As stated in my above post I believe (from a UConn perspective) the AAC was doomed from the start because UConn had no geographic or historic rivals to excite its fan base.
For the AAC to have worked for UConn fans the AAC should have not included ECU , Tulsa, SMU, or Tulane because each lacks gravitas in the sport world. IMO the AAC should have included UMass which could have developed into a hatred fueled rivalry with UConn and Temple (recall the Calapari era)..
The smaller 9 team football/ basketball AAC with
UCF
USF
Cincy
Memphis
UConn
Temple
Navy - football
UMass
Houston
would have be more focused, more marketable which would have fostered rivalries better than it did by including ECU, Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane.
The heated rivalries which the Big East brings with Providence, StJohn’s, G’town, Seton Hall and other will more keep the our interests.