I've had the distinct pleasure of attending all 16 Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournaments that have been held in Cleveland, Ohio. The MAC offices moved to Cleveland from Toledo in the fall of 1999, and Gund Arena (now called Quicken Loans Arena) was named the host of the men's tournament.
This was a step up for the MAC, as it gave players, coaches, cheerleaders, pep bands and fans a chance to experience MAC basketball in an elite, big-time, NBA venue. Cleveland was a neutral site that was situated near the center of the MAC's geographical footprint. But, that still didn't stop Northern Illinois, Ball State and several of the Michigan schools from complaining that Cleveland favored Kent State and Akron, as well as their fan bases.