Theoretically, a day is 24 hours. Every school is within a day's drive, but that doesn't make it a smart move.
How will it be determined if the ACC tournament is a bust? It is in the ACC and Barclays Center's best interest to put the best face on the story as they possibly can.
The arena will "sell out," no question. Whether ticket are sold through direct channels, given away, or purchased on the secondary market is another story that can be spun however the ACC and the Barclays wishes. The narrative will be that there were butts in seats and millions of people who didn't make the drive or just want to watch basketball will tune into ESPN all over the country, but the Tournament games would get the same rating regardless of venue. The ACC is not a regional brand. It is distributed nationally and has been for years.
It's a similar situation to how the BCS's set up forced the Fiesta Bowl to invite UConn in 2011 and UCF this year. Different narrative, but similar situation. Tickets will be sold (and were sold in 2011) and every seat in the house in Glendale will be (was) filled. But the narrative is Big East (AAC) teams don't belong in the BCS and UConn (UCF) shouldn't represent the conference because only 2,500 (5,000) fans bought tickets through direct channels (i.e. over-inflated school sanctioned packages).
The Barclays Center will make their money. They sign the contract for a weeks' rent months ahead of time. It is what it is. Beyond that. I hope ALL of these conferences and TV channels lose their collective shirts on these TV deals. It would be just fine with me if ESPN's mobile production truck gets struck by lightning just before tip off and all tickets are obtained through means other than from the school allotment. I want the Conferences to go F'in bankrupt. Blow up the system and re-organize in a manner that makes sense. Piecemeal conference realignment not only takes too long, it is disjointed and illogical.
