The #1 Reason we'll have a regional

[josh_sec33]

Money. While it is established that the team is good enough to host it on the on-field ability and record this team has, when you control 7 of the top 10 draws in SEC home games (and probably 8 as we probably will knock off the KY at MSU in 9th place with a solid showing this weekend) in the conference that time and time again resets attendance records while holding down then largest average attendance, The regional is all but guaranteed.

Sweep this weekend and a good showing in the SEC Tourney may get us that coveted super regional.

TOP HOME CROWDS OF 2007

Date    Matchup    Attendance
May 5    LSU at Arkansas    10,727
May 4    LSU at Arkansas    10,399
March 31    Kentucky at Mississippi State    10,324
May 6    LSU at Arkansas    9,438
March 24    Vanderbilt at Arkansas    9,326
March 23    Vanderbilt at Arkansas    9,216
Feb. 27    Tulane at LSU    8,577
March 25    Vanderbilt at Arkansas    8,541
March 30    Kentucky at Mississippi State    8,383
April 15    Florida at Arkansas    8,326

Team    *Home Dates    Total    Avg.
Arkansas    25    196,359    7,854
LSU    35    256,537    7,329
Mississippi State    27    170,683    6,321
South Carolina    26    129,887    4,995
Ole Miss    32    153,069    4,783
Alabama    35    156,379    4,467
Florida    30    98,106    3,270
Auburn    35    89,732    2,563
Kentucky    31    62,541    2,017
Vanderbilt    29    52,160    1,798
Georgia    35    61,491    1,756
Tennessee    34    58,697    1,726
TOTALS    374    1,485,641    3,972
*Some teams have played doubleheaders at various points of the season, giving them less home dates than they have played actual home games.

[Hogtropolis™]

I'm guessing you mean Super Regional, because there is no question that we will be hosting a regional.

[josh_sec33]

To get a Super, we're going to have to win out this weekend and show well in the tournament. at least in my opinion.

Remember, Arkansas was only able to host a Regional last year as a # 2 seed over # 1 seed Oklahoma St because there were not enough motel rooms available that weekend in Stillwater.

You did of course just make my point. If money wasn't the issue, i.e number of hotel rooms for people to come watch/pay money to go to those regional games, That regional would have been at OSU. You have to have a good team, but when you have say 18 good teams, for 16 regional spots, They look at facilities, potential to make a profit, and expected crowd support. We've got all three, so even if it was in doubt, we'd get the regional based on those issues, as last year showed us.

[PiggyBack]

No, the hotel issue is the host must guarantee a certain number of full service hotel rooms for the teams and the NCAA, not the fans.  That is what was not available last year in Stillwater due to other activities taking up the rooms.  Hotel rooms for fans are really not an issue.

[BigDave70]

that sucks for OK St.