2006 IA Tournament will be in Dallas

[Daniel Morris]

I am guessing Dave was concerned with lights for photography purposes. Also, lights for soccer are one thing, but being able to see that little white lacrosse ball moving at tremendous speeds, that is a horse of a different color.

[CP18]

Another angle not discussed is the opportunity for great support from the largest growing lacrosse community under the US Lacrosse umbrella, the North Texas Chapter, which is predominately made up of Dallas! Look for great support from local youth teams, high school programs, men's club players, and teams from the Lone Star Alliance.

Everyone keeps pointing out potential negatives about Highland Park's stadium, lets just keep in mind how image wise this is a huge step for our championship venue, a real stand alone stadium, not the 'championship' field at a major complex.

[Andy Sharp]

Just for those who didn't go to Blaine, this is how it was set-up:

I am sure NTX will be very hospitable, especially people wise, I've been to games in 75 degree sun in February, loved it, let's hope for the same come May.

[Kyle Berggren]

For people talking about booking tickets, losing deposits and so on, most major airlines have a group desk. Alaska for instance has a 24 hour hold on tickets, no charge, no problem. I would contact group desks with your conerns and arrangements, or even a travel agent, and go from there. Families can get deals going places in the continental US, why can't a team? If you have a few teams that are most likely going, make a league reservation, UMLL, CCLA, whatever, winner takes the tickets and accomidations.

[CyLaxKeeper00]

This decision has nothing to do with the UMLL. It is unfair to characterize it that way as if US Lacrosse was trying to insult or punish them in some way. That is just not the case.

What it has to do with is addressing the numerous logistical problems with the venue last year. They have already been well documented by those that were in attendance last year. Apparently, their bid either didn't adequately address those issues or the organizers decided that the Dallas bid was the better venue overall.

I've held my toungue about USL's handling of this issue, the USLIA-MDIA and the tournament for some time. I will continue to do so on the latter two for a bit longer.

But with respect to the first issue (siting the tourney) I'll make the following comments:

First, I'll make any type of significant bet that USL will not allow the championship back in Minnesota.

Second, with all due respect to John Paul, it is my opinion that the delay is the result of USL's focus on the upcoming coaches convention, not anything else.


Rob

http://forums.uslia.com/viewtopic.php?p=30047#30047

[CyLaxKeeper00]

In the press release it said that they 2006 and 2007 IA Championships would be held in Dallas

anyone have the press release that announced blaine as the site for 2005??

[CyLaxKeeper00]

years on record 48

average temp 73 F
average high 83 F
all-time high 103 F
average low 63 F
all-time low 41 F

av morning humidity 87%
av evening humidity 53%

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weat ... =&units=us

[bste_lax]

If you guys want a cheap deal on hotel, I might be able to talk my parents into allowing their backyard open to camping.





J/K of course.

[cjwilhelmi]

If you have a few teams that are most likely going, make a league reservation, UMLL, CCLA, whatever, winner takes the tickets and accomidations.

What a great idea. I think it would be especially helpful with the WCLL and CCLA.

[TexOle]

I do think Dallas is a lot cheaper to travel to than MSP. It is a cheaper city. Hotels near the High 5 area are plentiful and cheap. There are probably more places to eat and hang out in that area. My favorite would be Jake's. You have to love a place where you can get a burger, tots, and beer in the drive thru. I would also argue that it is much cheaper to fly to Dallas. There are plenty of alternative airports like OKC and Austin. These are both about 3 hours. Some teams will also be able to use Southwest. If you really want to help with making travel more affordable join the fight to repeal the Wright Ammendment. Also it will be easier to drive to Dallas. The people from MN and the central states should consider driving. It is not that far. Is Plano a great place for nightlife probably not, but it is not far from Addison.

The one nice thing about having the tournament up North is it gives the team a chance to host games. They usually don't get that chance. Just a thought.

[Sonny]

I do think Dallas is a lot cheaper to travel to than MSP. It is a cheaper city. Hotels near the High 5 area are plentiful and cheap. There are probably more places to eat and hang out in that area. My favorite would be Jake's. You have to love a place where you can get a burger, tots, and beer in the drive thru. I would also argue that it is much cheaper to fly to Dallas. There are plenty of alternative airports like OKC and Austin. These are both about 3 hours. Some teams will also be able to use Southwest. If you really want to help with making travel more affordable join the fight to repeal the Wright Ammendment. Also it will be easier to drive to Dallas. The people from MN and the central states should consider driving. It is not that far. Is Plano a great place for nightlife probably not, but it is not far from Addison.

The one nice thing about having the tournament up North is it gives the team a chance to host games. They usually don't get that chance. Just a thought.

This is an exaggeration TexOle. MN is a Northwest hub, just like Dallas is a Southwest hub. Travel is a 2-way street North and South. The midwest and the TX schools could bus to Blaine just as easily as the MN/IA/WI schools could bus to Texas. There were plenty of nightlight options on the northside of the Twin Cities close to Blaine, last year.

I think both cities will be about equal when it comes to travel costs.

[Brent Burns]

Actually, Dallas is close to I-35 N/S (Minnesota to Laredo) and to I-20 W/E(from the shining sea to another sea).

This goes without saying that Dallas is home to so many attractions- the Cowboys, the Mavericks, the Stars, the Burn, the Rangers, etc. You will have DFW. Matt can correct me, but I know there are a lot of eateries north around the 635 loop near Plano.

On an aside, if any one of you want a side trip outside of Dallas, you can go straight south on I-35 to Waco, take the University Parks exit and visit the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Standing outside of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, you will simply see the Baylor University campus.

In West, Texas, a little bit north of Waco, there are excellent places that make and sell kolaches. Going back to the Big D on I-35 north, you will see a sign saying, "Abbott", home of Willy Nelson.

Anyway, I will let other guys from Dallas mention excellent excurisons into the Big D.

[shrekjr]

Everyone is mentioning all the eating places on the loop in Dallas. Truth is there are two sections of Plano that each have most of those same restaurants, and many hotels from cheap to expensive. Plano is not a small town. Its population is about 250,000. The fields in Plano are actually right on the border of both cities of Plano and Allen. Allen is almost, but not quite, the same size as Plano, again with all the same restaurants and hotels. While there is nothing other than a couple of concession stands at Russell Creek park (which I'm sure will be open during the tournament), the options for fast food, sit down, fancy...whatever kind of restaurant you would like.....are all within just 5-10 minutes away in three different directions.

[bste_lax]

Matt can correct me, but I know there are a lot of eateries north around the 635 loop near Plano.

TONS of places along the tollway. Also have the Dallas Galleria as well as Willowbend Mall (Plano, not as great) and Stonebriar Mall (Frisco) which have tons of restaurants around it. Also up in Frisco near the mall you have a minor league hockey team (Texas Tornados?) for the Stars and the minor league baseball (Double A - Frisco RoughRiders) which could have games going on during all that week. That baseball stadium out there is very nice for a minor league team.

Also along Preston through Plano over into Dallas, tons of places/resturants to go.

Those are just some ideas not including the "big" things to do Downtown.

[danza]

a nice plus side of going to a church affiliated school... free lodging at a church or church member residences... we'll be saving 3000 dollars with the championships in dallas and all of the kids who go to school here and live in dalls (a ton) will be there... im really happy for very selfish reasons...
i am gonna trust that the ia will have the fields ready and better because it was a risk moving it...