Minneapolis to host 2024 Big Ten Tournament

#4      

IlliniwekKDR

Colorado Springs, CO
Rutgers and Maryland joined the Big Ten and we immediately exiled the tournament off to New York and DC for a couple years. Meanwhile, you've had cities like Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland all within the footprint since the beginning and hadn't hosted it. So, I love this move! Even if it reduces some of our home court advantage.
 
#5      
Rutgers and Maryland joined the Big Ten and we immediately exiled the tournament off to New York and DC for a couple years. Meanwhile, you've had cities like Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland all within the footprint since the beginning and hadn't hosted it. So, I love this move! Even if it reduces some of our home court advantage.
Milwaukee would be high on my list after Indy. I've never spent any meaningful amount of time in Minneapolis, so I should give it a chance at least. I just love how well set up downtown Indy is to host these sort of events. Much, much better experience than the United Center frankly...
 
#6      
Indy Chicago are great since most fans drive

DC , NYC total disasters

Minneapolis is a long long drive but since it is in our historical footprint I am OK with giving it a try

Others I hope they never do

Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Detroit
St Louis

I would be open to trying Milwaukee
 
#7      
Selfishly, I'm good with Minneapolis having lived there for awhile and it being substantially closer than most of the other options.
And the tickets I could get in Lincoln would be primo but I don't think anyone wants to drive out here if they can help it.
As convenient as Des Moines would be, blech.
St. Louis, I'd be fine with. Not a fan of the Enterprise Center at all, but easy drive for our fanbase.
 
#13      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Mpls is far out of the way for most of the conference fan base, and still pretty darn cold in early March. Chicago and Indy make the most sense, geographically, but Columbus (Nationwide Center, where the Blue Jackets play) would be a solid option, too, as (I suppose) would Milwaukee. Detroit would be far less desirable, IMO, but an option. Frankly, I think Indy and Columbus would be the two most fan-friendly sites.

No need to move it further than those four cities.
 
#14      
I'd be curious about what percentage of attendees drive. I'm guessing it's a fairly high number. Younger fans with fewer obligations and more time. If so, I think that speaks to the Chicago, Indy, Detroit settings.

If they're going to spread it around to each of the states, they'll really be regretting not sending it to Des Moines in 2020.
 
#15      
We made the (8.5 hours with kids) drive to Minneapolis back in November. We saw a concert and drove to Milwaukee the next day for the Marquette game. Covid was picking up again, and that city was dead. Even the Starbucks in a three block radius were shuttered. Don't get me wrong...lots of places were struggling, but it was like a ghost town in November of '21.

Edit: That city being Minneapolis. Milwaukee was hopping with orange and blue.
 
#16      

danielb927

Orange Krush Class of 2013
Rochester, MN
Target Center seems pretty nice now - been there for the Women's Volleyball Final Four back in 2018 and a Wolves game this winter. Living in MN I'm obviously biased but happy to have the tournament closer to home for a year.
 
#18      

MadtownIllin

Madison, WI
Been going to the men's tournament the last 12 years (not including the Covid, no-fan year) even to Washington and New York. Far and away the best place for a fan's experience is Indy. Hotels, bars, restaurants all within walking distance. Don't understand why they don't make this the permanent location--seems to work for football..
 
#19      
Have it in Indy, always. It's central and has amazing walkability for restaurants and hotels. The UC is putrid from a fan standpoint, plus expensive if everyone has to buy personal body armor to walk to and from their car. Minneapolis is a great city, and the hamster tubes downtown are cool. But having to rent a dog sled to get there makes it a challenge in march.
 
#20      
Been going to the men's tournament the last 12 years (not including the Covid, no-fan year) even to Washington and New York. Far and away the best place for a fan's experience is Indy. Hotels, bars, restaurants all within walking distance. Don't understand why they don't make this the permanent location--seems to work for football..
I've been to sporting events in all of these cities and I hate to agree but it's tough to beat Indy. Plenty of parking too.
 
#21      
Been going to the men's tournament the last 12 years (not including the Covid, no-fan year) even to Washington and New York. Far and away the best place for a fan's experience is Indy. Hotels, bars, restaurants all within walking distance. Don't understand why they don't make this the permanent location--seems to work for football..
Agreed, with the new $380 million renovations to Gainbridge, it is the best. Sight lines are great, seats comfortable and everything right there. I live in Chicago and the area around the UC has gotten rough again. UC sight lines are sterile, too.
 
#22      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Minneapolis in early March. What could possibly go wrong?

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#23      
On the plus side, you can visit both the Mall of America *and* Paisley Park studios. Hot tip for ya: if you do the latter, I've been told the VIP tour isn't worth it (but you have to schedule your visit for the both tours and the cheaper option sells out much more quickly, so make sure you do it well in advance).