New York is a pro sports town. So is Boston and there is no denying it. However, there is no doubt that UConn fans will invade both those cities on a moment's notice to support our teams.
UConn's football value, re: NYC is that we can help bracket it with Rutgers for the B1G or help the ACC keep a strong presence in NYC along with ND.
Admittedly, the Pasqualoni years damaged our growth and recent reputation as a FB fast riser and it will take a while to rehab that slide. We can't count on a boost from football for a while, IMO. Diaco must be successful immediately and give us 3 years of steady success. Then, when inevitable poachers appear he either has to stay or, if he leaves, the next coach must continue that success. I figure 5-6 years of success must occur to offset the damage done by Pasqualoni.
OK, from a FB standpoint, it looks bleak. But don't give up hope. For a conference with it's own network UConn should be a near no brainer for the discerning commish. Why? Content.
UConn's women's team are regional favorites with fans in western Mass, Vermont, New Hampshire and into Maine. And while NE fans wouldn't warm up to Calhoun the way CT fans did who is not going to want to root for Kevin Ollie? Add in Field Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey and other emerging Olympic sports and UConn can be positioned as "New England's Team". If UConn were to build on it academic growth by culling the best and the brightest New England students we become "New England's Flagship Institution."
A certain conference commish would love to be able to extend his conference's footprint to all of New England and effectively lock up the entire eastern seaboard from Maine to DC and all the way back to the Midwest. Imagine the value of adding 6 entire states for the BTN?
How could Delany not wonder what could be? UConn to the B1G is a no brainer for the master conference builder. It could cement the B1G as the premier conference in the country.