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“I am just a guy trying to rent a building.”  

That is a comment from WIAA Executive Director Dave Anderson somewhere around the fall of 2011.  

That dilemma led the WIAA to host their basketball tournaments in separate cities for the first time ever.  

They say competition brings out the best of us all, and interestingly enough, that seems to be what is happening between the two cities involved – Madison and Green Bay.  So let’s see how they stack up pound-for-pound.

Promotion.  I’ve lived in Madison since college and up until last year I had never seen the WIAA State Tournament advertised.  Last year all of a sudden there is a billboard on the beltline promoting it.  This year they’re making announcements and putting it on the big board at the Badger basketball games. 

Green Bay has gone even further with giant wraps on the outside of their building promoting the tournament.  Since I don’t live up in that area I am not aware of other items, but I’m sure it’s plastered all over the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas.  It is really refreshing that they are so excited about the event.

Advantage:  Green Bay, too little too late in my book for Madison. 

Hotels.  Without a doubt, one of the best things to come out of this is an effort to make hotels in Madison more affordable.  If you booked early it wasn’t hard in Madison to get a good rate.  However, if your team books your ticket the Saturday before and you had a week to get that room?  You weren’t treated as well in the price department.  

When Green Bay came out and said they would have a pricing structure that would be affordable for fans and families it put some pressure on Madison to match it.  Green Bay has put together a pretty great listing of options.  While not every hotel in Madison is participating, it’s nice that there are some good hotel deals for state this year.  

Advantage:  Green Bay, without them we wouldn’t be talking about hotel deals, plus there’s are a lot less expensive.

Parking & Transportation.  For Green Bay, being across the street from a 72,000 seat football stadium will obviously help your capability to offer ample parking.  The listed rate online is $6 but it does not say whether that is per session, per in & out or an all-day fee.  There are some great restaurants in walking distance, but most of them are the sports bar type.  Hence,  I hope this is a one-time a day fee since people might want to jump in their cars and go explore other options.

There was also a lot of talk about a shuttle that was going to take the visitors from each hotel and plop them in front of the Resch Center.  Apparently that shuttle is just the Green Bay Metro, so either I misunderstood what they were promoting or there was a change of plans.  Rates are $3 adults, $2 students and $1.50 seniors.  So if you are a family of four you might be better off just paying the $6 for parking than the $10 to ride the city bus.  

Speaking of parking value, Madison has a $4 rate for the City of Madison ramps, the shortest one being the State Street campus ramp.  I’ve paid almost that much to go grab a lunch meeting downtown so that is surely a deal.  With that being said, the other two offerings – the Overture ramp and the Capital ramp will be a little bit more of a hike.  The UW ramps in play aren’t as much of a value at $8.

They are also offering a park and ride option at the Alliant Energy Center parking lot.  Unless you are completely terrified to drive in downtown Madison, I suggest you do not do this park and ride option.  Said option costs $6 to park and $5 per person for the shuttle.  If you are a family of four you are then paying $26 to park 3 miles from the Kohl Center and rely on a shuttle to get you back to your car when you are done experiencing Madison.  

Advantage:  Push.  Parking better in GB, being able to stay on foot in Madison is nice.

Deals!  Both cities were going to rally the business community and really make it happen for the WIAA fans.  And.  Um.  You can get $75 off a Walleye Fishing Expedition with the Green Bay coupon book.  Or you can get a free gift bag at a Nature Center 10 miles off campus in Madison.

The best coupon in the Green Bay book is probably the buy one, get one ½ off at the Stadium View, which is in walking distance to the Resch.  Problem is the coupon says that special events aren’t included.  The rest of the restaurants look supper clubbish and none of them are near the facility. 

The Madison deals page isn’t much better.  I mention the Nature Center above, don’t get me wrong, we love this place.  My 3 year old has a class there every Wednesday and it’s like her favorite thing.  However, I can’t imagine a bunch of 16-year old kids wanting to head out to the Nature Center in between sessions.

All told, there are 11 deals out of which 9 are restaurants out of which 2 are within realistic between session walking distance of the Kohl Center.  There are like a million restaurants in Madison.  They could have done better.

Advantage:  Madison since they at least have deals near the event, however, this is kind of a poor job by both outfits.

Fan Experience.  Even though it’s the girls basketball tournament, everyone in our state is a Packer fan.  Having the home of everyone’s favorite football team next door is a nice little extra, especially with all there is to do there.  There has also been a lot of talk about all the things they will be doing up there to roll out the red carpet and make the games exciting.  

Madison is putting together what they are dubbing “Fan Central,” which will be located at the new Union South.  Union South is a little far away to be Fan Central, so they are having a shuttle, however said shuttle costs $2.  Now, I know $2 isn’t a lot of money, but if you are going to try and get people to go to Union South in between games do you really have to charge them money for it?

What is at Fan Central?  Well, you can sign a “commemorative fan board” for your school.  You can get buy one get one free slice of pizza.  Or you can grab a “commemorative WIAA cookies” which… wait for it…  aren’t free, but for sale.   They also have bowling & billards at the Union, also for regular pricing.  Lastly, they’ll have a tv that will display “WIAA Twitter Feed” so I’m not sure if that is the feed of the WIAA’s account or tweets about the tournament or what, but I do not believe they will charge you to look at it.

Advantage:  Green Bay, what Madison is doing seems forced and thought up in a room of 50 year olds.

Logo.   I don’t even know why this is a category.  For some reason both cities had an unveiling ceremony for their logos.  My thoughts on this are brief.  Did you really have to use hot pink Green Bay?  I understand you are trying to give the girls their own identity along with your slogan of “Our Journey, Our Place, Our Time” and I guess there isn’t anything more stereotypical when it comes to girls then pink.

For the Madison logo, they decided to show a little bitterness about losing the girls tournament by declaring Madison “The Championship Capital.”  Ok, I know Madison is the capital, and it is hosting WIAA championships, but we all know what that slogan means.

Advantage:  Madison, way to have some snarky fight in you! (plus it looks more professional)

Final Word.  Ok, so I had a little fun here.  I do understand that both cities have worked really hard on trying to step their game up.  However, as Dave Anderson said two falls ago, all we need is a building.  Nobody is going to complain about some better hotel rates, but nothing was or is wrong with Madison.   With the history, great downtown, State Street and campus all right by Madison is great already.

In a way, Green Bay is trying to live up to the standard of Madison and the state tournament experience that has been shaped for years and years.  I hope Green Bay knocks it out of the park and has the opportunity to build the years and years of memories just like Madison has.

I look forward to two great state tournaments, in two great cities and I hope you an all join me in cheering on all that is great about this great sport.

Visitor & Convention Bureau Links  

Nick's State Tourney Tips

Krolls - Krolls is on the other side of Lambeau Field from the Resch Center and it is easily in my top 5 for best cheeseburger ever.  It's a hard roll and they put butter on the cheeseburger, so, so good.  

Scheels at Fox River Mall - Ok, It's not Green Bay, but if you drive by Appleton on your way there or the way home, you need to stop.  There is simply not a better store in the state for fan gear.  In this internet age it's undeard of to see all the different teams, choices and options.

Echo Tap - I am reluctant to share this, as I don't want them to get too busy.  They have really, really great food and since they are behind the Kohl Center, away from State Street, not many people know they are there.  There is also some street parking opportunities on the streets around here but please be aware of the 2 hour limit some of these street spots come with.

Regent Street - On the South side of Regent Street there is a lot of street parking options available.  Some are 2 hour limit spots, some are not.  The nice thing is three places in the area have free shuttles - Lucky's, Big 10 Pub and Stadium Sports Eatery.  Also in this neighborhood is a Rocky Roccocos, Wing Stop, Subway and a 7-11.