The first time I attended Arch Madness in March 2009, I was blown away by the atmosphere and the professional way one of the best conference championship tournaments in the country is conducted. I went back in 2011 and 2012, and thought: “My God, if only Loyola could somehow find their way into this conference….”
Arch Madness just about takes over downtown St. Louis every March, just as the weather is starting to break towards spring. Fans from every MVC team and local college basketball nuts converge to watch a four-day festival of college hoops. They fill restaurants, party at local watering holes, and poke good-natured fun at fans decked out in the sweatshirts, caps, and colors of opposing teams.
For Loyola fans that have attended the MCC/Horizon Conference Tournaments before HL Commish Jon LeCrone decided to change the rules to make it into a drawn-out coronation of the regular season top seed, it’s like that– only multiplied by three times and held at a predictable, neutral site. At Arch Madness, anything can happen, and often does.
Last year, there were three seeding upsets of the nine games played. In 2012, #4 seed Illinois State made it to the final. In 2011, there were four upsets out of nine games, and #3 seed Indiana State won it all. In 2009, there were three upsets before #1 UNI beat #3 Illinois State in an epic OT final. In 2006, #2 beat #5 in the final; four teams made the NCAA that year, and two appeared in the NIT. In 2005, a #5 seed and a #3 seed won in the semi-finals over #1 and #2. In 2004, #2 beat #5 in a double-overtime final.
Unlike the Horizon League, fans know where the tournament will be before the first game of the season is played. Unlike the Horizon League, it all happens in the same place, in four consecutive days, on a neutral court, in a large and neutral city, centrally located to all teams, and easily accessible. The tournament is a local event, embraced by the city and its media, and attractive to unaffiliated local fans of college basketball.
This year’s Arch Madness happens March 6-9 at the 19,150-seat Scottrade Center (formerly Kiel Arena and Savvis Center) in downtown St. Louis. The facility is a half block from the Amtrak/Metrolink (light rail) Station, and a block and a half from historic Union Station. It’s walking distance from some great hotels, nightlife, sports bars, restaurants, cultural attractions, public transportation, and landmarks.
The schedule for this year’s tournament goes like this:
Session 1: Thursday, March 6
#8 vs. #9 6:05 p.m.
#7 vs. #10 8:35 p.m.
Friday, March 7
Session 2
#1 vs. #8/#9 winner 12:05 p.m.
#4 vs. #5 2:35 p.m.
Session 3
#2 vs. #7/#10 winner 6:05 p.m.
#3 vs. #6 8:35 p.m.
Session 4: Saturday, March 8
#1/#8/#9 winner vs. #4/#5 winner 1:35 p.m.
#2/#7/#10 winner vs. #3/#6 winner 4:05 p.m.
Session 5: Sunday, March 9
MVC Championship on CBS 1:05 p.m.
Individual session tickets range from $23-$74 including fees at the Scottrade Center box office. If you want to sit behind the Loyola bench or in designated sections for Loyola fans, contact the Loyola Ticket Office.
Above: St. Louis Union Station was built in 1894. It features a hotel and restaurants, located 1 1/2 blocks from the Scottrade Center.
I have previously stayed at the Sheraton (almost across the street from Scottrade Center), the Omni Majestic, and St. Louis Union Station Hotel by DoubleTree/Hilton. They’re all very nice, and within three blocks from the arena. Once I stayed at the Ramada, which is ¾ of a mile away, near the hottest downtown Restaurant/Nightlife area (Washington Avenue), and a decent budget choice.
Loyola is planning many Alumni events in the St. Louis area during the week, and the Spring Meeting for the University Board of Regents will be in St. Louis.
Before and after the games, there are plenty of great things to do in St. Louis. I have attended the St. Louis Symphony at Powell Hall several times— it’s top notch, and very inexpensive compared to Chicago. If you’re not claustrophobic, take a ride to the top of the Arch. The Hill is full of great and affordable Italian Restaurants (similar to Taylor Street in Chicago). Tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Soulard, and then check out the kitschy restaurants, brew pubs, and Wicker Park-like street life. The Central West End is a lower-key Lincoln Park, with handsome homes straight out of “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and a few nice restaurants and bars. If you like, there are blues clubs in the touristy Leclede’s Landing area, and a riverboat casino. If the weather is nice, a walk, jog, or drive around Forest Park—site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympics– is really cool.
Above: Union Station, the Amtrak/Metrolink Station, and several hotels are located within a few blocks of the Scottrade Center, just off I-64, and about 3/4 of a mile west of the Arch.
If you want to take one of five Amtrak trains in each direction per day to or from St. Louis, send me an email to e.fivesales at gmail.com, and I will send you an invitation to become a member of Amtrak’s frequent traveler program that will get both of us 500 miles toward free travel and/or rewards. You will also be able to earn miles from staying at partner hotels, online purchases, and other offers.
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