The 2009 Mens SEC Tournament will be held here:

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Tampa Bay Florida - St. Pete Times Forum

[RZRBack_FAN]

Finally somewere besides freakin ATLANTA.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

I think the next 3 are in Nashville, TN/ Atlanta GA (Georgiadome)/ New Orleans, LA (Superdome)

[WizardofhOgZ]

They ought to have it in Memphis every few years.  I actually went to one there about 10 years ago - in the Pyramid.  The new FedEx Forum would be a GREAT place to have it now.

When you look at all of those venues (the ones coming up) - including New Orleans - they are a LONG way from Arkansas; especially Fayetteville.  I understand that it has to be far for someone no matter where you have it . . . but an effort should be made to have it "close" for all schools occasionally.  Memphis is a good location for All of the the schools in the West (except LSU - but a little closer than Atlanta, at least.  And it's not bad for Tennessee, Vandy, or Georgia.  The only ones that it is significantly longer than Atlanta is Florida and S. Carolina.

[uhshog]

They ought to have it in Memphis every few years.  I actually went to one there about 10 years ago - in the Pyramid.  The new FedEx Forum would be a GREAT place to have it now.

When you look at all of those venues (the ones coming up) - including New Orleans - they are a LONG way from Arkansas; especially Fayetteville.  I understand that it has to be far for someone no matter where you have it . . . but an effort should be made to have it "close" for all schools occasionally.  Memphis is a good location for All of the the schools in the West (except LSU - but a little closer than Atlanta, at least.  And it's not bad for Tennessee, Vandy, or Georgia.  The only ones that it is significantly longer than Atlanta is Florida and S. Carolina.

The only problem with that is they have the C-USA tournament there.

[josh_sec33]

They did used to ahve it in Memphis, but yeah, the C-USA tourney causes a problem.

[Bigfoot]

Finally somewere besides freakin ATLANTA.

Excactly! Besides, this new place looks great!

[razorbrass]

Went to NCAA first round games there this year.  It is fantastic.  Right downtown by nightlife and many hotels.  Facility is first rate and the staff ran a great tournament.  Can't go wrong in Tampa.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Went to NCAA first round games there this year.  It is fantastic.  Right downtown by nightlife and many hotels.  Facility is first rate and the staff ran a great tournament.  Can't go wrong in Tampa.

plus you get to wear shorts in early March 85 degrees and amazing beaches/women/cruises etc...

[igotdatwood]

nice looking venue, but i dont think they could have gotten any further for arkansas fans unless they left sec territory.  at least its moving around.

[Smokehouse]

plus you get to wear shorts in early March 85 degrees and amazing beaches/women/cruises etc...

hey Stewie, I'm digging the avatar, go phins!

[DMacIsASaint]

I think its rediculous to have it in Tampa Bay. Its been in the east forever, bring back to Nashville or NOLA once in a while please..

[31to6]

It will be a nice change at least for one year hopefully no storms during the games this time.

I lived there for a while and March is, without a doubt, a great month to be in Tampa. Warm but not hot. Water temperature is perfect.

Sometimes a brief afternoon shower to tell you it's time to stop drinking beer on the beach and go drink mojitos at a restaurant--but rarely any serious storms.

It's a long way from Arkansas (17 hr drive), but if you have to drive a long way, at least it's to someplace nice. If you fly, the Tampa airport is wonderfully efficient. Like most of Florida, Southwest serves Tampa (with direct flights from KC).

[zebra]

Will this be Stan Heath's house?

[neahog]

Tampa will be nice, but I probably won't be able to travel that far for 4 days...If we make it to the weekend, maybe.
New Orleans will be nice, I liked going to Nashville alot too. For our sake, it would be awesome to have it in Memphis. I wonder if NLR might ever be considered after the success at Alltel in the 1st round of the 2008 NCAAT.

Personally, I think it would be cool if the team that won the SEC in the regular season got to host the tourney.

[HotlantaHog]

If you are so inclined, it is an hour from St. Pete Beach or Clearwater or bunch of the Pinellas County beaches. Would make a great way to spend a week.

[Oliver]

When will the SEC learn that sometimes the Western SEC teams would like a little advantage in Championship games?

[opineonswine]

Florida is a long way for Arkansas fans to travel.  It doesn't seem to me that Arkansas will have very much support in next year's tournament.

I will be there with bells on.

[The Boar War]

Personally, I think it would be cool if the team that won the SEC in the regular season got to host the tourney.

I like the idea personally but there are several problems.

1)  They might not know who will win the conference until the last weekend of the season which would be a hotel/ airline/ restaurants logistical nightmare.

2)  What if MSU won the SEC?  The tournament would have to be in Starkville.  Ewwwww.

[HogFaninMemphis]

The only problem with that is they have the C-USA tournament there.

They're gonna start having the C-USA Tourney in different places.  I think in 09 it's in Birmingham.  I live in Memphis and think it would be great for the city and fans of Arkansas, UT, Vandy, 
Ole Miss, and MSU.
MSU is only about 2 and a half hours away from Memphis.