WCC Arenas

After a conversation yesterday with a fellow CCer, thought I would post the "arena" sizes of our fellow WCC memebers.



SMC – 3,500

USF – 3,000

Gonzaga – 6,000

LMU – 4,200

Portland – 4,800

SD – 5,100

SC – 4,500

Pepperdine - 3,100

Total: 34,200



Mariott Center - 22,700



I bring this up to offer some perspective as to why some BYU fans may look at moving to the WCC as a step down. I don't necessarily think it was a step down, more like a step sideways, but I certainly can understand why some fans may think it as such.

I don't know how anyone could logically argue that it wasn't a step down. I see it as a major step down and am sad to say a major step in the direction of sports irrelevancy at BYU! I don't care that Gonzaga has had a fair measure of success in the NCAA. I don't care that the WCC could get potentially 3 bids. Year in year out the level of athlete in the WCC from top to bottom is way less than the MWC and way less than BYU and we only denigrate our status and potential by affiliating ourselves with them.



Oh an by the way to add to the list.

KY Oldham County High School where my son attends...3,600

IN New Castle High School...9,325

AZ Chinle...7,000

TX Loose fieldhouse...7,500

KY Pulaski County...7,000



For just a few high school gyms across the country.



Go Cougs!



L Hatton

Louisville, KY

i wonder where the level of athelete witll be in a few years with all of the publicity the league is getting this year? We can help build the league.



Sagrain had the MWC 6th last year and 5th this year. The WCC is 9th this year and was lower last year, I think about 12th.

I believe that Gonzaga and SMC are as good as what we have been seeing in the MWC, but at the same time, the schools are smaller in the WCC and therefore their fan base and facilities. I think at the most it was a step sideways, but probably down just a notch. As good as any WCC school can be, I just can't see them matching what was the MWC--which isn't saying much. It was the best choice we had at the moment. If the MWC wouldn't have been so thoroughly stupid and blinded by BYU envy, they would have left BYU's other sports in the MWC and we would have continued those rivalries on.



Way besides the issue of stepping up or down, so far I have liked what I have seen in our membership in the WCC. I'd still like to play the likes of a major conference schedule, but that just seems like a dream these days.

It's a step down. The dregs of the MWC had some talent and could threaten any given night, but beyond SMU and GU this conference is a joke. Sorry, it's true.

I believe if the MWC invited out other sports we would turn them down. We do need to upgrade our OOC schedule. Wish we could have had a bunch of Pac10.2 teams. We would have killed them all.

The real question is why aren't those arenas filled to the brim with BYU fans? Tickets to LMU games are very inexpensive. Even when I was growing up watching Bo Kimble.

I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

scott715 wrote:
I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

ABYUFAN wrote:

I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

I think I've got my wife convinced to fly out and take a long weekend in SF to catch both the USF and Santa Clara games. I am trying to get a couple of other friends to go as well (birdie702?). I'll see you all there.



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It's a step down for sure, but there are a few things to think about.



1. If you compiled the MWC's teams that have had recent success (last 10 years, say) you've got UNLV, us, SDSU just recently, UNM, and, erm, Utah. I miss MWC conference hoops, but 2/4 of the other teams that made it good aren't gonna be in the MWC anymore.



2. I'd actually like to see the attendance numbers for the MWC. I'm not sure if recruits care all that much if they're playing in an empty arena vs an empty gymnasium. The Pit, the T&M and SDSU's place are great. TCU looked like an abandoned arena everytime I saw it.



3. Like a few said, it was really the efforts of the traditional powers in the MWC that helped SDSU and to a lesser extent CSU hire quality coaches and give their b-ball programs some love. Hopefully one or two other WCC schools make the transition here soon.



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BYULV wrote:

scott715 wrote:
I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

I think I've got my wife convinced to fly out and take a long weekend in SF to catch both the USF and Santa Clara games. I am trying to get a couple of other friends to go as well (birdie702?). I'll see you all there.



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I am debating going, but it will depend on whether a babysitter can be found.



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Dcr36 wrote:

2. I'd actually like to see the attendance numbers for the MWC. I'm not sure if recruits care all that much if they're playing in an empty arena vs an empty gymnasium. The Pit, the T&M and SDSU's place are great. TCU looked like an abandoned arena everytime I saw it.



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UNLV and SDSU are ranked. Gonzaga and St. Mary's are ranked. The rest of the teams in either conference are okay to poor. I don't remember a lot of fans being at the Wyoming, TCU, Air Force, etc games. Yes it's probably more exciting to play in big arenas with lots of fans, but it's not like every game in the MWC was like that anyway. I think BYU needs to be beating all teams, home and away, badly before people can talk about it being a step down. I guess I just don't get how it's a step down when fans don't even know if BYU can win on the road to the okay teams.

saywhat wrote:

2. I'd actually like to see the attendance numbers for the MWC. I'm not sure if recruits care all that much if they're playing in an empty arena vs an empty gymnasium. The Pit, the T&M and SDSU's place are great. TCU looked like an abandoned arena everytime I saw it.



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UNLV and SDSU are ranked. Gonzaga and St. Mary's are ranked. The rest of the teams in either conference are okay to poor. I don't remember a lot of fans being at the Wyoming, TCU, Air Force, etc games. Yes it's probably more exciting to play in big arenas with lots of fans, but it's not like every game in the MWC was like that anyway. I think BYU needs to be beating all teams, home and away, badly before people can talk about it being a step down. I guess I just don't get how it's a step down when fans don't even know if BYU can win on the road to the okay teams.

True. Who are we to really complain until we win a championship or two.



Though, we did have a nice run in MWC, so you'd expect us to be able to cruise through the weaker portion of the WCC. Time will tell.

I like that BYU is in the WCC. I think it is a great fit. I'm excited to develop these new rivalries. At the same time, For those arguing that the WCC is not a step down from the MWC, what can that be based on? It seems the only argument out there is that BYU isn't tearing it up in the WCC so it must not be a step down. I would like to hear some of the arguments in support of the WCC being a step up for BYU or at least a lateral move. Are there any out there?



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BYULV wrote:
I like that BYU is in the WCC. I think it is a great fit. I'm excited to develop these new rivalries. At the same time, For those arguing that the WCC is not a step down from the MWC, what can that be based on? It seems the only argument out there is that BYU isn't tearing it up in the WCC so it must not be a step down. I would like to hear some of the arguments in support of the WCC being a step up for BYU or at least a lateral move. Are there any out there?



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Are you talking about the current or soon-to-be MWC or the MWC as it was before BYU left?

Gunk wrote:

I like that BYU is in the WCC. I think it is a great fit. I'm excited to develop these new rivalries. At the same time, For those arguing that the WCC is not a step down from the MWC, what can that be based on? It seems the only argument out there is that BYU isn't tearing it up in the WCC so it must not be a step down. I would like to hear some of the arguments in support of the WCC being a step up for BYU or at least a lateral move. Are there any out there?



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Are you talking about the current or soon-to-be MWC or the MWC as it was before BYU left?

Before BYU left, there is no debate from here on out, because the MWC will be garbage starting next year.



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BYULV wrote:

scott715 wrote:
I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

I think I've got my wife convinced to fly out and take a long weekend in SF to catch both the USF and Santa Clara games. I am trying to get a couple of other friends to go as well (birdie702?). I'll see you all there.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I'm down...got the ok from the boss. :D



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birdie702 wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

I think I've got my wife convinced to fly out and take a long weekend in SF to catch both the USF and Santa Clara games. I am trying to get a couple of other friends to go as well (birdie702?). I'll see you all there.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I'm down...got the ok from the boss. :D



You misunderstood, the wife is going too. You'll need to get mrs. Birdie702 to go as well or you're uninvited . . . You're cool and all, but I can't have you as a third wheel on my extended date ;)

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BYULV wrote:

BYULV wrote:

scott715 wrote:
I was wondering that too. Maybe there is a need to market more or get the Cougar Club involved.

I've said it before - Santa Clara will have a group of us coming from Fresno - and we're jacked!



LMU was too far away for us to seriously consider

I think I've got my wife convinced to fly out and take a long weekend in SF to catch both the USF and Santa Clara games. I am trying to get a couple of other friends to go as well (birdie702?). I'll see you all there.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I'm down...got the ok from the boss. :D



You misunderstood, the wife is going too. You'll need to get mrs. Birdie702 to go as well or you're uninvited . . . You're cool and all, but I can't have you as a third wheel on my extended date ;)

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LOL...but your wife is gonna want to stay at hotel and read a book. We could play a couple of rounds of golf and go to the games. That sounds more fun than hanging out with the Mrs...jk :D