The American looking for Tourney site

[The PonyGrad]

The new American Athletic Conference has asked for bids to host the 2014 men's basketball tournament. Memphis, Hartford (UConn), Cincinnati, Philadelphia (Temple), Orlando and possibly a few others are expected to submit their proposals. The conference will go over the list and make a decision at the spring meetings in Ponte Vedra, Fla., May 19-22. It is still unknown if the men and women will conduct the tournaments at the same site/time. The old Big East did not with the men in New York and the women in Hartford.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... o-new-deal

[East Coast Mustang]

I thought the Palestra idea was pretty cool. Memphis isn't a bad trip either. Hartford would suck, put the women there. Cincy and Orlando don't seem too fun either.

[SMU 86]

American Airlines Center? After all it is known as the AAC as well. The AAC at the AAC.

[MustangStealth]

Memphis, Philadelphia, or Cinci would probably be best. Please not Tulsa ever again.

[hoopmanx]

PAlestra plz

[East Coast Mustang]

American Airlines Center? After all it is known as the AAC as well. The AAC at the AAC.

I feel as if UConn, Cincy, Temple will have a big say in where the conference tournament is, seeing as how they're the most prolific programs in the conference. I don't see them being too warm to the idea of Dallas

The Northeast makes the most sense to me- the Palestra would be awesome, NYC would be cool too, although the new Big East or ACC will lock down MSG and the A10 has a deal with the new Barclays Center through 2017. The Prudential Center in Newark would be another possibility, although Newark blows, it's close enough to NYC. What about DC? We don't have many teams in the immediate vicinity, but it's very accessible by train/bus/air and has a lot of grads from pretty much everywhere living there. I'm always surprised that more conferences don't hold their tournament at the Verizon Center - I think the ACC did it once a few years ago, but that's it. Sure as hell beats Greensboro for them.

Other than that, Memphis makes the most sense, seeing as how they're somewhat of the geographical middle of the conference.

[Digetydog]

American Airlines Center? After all it is known as the AAC as well. The AAC at the AAC.

I feel as if UConn, Cincy, Temple will have a big say in where the conference tournament is, seeing as how they're the most prolific programs in the conference. I don't see them being too warm to the idea of Dallas

The Northeast makes the most sense to me- the Palestra would be awesome, NYC would be cool too, although the new Big East or ACC will lock down MSG and the A10 has a deal with the new Barclays Center through 2017. The Prudential Center in Newark would be another possibility, although Newark blows, it's close enough to NYC. What about DC? We don't have many teams in the immediate vicinity, but it's very accessible by train/bus/air and has a lot of grads from pretty much everywhere living there. I'm always surprised that more conferences don't hold their tournament at the Verizon Center - I think the ACC did it once a few years ago, but that's it. Sure as hell beats Greensboro for them.

Other than that, Memphis makes the most sense, seeing as how they're somewhat of the geographical middle of the conference.

While Rock in Newark would be close enough to make me happy, there is no way the game will be scheduled there. There would be no local team to host (draw interest) and Newark is not a place anyone goes to visit.

Uconn - eventually, I expect the tourney to be held in Hartford, but the Uconn/Hartford fans are going to need a few years to get used to their new conference foes. They are not "excited" right now.

Philadelphia - Philly has probably the best college basketball fans in the nation. If the AAC tourney were played in the Palestra, I bet the crowds would be pretty good. Furthermore, players would be exited and local media and businesses might actually support the game.

[EastStang]

If you want a venue which will pack the arena, then Philly is probably your best bet. Easy drive from Hartford, Temple already there. Cincy a days' drive. Easy flights from Tampa and Orlando. Memphis is the most strategically located and at least for 2014 with Louisville still in the mix it would make sense. So perhaps the championship could float like the ACC Championship does (Atlanta, Charlotte, Greensboro, DC).

[Dukie]

For the *conference,* this is a no-brainer: Palestra. Not worth it to play in NYC in the shadow of others, and I don't want to see the tourney on anyone's home court. It's bush league.

The sticking point may be convincing those schools who could fill many, many more seats than they will be allotted in a Moody-sized building like the Palestra that it is worth it.

[CenTXpony]

I say DC, Charlotte, or maybe Atlanta... Each have NBA arenas and are fairly central to all schools. Really partial to Charlotte as I took a golfing trip to the Carolinas and found the courses to be some of the best I've ever played.

[Dukie]

I say DC, Charlotte, or maybe Atlanta... Each have NBA arenas and are fairly central to all schools. Really partial to Charlotte as I took a golfing trip to the Carolinas and found the courses to be some of the best I've ever played.

The "crowds" in Charlotte would be embarrassing. Great golf, decent ACC tourney site, terrible AAC tourney site.

[BigT3x]

I say DC, Charlotte, or maybe Atlanta... Each have NBA arenas and are fairly central to all schools. Really partial to Charlotte as I took a golfing trip to the Carolinas and found the courses to be some of the best I've ever played.

Who exactly would be showing up for an AAC game at any of those venues?

[WildHorse]

I thought the Palestra idea was pretty cool. Memphis isn't a bad trip either. Hartford would suck, put the women there. Cincy and Orlando don't seem too fun either.

Hell no. UConn has enough advantages in women's hoops. No reason they should get to basically host the tournament, too. Put both tournaments in the same site. I vote for Dallas first, then Philly.