UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

[SoDakJack]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

In my mind, the biggest threat to Sioux Falls is Fargo if they can put the bids together.

On a similar thought, part of me wonders, if Sioux Falls does lose the tourney would that get the new arena built?

The Arena really is a problem. If, and when, SDSU-USD-NDSU are all in the tournament together, there just isn't seating for the fans. A SDSU-NDSU women's game almost filled the place. Now, put a NDSU-SDSU or SDSU-USD men's game in there and you will be turning people away.

This is one of the things that an Omaha could possibly offer over Sioux Falls, and the fact that they are a little more centrally located.

IMO, if the new events center gets built then other cities will have a hell of a time taking it away from Sioux Falls.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

ok.... that may be the official reason, but I doubt they'd send an AD of a school that has nothing to do with the conference unless there is more to it.

Or Trev is active in the Omaha equivalent of the SF Sports Authority and he brings name recognition, charisma and AD credibility to the sales pitch.

I'm sure Omaha can pull together the $$$ to make a competitive bid, but I would hope it's about more that $$$. Where would they play? Qwest holds 18,000+ for basketball. Even with good crowds, it would seem empty for the Summit League tourney. The Civic is smaller, but I can't see it offering much more than the SF Arena. The casual Omaha basketball fan is used to mid-major hoops, but at the Mo. Valley level, and NCAA regionals. I can't see them getting too excited about the Summit. I doubt the Summit tourney would even make the front page of the World Herald's sports section, let alone local TV. Summit fans probably would find more reason to travel to Omaha than they do to Sioux Falls, but you wouldn't get as many fans of the Dakota schools.

It was reported that Kansas City, metro Detroit and other major cities have recently shown interest in the tournament. The Summit would be nothing but small peanuts in any of those markets, including Omaha, versus Sioux Falls or Fargo where the Summit is the big swingin' stick. I suppose Omaha is the next best option for the Dakota schools if it moves, but for now, it sure looks like Sioux Falls is where it belongs.

[22jack]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

This is why they were at the tournament was to possibly bid for it and no other reason.

Not true. Read the article in the Argus.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/2...ll|text|Home|s

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

I'm sure the Summit wants UNO because of the large Omaha market that it would attract.

Agreed its a fairly large media market but UNO isn't on anyones radar down there. Creighton basketball is huge and for everything else Big Red rules the roost.

UNO could go D1 and make it to the championship game and people in Omaha are going to tune more into what Bo Pelini ate for lunch. Sorry for the Stu-pid like quip.

SUPERBUNNY

[Jacks-D1]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

The Summit is looking at UNO and has a site visit scheduled. Here's a story from today's Omaha World-Herald.

http://omaha.com/article/20110309/NE...ence-eyes-mavs

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

I'm sure the Summit wants UNO because of the large Omaha market that it would attract.

While the market could be seen as attractive, the real reason the Summit would want UNO is to get the league back to 10 members. 9 is not a very stable number.

[Nidaros]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

While the market could be seen as attractive, the real reason the Summit would want UNO is to get the league back to 10 members. 9 is not a very stable number.

I agree, but I am wondering if population is a factor in determining locations of tournatment in which case Omaha does drump SF. I suspect they are looking at the Quest Center which rents for 35k for a single game so I was told by the one Burger brother, the one who came and went to Creighton. I have not watched ESPN much in the last few years and was unaware that Trev Alberts was on there as an analyst. If Alberts can make it work at UNO then God Bless them and welcome to D1. When UNO was first admitted to the NCC way back when I thought they were using the NCC for a stepping stone to D1, but that proved wrong. Its a commuter school made up of 30 40, and 50 somethings who are interested in furthering their careers and are not very interested in athletics. Maybe this has changed but I dont think so.

[leeshajo]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

The way Alberts makes it sound is the Summit has to approach them. Then they can consider moving. Wouldn't it be the other way around... get your ducks in a row, apply and then UNO waits for acceptance? Why should we go begging to them?

[Nidaros]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

The way Alberts makes it sound is the Summit has to approach them. Then they can consider moving. Wouldn't it be the other way around... get your ducks in a row, apply and then UNO waits for acceptance? Why should we go begging to them?

Somewhere in some room at UNO is a big study book and charts etc about moving up to D1. They have to get these plans past UNL who controlls the equivalent to the BOR in Nebraska. Off hand I do not recall their offical name. I think this might be UNO's big hurdle right now. I see time is of essence as it would be wierd to have a D2 school be a host for a D1 tourney which would be the case if Omaha accepts the Summit Leagues bid. A lot of things have to come together by 2013-14, the way I see it. I have yet to hear of any exploratory plans for UNO to make the move, but that does not mean that they do not exist. I think we have to stay tuned and hope the Summit is happy with SF as a tourney site through 2013-14.

[joeybrownerHOF]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

The way Alberts makes it sound is the Summit has to approach them. Then they can consider moving. Wouldn't it be the other way around... get your ducks in a row, apply and then UNO waits for acceptance? Why should we go begging to them?

Not for certain but I believe the reason could be the NCAA moratorium and requirement that a team have conferences lined up BEFORE they move up. I also believe the powers at UNO want/need the conference situation settled to encourage/push the move up forward. I agree with everything said above about their lack of fanbase/money.

I also believe this may help Trev get the money needed to build a 8000 seat on campus arena for hockey and other sports. FWIW, they have a pretty solid hockey program.

I know this is in other thread but the sleeper/darkhorse for Summit Tourney could be Council Bluffs. It is a more central location, close to Omaha (cheap flights), larger population base than SF, outside entertainment including casinos, and they have a pretty decent sized arena (Mid America Center).

[NorCalJack]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

Sounds like UNO is going to get a site visit from the Summit League.

Story here.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

The airport in Omaha could be a solid factor and UNO would be a great travel companion to USD pups.

Alberts has pushed for the move to D1 at UNO from day 1 but like mentioned above is whether or not the powers that be will allow it to happen.

I like how Douple is being very proactive in protecting the conference by keeping all options on the table. Movement from conference to conference now seems to be the rule rather than the exception and when you add economic issues into the mix things probably won't slow down. The Summitt League has the right guy at the helm.

It would be nice to have another potential opponent within driving distance. Omaha has the downtown area, the casinos, the zoo, and many other things that make it a fun place for a weekend. It sure beats Fargo!

UNO is a good fit for a number of reasons, the media market isn't a major factor IMHO.

SUPERBUNNY

[FargoBison]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

I wonder if UNO would bring UND back into the fold? The MVFC said 11 members won't work, but 12 might and I watched one of those live chat videos from the Argus and Douple said he still would be open to UND joining. Just throwing it out there.

[HoboJack]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

While the market could be seen as attractive, the real reason the Summit would want UNO is to get the league back to 10 members. 9 is not a very stable number.

Honestly, can anyone tell me that UNO would 'deliver' the Omaha market anymore than say, ORU delivers the Tulsa Market, OU delivers the Detroit market, IUPUI delivers the Indianapolis market, UMKC delivers the Kansas City market, or NDSU delivers the Minneapolis market (OK that last one was a joke). This league needs to find schools that fit their profile, and will have the ability to raise the level of competition for the league. Market exposure will come from being good, more than it will come from the size of the schools city.

[joeboo22]

Re: UN-Omaha? All signs point to....we'll see?

Honestly, can anyone tell me that UNO would 'deliver' the Omaha market anymore than say, ORU delivers the Tulsa Market, OU delivers the Detroit market, IUPUI delivers the Indianapolis market, UMKC delivers the Kansas City market, or NDSU delivers the Minneapolis market (OK that last one was a joke). This league needs to find schools that fit their profile, and will have the ability to raise the level of competition for the league. Market exposure will come from being good, more than it will come from the size of the schools city.

I agree with your point but I do think UNO has a better chance to deliver Omaha then the other schools with their cities. Nebraska basketball isn't anything special, Creighton is followed pretty heavy when they are good but they have been down the last couple of years.

The one thing I ask is would they consider dropping football if they went D-I? I remember that there had been talk about them dropping football when the NCC folded up, and just thought that was still an option.