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

[HFCS]

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.

I lived in Nebraska for 6 years. The state hates basketball and has the second worst major conference team in basketball history. Yeah, they should permanently be in the NCAA basketball rotation when DM does nothing but sell out every sport they get...wrestling, track, basketball.

 

[Tedcyclone]

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.

Des Moines is a million times better than Omaha.. Ive lived in both. Not even close.

Of all the places I've lived, Omaha may be the worst. I love Henry Doorly Zoo, thats it.

 

[cyclonebillski]

Shares is a DB. He had an agenda with that article. He didn't plan on complimenting Des Moines once, even if he thought it was great.

 

[SolarGarlic]

It was an awkward article. He talks about DSM only having one hangout near the arena and the later mentions that KU fans "love" the walk to Old Market. Old Market is a 15-20 minute walk from CenturyLink. I liked Omaha well enough, but I agree with the poster that mentioned how boring it is. That city has some cool spots, but the locals are laaaaaame.

 

[CarrollCyclone]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

Cuz they got runza? More targets?

 

[ISU42]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

You've been to both Omaha AND DES MOINES?!?! Holy crap you are well traveled!

 

[ISUboi12]

Omaha has been successfully hosting the CWS for 50+years and has planned an entire development within that city around that event. It is not surprising that they do NCAA events well and that is great for them. I don't think Des Moines needs to devote it's development around a few NCAA sporting events to keep up with Omaha. Des Moines (and Omaha for that matter) will never be known as a sports city. If Omaha wants to hang its hat on being a great city for hosting medium draw amateur athletics then let them do that. We should put our money toward developing better entertainment options available year round.

That developed area around centurylink is a ghost town all but one week each year. Des Moines should work on getting a MLS or NASL team, because I think we would support the **** out of that.

 

[ISU42]

Omaha has been successfully hosting the CWS for 50+years and has planned an entire development within that city around that event. It is not surprising that they do NCAA events well and that is great for them. I don't think Des Moines needs to devote it's development around a few NCAA sporting events to keep up with Omaha. Des Moines (and Omaha for that matter) will never be known as a sports city. If Omaha wants to hang its hat on being a great city for hosting medium draw amateur athletics then let them do that. We should put our money toward developing better entertainment options available year round.

That developed area around centurylink is a ghost town all but one week each year. Des Moines should work on getting a MLS or NASL team, because I think we would support the **** out of that.

You really think Des Moines/Iowa could support an MLS team?

 

[cyclone1975]

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.

This was our exact conversation for a good chunk of the 10 hour drive back home. Were you hiding in our back seat?

 

[acoustimac]

Completely accurate assessment.

 

[acoustimac]

Oklahoma City and KC are the gold standard in the Midwest. I'd rate OKC as the best. Have had a blast there.

 

[ISUboi12]

You really think Des Moines/Iowa could support an MLS team?

I do think Des Moines could support 20 games at 15000 people if Iowa State basketball can create that kind of draw in the middle of winter. Again, it would really depend on the venue and atmosphere.

I do not think the city will foot the franchise fee and the only person who could make something like that happen is Krause.

 

[canker2323]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

I've been to the CWS and NCAA tournament in Omaha. I don't remember a whole lot going on near the arena.

I've visited both towns a lot and Omaha and Des Moines feel about the same to me. Lots of driving and strip malls. Neither feel big, Omaha a little bigger, Des Moines a little whiter. Omaha is hillier which is nice.

People in Omaha think it is bigger than it really is.

You couldn't pay me enough to live in either place.

 

[ISU42]

I do think Des Moines could support 20 games at 15000 people if Iowa State basketball can create that kind of draw in the middle of winter. Again, it would really depend on the venue and atmosphere.

They might be able to do it, but I wouldn't compare college sports to professional sports. Especially a professional sport not a lot of Iowans watch.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Wfa is awesome from the outside but dark on the inside. Multipurpose arenas suck because of all that unused floor space during basketball games.

Also, why cant you leave between games? Why can only rich sections have alcohol? Why cant they show other games?

 

[cyclonedave25]

I do think Des Moines could support 20 games at 15000 people if Iowa State basketball can create that kind of draw in the middle of winter. Again, it would really depend on the venue and atmosphere.

I do not think the city will foot the franchise fee and the only person who could make something like that happen is Krause.

In Central Iowa, College basketball (namely Iowa State basketball) is a lot more popular than MLS. Iowa State has a top 25 program and has for a few years running. Look at it this way, the Chicago Fire's average home attendance in 2015 was 16,000. The Chicago metro has 9.5 million people. Des Moines metro is only 611K.

 

[kingcy]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

It is?

 

[MartyFine]

I've been to both cities, and other than the crime factor in some areas, Omaha is heads and shoulders above Des Moines, but that is mostly because Omaha is so much larger.

Omaha is like the Paris of Nebraska

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Wfa is awesome from the outside but dark on the inside. Multipurpose arenas suck because of all that unused floor space during basketball games.

Also, why cant you leave between games? Why can only rich sections have alcohol? Why cant they show other games?

Oh, good grief.

The sessions set up has been around for quite a while, I believe. It's not a Des Moines thing, it's an NCAA thing. Otherwise, they would sell tickets for individual games rather than for sessions. And there would be too much delay clearing out between the games. People were lined up for blocks to get back in for the second session on Thursday.

NCAA rules on the alcohol. There was a package offered with our tickets that you could purchase, where you could consume alcohol in-between games inside the Well, but you couldn't take the alcohol to your seats. There was plenty of alcohol to be purchased between sessions at HyVee hall and at the Hoops & Hops party.

NCAA rules on showing the other games as well. Count your blessings; Des Moines managed to talk them into allowing ISU's games on half of the concourse TV's.

Anything else you want to whine about? I mean, you already made these complaints in a very special thread of your own, and your questions were answered there, many times over.