous number of tournaments that would use that site.
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My wife says if the Tourny's there, I can go! although she'll be coming with me.....
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It would be the smartest thing the USBC has done in quite some time. I don't think the east coast guys would complain as much if it were in Vegas. I know personally that I haven't been the last 2 years because the host city didn't interest me. Nothing to do with the trip or travel
I deally I would like to see a rotation with extra stops in Vegas. Maybe something like Vegas, Seattle, Chicago, Vegas, NY, Orlando, Vegas....repeat.
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So we do Reno/Vegas back to back forever?? Great. While they're at it why don't they build a 3rd stadium in Alaska. The $1000 in expenses for Reno every year before I've even bowled isn't high enough ... Alaska should be able to push that number to $1500. Keep taking care of the bowlers USBC!
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Seems to me that a stadium setting in Vegas could eventually hurt Reno. I think many people who have substantial travel expenses to go to Nevada might well opt to skip Reno and go only on the years the Open would be in Vegas. Personally, it makes no difference to me since after 6 trips to Reno I don't inend to ever go back and will be way too old to bowl at the earliest date they could go back to Vegas. My Open days are over after 20 tournaments.
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I never have, nor never will, go to USBC Nationals when it's held in Reno. I would attend every year if it was in Las Vegas.
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I am one that will go to the Nationals no matter where it is hosted. I would not want to see a rotation of three locked sites such as Reno, Vegas and Orlanda, but I would go either way. I enjoy the challenge and on the amatuer side of things is a great place to make a few dollars.
On Reno, the one positive I think can be said of the city is that no other city in America supports our sport more than they do. They built the stadium and now are going to invest millions on improvements and renovations. I know it is a selfish adventure for them, but in the end I don't see a stadium being built in Arlington near Jerry's World and the Ballpark or any other city. Orlando keeps tossing out the possibility, but don't see any action.
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Talked to a guy in the know from Reno who thinks it will happen. Reno is the closest venue for me of anywhere, but the town has turned into a depressing dump. Vegas has the weather, much more to do, cheaper to get to from anywhere, and also offers guys to combine nationals with high rollers, Senior masters, and other majors.
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While Vegas would be better than Reno, the USBC would be ignorant if they think that would make up for not having the event on the East coast. It has been 9 years since Knoxville and 13 years since Syracuse.
I don't know why they don't look into Atlanta. It is a major airport hub and one of the main convention locations in the country. It would make sense.
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Is Atlanta far enough East? Apparently Baton Rouge was not East enough based on the numbers.
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I think you could have it an New York and the numbers wouldn't go up that much. The economy still sucks and people can't afford it. I think people forget that fact.
My wife and I go to Atlanta every year because we are Braves fans and there is lots to do there for tourist.
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You guys are funny, I keep hearing what a dump Reno is. Sure, Reno has some areas that are run down. The new casinos in California and an overall downturn in the economy are really hurting the Reno area.
I'm not defending Reno, but let's be fair about it. I just came back from Baton Rouge. Did everyone have their eyes closed while there? I enjoyed my trip and was glad it wasn't in Reno this year, but to claim Reno is a dump and not mention anything about Baton Rouge being a crap hole is just silly.
Talked to a guy in the know from Reno who thinks it will happen. Reno is the closest venue for me of anywhere, but the town has turned into a depressing dump. Vegas has the weather, much more to do, cheaper to get to from anywhere, and also offers guys to combine nationals with high rollers, Senior masters, and other majors.
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The restaurants in BR and NO were great. Bowling and excellent food, good enough to go someplace for me :D Would not bother me if it went back to BR in 2017.
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I would go back to Baton Rouge, but I wouldn't stay there like I did this year. I would just shuttle back and forth from New Orleans......The strip clubs in BR are WAYYYY below par..... :D
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Tracy!!!! You live ;D We stayed 2 nights in BR and 2 nights in NO. Great food in BR, not much else to do.
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Can't argue there, Reno is certainly not the only dumpy town. Another thing you need to remember is that the major cities like Atlanta are no longer interested in bidding the tournament. They simply don't want their convention centers tied up that long.
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Avabob, point I was going to make also. Back several years ago Dallas had the tournament if they wanted it. There was a bond election for some big renovation at fair park and the first event in the new convention center was us.. When the bond failed, Dallas told the ABC to take a hike. Major cities still don't have that big of a problem keeping their convention center filled or busy enough not to have us tie it up for months. There are some cities I wouldn't mind going back to, like Syracuse (Dinosaurs BBQ) and Salt Lake City. I went to those the last time as a delegate to the convention so didn't see much more than the tournament and meetings. I would go back to BR anytime, my two largest pay days at the Nat's are going to be there and have nothing against making money.
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I too have fond recollections of Salt Lake and Syracuse. I made $15k in Syracuse and $8k in SL. I made good money my first 3 trips to Reno too, but have really struggled the last 3, which makes the place look even dumpier to me.
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Reviving an old thread here, but with good reason.
Here is one main reason why they are considering a stadium for Vegas (take it from me; I live there, as well as Sacramento).
Ever notice that from nearly every major city, there is at least 1 or 2 nonstop flights to Vegas? That makes it very handy for getting in and out of the town. You can't really say that about every other possible town (took 2 to 3 hops to get to New Orleans from Sacramento), would take 1 to 2 plane changes to get anywhere east unless you're in Vegas. Without Vegas, to get to Orlando, a lot of people are making more than one stop, so just to say, travel would be difficult for that.
The other reason: As nice as it was, Cashman Center could not hold another tournament. It forced a lot of other conventions who could not afford to set up shop at the casinos to leave town for the 6 months the tournament was there. Everywhere else for those other shows to go would have been just too expensive.
Now, since the PBA has been setting up shop at South Point the past 3 - 4 years, that would make it the most logical place to run it. They are already out 6 weeks for the WSOB so leagues would have been hard to have anyway, and with 10 other houses there for leagues/locals, South Point wouldn't be causing any problems with the league year there. So I could see it happening.
Now, as far as meeting half way, Dallas was mentioned. I can see that happening just based off of the ITRC being nearby. But I can also see somewhere near a college town having the tournament as well (read: college with collegiate bowling team). With that said, Omaha or Lincoln, NE could have it. St. Louis or somewhere near Chicago could as well.
Some things to think about.
BL.
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As the whole stadium idea arose 10 yrs ago when I still worked for the Orleans and Michael Gaughn owned it. It was going to built on the west side of the Orleans across Tropicana...when it was figured out it would take 10 yrs to pay off, it was nixed. That is too long in ROI for something like that in Vegas.
Fast forward to know...SouthPointe is trying to be the Mecca again as the Orleans was in the late 90's and early '00s for bowling events. And to help facility it, there appears to be a major sponsor to defray the overall cost. The numbers for Vegas are always going to be higher for the USBC as stated previously travel expenses are lower and easier to get to. It appears it will be Orlando Reno & Vegas for upcoming nationals...
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With the contract extension USBC has signed with Reno, if they sign a similar deal with Vegas (South Point), there will be no room for Orlando. There will only be a couple of non-Nevada years open after 2015 through 2031 and Orlando won't build any stadium for that.
6/13/12 -- The 11th Frame: New Reno deal means many non-Reno years for Open and Women’s Championships, USBC says
http://www.11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5151_grp_0
6/13/12 -- The 11th Frame: Reno has deal for USBC tourneys for 2019-2030, Reno paper reports
http://www.11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5150_grp_0
6/5/12 -- The 11th Frame: Vegas stadium for USBC tournaments a hot topic but apparently not a done deal
http://www.11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5132_grp_1
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I'll go to BR again, cause it's about 8-9 hours driving time! I'll never go back to Reno, been there done that! Anywhere I have to fly to make the tournament is the years I don't attend. I'm not going to Reno next year or any year it's held there!! I can drive to Vegas a lot easier than Reno!!
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Orlando wouldn't appeal to me, even though it's a lot closer to my hometown (Cleveland). Looking forward to Reno, even though I've been there quite a bit. We always go in March, and the casinos have plenty of March Madness stuff going on, which is a blast to my group.
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Can't argue there, Reno is certainly not the only dumpy town. Another thing you need to remember is that the major cities like Atlanta are no longer interested in bidding the tournament. They simply don't want their convention centers tied up that long.
Let me also add something about Atlanta since I actually live there. Atlanta is a GREAT metropolitan city. HOWEVER.........getting to and from the Congress Center downtown is not easy from the Interstate. The World Congress Center is next door to both The Georgia Dome and Philips Arena. So if any other events are taking place at any of those 3 venues (also remember the Braves traffic downtown), getting to and from the Congress Center will be a complete nightmare. Now if there was a place in the suburbs of Atlanta that could hold an event like the USBCs, then maybe more of a distinct possibility. But to have it downtown with other events taking place is going to be a nightmare for those that have not been here before.
Maybe 10-20 years ago Atlanta would have been a good place to come for an event like the USBC when we "only" had 2,000,000-3,000,000 people. Now we have over 6,000,000. Traffic here is a nightmare; especially during rush hour. In order to have it here, they would need to build a venue or hold it at a venue a decent distance outside the downtown area.
Now if we wanted a Georgia city to host the USBC, my vote is for Savannah. Savannah is a cool town with decent attractions. Hilton Head Island is a short drive (30-40 minutes) where you could easily spend an entire day there. TONS of golf for those that like to play. Tybee Island is a cool place. Quite a few Forts for those that like some old military war history. Main attraction for those that dont get to go to one very often, if at all, is that Savannah is right on the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, for me, having the tournament here would be cool. But it isnt a place I would suggest for those not familiar with the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
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One more thing to think about. Since this is a 6 - 7 month long tournament, when it comes to other major cities, we run into the conflict of the possibility of the NCAA or MIT tournaments (read: March Madness) also being in the same city. Vegas can get away with it, as the tourney would be at UNLV. Dallas could with it being at wherever the Mavericks play, while the USBC tournament could be at the ITRC. Not so much for other cities. Orlando would be at the same place the Magic play; Atlanta might get away with it, otherwise, the same place the same place the Hawks play. Perhaps the same for Chicago, Milwaukee, and a few other places. That would make location selection tricky.
BL.