Why this could be the last trip to the Maui Invitational

[CTFAN4LIFE]

It's a sad reality of the state of our AD. The travel expenses plus the equal shared revenue across multiple schools means that we'd make more over a 2 year period with 3 home and 3 road games against good opponents. Or neutral site games at MSG where we get a larger share of the take and travel is on a bus.

Going to the hockey game last Friday it's really staggering parking at the South Garage and walking by Werth, Burton, Morrone, the Baseball stadium and then Toscano. UConn has put a lot of money hoping we'd eventually get that P4/5 revenue.

With the names on those facilities, it got me to wondering what percentage of the new facilty spends were donations vs university spending? Certainly operating expenses will be mostly/all out of the AD/University budget.

 

[BGesus4]

Borges actually had it "tooth-comb". I took out the hyphen.

Toothcomb - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Student gets first-hand job experience

 

[August_West]

I would trade the Maui for an additional 3 strong OOC games every year. We get 1 or 2 home games per year, on a rotating basis of course

Way more fun for me. Never been to Maui

But I do like the Battle for Atlantis

Well then you’d love Maui.

 

[GampelGladiator]

Perhaps something like this...plus 5 lower conference home opponents...

2025
H: Penn State, Pittsburgh & Texas
N: Duke & Kentucky
R: Houston

2026
H: Arizona, Miami & Northwestern
N: Arkansas & UNC
R: Alabama

2027
H: Alabama, Rutgers & Syracuse
N: Duke & Kentucky
R: Iowa State

2028
H: Kansas, Maryland & Virginia Tech
N: Arkansas & UNC
R: Tennessee

2029
H: Boston College, Michigan & Tennessee
N: Duke & Kentucky
R: Baylor

I like the idea of the 5 lower conference home opponents rotating teams via these categories:

• Connecticut
• New England
• New York
• Ivy League
• HBCU
• Service Academies

 

[temery]

Student gets first-hand job experience

had to read that a few times.

 

[kibblesnbits]

had to read that a few times

“Hyphen dyslexia” can completely change the meaning.

 

[uconn_jack]

You would hope that UConn is trying to be at the front of creating an MSG MTE with a decent payout for participating schools. Other top schools want the NYC exposure. Broadcasters would be happy. It would seem like a nice marketing opportunity for the company that bought the naming rights.

Unfortunately, I'll bet Syracuse (you know, New York's team) has beat us to that punch.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I would love more home and homes over MTEs. The only thing the team loses is the early experience in a tournament setting

 

[willie99]

Well then you’d love Maui.

It's about the three hour flight

 

[DRBackup]

Borges actually had it "tooth-comb". I took out the hyphen.

Toothcomb - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yeah, I'd say the proper term is more fine-tooth comb

 

[August_West]

It's about the three hour flight

Can drink more free scotches on a 9 hour.

 

[JerseyAlum]

We used to do the "Battle for Atlantis" (or similar named in the Bahamas) if memory served. Much cheaper travel than HI.

Schools have budgets and each game can be it's own profit and loss statement : The Maui tourney does bring some revenue, but it's timings are not great for national television and a home game vs Duke if on a weekend and one of each team's first 4 games or so would bring more money in for both schools. This is why they do home and home so one team has no travel expenses and doesn't split advertising income with more than 1 other school.

I see our big OOC games this season vs Baylor, Texas, Gonzaga are televised:

Baylor: FS1
Texas: ESPN
Gonzaga: Fox

Plenty of Big East games are on NBC, CBS, Fox for larger audiences.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Can drink more free scotches on a 9 hour.

Reminds me of that episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the crew was flying to California and trying to beat Wade Bogg's record for beers drunk on the plane. Great video on Youtube with Charlie Day on Jimmy Fallon about that episode -probably funnier than the episode itself.

 

[EROCK CONN]

huh? 3 top 5 teams, 4 top 10 teams, plus MSU which is a borderline top 25 team, is the best field in recent memory

2025 . read much ?

 

[UConnJim]

It's a sad reality of the state of our AD. The travel expenses plus the equal shared revenue across multiple schools means that we'd make more over a 2 year period with 3 home and 3 road games against good opponents. Or neutral site games at MSG where we get a larger share of the take and travel is on a bus.

This has little to do with UConn's AD. The money issue is at every school. Why would you go play in Maui for no money (and probably cost you money) when you can go to another tournament that will pay you and the players? That is where college sports are now.

With UConn's basketball history, there will be opportunities to play in money generating basketball tournaments against top teams. Maybe someone sponsors a 4 team tournament at Mohegan Sun with each school playing 2 games over 2 days. Last year, Mohegan Sun hosted the women's Hall of Fame Classic with UConn, South Carolina, Florida St., UCLA, North Carolina, and Utah. This year, they have UConn, LSU, Iowa St., and Seton Hall.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This has little to do with UConn's AD. The money issue is at every school. Why would you go play in Maui for no money (and probably cost you money) when you can go to another tournament that will pay you and the players? That is where college sports are now.

With UConn's basketball history, there will be opportunities to play in money generating basketball tournaments against top teams. Maybe someone sponsors a 4 team tournament at Mohegan Sun with each school playing 2 games over 2 days. Last year, Mohegan Sun hosted the women's Hall of Fame Classic with UConn, South Carolina, Florida St., UCLA, North Carolina, and Utah. This year, they have UConn, LSU, Iowa St., and Seton Hall.

This has everything to do with our AD budget. You think Big Ten, SEC, ACC or Big XII teams are skipping these tournaments? Nah. They still get money from Maui, it's just less than from home and homes.

 

[JerseyAlum]

This has everything to do with our AD budget. You think Big Ten, SEC, ACC or Big XII teams are skipping these tournaments? Nah. They still get money from Maui, it's just less than from home and homes.

If this was a different world and we were all UCLA fans, Hawaii would be less expensive and make more sense. But we are on the other side of the country and the Bahamas, NYC, Storrs makes more money by spending less on T&E. ADs make these decisions within the context of the entire athletic budget, not just Men's Basketball.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If this was a different world and we were all UCLA fans, Hawaii would be less expensive and make more sense. But we are on the other side of the country and the Bahamas, NYC, Storrs makes more money by spending less on T&E. ADs make these decisions within the context of the entire athletic budget, not just Men's Basketball.

I know. We aren't going to Atlantis anymore either. Did people read the article? We have to prioritize money over everything to keep the AD going. We'll play home and homes against good teams to maximize revenue and neutral site games we can bus to if we get enough of the gate.

Maui and Atlantis were always less profitable, and I don't think UCLA or UNC or Michigan or Texas cares. They're high profile events and playing in them helps recruiting and helps visibility for the program. We can't afford to do that anymore. That's sad.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I know. We aren't going to Atlantis anymore either. Did people read the article? We have to prioritize money over everything to keep the AD going. We'll play home and homes against good teams to maximize revenue and neutral site games we can bus to if we get enough of the gate.

Maui and Atlantis were always less profitable, and I don't think UCLA or UNC or Michigan or Texas cares. They're high profile events and playing in them helps recruiting and helps visibility for the program. We can't afford to do that anymore. That's sad.

It’s sad. And I love these tourneys but that’s the truth of the matter. The NIL fueled tourneys will take over soon. Maybe they can work with the organizers in Maui.

 

[UConnJim]

This has everything to do with our AD budget. You think Big Ten, SEC, ACC or Big XII teams are skipping these tournaments? Nah. They still get money from Maui, it's just less than from home and homes.

You can play in the tournaments, like Maui, once every four years. You play in Maui for the visibility, good matchups, fan travel,... but not for the money. If I remember correctly, you get reimbursed for travel to Maui (at a commercial rate), plus hotel, meal stipends, ... but you are not doing it for money. And, each school is required to sell a certain number of Maui packages to their fans or the school is on the hook for the cost. Here is a quote from a Creighton article:

"Others lament what it could mean for the hierarchy of college hoops’ Thanksgiving tourneys, as events in Maui and the Bahamas that barely break even financially will either have to come up with millions annually to compete, or be reduced to second-rate."

Creighton Pulls out of Battle 4 Atlantis, Will Instead Compete in "Players Era Festival" - White and Blue Review

Yes, the top schools will be skipping events like Maui,... unless they come up with more money for the schools/players. Battle for Atlantis pays the teams and it is close to many schools which makes it still an attractive tournament. Look at the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas this year. Eight schools, San Diego St., Creighton, Oregon, Texas A&M, Houston, Alabama, Rutgers, Notre Dame. Each getting $1 million in NIL money for the players. And, there is bonus NIL money of $1 million as well for winning. Creighton bailed on the Battle for Atlantis to play and signed up for 3 years! Next year, they are talking about 18 schools and you can be damn sure that UConn and every other P-school wants in. Here is a quote from one coach in this year's tournament:

"Said another coach in the event: "As long as they get it compliant, our administration is full-go." He later said, "You'd be stupid not to do this if you were invited.""

NIL-driven Las Vegas college basketball event with millions paid to schools nearly finalized; Creighton now in

 

[GampelGladiator]

Perhaps it is all just public posturing, so AD can negotiate better terms with the tourney organizers.

 

[UConnJim]

Perhaps it is all just public posturing, so AD can negotiate better terms with the tourney organizers.

What DB is saying is coming from many ADs. Athletes are going to get a portion of the revenues and you can either increase revenues or decrease costs to pay them. The NIL tournaments increase revenues for the athletes which is why they will be first choice to participate for ALL schools.

 

[Palatine]

We've won 4.8% of all Maui Invitational Championships.

Tournament Champions

Tournament Champions

mauiinvitational.com

 

[August_West]

We've won 4.8% of all Maui Invitational Championships.

Tournament Champions

Tournament Champions

mauiinvitational.com

We've won 7% of all NCAA championships