MEAC HOOPS HEADING TO NORFOLK

[Snapper]

Don't forget Norfolk has Rail transit now. I think it heads to the beach. We went to VA beach this past year for Vacation and took a visit to Norfolk still nice like we remembered from our EC days.

[oleschoolaggie]

its a good move.  its always good to go to a city where you're really wanted and is centrally located for the conference.  the problem in winston is that the local team, a&t, always bailed out of the tournament too early every year.  otherwise, attendance would've gotten a very large boost from the aggies.

fortunately, both nsu and hampton have had teams to make it to the finals in recent years.  that'll help attendance if that trend continues.  but if not, it'll be interesting to see what the attendance figures will look like.

hopefully this year both the aggies and eagles will still be alive at least by friday's games.  if so, the last year in winston will be a big year.  hope to get some folk from savannah in the mix too...

[eagle pride]

Perhaps the tourney will grow in VA.   

I thought it grew in NC.  However, I like this move.

[Rams3]

Great Move. The Community will support the Tourney as well!!! 

[JBROB]

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/analysis-norfolk-makes-sense-meac-tourneys

Analysis: Norfolk makes sense for MEAC tourneys

By Rich Radford
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 3, 2012

With no hometown team, the MEAC's presence was decidedly flat. Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the 14,665-seat home of the Wake Forest men's and women's teams, was just too big. The attendance last year for the men's and women's championship games combined was 8,936.

Scope, which seats 8,500 for basketball, should be just right.

This may be just the right size.

[Decks]

Until the MEAC improves it's quality of basketball the attendance is not going to improve (unless you have a NSU vs. Hampton finals).  How attractive is a tournament where 9 or 10 teams have losing records? I hate comparing the MEAC Tournament to the CIAA Tournament but if there's anything we can glean from them is that their foundation was built with great basketball.

[Maroon and Gray]

Until the MEAC improves it's quality of basketball the attendance is not going to improve (unless you have a NSU vs. Hampton finals).  How attractive is a tournament where 9 or 10 teams have losing records? I hate comparing the MEAC Tournament to the CIAA Tournament but if there's anything we can glean from them is that their foundation was built with great basketball.

You know well the die hard FCS supporters "we gonna stay FCS come hell or high water" don't want to hear that.  It's something about that ESPN scroll that just does something to some people.

[Black Spartan]

My two cents.

The MEAC will be better off in Hampton Roads if NSU is having a good year more so than Hampton. Hampton doesn't have support unless they are playing Norfolk State. Now that NSU has administrators that are not anti-athletics. The revenue programs have had a chance to grow(A MEAC title in football and a legit shot at a b'ball one as well both in the same year and what will be a first in each as a MEAC school).

For those of you who haven't been to Scope since the CIAA was here. Norfolk has a light rail system but it doesn't go to the ocean front. It does however go as far as Newtown Rd(which has several nice Hotels. And has a stop within half a block of the Scope.

Parking will not be a problem at all. The city had to build up parking to support the new attractions to downtown. Norfolk has built a first rate high end mall (MacArthur Mall)  http://www.shopmacarthur.com/ next door to the Scope Complex and has invested over the past five years, a kings ransom for the development of Granby Street which is a block west of the Scope and McArthur Mall. Granby Street runs parallel to the Mall and Scope for about 5 or six blockes or so of Nice restaurants, night clubs, sports bars, performing arts theaters, ect. It has become one of several areas in Hampton Roads for a fun night out on the town.

The Scope itself is not going to compare to any of the bball venues in NC. Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, & Charlotte all have modern, state of the art facilities. They put all of the Virginia facilities to shame (except The University of Virginias' John Paul Jones Arena ). But the Richmond, Hampton coliseums' and the Norfolk Scope, though all VERY nicely renovated are all outdated by about 30 years. They all need to make an appointment with a wrecking ball and start from scratch if they expect to ever compete again. But as mentioned Scope has made major renovations that make it a comfortable place to take in a basketball game(as long as you don't need luxery boxes) The Virginia High School League has moved it's Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament there for the past two seasons. I noticed the changes in Scope when I took in the games. I was impressed. They also have very nice convention spaces below the arena(corporate parties) from what I've been told. Again nothing compared to the NC arenas but just so you know.

Finally. The Ocean front is dirt cheap in the winter mos. they practically give the rooms away. I know many locals who will spend a weekend in one of the luxery hotels with there significant other to take advantage of the rates and change of scenery. The Ocean front obviously isnt going to be in March what it will be 60 days after the MEAC is gone. But it's still got some nice fun things to do. But the better bet is about halfway between the Beach and Scope...City Center(aka Pembroke) They have a mall but they also have Great restauants, clubs, sports bars, nice hotels, and so on. The MEAC could do worst than Hampton Roads for its tournament.

[Thinkingaboutit]

I enjoyed Norfolk. I will attend again and all the seafood places (Capt George ??) Parking is okay if you pay, but during a blizzard, our alumni had buses  come to the hotel and take us to the game.  (during a BLIZZARD) and the place was packed.   Yeah Norfolk is A okay with me.  (this restaurant I attempted to mention has a large buffet of everything in Chesapeake Bay and more).  Not sure of the name, but the CIAA tournament was always a cure for the slow season.

[Maroon and Gray]

Driving wise, since the light rail isn't available, how far between Scope and ocean front hotels?  What hotels are near the Scope?

[Black Spartan]

Driving wise, since the light rail isn't available, how far between Scope and ocean front hotels?  What hotels are near the Scope?

20 min drive down the expressway I-264. Too many to name, but it's a bunch of them all the major chains have a presence there.

[Maroon and Gray]

Are you talking presence @ the beach or near the Scope?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hamp man]

My two cents.

The MEAC will be better off in Hampton Roads if NSU is having a good year more so than Hampton. Hampton doesn't have support unless they are playing Norfolk State. Now that NSU has administrators that are not anti-athletics. The revenue programs have had a chance to grow(A MEAC title in football and a legit shot at a b'ball one as well both in the same year and what will be a first in each as a MEAC school).

For those of you who haven't been to Scope since the CIAA was here. Norfolk has a light rail system but it doesn't go to the ocean front. It does however go as far as Newtown Rd(which has several nice Hotels. And has a stop within half a block of the Scope.

Parking will not be a problem at all. The city had to build up parking to support the new attractions to downtown. Norfolk has built a first rate high end mall (MacArthur Mall)  http://www.shopmacarthur.com/ next door to the Scope Complex and has invested over the past five years, a kings ransom for the development of Granby Street which is a block west of the Scope and McArthur Mall. Granby Street runs parallel to the Mall and Scope for about 5 or six blockes or so of Nice restaurants, night clubs, sports bars, performing arts theaters, ect. It has become one of several areas in Hampton Roads for a fun night out on the town.

The Scope itself is not going to compare to any of the bball venues in NC. Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, & Charlotte all have modern, state of the art facilities. They put all of the Virginia facilities to shame (except The University of Virginias' John Paul Jones Arena ). But the Richmond, Hampton coliseums' and the Norfolk Scope, though all VERY nicely renovated are all outdated by about 30 years. They all need to make an appointment with a wrecking ball and start from scratch if they expect to ever compete again. But as mentioned Scope has made major renovations that make it a comfortable place to take in a basketball game(as long as you don't need luxery boxes) The Virginia High School League has moved it's Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament there for the past two seasons. I noticed the changes in Scope when I took in the games. I was impressed. They also have very nice convention spaces below the arena(corporate parties) from what I've been told. Again nothing compared to the NC arenas but just so you know.

Finally. The Ocean front is dirt cheap in the winter mos. they practically give the rooms away. I know many locals who will spend a weekend in one of the luxery hotels with there significant other to take advantage of the rates and change of scenery. The Ocean front obviously isnt going to be in March what it will be 60 days after the MEAC is gone. But it's still got some nice fun things to do. But the better bet is about halfway between the Beach and Scope...City Center(aka Pembroke) They have a mall but they also have Great restauants, clubs, sports bars, nice hotels, and so on. The MEAC could do worst than Hampton Roads for its tournament.

Hampton Has the largest attendance in home games in the MEAC.....IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.......

[Capler]

'The Scope itself is not going to compare to any of the bball venues in NC. Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, & Charlotte all have modern, state of the art facilities. They put all of the Virginia facilities to shame'

You left out Fayetteville.

[Pirate12]

This is a good move for Hampton--no long distance travel. But the question is: Will other team's fans come out if their team is not playing? With the increase in gas and inflation in general, a lot of people are just talking about being one and done! I don't see Morgan State people sitting through a Hampton vs. Del State game. In all honesty, I doubt many Hampton people would spend money to watch anybody other  than say a Hampton against Norfolf State. Just my opinion.