2024 Official Seed List Watch Party Thread

[VolCalls]

I just think you discount our fanbase. I would be shocked if the difference in fans attending the game is that much different. California is a huge state, too. Vol fans are everywhere. I’m sure there is a healthy contingent of Vol fans in Cally hoping we come to LA. I think it’s all going to be about the same. Vol fans just show up.

True - although we’d be heavily outnumbered by Arizona fans in LA, if we both make it that far. Not sure about Houston if we go to Dallas - their fan base isn’t as large. And we’d likely be 50/50 with Purdue fans in Detroit, at worst. We had 75% of the crowd in Louisville when we played them there in 2019, and their campus is only two hours away.

Then again, this could all be irrelevant if nobody makes it out of the second round.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I agree that we are everywhere. But the closer you get to the state of TN (not necessarily Knoxville), the greater chances of more fans. There are 10,000 UT alumni in Shelby County alone, which is 6 hours from Knoxville.

I went to Omaha in 2021, and there was a nice contingent. But Omaha is not exactly easy to get to. If it was Dallas or Indy or Tampa, there probably would have been more .

Or Los Angeles…Omaha is an awful place for a collegiate event like that.

 

[VolCalls]

So he wasn’t offering up is 1 seed in place of a 2?

He knew he had a shot to be the overall #1 if he won the conference tournament, so I assume that was his reasoning. A #1 vs #2 wasn’t part of the conversation.

 

[VolGee4]

Or Los Angeles…Omaha is an awful place for a collegiate event like that.

Maybe…but the distance and time changes make me pause for a trip like that. I understand the arguments, and matchups do matter. But if people want to go, Dallas and Detroit are different than LA. They just are.

 

[VolCalls]

Tennessee has a huge alumni California chapter as well, my guess is that if Tennessee makes it to the second weekend you’d see a very similar amount of orange at any of the locations.

Just for comparison purposes, we have 5,000 alums in California, 6,000 in Michigan/Indiana/Ohio, and 11,000 in Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma within a short distance of Dallas.

 

[berryvol]

Not to get too ahead of myself here, but Michigan currently has a lead over Purdue at home. Purdue still has to play Mich State, Wisconsin, and @ Illinois. All these are Q1 games, so do we think there’s any scenario they drop off the 1 line or to the very back of the 1 line if they went, say, 2-2 over the last 4?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Maybe…but the distance and time changes make me pause for a trip like that. I understand the arguments, and matchups do matter. But if people want to go, Dallas and Detroit are different than LA. They just are.

I think the difference between seeing the first ever Tennessee 1 seed outweighs a lot of those things, as well as look at a potential matchup again Purdue or Houston as an underdog to make the first ever F4 or Arizona where you’re quite possibly a favorite, those things also factor into whether folks want to drop the money to travel.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Just for comparison purposes, we have 5,000 alums in California, 6,000 in Michigan/Indiana/Ohio, and 11,000 in Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma within a short distance of Dallas.

8k in California and surrounding states, since thats apparently now a factor.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Fwiw capacity at all 4 sites is 19-20k, so realistically you aren’t talking a massive amount of tickets being available anyhow.

 

[berryvol]

Fwiw capacity at all 4 sites is 19-20k, so realistically you aren’t talking a massive amount of tickets being available anyhow.

And rarely do you see a regional game packed to the brim - I’d say 2-4k seats minimum will be unfilled in those arenas.

 

[VolCalls]

8k in California and surrounding states, since thats apparently now a factor.

My point was driving distance for alums to the host cities from surrounding states, but since you wanna play this game and compute driving distances to Southern California, feel free to do the math.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

And rarely do you see a regional game packed to the brim - I’d say 2-4k seats minimum will be unfilled in those arenas.

Yup, realistically not nearly as many fans travel to games as their fan based think will

 

[bleedingTNorange]

My point was driving distance for alums to the host cities from surrounding states, but since you wanna play this game and compute driving distances to Southern California, feel free to do the math.

I mean I didn’t know we were including 7-8 hour drives into the equation, that changes things for sure. Like I’ve said, my opinion is a similar number of Vol fans will be at any of those sites. Is Dallas or Detroit arguably easier or a bit closer, quite possibly, but imo a trip to LA to see the first ever 1 seed Vols likely outweighs, or at the very least negates that difference.

 

[VolCalls]

I mean I didn’t know we were including 7-8 hour drives into the equation, that changes things for sure. Like I’ve said, my opinion is a similar number of Vol fans will be at any of those sites. Is Dallas or Detroit arguably easier or a bit closer, quite possibly, but imo a trip to LA to see the first ever 1 seed Vols likely outweighs, or at the very least negates that difference.

7-8 hour drives? More like 3-5 hours.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

7-8 hour drives? More like 3-5 hours.

Sure some parts, not all. Again my opinion doesn’t change in the least, and most folks seem to disagree with your overall take.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

7-8 hour drives? More like 3-5 hours.

For you. Not for everyone. You’re basing this off your location. Knoxville is roughly 8 hours from Detroit. You know, Knoxville, where the university is located and the majority of Vol fans.

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

Fwiw also saw it mentioned that the committee will put us in Charlotte over Memphis due to proximity, unless there’s a conflict or issue with bracketing principles. I know that had been a topic was some folks mentioning wanting Memphis even though it’s further, committee is sticking to their geographical principles.

Here's the article, from The Athletic but no paywall, in case anyone is curious. Basically, unless something screwy occurs, the Vols are unfortunately heading to Charlotte as anything other than the #1 overall seed (not happening) provided both Duke and UNC aren't ahead of the Vols on the S-curve (also not happening).

 

[VolGee4]

For you. Not for everyone. You’re basing this off your location. Knoxville is roughly 8 hours from Detroit. You know, Knoxville, where the university is located and the majority of Vol fans.

I just disagree with this point. If you guys think just as many show up in LA, then the majority of fans are not in Knoxville. There are more outside Knoxville than in.

No one is going to budge on their opinion. I get the matchup variable in the equation. Just strictly on fans though, I really don’t think it’s debatable.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Here's the article, from The Athletic but no paywall, in case anyone is curious. Basically, unless something screwy occurs, the Vols are unfortunately heading to Charlotte as anything other than the #1 overall seed (not happening) provided both Duke and UNC aren't ahead of the Vols on the S-curve (also not happening).

Not sure why you say unfortunately, I guess because you’d prefer Memphis, but I’d say most in Knoxville/East TN prefer Charlotte.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I just disagree with this point. If you guys think just as many show up in LA, then the majority of fans are not in Knoxville. There are more outside Knoxville than in.

No one is going to budge on their opinion. I get the matchup variable in the equation. Just strictly on fans though, I really don’t think it’s debatable.

Most (I’m aware of exceptions) fans aren’t driving to any of these locations if they can afford to drive $5k+ for this trip regardless. They’re going to be flying for convenience and whether it’s out of Knoxville or Nashville, or Atlanta or Miami, flying to LA is pretty much as easy/cheap as flying to Dallas or Detroit. Do I think there could be 700-1,000 person difference, sure that’s plausible, do I think it’s a 5k person difference? No.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I just disagree with this point. If you guys think just as many show up in LA, then the majority of fans are not in Knoxville. There are more outside Knoxville than in.

No one is going to budge on their opinion. I get the matchup variable in the equation. Just strictly on fans though, I really don’t think it’s debatable.

I’m not saying it’s equivalent. I’m saying it’s comparable. Again, as others have said, these aren’t massive arenas. Best case scenario you are probably getting 5,000 Vol fans to show up. I just don’t think roughly an extra 1,000 fans in Detroit versus LA makes a difference in the outcome of the game. I’m not sure why people believe that.

EDIT: realizing BTO made the exact same point as I did while I was typing, so sorry for the repetition. Basically, I concur with BTO, but it’s fine for those who want to go to the game but avoid LA to feel differently.

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

Not sure why you say unfortunately, I guess because you’d prefer Memphis, but I’d say most in Knoxville/East TN prefer Charlotte.

Tennessee fans would be the vast majority of the fans in attendance for the Round of 32 session on Sunday in Memphis. On Saturday in Charlotte, UNC fans will be the majority and almost certainly pulling against the Vols. You take playing in-state 100% of the time if presented with the option, which is of course not applicable unless selected as the #1 overall seed.

 

[VolGee4]

Most (I’m aware of exceptions) fans aren’t driving to any of these locations if they can afford to drive $5k+ for this trip regardless. They’re going to be flying for convenience and whether it’s out of Knoxville or Nashville, or Atlanta or Miami, flying to LA is pretty much as easy/cheap as flying to Dallas or Detroit. Do I think there could be 700-1,000 person difference, sure that’s plausible, do I think it’s a 5k person difference? No.

We don’t need to beat it into the ground. It is also depends on the sport, too.

If football was playing for the national title (actually better argument is semifinals), would more fans go to the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, or Ford Field (obviously hypothetical)? The closer you get to your fan base, the greater a chance you can get more there (with ticket limitations not part of it). I understand the variable with maximum capacity, but at some point, it’s also fan experience. The closer you get to the state, the greater the chance a person/family decides to drive instead of spending money on flights. Dallas is actually somewhat convenient for a great number of UT fans/alums, and they don’t have to fly.

I would venture to guess that fans drive to more of these type events than fly (aside from out west where you won’t get as many). It’s just the way traveling works.

Nonetheless, a lot can happen in the weekend before the Regional Finals.

 

[VolGee4]

I’m not saying it’s equivalent. I’m saying it’s comparable. Again, as others have said, these aren’t massive arenas. Best case scenario you are probably getting 5,000 Vol fans to show up. I just don’t think roughly an extra 1,000 fans in Detroit versus LA makes a difference in the outcome of the game. I’m not sure why people believe that.

EDIT: realizing BTO made the exact same point as I did while I was typing, so sorry for the repetition. Basically, I concur with BTO, but it’s fine for those who want to go to the game but avoid LA to feel differently.

Fair enough. As a fan though, I would prefer to be closer to give myself that chance to go. It’s all about the experience, too.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Fair enough. As a fan though, I would prefer to be closer to give myself that chance to go. It’s all about the experience, too.

That’s totally a valid way to feel!! I just think people arguing for wanting to be a 2 in the South or Midwest are doing so because they want to go to the game and not because they think it’s better for us to actually make our first ever F4 lol.