Why didn't the Big 4 Classic work?

[MartyFine]

Did EIU ever state a reason for why they were opting out of it?

Big 10 moving to 20 conference games allowed for the opt-out...

 

[jsb]

I wouldn't say it didnt work. The main reason its over is crybaby Fran was too scared to play UNI anywhere but Iowa City right?

Living 10 minutes from the arena Ive been to the classic every year. I think its a great thing for the city of Des Moines. Up until the last year or 2 the crowds were great, alot of that has to do with the teams being down also.


I think it definitely had some negatives though, the crowds Drake and UNI brought could barely fill one section. I would say in my experience the crowds have been 60% Iowa State. The atmosphere in there is lacking also compared to Hilton. This may come as a shock to some of you, but fans of the four teams normally get along at this thing. Ive never seen one incident in 6 years and I enjoy talking basketball with fans of opposing teams.

I'm personally sad to see it go, it would be great though if Iowa State could still get a yearly game here and possibly bring in a good opponent. I think I remember them playing Ohio State and Bradley in the early days of WFA.

I am on the record as liking it.

But I don’t give a **** if it’s good for Des Moines. And I’d much rather have a home game than a neutral site game if it isn’t drake or UNI.

As far as I’m concerned I hope this is the last non NCAA game we play at Wells Fargo.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

There are a lot of reasons the Big 4 failed:

1. Drake has been a pretty bad program the last 10 years. If you are an Iowa State or Iowa fan- why would you pay $50 to watch your team play Drake?
2. As a Cyclone season ticket holder, I would rather see the UNI or Drake games at Hilton. IMO by playing the Big 4 Classic devalued my season ticket, especially the years when UNI came to Hilton. Even though Drake hasn't been a great team, the fact they are a local team is more interesting than watching ISU play Eastern Illinois, Southern, etc.
3. Most fans aren't interested in hanging out at Wells Fargo for close to 5 hours to watch 2 games. I think they made a mistake and should have sold single session tickets and maybe a reduced priced for both sessions.
4. Timing is also tough. If it is early December the Big 4 Classic competes against Conference Championship games. Closer to Christmas and it is tough to give up a big part of the day to watch basketball. Again lots of competition- early family Christmas celebrations, company holiday parties, Christmas shopping, etc.

Personally, I think Des Moines would be better hosting a 4-8 team tournament. Maybe play round 1 at campus sites and then have 2 Friday night games and consolation/championship games on Saturday. I would have more interest in watching and paying for a second game if the winner of that game was going to play the Cyclones the next day.

I thought he US Bank Classic was an interesting concept of inviting teams of all levels for a 3 day event. Not sure how attendance was, but it sounded like a fun concept.

I went to the US Bank Classic. Announced attendance was ~3200 on Saturday and there was no way there were that many people in there. They had to lose massive amounts of money.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I went to the US Bank Classic. Announced attendance was ~3200 on Saturday and there was no way there were that many people in there. They had to lose massive amounts of money.

Ticket sales were never going to matter for the US Bank Classic. Per the NCAA it was mandatory for US Bank Stadium to host a basketball game prior to the final four in March. Instead of going through all of the setup work for one game, they decided to host a multi day event. I doubt the USB Classic will be a thing moving forward.

 

[Clonehomer]

Pretty sure having a true tournament would be problematic. It might count as the one tournament teams are allowed to have.

I thought the tournament rule is only for an exemption to play more games. If a school were to count it as 2 games I thought they could do it.

 

[cyclonpediaJoe]

I would pay $75 a ticket to watch ISU at the Knapp center.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I thought the tournament rule is only for an exemption to play more games. If a school were to count it as 2 games I thought they could do it.

Yes, they could probably count it as 2 games but then Iowa and Iowa State would need to drop off a home "buy" game to make room. This won't happen...

 

[JM4CY]

I would pay $75 a ticket to watch ISU at the Knapp center.

How much left for beer then?

 

[ISUTex]

Wow. People are way to ******* picky with basketball arenas. Yes, if you sit behind the basket, you will not have a good view. Yes, the seats are a little farther away, but it's not that bad. I've sat behind the basket at Hilton and the view was terrible. I also feel like I'm going to tumble down the stairs like a slinky in the upper deck of Hilton when I go for a Clone Cone. I love Hilton, but WFA isn't as bad as people on here are making it out to be.

 

[Cyrocks]

So why is it a bad arena for basketball? I've watched many games there, as well as Hilton. I'm not getting the hate for WFA.

I will go see a NCAA first round game for either men's or women's basketball - heck even an NIT game -- at Wells. It is fun. I like watching different teams play. I don't have a dog in the fight so I can enjoy great plays both teams make during the game.

But I am not going to spend extra to sit there and listen to obnoxious Iowa, Drake, and UNI fans cheer against ISU. That is the bottom line.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I'm personally sad to see it go, it would be great though if Iowa State could still get a yearly game here and possibly bring in a good opponent. I think I remember them playing Ohio State and Bradley in the early days of WFA.

What benefits would that give to ISU? 30 miles from a much better venue, that is well designed and has much better parking. Why would you want to give a "good" opponent any extra advantage?

 

[jsb]

Wow. People are way to ******* picky with basketball arenas. Yes, if you sit behind the basket, you will not have a good view. Yes, the seats are a little farther away, but it's not that bad. I've sat behind the basket at Hilton and the view was terrible. I also feel like I'm going to tumble down the stairs like a slinky in the upper deck of Hilton when I go for a Clone Cone. I love Hilton, but WFA isn't as bad as people on here are making it out to be.

Ehhh...seats are much more crowded in Wells Fargo. No leg room.

 

[MJN]

I think for a lot of season ticket holders they think I already have season tickets why do I have to go spend an Extra $100+ bucks (assuming 2 tickets) to get my equivalent seat in Hilton for a game that already should be in Hilton?

Non season ticket holders think why would I pay that kind of money to go to a game not in Hilton when I can go to a game in Hilton for less?

I know its been pitched to Iowa fans in DSM as an opportunity to see the team and not have to travel 2 hours to do so. Not the case for ISU with Ames so close.

 

[Macloney]

I think for a lot of season ticket holders they think I already have season tickets why do I have to go spend an Extra $100+ bucks (assuming 2 tickets) to get my equivalent seat in Hilton for a game that already should be in Hilton?

Non season ticket holders think why would I pay that kind of money to go to a game not in Hilton when I can go to a game in Hilton for less?

I know its been pitched to Iowa fans in DSM as an opportunity to see the team and not have to travel 2 hours to do so. Not the case for ISU with Ames so close.

This. I am not going to travel 3 hours to see the Clones in DSM when I could just drive an extra 30 minutes to see them under the eyes of God at Hilton.

 

[capitalcityguy]

What benefits would that give to ISU? 30 miles from a much better venue, that is well designed and has much better parking. Why would you want to give a "good" opponent any extra advantage?

Because you can create interesting match-ups with quality teams that might not be willing to come to Hilton.

 

[Cycsk]

Because you can create interesting match-ups with quality teams that might not be willing to come to Hilton.

I vaguely remember Jamie Pollard saying "never again" after the Ohio State loss at Wells Fargo years ago. He regretted given up Hilton Magic for a big paycheck. Similar to the Farmageddon series.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I vaguely remember Jamie Pollard saying "never again" after the Ohio State loss at Wells Fargo years ago. He regretted given up Hilton Magic for a big paycheck. Similar to the Farmageddon series.

Might be a dumb question, but would it have to cost us a home game? (I assume it would be an opponent that wouldn't agree to Hilton game). This is occurring all the time in college football to allow some interesting match-ups that wouldn't otherwise occur. (see Ohio State vs TCU).

 

[cyclonpediaJoe]

How much left for beer then?

Oh i'll get my beers

 

[NoCreativity]

What benefits would that give to ISU? 30 miles from a much better venue, that is well designed and has much better parking. Why would you want to give a "good" opponent any extra advantage?

Kansas and K-State play at the Sprint Center every year and dont seem to have a problem with it. Manhattan is a good 2 hour drive from Kansas City anyways and we are talking a game 30 minutes from Ames.

If you cant get good teams to come to Hilton then why not schedule them at a close neutral site? Teams do this all the time all over the country. You act like this would be a huge disadvantage for Iowa State but it could also prove to be a huge positive. Its also good for the city of Des Moines for Iowa State to come here once a year.

 

[NoCreativity]

What benefits would that give to ISU? 30 miles from a much better venue, that is well designed and has much better parking. Why would you want to give a "good" opponent any extra advantage?

I roll my eyes when I hear people whine about the parking at Wells Fargo. Seriously, there is a giant parking garage 2 blocks away, not to mention the surface lots that Principal owns. I've been to hundreds of events there, never had to pay for parking and drove straight out of my spot without waiting in line at all to get out.

Its not hard at all if you actually know what you are doing and willing to walk a couple blocks. If you want to try to squeeze into the main Wells Fargo lot like everyone from out of town then you are going to run into some heavy traffic.