[COLUMN] Now is the perfect time for CAA to change location of men's basketball tournament

The CAA Tournament has been held at Richmond Coliseum since 1990 (Photo courtesy of jamacdonald/Flickr)

This story didn't originally cite CAAHoops.com as a source for its information. The correction has been made and the story now cites CAAHoops.com. 

For twenty-two years, Richmond, Va. and the Richmond Coliseum have been home to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament held each year in early March. But, with Virginia Commonwealth leaving the conference for the Atlantic 10, the future of the tournament in Virginia's capital is up in the air.

Up until 1990, each school in the conference alternated as host for the tournament—Mason hosted at the Patriot Center in 1986. However, CAA President Tom Yeager has said before that holding the event on campuses has "little to no interest" for those involved, including students and alumni.

Now seems like the perfect opportunity to change the location of the tournament. The Coliseum is 41 years old and appears to have had minimal renovations in that span. Many have stated their disgust with the Coliseum and feel like the decision to move the tournament's location is long overdue. I would categorize myself in that same group of thinking. The building is outdated and tacky and it doesn't hold the same tradition that older venues like Madison Square Garden and The Palestra have. 

The only problem for Mason with moving the CAA tournament out of Virginia is that since the tournament called the Coliseum its permanent home, only one school outside of the state has won a championship—UNC-Wilmington.

Over the next month, the CAA will meet and discuss the possible locations for the CAA tournament with the goal in mind to find the best possible choice that could accommodate and provide the best experience for fans.

[UPDATE] Here's a list of five potential venues for the CAA Tournament (according to CAAHoops.com):

First Mariner Arena—Baltimore, Md.

-Holds 12,500 fans (500-600 more than Richmond Coliseum)

-Is a more centralized location for all conference schools—may draw more fans who have never attended the event

-Is near Baltimore's Inner Harbor, which offers an array of shopping options, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions

-Provides access for fans to public transportation such as Baltimore's Metro and Light Rail systems

-Offers accessible seating and elevators for fans who need accommodations

The Palestra—Philadelphia, Pa.

-Holds only 8,700 fans (fewer than the Coliseum)

-Has seating close to the court extending all the way down to the floor—closer seating may add to the atmosphere of the event

-Is considered the "Cathedral of College Basketball" and has hosted the most men's basketball postseason games of any venue

-Is located near plenty of hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants and shopping in Philadelphia

-Is a central location in relation to conference schools

PNC Arena—Raleigh, N.C.

-Holds up to 19,700 fans (7,700 more seats than the Coliseum)

-Is located in Raleigh, the second-largest city in N.C. which offers a number of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions for visiting fans

-Has elevators, escalators and accessible seating for fans who need accommodations

-Can provide over 8,000 designated parking spaces as well as public transportation options for those attending the tournament

-Is near Raleigh-Durham International Airport for fans that wish to fly

Boardwalk Hall—Atlantic City, N.J.

-Holds around 10,500 fans (1,500 fewer than the Coliseum)

-Is a historic venue that has hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Mike Tyson, The Democratic National Convention and the Atlantic 10 Tournament from 2008–2012

-Is located in a centralized city with wide array of hotels, restaurants, shopping and night life

-Was built in 1926 but underwent a $90 million restoration in 2001 to build it up to modern standards

-Provides access to many transportation options in the city for those who don't want to drive

The Scope—Norfolk, Va.

-Holds up to 10,250 fans (1,750 fewer than the Coliseum)

-Norfolk is the second-largest city in Va. and offers an array of hotels, restaurants and shopping choices

-Can be accessed by fans traveling by train—Amtrak has a stop in Norfolk

-Is located in Norfolk, a city located on the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, allowing for activities like fishing with the weather's cooperation

-Has held basketball events such as McDonald's All-American games, all-star games and other tournaments

Personally, I would love the CAA Tournament to be moved to The Palestra. Being the huge college basketball junkie that I am, I think that this location would be the perfect venue to watch postseason basketball. With all of its history and the compacted seating, The Palestra would provide a unique atmosphere that the Coliseum

No matter what the final decision on the tournament venue is, the CAA can only improve upon their current option.