Buffalo vs. Milwaukee: Your Locale Preference for Michigan's First (Two) Rounds
Generally speaking, I imagine most people would agree that it is beneficial to have a large contingent of Michigan fans present for neutral-site games. I have seen the majority of posts indicating that Milwaukee would be the most preferable location for Michigan's first two rounds, as Michigan alum are littered throughout the Upper Midwest. That said, I can't help but thinking Buffalo would be equally as desirable for several reasons.
Ann Arbor to Buffalo: Approximately 298 Miles (Source -- Google Maps)
Ann Arbor to Milwaukee: Approximately 331 miles (Source -- Google Maps)
I have never driven from Ann Arbor to Buffalo, or vice versa, so I defer to the board as to the pros and cons. I have driven the Milwaukee route many times, and the relative ease or difficulty depends on traffic and weather.
I wonder if droves of Wisconsin supporters would show up just to cheer against us or for us (B1G pride?). I wonder if our gigantic Chicago-based alumni would take over the arena. I wonder if Stauskas is generating significant Ontario-based support and pride that would translate into large groups crossing the border to cheer on their new Canadian hero. I wonder if the rather large Ohio and New York-based Michigan alumni network would rally.
What say you?
Villanova and Syracuse are locks for Buffalo. Even though UM might finish slightly higher than Syracuse on the S-Curve the committee will basically say Buffalo/Milwaukee are equidistant and work to minimize travel for the top seeds overall by shipping Michigan to Milwaukee.
Book it.
I would be praying that Virginia loses in the 1st-round of the ACC tournament, thus maybe getting a lower seed ... and thus maybe getting sent somewhere other than Raliegh.
Raliegh in mid-March >>>> Buffalo in mid-March. Plus, Raliegh = Dook Fan Hell.
Milwaukee is where we want to be. Not terribly far away for Michiganders, and only a less than 2 hr drive away from our large alumni base in Chicago. As for the Canadians, they'll go wherever they need to go to cheer on their white wolf of the north.
so I think you are correct (although there may be a train from NYC). Milwaukee is preferable.
train takes 50% longer than car for NYC to Rochester/Buffalo. cheap flights are abundant, though.
With Milwaukee only an hour drive away, Chicago's U of M contingent will make the trip. Plus Milwaukee is more "midwestern" culturally.
Wisconsin's fanbase will have their own team to root for, and are unlikely to show up just to root against Michigan, so unless Wisky is assigned to Milwaukee too that's not a major concern.
Buffalo's a smidgen closer, but Milwaukee's better IMHO.
has a million relatives in upstate NY. They may fill the stadium by themselves.
Depending on the game time and living in Chicago, Amtrak isn't a bad option getting up there either.
We won't know exactly where we're going until Sunday, of course, but if I could choose, I would choose Milwaukee as well because it is closer to larger concentrations of Michigan fans and you do have the Chicago factor there as well. Not just Chicago either, but there seems to be a fair number of Michigan fans in places like northern Indiana and a few other spots in the Midwest that might prefer that location for access too.The thing that would make me rethink that is having Wisconsin in the same bracket, then this is eerily close to being a home game for them if that happens.
There are at least 3 on this board living in/near Madison, so take that into consideration when you hope for Milwaukee. We will be loud. And we can flip Bo Ryan the bird on the road to Milwaukee.
Buffalo's really about an hour closer than that (and Milwaukee an hour further) since most Michigan fans aren't actually coming from Ann Arbor. Getting through customs vs. driving through Chicago is probably a wash unless you make sure to go through Chicago at the right time of day.
I agree that the large contingent of U-M alums in Chicago tilts it toward Milwaukee though. Plus obviously it depends on who else is in the same pod. If Michigan were sent to Buffalo as a 2 seed, but Pitt was in the same place as a 10-seed, as an example, that's not good.
As far as the drive to Buffalo goes, it is faster to drive through Canada (you can thank them for Nik on your way through) than to go through the US, and going through Canada avoids the need to drive through Ohio.
I grew up just outside of Buffalo and have worked in Milwaukee, and you can have a good time in either city. I do miss Duff's chicken wings, and Sabres hockey, though and I have heard that Buffalo has recently been working hard to improve its image. Also, the Sabres are terrible this year, so you might be able to pick up some tickets to a game pretty cheaply while you are in town.
In response to Milwaukee being "more midwestern," Buffalo is a lot more of a midwestern town than it is an east cost one. It is a shorter drive from Ann Arbor to Buffalo than from Buffalo to New York City. I think that Beilein would receive a warm welcome in Buffalo, considering his family ties in the area and his link to Canisius.
Buffalo is only about 4.5 hrs from Ann Arbor if you cut through Ontario.
And I too would think Beilein would get the hometown favorite treatment. His hometown is only about 45 mins from the city and he coached at Canisius and Eric CC which are both right in the city of Buffalo (I'm sure you knew all of those things but other mgobloggers may not have)
If it's in Milwaukee, I'll go, so Milwaukee.
90 minutes from Toronto. That would be fantastic.
to the Anchor Bar, (home of the original chicken wing) and celebrate the 50th birtday of the wing!... I'm hungry.
Hi, cool thread.
Sincerely, First World Problems
(how far have we come in half a decade to be having these discussions)
Milwaukee. There are so many U of M alums in Chicagoland (and quite a few in Milwaukee as well) that it could be an edge for Michigan, theoretically. Also, for current students, a lot of them come from the Chicagoland area, so that could help bring students to the game in large numbers. "Hey, mom and dad, me and some friends are gonna come home for the weekend."
I would go up to Milwaukee from Chicago, except that I will be in Minnesota for the B1G hockey tourney. Too bad these events will be the same weekend.
I'm 3 hours away and informed my wife last week we'd be going if they play in Buffalo. Can't think of any other reason one would want to go to Buffalo in the winter...or ever.
Milwaukee for purely selfish reasons. I live in Madison and the grandkids live in Milwaukee.
381mi vrs 750mi.
Not to mention if in Buffalo I'd have to drive through Ohio. I won't make the drive to Buffalo probably will pick up tix to Milwaukee if the matchup\timing is good.
We're definitely better off in Buffalo. I went to the game in Milwaukee in 1996 and to the Frozen Four in Milwaukee in 1997 and the crowds were hostile. The Bucky fans do not like us and they will be rooting against us en masse. Not enough M fans come to overcome this. I would rather have the game in Columbus.