“We as a university and all of our partners ... have done nothing but demonstrate this is an important event and that Dayton means business in terms of having it here for a long time to come.”
UD endeared itself to the NCAA by hosting the original Opening Round game beginning in 2001 and then was awarded the First Four games when the field expanded from 65 to 68 in 2011. The games mean a $4 million impact locally. And O’Connell believes having Dayton become known as the place where March Madness is launched gives the city invaluable exposure.
“If we had our wish, it would be like the College World Series (which is held in Omaha, Neb., each year),” O’Connell said. “That’s the approach we’re trying with the NCAA because I think we’ve established ourselves as a benchmark for the tournament — not only the arena, but everyone who is involved in this.
“I challenge anyone to see if they can do it better than us. I don’t mean to sound cocky, but every piece of feedback we received from last year and years past is that Dayton does a great job.”
After drawing just more than 10,000 fans for both double-headers in 2011, attendance dropped to 8,510 and 7,219 for the two nights last season.
But while ticket sales lagged, the First Four Festival in the Oregon District on the Sunday before the games attracted a crowd of 15,000.
“The attendance drop-off isn’t a reflection on Dayton. I think it’s something that really has happened at a lot of arenas, and not just NCAA college basketball,” said David Worlock, the NCAA associate director of championships and alliances.
“The fact of the matter is people have the opportunity to enjoy games — whether it’s hockey or football or basketball or baseball — on different platforms. It’s readily made available on computers. The economy is what it is, therefore budgets are tighter and people are looking for more bang for their buck and maybe can’t get to it. ... That’s a nationwide thing.”
UD Arena has hosted 87 NCAA tourney games, more than any other venue. And they’ll have not only the First Four in ’13, but also second- and third-round games (formerly the first and second rounds before expansion).
That means 10 games in all, about 15 percent of the tournament. UD has been selling those 10-game packages to season-ticket holders since March ($315 for the lower bowl, $265 for the upper arena), and the deadline to make purchases is Thursday. They’ll go on sale to the general public in October.
Worlock said a decision on the First Four games is expected in November.
“The (NCAA) committee is definitely interested in exposing the tournament to as many different cities and different arenas as possible, but it also recognizes the wonderful job the folks in Dayton do in staging the event,” he said.
“We know the community and University of Dayton and UD Arena personnel rally around the event.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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