Right now there is a lot of talk about bids for Nationals and proposed rules changes on where Nationals can be held.
Why not discuss good places to have Nationals in the future?
For fun, what pool would you suggest as a great place for Nationals? This may help prime the pump with more pools that can/will bid on future events.
I will start things off with my submission, University of Minnesota for LCM.
Why?
I am from MN and have swum in it many times during college and in Masters. It is a great facility and is fast. Plus I have family in the Twin Cities and know my way around.
It is indoors and as anybody from the Midwest knows, the weather can get unpredictable in August.
They did a great job in 1999 for LCM, very well-run meet.
An open water swim could be run at Lake Hariett or one of the other metro lakes.
Airport is a hub for NWA (soon to be Delta) and is accessable from any major metro area.
Location is in Central US, meaning flights from anywhere in the US won't take all day.
Pool is on the U of M campus with lots of places to eat, hotels, and parking.
There have been many meets run at this facility since it opened and I think that the hosts would do an excellent job. I don't know why they have not submitted a bid but would love to vote for it if they ever did.
Just my opinion, go ahead and share yours.
An interesting idea from our ED's Vision and Action Plan:
c) Championships
Some may be aware that USA Swimming has been "selling" and is getting buy in from the NCAA to combine
NCAA Swimming Championships into an annual swimming festival. The NCAA swimming festival would
most likely be six or seven days. On the drawing board is the inaugural NCAA swimming festival to kick off as
early as 2011. The date though will be early Spring and is still being determined, along with other business
points.
While some USMS host clubs could argue the "fundraising" benefits of hosting the SC Championships, it would
absolutely be in USMS global best long term interest to be part of the annual event by hosting our
championships at the same location before the event. Consider the benefits:
 With the number of collegiate swimming programs being discontinued, demonstrates and shows USMS
support of collegiate swimming
 Brings USMS closer (first hand that is) to collegiate swimmers – a market we need to tap and integrate
 Brings USMS close to collegiate coaches & club coaches
 Would raise the enthusiasm level & buzz on our championships
 The NCAA has a television contract so we ride that wave
 The amount of media that covers the NCAA championships would have an overflow effect on USMS
championships (something we could never buy or have gotten on our own)
 Offers an opportunity for our membership to stay after and support/watch/cheer for the NCAA's
Regardless of how we feel, the annual swimming festival concept is happening (much like the Trials moving
from a natatorium to the Qwest Center). I have made known to Chuck Wielgus that USMS has an interest in
becoming part of the NCAA Swimming Festival for which Chuck believes would be a homerun. I have
likewise informed the Championship Committee that this is an avenue we'd like to pursue. I anticipate when
Chuck returns from the Olympics, we will pick up the dialogue and get a better understanding of the
opportunity as a whole at which time we will be able to better update the details.
An interesting idea from our ED's Vision and Action Plan:
c) Championships
Some may be aware that USA Swimming has been "selling" and is getting buy in from the NCAA to combine
NCAA Swimming Championships into an annual swimming festival. The NCAA swimming festival would
most likely be six or seven days. On the drawing board is the inaugural NCAA swimming festival to kick off as
early as 2011. The date though will be early Spring and is still being determined, along with other business
points.
While some USMS host clubs could argue the "fundraising" benefits of hosting the SC Championships, it would
absolutely be in USMS global best long term interest to be part of the annual event by hosting our
championships at the same location before the event. Consider the benefits:
 With the number of collegiate swimming programs being discontinued, demonstrates and shows USMS
support of collegiate swimming
 Brings USMS closer (first hand that is) to collegiate swimmers – a market we need to tap and integrate
 Brings USMS close to collegiate coaches & club coaches
 Would raise the enthusiasm level & buzz on our championships
 The NCAA has a television contract so we ride that wave
 The amount of media that covers the NCAA championships would have an overflow effect on USMS
championships (something we could never buy or have gotten on our own)
 Offers an opportunity for our membership to stay after and support/watch/cheer for the NCAA's
Regardless of how we feel, the annual swimming festival concept is happening (much like the Trials moving
from a natatorium to the Qwest Center). I have made known to Chuck Wielgus that USMS has an interest in
becoming part of the NCAA Swimming Festival for which Chuck believes would be a homerun. I have
likewise informed the Championship Committee that this is an avenue we'd like to pursue. I anticipate when
Chuck returns from the Olympics, we will pick up the dialogue and get a better understanding of the
opportunity as a whole at which time we will be able to better update the details.
