The option to bid a four-year cycle doesn't guarantee that any city would take that risk, or that the NCAA won't instead select championships on a year-to-year bid, or in a 1-2-1 cycle as they've done in the past. The NCAA does believe there is a substantial economic impact for host cities and wants to be financially incentivized to bring the championships to each city. If four years can be more profitable for the city and the NCAA, then it'll be a match worth pursuing.
For their side of the bargaining, the NCAA is asking for a reduction in overhead including the use of green space, facility rental and police presence. The NCAA is running a for-profit championship, and after four years of sellouts, they want more dosh, not less.
The goal of the host cities is to in-kind what they can, and present the NCAA with a low-cost, easy-to-access, fun event where student-athletes, coaches and fans have a good experience, and where they can earn media attention.
The following cities are analyzed by metrics that are predictable and consistent like airport and hotel options. There is also the subjective analysis of restaurant and nightlife options and in-city transportation.
Though it might seem small to fans, creating regularity for the athletes, regardless of location, gives them the comfort of knowing where to find the workout facilities they need, how to navigate the arena, and other trivialities. Finding a city that wrestlers can call home will reduce their stress come match time and improve the overall quality of the NCAA's product.
Philadelphia, Pa.
First Blush: Fantastic reviews from their 2011 NCAA Championships and ideal East Coast location have boosted Philadelphia from possibility to host again into favorite for a long-term bid. Philly is the largest city to ever host the championships, with a city-proper population of 1.5 million.
Previous Host: 2011
Venue: Wells Fargo Center
Seating Capacity: 8/10 Total attendance of 104,260 with approximately 17,300 fans attending each session.
Airport/Rail/Car: 9/10 Philadelphia International Airport is the 12th busiest in world, and Philadelphia's 30th Street Station is connected to NYC and Washington D.C. by Amtrak. The city is geographically centered enough to draw car traffic from the Mid-Atlantic and from the wrestling hotbeds of Western Pennsylvania and the Cleveland area.
Hotels: 9/10 The city has some of the best quality hotel options on the East Coast, especially when balanced against price. In small markets like Des Moines, the price of hotel rooms remain within 20 percent the cost of major cities because those hotels have lock on market and little vacancy. However, they aren't near the quality of what you can find in Philadelphia.
In-City Transportation: 7/10 Reliable subway takes fans from NCAA promoted hotels to the event. Cabs are also available at all hours of the night, for regulated and metered fare, though cabs were tricky to find at-command from certain parts of the city.
Restaurant + Nightlife: 8/10 Thousands of options which allow for a larger diaspora of the wrestling community after each session, and for dinner each night. There is also the ability to check out some historical sights, including the Liberty Bell and the Rocky Statue.
Potential Media: 8/10 Not only can every Midwestern journalist find a direct flight to Philadelphia, but the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post can all send columnists to cover the finals. We need exposure, and that means being on the East Coast and close to where reporters (famously lazy about travel) will have no excuse but to report. There's a reason that none of those papers showed up in Des Moines: Lack of accessibility.
Major Obstacle: Will the city pony up and present a bid that includes modest costs? Will there bid be for all four years, given the arenas use for the Flyers and Sixers? Also, the weather there will still be cold and vulnerable to late-season snowstorms.
Overall: 8/10
St. Louis, Mo.
First Blush: Wrestling fans who have traveled to the NCAAs for several years are familiar with St. Louis. The only city to host the championships more than twice since the NCAA moved them off campus for good in 2001, St. Louis is in the middle of the country and offers several advantages, though is still lacking in several major areas of fan needs.
Previous Host: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012
Venue: Scottrade Center
Seating Capacity: 10/10 The only sellout for St. Louis came in 2012, but it was a record-setter for the NCAA for both total attendance 112,393 and single session attendance of 18,919.
Airport/Rail/Car: 7/10 You can fly into St. Louis, or drive from several locations in the Midwest. However, there is no real rail transit. The airport is far enough from the city to require a rental car, which tend to have a high enough stock on-hand to accommodate the rush of rentals. Still, the cost to fans is increased significantly when adding a rental car, or taxi to the already high cost of the flights.
Hotels: 8/10 Very much a hit-or-miss in St. Louis. While some are nice, others aren't. Prices are reasonable and they are located close to the competition area, though a distance from the string of bars by the water.
In-City Transportation: 8/10 The hotels and venue are close enough to be walked, though parking is available at the venue. Cabs are tough to find, though they do come to the downtown strip late at night to help the late night revelers find their hotels.
Restaurant + Nightlife: 7/10 Though the strip of bars and restaurants by the water are a decent option for the younger crowds, there are very few consistently good meals to be had on the main drag between the hotels and the venue that are also open during wrestling. If you happen to be staying at a hotel further form the arena, it can be a hassle to walk south from the venue into the collection of Panera Breads and Hooters and still make it home in time to change, or rest up between rounds. Also, the fried ravioli thing isn't as great as it's billed, though the barbeque is better than average.
Potential Media: 6/10 Tough to get the East Coast media powers to St. Louis.
Major Obstacle: The St. Louis Sports Commission has stated publicly that they are looking for a two-year bid. That length of time might be fitting for the city, but the NCAA and the fans are hoping for something longer term. Should they reconsider the length of their bid the city might be able to become the semi-permanent home to the championships. If not, St. Louis will probably win but in doing so undercut the idea of landing a long-term commitment by the NCAA and the hopes of wrestling fans to find a semi-permanent location.
Overall: 7/10
New York, N.Y. (Wild Card)
First Blush: Too big and too scary for wrestling fans and too expensive for the NCAA to consider. However, there are rumors that the bid makers are starting to formulate their proposal. Tough to believe that NYC or the NCAA would sign on to something so risky for four years. However, there would be incredible payoffs possible in both financial terms and media exposure. The financial capital is filled with wrestling fans that have the money to purchase expensive luxury boxes, and since 90 percent of media is still housed in NYC, it's a simple story for reporters to write.
Previous Host: Never
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Seating Capacity: 18,200
Airport/Rail/Car: LaGuardia, JFK and Newark are some of the largest airports in the country with thousands of flights that guarantee availability and low rates. Public transportation from these airports is simple and efficient.
Penn Station is the rail hub of the East Coast and is located a few blocks from Madison Square Garden. Fans from as far south as Washington D.C. and as far north as Boston can come to the arena on direct or regional trains, and make it without transfers or hassle. For example of ease my parents, who don't fly, could take a commuter train from their home in Stafford, Va., transfer once in Washington D.C. to the Amtrak and be at Madison Square Garden five hours after locking the front door.
Hotels: Literally thousands in the city and over the water in New Jersey. Wrestlers could be placed across the street at the Hotel Pennsylvania for a rate of around $170 per night. Fans could find similar rates all around the city, and because of the ease of public transportation not every fan would have to be located in the same three hotels.
In-City Transportation: Taxis, subways, trains are all the best in the country expanding the championships from just wrestling into a true fan experience.
Restaurant + Nightlife: Arguably the best in the world
Potential Media: 11/10 EVERYONE is here and ESPN is only a two-hour drive from the city. Ever heard of the ESPN car wash? That's when a popular athlete goes on to several shows that are filmed in Bristol to promote a tournament or event. Major media exposure, unlike anything wrestling has ever thought possible. Can't you see Kyle Dake making the rounds?
Major Obstacle: The stigma of New York and the price points for fans traveling from the Midwest and down south could drive away the NCAA and erode widespread fan support. Also, it's tough to know what considerations the city would have to make on pricing for the event, and if the per-ticket prices would be outrageous. Perceived threat to safety would also be a consideration of fans. The post-tournament actions of wrestlers would also be a concern though MSG and NYC host the Big East basketball tourney's each season without major incident.
Overall: 9/10
Others to Consider
Des Moines, Iowa: 6/10 Venue isn't large enough, hotels are not up to snuff, and transportation is an absolute disaster.
Charlotte, N.C.: 7/10 Love the idea of a warmer NCAA wrestling tournament. Arena has 19k seats, good transportation to city and around town. The city is also low-cost. Might be a winner, but doesn't out-perform regional competitors like Philadelphia in terms of media opportunities.
Oklahoma City, Okla.: 6/10 Wrestling is in a growth stage that revolves around media interaction and publicity. Putting the tournament in OKC, as we'll see next year, will limit those options. Also, there isn't much nightlife and there are similar issues with the airport, which simply cannot handle the increase in traffic.
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