Sun Belt Tournament Planning

Mean Green Scrappy · December 26, 2011

I know the school sells tickets to the tournament but do they include a package deal with hotel accommodations? For some reason I am thinking they have in the past but I could be wrong. BonfireBrian and I are going for sure and maybe a couple of others are too so we are in the process if reserving everything. We have a room reserved at the Embassy but that is crazy expensive for just two guys.

Any info if such a thing exists is appreciated.

Thanks

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TheTastyGreek · December 26, 2011

Some other schools set up group rates through alumni groups or booster clubs (I'm thinking specifically of UALR's notorious "Tip-in Club").

I don't know if we have anything like that... We've done a house the past few years, and that's worked out great for us. Comes out to somewhere between $120-140 per person for all four nights, and allows us to stash some food at the house. Also, we've had 5 bathrooms and house accessories like pool, ping-pong, and multiple TVs for video games and sports.

I haven't locked in anything for this year... But the tentative plan is to get 2 houses side-by-side. One "wife/girlfriend house" with 3 bedrooms, and another with 5 for anyone else who wants to make the trip and split the cost.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 26, 2011

I remember you talking about renting houses there. I know we like the Embassy or The Austin because of how close they are to the arena and the bars and we are the drinkers of the group so that is important... For some reason I thought they offered a hotel package last year but I am probably wrong.

The Austin says they are all booked up but usually they have rooms open up as it gets closer in.

Anyways, transportation is set and I am excited.

TheTastyGreek · December 26, 2011

I remember you talking about renting houses there. I know we like the Embassy or The Austin because of how close they are to the arena and the bars and we are the drinkers of the group so that is important... For some reason I thought they offered a hotel package last year but I am probably wrong.

The Austin says they are all booked up but usually they have rooms open up as it gets closer in.

Anyways, transportation is set and I am excited.

2 or 3 years ago, we (6 of us, including CarribbeanGreen and Quoner) rented a place that was at the end of bathhouse row. It was a mile to the convention center, less than that to Lucky's. Didn't have to drive anywhere for games or intoxicants if you didn't want to.

I'll look up the listing and send it to you. If there are at least 4 of you, it's a good location and probably cheaper than a hotel.

Dr. Seuss · December 27, 2011

I remember you talking about renting houses there. I know we like the Embassy or The Austin because of how close they are to the arena and the bars and we are the drinkers of the group so that is important... For some reason I thought they offered a hotel package last year but I am probably wrong.

The Austin says they are all booked up but usually they have rooms open up as it gets closer in.

Anyways, transportation is set and I am excited.

I always get a room at the austin the night of.. I always call the day before and they tell me that they have plenty of room

CMJ · December 27, 2011

When are you planning on getting to HS Tasty....and when's the drop dead date you would want the money by?

Green P1 · December 27, 2011

We always book the day of at the cheap hotel everyone warns against. Easy walk for basketball booze and the worst strip joint you could imagine.... It's worked great everyrime.

oldguystudent · December 27, 2011

We always book the day of at the cheap hotel everyone warns against. Easy walk for basketball booze and the worst strip joint you could imagine.... It's worked great everyrime.

I like the cut of your jib, sir.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 27, 2011

I sent an email to The Austin and see when they will have some rooms open so we will see. And I will gladly take your info Tasty and talk it over with Brian. Soho and another friend of ours are up in the air.

Green Lantern · December 27, 2011

We always book the day of at the cheap hotel everyone warns against. Easy walk for basketball booze and the worst strip joint you could imagine.... It's worked great everyrime.

The Hot Springs nightlife has to be seen to be believed. A one of a kind experience to be sure.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 27, 2011

The Hot Springs nightlife has to be seen to be believed. A one of a kind experience to be sure.

Fact

Green P1 · December 27, 2011

The Hot Springs nightlife has to be seen to be believed. A one of a kind experience to be sure.

After last years defeat a buddy and I went to Lucky's to drown our sorrows with some fellow Mean Green fans.... Finding an empty bar we then proceeded to stumble around the entire town until the final bar(thankfully) closed at 5am.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 27, 2011

After last years defeat a buddy and I went to Lucky's to drown our sorrows with some fellow Mean Green fans.... Finding an empty bar we then proceeded to stumble around the entire town until the final bar(thankfully) closed at 5am.

Have we met before? lol

Green Lantern · December 27, 2011

After last years defeat a buddy and I went to Lucky's to drown our sorrows with some fellow Mean Green fans.... Finding an empty bar we then proceeded to stumble around the entire town until the final bar(thankfully) closed at 5am.

Taking a stab that you ended up at the Metro? Fantastic people watching and interactions with the locals to be had there.

Green Mean · December 27, 2011

Question to all...I've never been to the conference tournament so I was just wondering is it best to get the whole pass for all the games or purchase them individually? Obviously my interest is mainly just our games but also wanted to know is what do you do if and it is just an if for some reason we're eliminated within the first or second game? Do most people just stick around anyways as a vacation? Of course I'm just thinking about that from a booking the hotel etc standpoint.

TheTastyGreek · December 27, 2011

Question to all...I've never been to the conference tournament so I was just wondering is it best to get the whole pass for all the games or purchase them individually? Obviously my interest is mainly just our games but also wanted to know is what do you do if and it is just an if for some reason we're eliminated within the first or second game? Do most people just stick around anyways as a vacation? Of course I'm just thinking about that from a booking the hotel etc standpoint.

If you like women's basketball, get an all session ticket book, but NOT FROM THE SUN BELT OFFICE. Half the sessions are women's only. If you'd go to all of them, then the ticket book is a good deal that will save you money.

If you only plan on going to men's games, or if you only plan on going to sessions where North Texas plays, or if you only plan on going to see all men's and all NT women's games (and you don't think we'll make the women's finals)... You're probably better off just buying individual session tickets.

If you do decide to buy an all session ticket book, don't buy it from the league. For some stupid reason, the pricing on the SBC books is more expensive than if you just bought single session tickets to every game, men's and women's.

If you buy from our athletics department, it does three things. One, it saves you some money. Two, it increases documented North Texas sales, which is good for the program and for our confirmed fan support. It sounds nice if we can tell potential CUSA or MWC officials that we sold out our allotment of tournament tickets. Three, it gives you a ticket with a little "North Texas" stamp on it. That guarantees you can sit in the section behind our bench during all games that include our team. That isn't really a big deal... Even when we play a school like Arkansas State or UALR that brings a huge crowd, there are generally enough seats in our section that they don't look for stamps, just North Texas apparel.

If you're looking for the most tickets possible at the lowest price available, wait until all the schools list their prices for all session books. Everyone gets to set their own price, and they vary wildly between schools. I think ASU and Middle Tennessee were the most expensive last year. In UNO's last year in the Belt, their program was selling all session books for $50. That's cheaper than 4 sessions of men's tickets, and less than half of what the league office is charging. Denver may offer a good price this year, given their strong performance, distance fans have to travel, and the fact that they won't be back next season. ULM may also end up selling them cheap since their men's teams won't be able to play.

As far as staying or going home early... I generally stick around through the end to see all the men's games. Over the past 5 years, we're generally alive through the finals or at worst the semi-finals. Only exception was Mobile, when we got knocked out by WKU early.

If you plan on staying through the end, you may want to look at a rental instead of a hotel. We've done both, and unless you want to be able to check out early and save a few nights of room rental... We've MUCH preferred a rental house or condo.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 27, 2011

Just stay the whole time, it's guaranteed to be a good time and its good basketball from all the teams.

CMJ · December 27, 2011

When are you getting into Hot Springs Tasty? I was looking at flights into Dallas AND into Little Rock. I'd probably rather come into Dallas a day or two before yall go just to see if I could touch base with a few friends/family first, but it totally depends on if I can get away from work for a full week.

Mean Green Scrappy · December 27, 2011

When are you getting into Hot Springs Tasty? I was looking at flights into Dallas AND into Little Rock. I'd probably rather come into Dallas a day or two before yall go just to see if I could touch base with a few friends/family first, but it totally depends on if I can get away from work for a full week.

I'm flying into Little Rock Friday morning and got a car rented. Let me know if you need a lift to Hot Springs.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Mean Green Scrappy

TheTastyGreek · December 27, 2011

When are you getting into Hot Springs Tasty? I was looking at flights into Dallas AND into Little Rock. I'd probably rather come into Dallas a day or two before yall go just to see if I could touch base with a few friends/family first, but it totally depends on if I can get away from work for a full week.

We'll leave early Saturday morning, drive back Wednesday morning.

If you come out a few days early to see other folks and stay at our place on Friday night, we'll be able to drive you up with us, no problem. Our rental house will have washer/dryer, so you can still pack light and wash clothes up there.

Green P1 · December 28, 2011

Taking a stab that you ended up at the Metro? Fantastic people watching and interactions with the locals to be had there.

Swung through the Metro but ended the night with a cab ride to a place called Long Shots... I think. Decent place from what I remember but it was after 3 when we rolled in and memories are foggy.