It's this simple; GPAC moves to D-I and adds the Men's national D-I tournament to the Tyson Center, in Sioux City, Iowa. Have you seen some of the D-I attendance figures on the NAIA site? Nope, just one. Evangel's opener, in which they won, had announced attendance of 3,733. I've been down there (last year) and while the play was excellent (quarterfinal round) the attendance was dismal.

This used to be a high profile event in KC; they had Luke Jackson, Willis Reed, d### Barnett Kevin Porter, (maybe Jack Sikma, not sure) and the all-time favorite, Travis 'machine gun' Grant of Kentucky State. This USED to be a grand tournament; no more! Very disappointed that the NAIA home office continues to live in the past and expects to get top billing in a "pro" town; besides the Chiefs, you've got Mizzou and Kansas for pro teams.

This is still a great tournament, don't get me wrong, it's fun to be there and watch some great ball. But, it's simply in the wrong place. KC no longer cares and it shows! Let's get out of there and place this tournament (and the NAIA organization) in a town (not a city) that will cherish it and treat it all with zeal. I know the attempt was made in the early 90's to go to Oklahoma, but that was more a lateral move; they got just as lost there as where they are now.

It doesn't have to be Sioux City, but the NAIA has a long history in the area and the town and residents would treat both the tourney and the NAIA like royalty. Time for the national organization to once again be a big fish in the correct sized pond. What the city of Sioux CIty does for the women's bball tournament (now renamed the Red Raider Invitational), they would more than welcome the very best in small college basketball and they'd relish having the national headquarters in town. The SC Journal would be excited to be the press release paper for them.

Final fact for consumption; attendance for Men's D-II national title game in Point Lookout 1,500 - Women's D-II title game attendance, 4,983. Yes, a local womens team was playing a team from Point Lookout the same evening - maybe you move 500 either way if its reversed (2,000 to 4500). NAIA D-I would pack the Tyson (guessing 6,500 max) for the title game and probably have 3 to 4 K for most sessions (being the MAIN story in the area papers EVERY day will bring in the fans).

GPAC will need to suck it up in these two sports (men and womens BBall) to make this the Right Place, the Right Time for the Right plan. The future of both the GPAC and the NAIA would be much better served by going for it!

I'd be fine with the GPAC going to NAIA DI but only if they would move the tournament from KC to Sioux City (which I don't think they ever will) as I very much prefer going to the tournament in Branson over Kansas City.