as for the low turnout when tournament was in MEM . . . dude, some of us just don't have that kinda $ to drop when we're all but guaranteed to be blown outta the gym! i know you do & that's cool, but most of us are in a position where we like a return on our investment. i'm sure i'm not the only one on here that's just a Herd fan -- i don't care about USM, UAB, UTEP, or any other team in our conference. when the herd's done, i'm done. i don't pay to go watch a movie i'm 99% sure i'm not gonna like or a concert i'm 99% sure i'm not gonna enjoy, & i'm not gonna drop that kinda change to watch bad basketball. 3 seasons ago was an absolute miracle & nobody saw that coming. i've been to MEM, i've seen & done whatever else is there that i'd care to see & do. if the herd doesn't have a snowball's chance at making the trip worthwhile, i'm not driving 18 hrs to watch us get blown out by some school half the country doesn't even know exists. i could've seen that here in hgtn all season long. by the time conference tourn rolls around, i'm done w/embarrassing losses, i'd had my fill by then.
i agree w/notion that Hgtn should be bidding for this. for the naysayers, i'd like to know who all these people are that won't be able to find lodging? where have they been for the last several yrs' tourns? MEM is gone now. who's going to bring this great following that we won't have room for? we've got at least 9 nice hotels b/w south point & b'ville, & that's not incl the "motels" off 29th St exit (red roof, days inn) or ashland or Teays Valley. you'll be able to hear a pin drop in that 17k-seat arena in birmingham. like andy said, a rockin' 9k-seater looks & sounds a WHOLE lot better than an empty 17k-seater.