Why this could be the last trip to the Maui Invitational | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Why this could be the last trip to the Maui Invitational

ec33 said:
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.
Expand ...
Unfortunately, I'll bet Syracuse (you know, New York's team) has beat us to that punch.
 
I would love more home and homes over MTEs. The only thing the team loses is the early experience in a tournament setting
 
.-.
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.
 
August_West said:
Can drink more free scotches on a 9 hour. :)
Expand ...
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.
 
HuskyHawk said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
UConnJim said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
.-.
HuskyHawk said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
JerseyAlum said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
HuskyHawk said:
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.
Expand ...
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.
 
HuskyHawk said:
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.
Expand ...
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
 
Perhaps it is all just public posturing, so AD can negotiate better terms with the tourney organizers.
 
GampelGladiator said:
Perhaps it is all just public posturing, so AD can negotiate better terms with the tourney organizers.
Expand ...
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.
 
.-.
Playing in Maui fun, but it's fun because all the other top teams also do. When the top teams are playing in the NIL tournaments, those will be fun
 
GampelGladiator said:
Perhaps it is all just public posturing, so AD can negotiate better terms with the tourney organizers.
Expand ...
I'm guessing Maui will offer NIL in the future. I don't know what their TV contracts are like or when they end, but adapt or die.
 
auror said:
I'm guessing Maui will offer NIL in the future. I don't know what their TV contracts are like or when they end, but adapt or die.
Expand ...
That's the hope. They should offer that, IMO, but I know it's not as easy as snapping the fingers. It would be worth it for them because, Maui still needs the extra tourism money, even though they get it consistently through the year. Also, when college basketball fans hear about MTE's or think about "a tough competitive tournament with good teams before conference play", the Maui Invitational is the one that comes to mind the most-it's part of their brand.
 
I would think that new recruits would like to hear they are going to Maui.
 
.-.
jibsey said:
I would think that new recruits would like to hear they are going to Maui.
Expand ...
I would think that is way, way, way down the list of things they think about when they are choosing a school. But I guess we could ask a few of them and see what they say.
 
HooperScooper said:
I would think that is way, way, way down the list of things they think about when they are choosing a school. But I guess we could ask a few of them and see what they say.
Expand ...
Didn’t say it was top but when making the pitch saying “we’re going to Maui next year” will certainly not hurt. Who doesn’t want to go there? And never underestimate an 18 year old’s shallowness.
 
jibsey said:
And never underestimate an 18 year old’s shallowness.
Expand ...
I honestly think those days are gone. These kids are mini-corporations. I don't think the flash goes as far as it used to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,195
Messages
4,556,375
Members
10,442
Latest member
Virginiafan


Top Bottom