Major sporting events in Greensboro

[Royal James]

Originally Posted by B-V-R

Did you even read TheQC’s post?

Yes.

Originally Posted by B-V-R

And my post said nothing about holding it in GSO every year.

I made no claim that it did.

Originally Posted by B-V-R

Maybe take some of your own advice and learn to read.

Thanks for the advice. Sorry that I hurt your feelings.

[NC Observer]

Originally Posted by The QC

But I think something else may also play a role. The tournament is at least partially about the fan experience. Greensboro is a great fan experience for those fans from NC because these fans already know where to eat, party, and best hotels. But this is not so fans of other teams outside NC. These fans have no allegiance to Greensboro. They simply want the best fan experience.

Also, fans from NC, SC, VA, will drive their cars and have access to their cars throughout the tourney. They can easily drive to the arena, back to the hotel, and out to eat. But those flying in from Miami, Boston, South Bend, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and maybe other places do not have that option. How difficult do you think it may be for 10k people without cars to catch an Uber or cab from the arena to a hotel after the game and all at the same time. Could that dampen the experience for those fans? I think so.

Also, on off days while the tourney is going on, does downtown Greensboro have enough restaurants and variety of restaurants to serve a large and varied group of people. Maybe they do. I don’t know. I am just asking the question. Others would know better than I.

Greensboro has hosted ACC tournaments for many years and I have never heard or read anything pertaining to folks complaining that they had a bad "fan experience". The fans come to watch basketball.

[Royal James]

Originally Posted by NC Observer

Greensboro has hosted ACC tournaments for many years and I have never heard or read anything pertaining to folks complaining that they had a bad "fan experience". The fans come to watch basketball.

I've read and heard lots about enhancing the fan experience. Its a big deal for Matt Brown:

"Greensboro’s organizers understand tradition alone won’t keep the city in play as a future host, Brown says.

With that in mind, the Coliseum has brought back its ACC FanFest at the Special Events Center, and also added a “Tailgate Zone” at the new Piedmont Hall venue on the complex’s grounds. That area features food trucks, live music, video boards showing live sports, and — for the first time at an ACC Men’s Tournament here, Brown says — alcohol sales.

"We’re trying to create a Final Four atmosphere, because that’s how much we respect the ACC Tournament. To us, it’s our Super Bowl. To us, this is our Final Four.”"

[NC Observer]

“Enhancing the fan experience” is smart, and is good business, but it has absolutely nothing to do with what I said in my previous post. If fans complained about having a poor “fan experience”, Greensboro would not be considered for any future tournaments as a host city, despite the changes being made by Matt Brown.

[Royal James]

Originally Posted by NC Observer

“Enhancing the fan experience” is smart, and is good business, but it has absolutely nothing to do with what I said in my previous post. If fans complained about having a poor “fan experience[”, Greensboro would not be considered for any future tournaments as a host city, despite the changes being made by Matt Brown.

Thats a circular argument that makes no sense. If the fan experience wasn't enhanced, then obviously attendees would find the experience lacking. Thus the need to enhance it. And many people did, in fact, raise concerns about the quality of the fan experience, Thats why Brown thought it important to enhance it. Etc., etc.

[NC Observer]

Originally Posted by Royal James

Thats a circular argument that makes no sense. If the fan experience wasn't enhanced, then obviously attendees would find the experience lacking. Thus the need to enhance it.

LOL , that's a circular argument if I ever heard one.

Originally Posted by Royal James

And many people did, in fact, raise concerns about the quality of the fan experience, Thats why Brown thought it important to enhance it. Etc., etc.

Matt told you this ? Was it local GSO organizers who told him this, or was it fans having a poor "fan experience" who told Matt this ? Having a tailgating-pig picking' in the parking lot will not make a material difference to diehard ACC fans, although it would be greatly enjoyed.

[SGMI]

I don't have much skin in this debate - but it is possible that some out of state people will come to Greensboro, knowing that it was the historically relevant host city, and wonder why. If management is making improvements to the experience, then some visitors may come away in agreement that it's a good central location to continue hosting the tournaments.

So, let the future reveal the results. We are not going to know for a while.

[NC Observer]

Originally Posted by SGMI

but it is possible that some out of state people will come to Greensboro, knowing that it was the historically relevant host city, and wonder why.

Yes. But nobody cares.

Originally Posted by SGMI

If management is making improvements to the experience, then some visitors may come away in agreement that it's a good central location to continue hosting the tournaments.

Yes. But nobody cares.