re: SEC Championship Game Venue

quote:

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Distances to Atlanta

Athens, GA - 1.5 hrs
Auburn, AL - 1.75 hrs
Columbia, SC - 3.25 hrs
Tuscaloosa, AL - 3 hrs
Knoxville, TN - 3.25 hrs
Gainesville, FL - 5 hrs
Starkville, MS - 4.5 hrs
Nashville, TN - 4 hrs
Oxford, MS - 5 hrs
Lexington, KY - 5.75 hrs

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Baton Rouge, LA - 7.75 hrs
College Station, TX - 12.5 hrs
Fayetteville, AR - 10.5 hrs
Columbia, MO - 10.25 hrs

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the 4 below the line are really the only ones that it's kind of an issue for. LSU can't complain because the sugar bowl is in their backyard and they've won 2 nattys there the last 11 years. The other 3 teams will only go once in a blue moon any way so not sure why we're taking them into account.

quote:

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Distances to Atlanta

Athens, GA - 1.5 hrs
Auburn, AL - 1.75 hrs
Columbia, SC - 3.25 hrs
Tuscaloosa, AL - 3 hrs
Knoxville, TN - 3.25 hrs
Gainesville, FL - 5 hrs
Starkville, MS - 4.5 hrs
Nashville, TN - 4 hrs
Oxford, MS - 5 hrs
Lexington, KY - 5.75 hrs
Baton Rouge, LA - 7.75 hrs
College Station, TX - 12.5 hrs
Fayetteville, AR - 10.5 hrs
Columbia, MO - 10.25 hrs

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As was posted earlier, Atlanta really is fairly well located. Ten of the schools are less than 6 hours away. LSU is under 8 hours. That leaves Arky, Mizzou, and A&M with travel issues.

I don't think there is another city with appropriate amenities that works as well. B'ham is probably the most centrally located "major" city, but Legion Field is a dump and no one wants to go to B'ham.

As I said in my previous post, Nashville would be a decent choice, but I think the lack of a dome is a deal breaker. Also they are going to be the semi-permanent home to the SEC Basketball tourney.

NOLA is the only other one that comes even close, and it is not as centrally located.

The idea of the biggest event in the SEC being in Texas or Mizzou just makes no sense geographically. If you disagree please post travel times to the other cities so we can compare.