ACC by Tues?

[methodology]

I agree with everything you said. I hate the Rangers and Knicks, and I don't think MSG is particularly attractive. I've sat everywhere from the last row, to the luxury boxes, to 5 rows from the ice and it's true that MSG is more than it's steel and concrete. A regular game there just feels different than games elsewhere. The real reason I'm commenting is your line re going to every home AND away game over a 5 year span. While you are a "new" member, I tend to believe you. Bravo!

It was a great period of time to be able to go to all those games. The only reason I was able to do that is because I didnt have to pay for tickets. I was lucky and have lots of great memories.

I still go to every home game just dont have the time for going to away games as often.

 

[methodology]

I have to say I've never really bought the Mecca thing either. I tend to think it is the Big East Tournament that creates the buzz more than MSG. When you have 4 games all of which come down to the final seconds you could play them on a playground in flushing and there would be a buzz. I've actually been to an ACC tournament in Greenville in pre-expansion days and I have to say the buzz there was pretty incredible too when Duke and NC played each other particularly. If you are an eastern player, particularly from the Northeast, though I agree that the Garden is special. If you're from say Brentwood Arizona, probably not so much.

NYC has the most basketball courts per square ft of anywhere in the world. They probably also have the most people per capita that play basketball. NYC is a basketball city through and through. In fact Knicks tickets are more expensive than any other NY pro sports team (including Giants and Yankees) when they are one of the top teams. Knicks tickets become the hardest ticket to get when the knicks are good but most dont remember this because the Knicks have been awful for so many years.

NYC is the Mecca of basketball and MSG is their Colosseum.

I know from playing AAU ball back in the day that players all over view playing at MSG as special. Only problem is there are so many tournaments and events that a lot of top AAU programs and players end up playing at MSG or in NYC at some point in time so it has kind of lost its lust.

 

[freescooter]

all of that may be true,meth, but I've also been to the 8-9 game in the pre-expansion Big East at MSG on a Wednesday afternoon afternoon or whenever it was. About 3500 people all fans of the two schools and it was barely possible to gin up any excitement. Great exciting games make the tournament, not the arena. Look, I get that New York is exciting. And that adds a dimension to the "ambiance" of the event. But bottom line is the games themselves.

 

[methodology]

Anytime Duke plays at MSG (they do about 1 time a year) the arena is packed and electric.

The coaches vs. cancer tournament always brings a good crowd with excitement.

I like how you used a wednesday afternoon game as your proof MSG isnt that great. I think that right there proves the point. You had to settle on a wednesday afternoon game (probably a game with lesser schools playing) to prove your point that MSG is not all that exciting.

Also every conference tourney struggles with attendance during the early rounds and early games. People work during those hours and the first rounds of the conference tourney aren't really the rounds people care all that much about.

And it is the games that bring the excitement, not the arena... But ask yourself this is watching DUKE/UConn play in the Staples center better and more exciting compared to the game being played in MSG...

Do you remember when St Johns was good and the atmosphere in the Garden when they would play there?