Memphis looks to host new conference MBB/WBB Tourney

[huskyjawz]

I've thought about this as well. Syracuse and UCONN traditionally brought the most fans to the building. Pitt brought a lot as well. Rutgers had some. All gone.

So that leaves you with St. Johns, Georgetown and Nova to fill the building. Providence, DePaul, Seton Hall and Marquette aren't bringing anyone. And I doubt Butler, Xavier or CREIGHTON are going to fill the building. I think people who think the C7 and MSG are a perfect match are in for a rude awakening.

For the final, the only way it's crowded is if locals can buy the tix off of the losing fans, who leave. UCONN, ST Johns, Cuse did that. Rutgers and Seton Hall theoretically could, but how would we ever know?

 

[CL82]

I've thought about this as well. Syracuse and UCONN traditionally brought the most fans to the building. Pitt brought a lot as well. Rutgers had some. All gone.

So that leaves you with St. Johns, Georgetown and Nova to fill the building. Providence, DePaul, Seton Hall and Marquette aren't bringing anyone. And I doubt Butler, Xavier or CREIGHTON are going to fill the building. I think people who think the C7 and MSG are a perfect match are in for a rude awakening.

It will be okay for a while, but once the novelty of wearing big boy pants wears off it will be an issue.

For our new league "The Beast" we should rotate it for a while and start in Hartford as a partial pay back for our being screwed out of the BET this year.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I've thought about this as well. Syracuse and UCONN traditionally brought the most fans to the building. Pitt brought a lot as well. Rutgers had some. All gone.

So that leaves you with St. Johns, Georgetown and Nova to fill the building. Providence, DePaul, Seton Hall and Marquette aren't bringing anyone. And I doubt Butler, Xavier or CREIGHTON are going to fill the building. I think people who think the C7 and MSG are a perfect match are in for a rude awakening.

What difference does it make whether MSG is full or half full or three quarters full or five eighths full? Barclays would still be empty.

 

[J187Money]

Memphis is a great city for going out. Much more fun than Hartford. Not even a debate. Although the WBB tourney should stay home.

 

[upstater]

What difference does it make whether MSG is full or half full or three quarters full or five eighths full? Barclays would still be empty.

Unless Georgetown or St. John's earns its keep you'll probably find more fans at Barclays if A12 ever held it there. I'm assuming Temple and UConn will be in the semifinals every year.

 

[hthusky74]

This topic brings to clarity one of the real sad issues resulting from conference realignment. When conferences were primarily based in specific geographic regions, one could make tournaments and away games with minimal travel. Look at the Big East. Originally, all of the teams were from Boston to DC. Pretty easy to get everyone to attend the conference tournaments. Now with the disperse geographic range of most of the conferences that benefit no longer is available. My thought is the only viable options are 1) rotate the tournament venues which may be fair, but not the most economically beneficial option or 2) contract with a site that people wouldn't mind vacationing to such as FL (beaches, Disney, etc,) or NYC (Manhattan or Brooklyn, it's still the Big Apple). The second option would also allow for more continuity and could be modified by doing one year Fl, the next year NYC.

 

[willie99]

Philadelphia would be a good option for me

I'm thinking the tournament may rotate, and I wouldn't want it in Hartford. The arena is pathetic

maybe the Mohegan Sun would be a good option for us, or Barclay's in Brooklyn

 

[Ts5034]

I really want to see it in Hartford next year especially since Louisville will still be in the conference for one last go around. UConn, Louisville, Cincy, and Memphis would be a good semi-final round to see.

 

[Jerry1714]

Is the Memphis arena right in downtown so you can walk to bars/restaurants, hotels?

I have to say Hartford is pretty awesome in that regard.

Philly has nothing around it except a Holiday Inn.

Yes, FedEx is at the end of Beale Street. All bars and restaurants are in immediate walking distance. As someone who lived in Memphis for 5 years and lived and grew up in Hartford, Memphis blows Hartford outta the water when it comes to food, bars and entertainment.

Peabody, Doubletree and Madison are all within walking distance and are all very good hotels. Madison is great.

 

[huskyjawz]

Yes, FedEx is at the end of Beale Street. All bars and restaurants are in immediate walking distance. As someone who lived in Memphis for 5 years and lived and grew up in Hartford, Memphis blows Hartford outta the water when it comes to food, bars and entertainment.

Peabody, Doubletree and Madison are all within walking distance and are all very good hotels. Madison is great.

Cool. I would like to check that out. I understand Hartford's limitations, but I'll still take it over anything that is has to be driven to, and is not in a walkable downtown type neighborhood.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes, FedEx is at the end of Beale Street. All bars and restaurants are in immediate walking distance. As someone who lived in Memphis for 5 years and lived and grew up in Hartford, Memphis blows Hartford outta the water when it comes to food, bars and entertainment.

Peabody, Doubletree and Madison are all within walking distance and are all very good hotels. Madison is great.

Almost every city I've been to beats Hartford for food, bars and entertainment. Even New Haven. So Memphis must be miles ahead. Next year in Hartford is fine for our swan song, but after that, Memphis, NOLA, Orlando would be the most logical spots. Like that it is a block from Beale. Memphis is probably the closest to the geographic center of the conference as well.

 

[Jerry1714]

Almost every city I've been to beats Hartford for food, bars and entertainment. Even New Haven. So Memphis must be miles ahead. Next year in Hartford is fine for our swan song, but after that, Memphis, NOLA, Orlando would be the most logical spots. Like that it is a block from Beale. Memphis is probably the closest to the geographic center of the conference as well.

Also, the Memphis Tigers are HUGE in Memphis, so the city would be full of buz, which is one thing that made MSG great. It is also one thing this conference needs. It is a city that loves basketball. I feel like if it was in Tampa or Orlando the area would be dead.

 

[ddminct]

Also, the Memphis Tigers are HUGE in Memphis, so the city would be full of buz, which is one thing that made MSG great. It is also one thing this conference needs. It is a city that loves basketball. I feel like if it was in Tampa or Orlando the area would be dead.

I went to the first two rounds of the NCAAs in 2004 in Orlando. There was a half empty building and no buzz what so ever. The golf was good though.

 

[Husky68]

I would consider an NIT type arrangement except give the higher seeded teams the home games through out. Would be a big advantage for having better regular season record, which it should be. Have one day off in between for travel. Expect each game would have a rocking home court crowd and advantage.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Also, the Memphis Tigers are HUGE in Memphis, so the city would be full of buz, which is one thing that made MSG great. It is also one thing this conference needs. It is a city that loves basketball. I feel like if it was in Tampa or Orlando the area would be dead.

This is the best argument for Memphis over Dallas, NOLA, Orlando or Houston. None of our league opponents in those places draw well for basketball.

 

[freescooter]

New York would be a terrible idea. This is not a northeastern conference, and Barclays would be a ghost town, which would be juxtaposed against a full MSG from the C7's tournament going on simultaneously and make the league look weak. We have to play the tournament in whatever arena can sell the most tickets. Memphis is not terrible, nor is Orlando.

Except the C7 isn't selling out either. Especially if St Johns goes out early. If you think Creighton-Seton Hall is a dreamed of matchup, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe a Georgetown St Johns or Georgetown-Butler type matchup fills the place. Most others that don't include Georgetown,St Johns or maybe Villanova not so much.

 

[upstater]

I went to the first two rounds of the NCAAs in 2004 in Orlando. There was a half empty building and no buzz what so ever. The golf was good though.

For the first couple rounds, the BET at MSG was often dead.

 

[J187Money]

Also, the Memphis Tigers are HUGE in Memphis, so the city would be full of buz, which is one thing that made MSG great. It is also one thing this conference needs. It is a city that loves basketball. I feel like if it was in Tampa or Orlando the area would be dead.

I was in Orlando over Christmas break. Tickets to Magic games (in a weekend where the parks were JAMMED with tourists) were going for $10. No way it should go there.

 

[Jerry1714]

I was in Orlando over Christmas break. Tickets to Magic games (in a weekend where the parks were JAMMED with tourists) were going for $10. No way it should go there.

Tampa or Orlando would be a disaster.

 

[Adios]

"The remaining Big East schools are considering new sites for next year's tournament, including Hartford, Conn.; Memphis, Tenn.; Cincinnati and Dallas."

Hartford would be a good way to give UConn and the state more visibility. People in other areas of the country have no idea how historic Hartford really is.

 

[Husky25]

New York would be a terrible idea. This is not a northeastern conference, and Barclays would be a ghost town, which would be juxtaposed against a full MSG from the C7's tournament going on simultaneously and make the league look weak. We have to play the tournament in whatever arena can sell the most tickets. Memphis is not terrible, nor is Orlando.

Yeah, that Seton Hall/Depaul semi final matchup will have 34th Street rockin'.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm still not buying that the C7 are going to pack MSG. How many of the remaining teams sent tons of fans? Will it be more filled than the NBE in Brooklyn, probably, but I don't think, for a second, that it will be packed or have the sam atmosphere that it used to have when the REAL Big East existed.

It will depend on the price of tickets. The C-7 will absolutely not be able to pack MSG at the same pricing structure that the Big East previously did. Too many fans of UConn, ND, Syracuse, Pitt, etc. will not be interested.

On the other hand, at a low enough price point, there are more than enough fans of college hoops in general and its members in particular to pack the place. It will be interesting to see if the Presidents strangle the goose chasing more dollars, or nurture it and let it grow. Because the long term key to success for the conference is to make sure the Garden is packed.

 

[businesslawyer]

Philadelphia would be a good option for me

I'm thinking the tournament may rotate, and I wouldn't want it in Hartford. The arena is pathetic

maybe the Mohegan Sun would be a good option for us, or Barclay's in Brooklyn

Given the spread out geography of the members, it almost has to rotate. Memphis, Connecticut, Houston, Philly, Cincy, Orlando and Tampa would all be fine. Whether the tournament should be played in NBA arenas or smaller venues remains to be seen. It may be better off in 8 to 10k seat venues that you can fill versus larger NBA arenas full of empty seats.

 

[Husky25]

It will depend on the price of tickets. The C-7 will absolutely not be able to pack MSG at the same pricing structure that the Big East previously did. Too many fans of UConn, ND, Syracuse, Pitt, etc. will not be interested.

On the other hand, at a low enough price point, there are more than enough fans of college hoops in general and its members in particular to pack the place. It will be interesting to see if the Presidents strangle the goose chasing more dollars, or nurture it and let it grow. Because the long term key to success for the conference is to make sure the Garden is packed.

Do you really have a doubt which way that will go? They will try and keep the price points where they are (or not far off) merely because they think the Big East name has some cache...and it will for a year, two, or three. The C-7 is short sighted in my view and their membership will relegate the conference to mid major status on par with the Horizon League. Butler has jumped twice in three years and they will ultimately end up where they were in the first place.

 

[businesslawyer]

Do you really have a doubt which way that will go? They will try and keep the price points where they are (or not far off) merely because they think the Big East name has some cache...and it will for a year, two, or three. The C-7 is short sighted in my view and their membership will relegate the conference to mid major status on par with the Horizon League. Butler has jumped twice in three years and they will ultimately end up where they were in the first place.

Do I really have doubt as to whether they will make wise choices or not? Why shouldn't they. I don't think they were dumb holding hands with football schools until now, and I don't think they are dumb for leaving now. So why in the world should I assume they will be dumb going forward?

The C-7 tourney will not be the old Big East Tourney. But it will be good enough that you can fill up the arena if you price it right. And, since the key to this conference will be to appeal to kids wanting to play in the tourney at the Garden, with excitement, they need to pack it. High school athletes don't care what people are paying to see players play -- they just want the atmosphere.

 

[Husky25]

Do I really have doubt as to whether they will make wise choices or not? Why shouldn't they. I don't think they were dumb holding hands with football schools until now, and I don't think they are dumb for leaving now. So why in the world should I assume they will be dumb going forward?

The C-7 tourney will not be the old Big East Tourney. But it will be good enough that you can fill up the arena if you price it right. And, since the key to this conference will be to appeal to kids wanting to play in the tourney at the Garden, with excitement, they need to pack it. High school athletes don't care what people are paying to see players play -- they just want the atmosphere.

And that's where I think we diverge. I don't think they will price it right. I think they will over price it because of the Big East name. Not only because they have to capitalize on what little cache it has left, but because they basically paid $100 million to take it.

The BE football schools were the marque' basketball schools as well and if the C-7 couldn't elevate their programs playing against the big dogs like Pitt, Cuse, UConn, and Louisville, then how are they going to generate excitement playing each other? St. Johns is no draw, neither is SHU, nor PC. I fear that Gtown and maybe Nova are in for a real tough go of it over the next decade in this conference.

 

[upstater]

MSG sets the rate.
The BE pays the rate.
If the BE wants debt, they will set the price point low. It's not a matter of making money. It's a matter of losing money.

The BE as it was lost money on the MSG. I imagine the new BE is in no position to lower ticket prices.

MSG just turned down the ACC because it wasn't willing to go to MSG once every 2 years.

 

[Jerry1714]

And that's where I think we diverge. I don't think they will price it right. I think they will over price it because of the Big East name. Not only because they have to capitalize on what little cache it has left, but because they basically paid $100 million to take it.

The BE football schools were the marque' basketball schools as well and if the C-7 couldn't elevate their programs playing against the big dogs like Pitt, Cuse, UConn, and Louisville, then how are they going to generate excitement playing each other? St. Johns is no draw, neither is SHU, nor PC. I fear that Gtown and maybe Nova are in for a real tough go of it over the next decade in this conference.

I think the price of tickets will have some say, not a huge amount though unless were talking a big time price decrease. Most of these fans the main expense is traveling to NYC and staying there, not the game tickets. So you are going to need these schools to have enough fans to shell out the dough to get and stay in NYC for a weekend. Pitt, Uconn and Cuse were the biggest draws not just because of the caliber of ball being played but all because of the close proximity of the schools and the fan bases willing to travel the short distance.

I think attendance wise they are going to really need Marquette to stay a top 20 program, because when they are good they show up. Gtown is good, not great at filling up the garden. St. John's is what it is, not very good.

PC, Hall, and Depaul's presence is laughable.

The A10 is a similar league to the new BE and they get an average of 6k fans a game and that is with 3 Philly schools just down the road.

Can Xavier and Butler travel? I do not know, but MSG better hope so.

 

[businesslawyer]

The BE as it was lost money on the MSG. I imagine the new BE is in no position to lower ticket prices.

.

I think that is dead, spot on wrong. The C-7 schools will be making far more money from Fox than they did in the Big East. If they want to invest in a loss-leader at MSG to build their brand, they can do so.

 

[businesslawyer]

I think the price of tickets will have some say, not a huge amount though unless were talking a big time price decrease. Most of these fans the main expense is traveling to NYC and staying there, not the game tickets. So you are going to need these schools to have enough fans to shell out the dough to get and stay in NYC for a weekend. Pitt, Uconn and Cuse were the biggest draws not just because of the caliber of ball being played but all because of the close proximity of the schools and the fan bases willing to travel the short distance.

I think attendance wise they are going to really need Marquette to stay a top 20 program, because when they are good they show up. Gtown is good, not great at filling up the garden. St. John's is what it is, not very good.

PC, Hall, and Depaul's presence is laughable.

The A10 is a similar league to the new BE and they get an average of 6k fans a game and that is with 3 Philly schools just down the road.

Can Xavier and Butler travel? I do not know, but MSG better hope so.

FWIW, MSG does not set the prices or profit from ticket sales. MSG rents out the entire building for the length of the tourney, and the conference does with it as it wants. The Big East Tourney is the only event at the Garden that MSG employees can't go to and luxury box owners don't have the right to use their box for.

I agree on the point above that, for out of town guests, ticket prices are not driving the bus. But above the level where donors sit, sell the tickets cheap and fill the arena with people in metro New York who will shell out $25 to fill the top level seats, but would never dream of paying a scalper $100 currently.