A full entourage of UW Athletic Department officials meet with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz on Wednesday. Included in the group are not only Barry Alvarez, UW's athletic director, but several assistant ADs and Doug Chickering of the WIAA, which brings several state tournaments to Madison each year, particularly during March.
The topic of discussion could be any number of topics, but will likely include the athletic department's sprawling facilities master plan, which will ensure plenty of construction activity on campus, courtesy athletics, over the next several years. But what's Chickering doing here? Might it have something to do with the delicate dance the WIAA does with the athletic department each year when it comes to siting various tournaments at the Kohl Center and others at the Alliant Energy Center's Coliseum?
Or could it have anything to do with the vision I have for March Madness, particularly the basketball tournaments, which would turn Madison into Hoopsville, WI, for much of March? That vision includes expanding the state tourney presence in Madison of all four competitive classes to three rounds (quarters, semis and finals), which would involve hosting some games at the UW Field House. Monona Terrace would be turned into kind of a Fan Fest, complete with interactive games, slam dunk contests, clinics for kids, band concerts, cheerleader competitions and anything else you can jam in there. That way, fans don't just swoop in for their team's games and then drive back home. They might hang around for the evening or show up early. It would create a destination for the casual fan, who doesn't plan on spending three full days anchored to a Kohl Center seat.
MAYOR CIESLEWICZ WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, March 31, 2008
8:30 a.m. Taping of "Celebrate Madison!" PSA (Clear Channel) 9:00 a.m. Policy staff meeting 11:00 a.m. Mike May, Chuck Kamp, Carolyn Hogg, and Ray Harmon 2:00 p.m. Barb Dimick quarterly meeting 3:30 p.m. Bill Barker, Ald. Marsha Rummel, Mark Olinger, and Ray Harmon 4:30 p.m. Board of Estimates meeting (CCB GR-27)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
7:45 a.m. Environmental Breakfast Seminar (UW Memorial Union)
10:00 a.m. 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Board of Directors meeting (Promega, 5445 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg)
3:00 p.m. Kathleen Falk quarterly meeting
4:30 p.m. Taping of "On the Air with In Business" show (Midwest Family Broadcasting, WTDY, 730 Rayovac Drive)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
10:00 a.m. Staff meeting
3:00 p.m. Barry Alvarez, Todd Nelson, John Finkler, Sean Frazier, Rhonda Norsetter, Dawn Crim, Terry Kelly, Doug Chickering, Deb Archer, Mike May, Carolyn Hogg, Chuck Kamp, Ray Harmon, George Twigg, and Janet Piraino
Thursday, April 3, 2008
11:00 a.m. Brad Clark quarterly meeting 2:30 p.m. Westside Staff Team meeting (MMB LL-110) 9:00 p.m. Screening of "Mad City Chickens," Monona Terrace
Friday, April 4, 2008
10:30 a.m. Jo Miller, Zane Williams, Masami Glines, Andrew Statz, and George Twigg 4:30 p.m. Common Council leadership meeting 6:00 p.m. AIDS Network Red Ribbon Affair (Monona Terrace)
Saturday, April 5, 2008
7:00 p.m. Appearance at "Duck Soup" (Overture Center, Capitol Theater)
