COLUMN: Stuff you probably didn't know about the Big 4 Classic

[jkclone]

We went to the NCAA tourney and the teams were awesome but the environment was stale. Been to the Big 4 and the environment is still stale. I've been to dozens and dozens of NBA games and almost every one is more stale than Hilton. At WFA the end and corner seats seem really far from the court because it's a multi-purpose venue.
The building is nice of course but the environment is not. Not sure how you can deny that.

The environment is bad compared to Hilton almost anywhere. People say WFA is bad and I don't disagree when compared to Hilton but if you grade it compared to most arenas it is really nice. Compared to the United Center since we were just there it is much better. First of the location is infinitely better. Then once you get inside the concessions and concourses are pretty equal. United Center is nicer because they are wider but the food seems better at WFA. Then when you talk about the actual seats it isn't close imo. The views are pretty equal but the quality of stuff isn't great. The video system is pretty poor.

People can complain about the big generic arena types as much as they want, but they aren't comparable to on campus arenas. They have different purposes.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

The environment is bad compared to Hilton almost anywhere. People say WFA is bad and I don't disagree when compared to Hilton.
People can complain about the big generic arena types as much as they want, but they aren't comparable to on campus arenas. They have different purposes.

I want every environment to be like an on campus arena. And we know they are different but doesn't that prove we shouldn't give up a better environment for a stale environment?

I can't stand corporate sporting events.

 

[jkclone]

I want every environment to be like an on campus arena. And we know they are different but doesn't that prove we shouldn't give up a better environment for a stale environment?

I can't stand corporate sporting events.

I'm just saying if we are going to one Wells Fargo is one of the better options.

 

[IASTATE07]

I wish we would play in the Pentagon in Sioux Falls every couple years. Get a local opponent (Neb, Creighton, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and it would be a pretty good environment.

 

[jsb]

We went to the NCAA tourney and the teams were awesome but the environment was stale. Been to the Big 4 and the environment is still stale. I've been to dozens and dozens of NBA games and almost every one is more stale than Hilton. At WFA the end and corner seats seem really far from the court because it's a multi-purpose venue.
The building is nice of course but the environment is not. Not sure how you can deny that.

Have you been to an NCAA tourney anywhere else? They are all stale. I've been to at least 4 and they are all kind of like that. It's the nature of the beast.

I've grown to really like the Big 4 classic. Of course it is not as fun as Hilton, but it is a good time to see all 4 teams play.

 

[Rural]

Get rid of it.

 

[3GenClone]

Indiana lost to Fort Wayne, not Fort Worth.

Just noticed it says Fort Wayne in the article. Did you fix it or did I just read it wrong? Sorry if it's been right this whole time.

Anyways, I don't think the point of the Indiana- Fort Wayne argument is that Indiana lost, it's that Fort Wayne benefitted more by having IU show up in their gym. I don't know how Drake can hope to improve when they have lost the opportunity to host a P5 team in their gym. What is Drake's best home game on their schedule? Wichita State? UNI? Those games aren't going to move the needle in the recruiting battle or even regional TV coverage. The thought is that TV coverage for the Hy-Vee Classic will pick up once Drake improves, but that is a long way from happening without a lot of luck in the MVC or the unrealistic hope that another P5 team will come to the Knapp Center.

 

[IASTATE07]

Just noticed it says Fort Wayne in the article. Did you fix it or did I just read it wrong? Sorry if it's been right this whole time.

Anyways, I don't think the point of the Indiana- Fort Wayne argument is that Indiana lost, it's that Fort Wayne benefitted more by having IU show up in their gym. I don't know how Drake can hope to improve when they have lost the opportunity to host a P5 team in their gym. What is Drake's best home game on their schedule? Wichita State? UNI? Those games aren't going to move the needle in the recruiting battle or even regional TV coverage. The thought is that TV coverage for the Hy-Vee Classic will pick up once Drake improves, but that is a long way from happening without a lot of luck in the MVC or the unrealistic hope that another P5 team will come to the Knapp Center.

It said Fort Worth.

 

[dirtyninety]

I know HyVee and the Foodstamp-Industrial Complex benefit immensely from an Agricultural bill that is spent 75% on SNAP program/creating obesity. Think about that for a minute. Why is that not the lead story on the news every night? Then we have to fund programs to get kids moving so they are not obese. Anyone got the vid. of Brandstad jumping around in his Younkers shirt? It will be good to get rid of the electoral college so then farmers will be officially dumped into the Hunger Games realm of irrelevance and the Big Grocery Store chains can pick our Fuhrer.

 

[CYphyllis]

I know HyVee and the Foodstamp-Industrial Complex benefit immensely from an Agricultural bill that is spent 75% on SNAP program/creating obesity. Think about that for a minute. Why is that not the lead story on the news every night? Then we have to fund programs to get kids moving so they are not obese. Anyone got the vid. of Brandstad jumping around in his Younkers shirt? It will be good to get rid of the electoral college so then farmers will be officially dumped into the Hunger Games realm of irrelevance and the Big Grocery Store chains can pick our Fuhrer.

What the ****.

 

[Cyched]

I know HyVee and the Foodstamp-Industrial Complex benefit immensely from an Agricultural bill that is spent 75% on SNAP program/creating obesity. Think about that for a minute. Why is that not the lead story on the news every night? Then we have to fund programs to get kids moving so they are not obese. Anyone got the vid. of Brandstad jumping around in his Younkers shirt? It will be good to get rid of the electoral college so then farmers will be officially dumped into the Hunger Games realm of irrelevance and the Big Grocery Store chains can pick our Fuhrer.

Huh?

 

[Clones8686]

Somebody hit the sauce a little early this Sunday morning...

 

[CyBobby]

Interesting.

If ISU hands over rights to game but Big 12 doesn't pick it up why doesn't ISU get the rights back?

Thats easy to answer.....Control by these conference's over its members.....The way the big 10/12 look at it is...If conference members dont like the deal...just go to another conference or become independent......

 

[brianhos]

The thing I don't understand is why the game wasn't on ESPN3? I know a lot of people who didn't have Cyclones.tv were expecting it to be, especially because there have been other MC22 Drake games that were on ESPN3 this year.

Plus the stream on ESPN3 is so much better than cyclones.tv. It was unwatchable last night. midway through the 2nd half we gave up and turned on the radio.

 

[Rabbuk]

I will never understand these complaints. It isn't Hilton but Wells Fargo is a really nice place. It is better than the United Center and it keeps improving.

Are you drunk?

 

[kingcy]

Plus the stream on ESPN3 is so much better than cyclones.tv. It was unwatchable last night. midway through the 2nd half we gave up and turned on the radio.

At least you could get into Cyclones.TV. The POS site wouldn't take my password, then it would take 15 mins to get me a new one.

 

[CyBobby]

Well this article doesn't address the marginal seating that the Well provides, that's the biggest reason I dislike going there and haven't attended this event. I would like seeing all 4 schools play but not enough to go to the Well.

I agree the seating at wells fargo Sucks Mega imho....I have only went to one basketball event there and probably will never go back..........

 

[isutrevman]

I wish we would play in the Pentagon in Sioux Falls every couple years. Get a local opponent (Neb, Creighton, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and it would be a pretty good environment.

The Pentagon is an awesome place to watch basketball.

 

[isucy86]

The format of having the 4 in-state schools play each other has gotten stale IMO. Largely because Drake has been a really bad program.

Was thinking of a few ways to maybe energize the event.

1. Play mens/womens hoops doubleheader. For example yesterday: Iowa/UNI women then men's game in the afternoon. ISU/Drake women then mens game in evening session. I would sell session tickets, with a discount for people who buy both sessions.
2. Have a midwest hoopfest. Have 2 afternoon and 2 evening games. Match the 4 Iowa teams against 4 schools like Mizzou, Creighton, Nebby, KU, K-State, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisky, Minnesota. If the P5 teams don't want to play UNI/Drake, then maybe schools like USD, UND, SLU, UW-Milwaukee would match up against the MVC schools.

IMO ISU needs to take a hardline with Drake. Play at Hilton or no game. I don't have an issue with home&home with UNI. Currently they have a nationally recognized mid-major program.

 

[Rural]

The format of having the 4 in-state schools play each other has gotten stale IMO. Largely because Drake has been a really bad program.

Was thinking of a few ways to maybe energize the event.

1. Play mens/womens hoops doubleheader. For example yesterday: Iowa/UNI women then men's game in the afternoon. ISU/Drake women then mens game in evening session. I would sell session tickets, with a discount for people who buy both sessions.
2. Have a midwest hoopfest. Have 2 afternoon and 2 evening games. Match the 4 Iowa teams against 4 schools like Mizzou, Creighton, Nebby, KU, K-State, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisky, Minnesota. If the P5 teams don't want to play UNI/Drake, then maybe schools like USD, UND, SLU, UW-Milwaukee would match up against the MVC schools.

IMO ISU needs to take a hardline with Drake. Play at Hilton or no game. I don't have an issue with home&home with UNI. Currently they have a nationally recognized mid-major program.

UNI needs the same deal as Drake.

Play in Hilton or no game-period.