Dream Location

[Guest]

If you could have the 2006 MDIA Championship Tournament anywhere you wanted, where would it be?

[LaxRef]

If you could have the 2006 MDIA Championship Tournament anywhere you wanted, where would it be?

Your poll is flawed. Realistically, you should either be listing either ALL metro areas or ALL names of specific suburbs. People who've never heard of Blaine or Overland Park might vote for them if you listed Minneapolis or Kansas City.

[lil lady lax fan]

What?!! Tahiti's not on the list???

[DanGenck]

I would vote for Philadelphia, Memorial Day weekend, right before the DI game.

[Sonny]

I would vote for Philadelphia, Memorial Day weekend, right before the DI game.

Good call. Think they have room for 6+ fields and hi-speed wireless internet access?

[DanGenck]

I would vote for Philadelphia, Memorial Day weekend, right before the DI game.

Good call. Think they have room for 6+ fields and hi-speed wireless internet access?

Oh how wonderful it would be...

[oaklandlax]

I think doing it the same time would be great! We would only be allowed to bring the 4 top teams. I think setting a playoff system like the NCAA with regions would have to be done though. With the growth of the MDIA and the amount of money all of the teams spend ,this would be a great budget cut for the teams. We would not have to spend 1 week at a hotel, or 1 week of bus or van rental. Plus its the superbowl of lacrosse, how cool would it be for the MDIA to be apart of this. Just my opinion feel free to respond.

One last thing Sonny, you would be in heaven. Also the league would not have to organize that much.

[Sonny]

I think doing it the same time would be great! We would only be allowed to bring the 4 top teams. I think setting a playoff system like the NCAA with regions would have to be done though. With the growth of the MDIA and the amount of money all of the teams spend ,this would be a great budget cut for the teams. We would not have to spend 1 week at a hotel, or 1 week of bus or van rental. Plus its the superbowl of lacrosse, how cool would it be for the MDIA to be apart of this. Just my opinion feel free to respond.

One last thing Sonny, you would be in heaven. Also the league would not have to organize that much.

Putting my own feelings aside - There are many folks that enjoy the ambiance and feel of the current tournament set-up with all 16 teams at one location. The vibe of being able to see all the top rated MDIA teams in action at one site is a pretty big deal. We would lose that if we went to a final game or final four.

Also, if we went to a regional-type playoff system - We would be reproducing the previous weekend's conference championship tournament. (example: Congrats Oakland - You just beat Michigan & Michigan State to win the CCLA title. You are in the Midwest regional with Michigan & Michigan State, starting on Thursday in Detroit.) Unless we can get a big bucks sponsor and/or massively increase MDIA dues, we can't afford to send teams to across the country on a moments notice (like the NCAA does for the hoops tournament).

I also fear that our event would be "lost" in the shuffle if it was played anywhere near or on the NCAA Final Four Weekend/Site.

There are lots of pro's and con's to altering the current system. While it's not perfect and we can always strive to improve the event for all participants & fans, I think it's working just fine.

[John Paul]

It's certainly something we've considered. Our feeling is that we can't go to a final four type of event until we've found a significant revenue source (like $200,000 a year or more) to pay for the travel of the final four teams in both A and B. Think of it this way - Each team would have to play in a prelimary round or two, that for many teams would require national travel if you seed the tournament instead of making it regional (which would be unfair if many highly ranked teams were from the same region). You would need sites and staffing for each of these tournaments. You'd probably still need conference tournaments beforehand as well to allow more teams to participate in the post season. Then, after the quarterfinals, the final four teams would have to make arrangements to fly to the finals site in just three or four days. It's pretty expensive to try to book 50 plane tickets at the last minute, thus the need to find funding to subsidize them.

Towbey, is Warrior willing to put up the $200K every year to get this done? Throw that one by Burns for me will you? We can call it the PIMP MAC DADDY MDIA PLAYERS CLUB PARTY. I'm counting on you to get this done.

[oaklandlax]

Alright, I get the point but I do love your request JP. I will get right on that. 200K is that all? Does the MDIA take food stamps? I think Burns might love that

[John Westfall]

I'm just sold on Denver because it is a quick drive up I25 from my home in New Mexico and it has a lot to do for Fans and Families. Lacrosse is very big in the Denver area. There is no accident why Colorado and Colorado State have so much talent.

I like the Philadelphia idea but I grew up 95 miles from Philly and I have seen enough of Philly for a lifetime. But it would be great if some how our Tourney coordinated with the NCAA at the same location.

I also agree with Sonny about the current 16 Team format. I really like that format and I would like to take the week with my Sons and watch some great Lacrosse either in Blaine or Texas. I'm hopeful in 2007 to see it in Denver and maybe one day down the road New Mexico will get a bid.

Wherever it ends up it will be a great Tourney for the MDIA and the growth of the sport of Lacrosse.

All the best,

[LaxRef]

But it would be great if some how our Tourney coordinated with the NCAA at the same location.

No offense, but I think this is an awful idea. Consider how much lower the attendance is for the DII/DIII championships. I think it would be tough to shoehorn the MDIA championships into that weekend and get people to show up.

[John Westfall]

I hear you Laxref. But I do like Denver as a place to hold the MDIA National Championship.

All the best,

[shrekjr]

I think all lacrosse games at all levels should be played in Hawaii.