MEAC HOOPS HEADING TO NORFOLK

[goody26]

Norfolk lures MEAC hoop tournaments
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Home court?
Norfolk State and Hampton University play in the MEAC, whose champions gain automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.
Hampton won the men's and women's tournaments last year. Norfolk State currently leads the MEAC men's basketball race.


By Harry Minium
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 1, 2012
NORFOLK

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments will come to Norfolk for at least the next three years, officials will announce at a news conference Thursday morning at Scope.

The MEAC and Norfolk have agreed to a three-year contract, with a two-year option to renew, to play the tournaments at Scope beginning in March 2013, according to sources who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to release the information.

City officials, led by Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, have long tried to attract the MEAC tournaments to Norfolk, saying it will fill hotel rooms and restaurants and increase the city's profile.

Norfolk State and Hampton University play in the MEAC, whose champions gain automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. Its men's basketball championship game is televised on ESPN2.



FULL STORY: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/norfolk-lures-meac-hoop-tournaments

[The Sloping Hills and Verdent Green]

Has Scope been renovated in recent years?   Is it still used for basketball games since NSU and  ODU have their own on campus arenas?

[Professor]

Scope is bad. But the location is ideal. I wish they would go to ODU or use Hampton gym

The city has poured more than $12 million into renovating Scope in recent years, replacing its seating, adding new scoreboards, lighting and sound systems and renovating locker rooms and concession stands.

[goody26]

I went to see Sade back in the Augest and surprise as the up grades they have done in Scope. If anything Scope will be a lot cozier with only 10000 seats.

[aggiegrad2009]

Good move, never been in the Scope but love the Tidewater area....I guess this will be my winter/spring trip to VA now........

[HBCU]

This move will save Hampton and Norfolk travel monies and keep Dennis The Menace near Dr. Harvey for advice.  Poor FAMU, BCC, SCSU and SAV State, all the way to Norfolk for some home cooking.  Home Team area advantage will be great for putting some butts in those seats tournament time.  This may work, but no luxury boxes.  You see what happen at Durham County Stadium this past football season with not having luxury boxes.  ECSU's, Mickey, Jimmy and Willie had to eat their chicken wings outside.  My, My, My, no luxury boxes for those D1  Chancellors/Presidents.  Sounds like Section 8 production too me. LOL

[The Sloping Hills and Verdent Green]

I have not been inside of Scope since the CIAA tournament moved out of there in the late 1980s.  I always enjoyed going to game there, but parking was a slight problem back then.  I can only imagine that the parking has gotten a lot worse since then.

I am not sure how much better the attendance will be in Norfolk.  When the CIAA was at Scope back in the 1980s Hampton still did not have a very large following and they were in the championship game a couple of those years.  Norfolk State fans always came out in huge numbers, but their fan base has declined in recent years.

The Tidewater area is always great to visit.  I am looking forward to going back to Norfolk. 

How is the Hampton Coliseum?  I have never been inside of that building.  Has it been renovated?

[eagle pride]

I love the area.  Maybe I will start my winter vacations again.

[JBROB]

Good move. 

[DJTheRealist]

 

[Jaimac]

Perhaps the tourney will grow in VA.   

[wssupickle]

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/feb/02/wsmain01-meac-moving-tourneys-to-norfolk-ar-1882113/

[The Sloping Hills and Verdent Green]

Perhaps the tourney will grow in VA.   

 

The mindset of the majority of the schools in the MEAC will have to change.  Basketball is not a top priority with the alumni and students of most of the schools.   A lot of the alumni of MEAC schools still go to the CIAA.

[Maroon and Gray]

Perhaps the tourney will grow in VA.   

 

The mindset of the majority of the schools in the MEAC will have to change.  Basketball is not a top priority with the alumni and students of most of the schools.   A lot of the alumni of MEAC schools still go to the CIAA.

Are you thinking that 'mindset' can't change?

[y04185]

Perhaps the tourney will grow in VA.   

 

The mindset of the majority of the schools in the MEAC will have to change.  Basketball is not a top priority with the alumni and students of most of the schools.   A lot of the alumni of MEAC schools still go to the CIAA.

The MEAC needs to promote great ticket and hotel deals.  Especially hotels on the beach.  The hotels on the beach are already discounted for that time of the year.  I think they can sell it.  Also, the MEAC can give away tickets to the Navy for the early round games.  Those in uniform get in free.