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The one nitpick with this post is that our NYC presense in basketball is due to fans traveling in from CT.
That's when it comes to actual ticket sales for events, for sure. No argument, but that's not the full extent by any means. The discussion about BC ticket sales to the Pinstripe Bowl is comical. Had UCONN being playing PSU in that game, the ticket prices for Yankee Stadium would match, if not exceed the prices for tickets going for the first time 4 team playoff bowls, and national championship game. We put more fans that BC brought to Yankee Stadium, there for a game against Army where both teams were 2-6.
We extend into New Jersey too, when it comes to that around basketball, as the recent Duke game showed. It was a growing thing that unfortunately became a casualty with the television negotiations with ESPN for the AAC conference, but we still are broadcast low level popularity games on SNY in New York City, for hoops. That's market presence that was growing rapidly, and still exists, just on smaller scale now due to the national broadcasts that ESPN carries now for AAC hoops games.
The problem we face now, is one of simple business interactions. 99% of business transactions happen because of personal relationships, and the number of people that vote on things like conference affiliation is extremely small. UCONN leadership failed for far too long, to cultivate the kinds of business relationships among the people that matter and vote on such things, to be included the last time votes were held.
That UCONN belongs in any major intercollegiate conference that would be bold enough to try to lay claim to the Northeast demographic, is undeniable. We just need to make sure that the next time a group of people decide to vote on such matters, that we've cultivated the relationships.
I would hope that President Susan, and her fat raise, have been doing this non-stop, and will continue to do so.