NCAAs pass on Verizon

— The NCAA released its men's basketball tournament sites for 2011, 2012 and 2013 on Monday, passing on North Little Rock's Verizon Arena.

Local officials were quietly optimistic the NCAA would return after what was a seemingly successful run with the 2008 NCAA Tournament. But that optimism turned to disappointment when the list was distributed Monday.

"I'm disappointed for central Arkansas, for Little Rock and North Little Rock and the people for as hard as they worked and opened up their cities tothe tournament," said UALR Athletic Director Chris Peterson, whose school was attempting to secure a bid for the second time.

UALR and Verizon Arena (then Alltel Arena) hosted NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games in 2008 with tickets selling out well in advance and large crowds, boosted by the presence of regional power Memphis.

There appeared to be very few problems, and most of those reported were resolved quickly. And teams responded positively to the hospitality they received. After Oregon was eliminated, the coaching staff left a message on the dry-erase board in the locker room: "Thank you, Little Rock! - Oregon Ducks."

Verizon Arena has hosted the SEC Women's Tournament three times previously. That tournament drew 43,642 in 2003 and 37,033 in 2006, but dropped off to 20,397 when it returned earlier this year.

"We're disappointed, but we understand they've got to spread it around," said Wesley Holmes, Verizon Arena's assistant general manager. "There are two brand-new buildings within a couple hundred miles of here in Tulsa and Kansas City. And from what I heard, this cycle had twice as many bids as the cycle in 2008."

The NCAA included a list of "possible reasons" why Verizon Arena was not selected.They included geographical location, time zone, site history, hotel accommodations and transportation. Peterson said an NCAA official told him location was the biggest factor.

Geography might have been the biggest factor. Because the NCAA spreads the first and second rounds throughout the region, there are only so many available spots for locations in the South. And three of those locations - Dallas, Atlanta and New Orleans - were required to host regional finals games because they are future Final Four sites.

The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., and the BOK Center in Tulsa were chosen for 2011, the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., and Louisville Arena in Louisville, Ky., were chosen for 2012 and Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., and the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, made the cut for 2013.

The Southeast Regional final games were awarded to the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for 2011, while the South Regional final games were awarded to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for 2012 and Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for 2013.

Also not making the cut this time around were FedEx Forum in Memphis and the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Verizon Arena opened in 1999, and its scoreboard is one of several technical disadvantages it has when competing with newer arenas selected in Tulsa and Kansas City, Mo.

Peterson said the NCAA did not discourage UALR from bidding again. And they will try again when the bidding opens for games in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Sports, Pages 15 on 09/22/2009

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