I miss...

[tornado]

I am getting pumped for the tourney in St. Louis even tho we are again the 10-seed...but I strangely have more enthusiasm and optimism than any other year for the past 5 or so...

I just thought I'd mention a few things I miss and hope that this stuff will re-emerge as regular features to March in future years......

I would LOVE to hear some of the thoughts and memories of other fans who have been going for years & decades...

-going to St. Louis on Friday not Thursday
-the big pre-game gatherings at Sheraton or Joe Bucks with hundreds of BU fans
-having arguably the BIGGEST fan section - and if not the biggest, then the BEST & loudest
-long lines and packed arena...Bradley fans waiting outside an hour before the arena opened
(yes, the arena for the later round games a few years ago was PACKED)

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/mvc/2006-03-03-tournament-hopes_x.htm

-when we had multiple teams battling for at-large bids
-when the Valley's top coaches were getting hired away just about every season and the MVC had kids that went on to play in the NBA
-and we need to get back to when BRADLEY people organized GREAT get-togethers and parties in St. Louis for the weekend that fans packed to!
In Union Station, in the hotels, at Joe Bucks, in the restaurant at the Sheraton..and even fighting or having to get there early to find a parking space!
-the friendly - yet spirited fan-interactions we had with the ISU fans & SIU fans because all those teams were so good & competitive

[LittleBrave]

I am getting pumped for the tourney in St. Louis even tho we are again the 10-seed...but I strangely have more enthusiasm and optimism than any other year for the past 5 or so...

Me too T.
I hope to watch the game at home tomorrow - never been to StL for the tourney, but one of my goals/dreams in the next 5 seasons...just waiting for when we are like a #4 or #5 seed so the chances of seeing us play on Saturday are better.

[lefty]

hmmm....I haven't gone for awhile but when my kids were young we went every year..


I can remember almost stepping through the steps in the old arena when the tournament was first moved to St. Louis after being rotated at different schools..


My oldest daughter(then maybe 8?) and wife getting on an elevator with the WSU team and my daughter was in awe of how tall they were..


Me catching the right T-shirt in the stands(ok it was my son but he was too young to participate) from the Missouri lottery and then going on the floor at halftime to select one of three choices to win $500....


At the Marriott pool with my youngest daughter who was swimming with one of the BU player's sister........Candace Parker


At the same pool but not sure if it was the same year or not my kids swimming with Tubby Smith's sons...the two youngest ones I think.....


It was always kind of fun who would run into around the pool

[Da Coach]

I remember those games that were played at the old Kiel Arena. What a dump that was.
And I also recall a lot of fun memories of my kids interacting with the past Bradley players.

One other unique memory I have is one year while Bradley was assigned to the old Marriott Marquis Hotel. Sorry if this is not politically correct.
They had just 2 small elevators for each of their 2 towers. One year the national wheelchair basketball association was also being held in St. Louis, and there were many wheelchair athletes also staying at the Marriott Marquis. Since the elevators were small, only 2 wheelchairs at a time could fit into them, so at certain times, like when the wheelchair players were returning from games, there were long waits for everyone to get in an elevator and get up to their rooms. I think I walked many flights of stairs that weekend.

[Duane82]

Even though I'm only in my 30's I've been going since 1996. It doesn't feel right not seeing a sea of red Bradley shirts in the crowd. I'll never forget how crazy it was during my first Arch Madness when Deon hit the shot. We were about to walk out and were standing in the tunnel when he hit it. That shot made me a Bradley fan for life.

[tornado]

lefty- did you ever check out the "Whispering Arch" .. or have one of those great Italian sausage sandwiches at the Union Station Mall

http://adventureswithben.com/travel/st-louis-union-station-marriott-whispering-arch/

[Da Coach]

Unfortunately, Union Station is as dead as a doornail now. There are only a few shops and restaurants left, along with the fudge-makers.

[tornado]

Are Landry's, Hard Rock Cafe, and Lombardo's all gone?
Used to also be several great restaurants down by the River near Laclede's Landing...wonder if any remain? I heard Hannegan's closed.
Many long time Bradley fans have lost touch with the great places in St. Louis...

[Da Coach]

Are Landry's, Hard Rock Cafe, and Lombardo's all gone?
Used to also be several great restaurants down by the River near Laclede's Landing...wonder if any remain? I heard Hannegan's closed.
Many long time Bradley fans have lost touch with the great places in St. Louis.

I believe Landry's is still open, though I have heard rumors they might close. They are never real busy like they used to be. Lombardo's is not in Union Station. I believe it is in the nearby Drury Inn. Hard Rock is still there, but it is only busy in the summer when people are in town for baseball. The Hooters closed a few years ago, as did a couple other restaurants that were down at that south end of the station and the one that was at the north end that used to be Charlie Spoonhour's. The Union Station is just not a destination many people go to like they used to.
There are a lot of good restaurants in town, just not as many in the downtown area.

[lefty]

lefty- did you ever check out the "Whispering Arch" .. or have one of those great Italian sausage sandwiches at the Union Station Mall
http://adventureswithben.com/travel/...ispering-arch/

I don't remember doing that but we did hang out at Union Station quite a bit

[Chico]

Why are all these places closing or losing business?

[tornado]

the Scotttrade Center isn't too unlike the Chicago United Center - there's massive traffic going in and out numerous times per year...but it's still a fairly bad neighborhood and almost everyone just comes and leaves after the event and does not care to look for any restaurant nearby.
They more likely head back towards the other downtown hotels for entertainment & dining.
The few hotels nearby such as Drury Inn & Sheraton are older and a little un-appealing...
I just have to think the number of people looking to dine in the area has plummetted

[Chico]

I have to think it's probably, like most places , bad neighborhoods and people are afraid to go there. Too bad.

[SpfldBUAlum]

There is a project going on to redevelop the Union Station complex.

I remember sitting in the new arena between games watching them implode the old Arena one year.

[basketball nut]

Are Landry's, Hard Rock Cafe, and Lombardo's all gone?
Used to also be several great restaurants down by the River near Laclede's Landing...wonder if any remain? I heard Hannegan's closed.
Many long time Bradley fans have lost touch with the great places in St. Louis...

There are still some good restaurants on the riverfront. Spaghetti Factory is still there and as good as ever for a chain rest. (The Hill is much better)
Several other places down on the river but many are night club type places. Have heard that ballpark village is very good. Bogarts BBQ is just a little south of downtown and rated #1 on tripadvisor.