the "NEW" Big East
He's dreaming. Villanova was never a dominant group buying tickets.
In the old days - the Thursday afternoon games were amazing. It was like the biggest baddest Bachelor party you have seen. About 6 women in an arena of 18,000. The Wall Street and other NYC guys cut out of work at 11 to sit all afternoon for 4+ hours of games. The Street guys were from multiple schools; but large contingents from Georgetown, SJU, Pitt were noticeable. WE - my client group of about 20 would ride Amtrak south with a train load of Orange wearing yokels. Who controlled the strips of tickets? =WE got our 20 from a stockbroker who had Providence College priest connections.
Today? This new league has tilted on the magnetic pull: MORE Midwest hoop fire. Passionate crowds in our regular season games at Marquette; at Creighton; at Xavier ... tells me we have a whole different mix. They are tourists coming and staying at hotels; probably trying the steak houses we have known for decades. Not the young professionals still in suit & tie; but, neither are we any longer. Friday night will be cool. But, the good thing about Friday is you start working the crowd Thursday from the losers to gain tickets and bring more. I have no doubt about a UCONN presence coming via Metro North or otherwise. I would be surprised if Villanova is comparable. Providence? It is their year to scream. So yeah - they will be a force.