Omaha WH's Tom Shatel offers his take on the Des Moines Tourney Site

[frontrangeclone]

http://www.omaha.com/sports/shatel-...cle_c2512bb2-c229-571b-b74b-21507a64cde1.html

Omaha and Lincoln sports writers love to pound their chests about all things Nebraska, whether directly or backhandedly. I thought this article might spur some interesting discussion here.

 

[cycfan1]

To precursor, I was in Denver this weekend not Des moines.

Most of what he said on Des moines is true. I'm not real high on WF and the location is poor.

That being said I'm sure the atmosphere was legit. Not sure anyone in Denver even knew the tournament was going on. These first round games should be in these 'smaller' cities that are willing to appreciate what they have.

 

[19clone91]

How can any human being who has been to both cities seriously favor Omaha? Downtown Omaha is less exciting than Ft Dodge on the weekend.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I would it if they would go back to hosting it at schools. I loved seeing two random teams playing on someone else's floor. I don't even want them to change the court logos.

 

[NWICY]

Better review than I expected.

 

[wartknight]

I don't think he said much that most of us would disagree with. I remember thinking the first time I went to an ISU game shortly after WFA was built thinking that it looked a lot older than a brand new building. Dark, narrow concourses, and that concrete floor. Working as media for just the girls state tourney this year, I saw what he was talking about with cramped conditions, and that was with just a couple thousand people around. Then seeing the Pepsi Center this weekend and the awesome setup they had and how new everything looked and felt, and the huge scoreboard.
That's not to take away from anything that went on this weekend. I think the city was on full display and highlighted all the good things we've got going, and I really believe our best days are to come. Its just not there yet. I was downtown all of Thursday and most of friday and the atmosphere was special.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Everybody would be lauding about how great of a basketball atmosphere Des Moines is if ISU was allowed to play there.

 

[brianhos]

I thought they did a great job. My only complaint about WF Arena is the long bathroom lines. Its worse than an ISU football game with only 1/4th the people.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

The only thing I wonder is if the Indiana fans brought up Omaha out of the blue, or if they were asked how it compared?

Seems kind of random:
"Hi, Indiana fan. How do you like Des Moines?"
"Oh it's fine, but we really had a great time in Omaha last year..."

Other than that, yeah, there a few little bugs, but all in all, for a first run I thought things went pretty well in Des Moines.

 

[MartyFine]

What a ****. Hunkers will never win a game in NCAA tournament so he has to write about something

 

[letsCYber]

http://www.omaha.com/sports/shatel-...cle_c2512bb2-c229-571b-b74b-21507a64cde1.html

Omaha and Lincoln sports writers love to pound their chests about all things Nebraska, whether directly or backhandedly. I thought this article might spur some interesting discussion here.

Tom seems like a typical Husker fan, butt hurt his Bluejays aren't in the big dance this year. Jealous that his neighbors to the east have relevant sports teams.

 

[isuforlife]

well he has never been able to cheer after a Fusker win , they never have won a game in the NCAA

 

[cyclonedave25]

The only thing I wonder is if the Indiana fans brought up Omaha out of the blue, or if they were asked how it compared?

Seems kind of random:
"Hi, Indiana fan. How do you like Des Moines?"
"Oh it's fine, but we really had a great time in Omaha last year..."

Other than that, yeah, there a few little bugs, but all in all, for a first run I thought things went pretty well in Des Moines.

Yeah, I can almost bet the conversation went something like this:
"Hey, Indiana Fan, how do you like DM hosting this event?
"Oh, its great! Lots of nice people here, very hospitable, and good drinks and food."
"How would you compare it to Omaha when you played there last year?"
"Omaha did a fantastic job too!"

I mean seriously, nobody brings up Omaha out of the blue unless they are talking about the CWS or the "making love to sheep" convention.

 

[frontrangeclone]

I've never set foot inside WFA or CenturyLink in Omaha, so I can't speak for either arena's concourses or bowels where the media/teams hang out. I thought WFA looked fantastic on TV all filled up, compared to seeing footage of state tourney games where the arena is 1/3rd full. It's unfortunate though if money wasn't spent during construction of WFA to make the outer areas more visitor friendly.

It sounded like the fact that DM's bar/restaurant area wasn't within 10 feet of WFA didn't bother people? God forbid people walk a few blocks (downhill) to go stuff their pie holes and pickle their livers. It was probably a 10 minute walk to LoDo tops from the Pepsi Center, and no one seemed to mind in Denver thursday and saturday.

 

[LindenCy]

I went to Omaha last year and thought they did a good job, but I didn't find it that great around the arena. The parking was excellent - easy in/easy out. The concourse surrounding the middle of the arena sucked. It was packed and hard to wade through, but this could be at a lot of places. Good job, but not sure why a comparison needs to be made. I didn't find it incredible, though it was good.

 

[BCClone]

I will say that it would be better if it was about 1500-2000 bigger and had more of the Hilton set up. An inner and outer concourse. Their outside isn't much bigger than ours but have no inside concourse. I know NCAA wrestling won't be back probably due to the size. It would help to be just a bit bigger.

 

[cydsho]

Omaha had the benefit of having a clean slate to work with because north downtown was nothing but vacant buildings and junk yards. They could build an arena with parking lots and then expand with the ballfield and more hotels etc. DM doesn't have that so in general the area is set up for events like this.
If DM was smart they would try to build something like a P&L area maybe between the arena and Court Ave?? Not if that would work or was ever talked about?

 

[jkclone]

Omaha had the benefit of having a clean slate to work with because north downtown was nothing but vacant buildings and junk yards. They could build an arena with parking lots and then expand with the ballfield and more hotels etc. DM doesn't have that so in general the area is set up for events like this.
If DM was smart they would try to build something like a P&L area maybe between the arena and Court Ave?? Not if that would work or was ever talked about?

One thing that will help next time is the skywalk will be open. I don't see why they didn't wait and start this week or something. Another thing that hurt with the concourses was that we were all standing out there blocking them watching on the tv's.

My biggest complaint was trying to get food. In the arena I got pizza and they couldn't cook them fast enough. It also would have been nice if there was enough time between games to go get something, but that was a scheduling issue not a Des Moines issue.

 

[alarson]

Omaha had the benefit of having a clean slate to work with because north downtown was nothing but vacant buildings and junk yards. They could build an arena with parking lots and then expand with the ballfield and more hotels etc. DM doesn't have that so in general the area is set up for events like this.
If DM was smart they would try to build something like a P&L area maybe between the arena and Court Ave?? Not if that would work or was ever talked about?

They *should* have built this down near MLK, IMO. Would have tied in with court and all.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Omaha is so jelly.