[M T]

This is just "ugh," and I don't really understand the reasons for it. 

Could it bee that by having eight teams instead of four, they are doubling the number of potential fans at the site, and the seats might look a little more full?  Of course, the fans tend to file in and out when their own team plays....

I *think* this is two 4-team regionals played at the same site.  So, for each of these 8-team regionals, there would be 4 games of the sweet-16 round (regional first round), followed by 2 games of the elite 8 round (regional finals).  The 4 winners of the regional finals (2 winners from each of 2 regions) goes to the final four.  Presumably they'll do  2 games on Thursday, 2 on Friday, 1 on Saturday(Thursday winners), 1 on Sunday(Friday winners).   Make those people that show up in person buy more hot dogs & beer.

One can see why CtSPN wants it.  They only need 2 crews.  Any facility that wins this will get more money (at the expense of the other facility that didn't get it).  Ditto for the hotels & airlines.   The fans will have to travel further, deal with buying two sets of tickets (or not), possibly stay longer.  But, hey, if they call themselves fans, they'll just have to reach for their wallet.

[M T]

This is just "ugh," and I don't really understand the reasons for it. 

Could it bee that by having eight teams instead of four, they are doubling the number of potential fans at the site, and the seats might look a little more full?  Of course, the fans tend to file in and out when their own team plays....

I *think* this is two 4-team regionals played at the same site.  So, for each of these 8-team regionals, there would be 4 games of the sweet-16 round (regional first round), followed by 2 games of the elite 8 round (regional finals).  The 4 winners of the regional finals (2 winners from each of 2 regions) goes to the final four.  Presumably they'll do  2 games on Thursday, 2 on Friday, 1 on Saturday(Thursday winners), 1 on Sunday(Friday winners).   Make those people that show up in person buy more hot dogs & beer.

One can see why CtSPN wants it.  They only need 2 crews.  Any facility that wins this will get more money (at the expense of the other facility that didn't get it).  Ditto for the hotels & airlines.   The fans will have to travel further, deal with buying two sets of tickets (or not), possibly stay longer.  But, hey, if they call themselves fans, they'll just have to reach for their wallet.