2013 BE Media Day Thread

[Bill Marsh]

I assume the Big East will sell out.

I'm a Valley guy. SLU shot themselves in the head in 2005 following Xavier and Dayton.

That's a pretty big assumption. Last year the Big East sold out for the 8th straight year . . . which means that they did not sell out 9 years ago. That was 2005 when they failed to sell out despite the fact that the league was coming off back-to-back national championships. Even still, attendance had been hovering around 19,000, or just shy of a sell out, since 2000.

But you just have to go back to 1999 when attendance averaged 17,700 per session for the tournament, to find a time when the tournament was not bordering on a sell out despite the fact that the league had 13 members. In 1998, attendance averaged only 16,700. So, it obviously took the league 25 years to build up to sell outs, increasing its membership from the original 7 members to 16 while doing so. With a new Big East of only 10 members, why do we assume that the tournament will sell out when it couldn't do that just 15 years ago with more members?

When the tournament finally achieved sell outs 8 years ago, not only did the league have 16 members, but 10 of them were in the Northeast. Now the total membership is 10 and half of them are in the Midwest with less of a likelihood that they will be sending a large contingent to the tournament. If each school simply sends the same number that the members did in 1998, average attendance will be 13,000. With the Big East making noise about moving its tournament to the Garden, will 13,000 be good enough for MSG? The uncertainty has to be a real concern for the league.

[hoyahooligan]

I assume the Big East will sell out.

I'm a Valley guy. SLU shot themselves in the head in 2005 following Xavier and Dayton.

That's a pretty big assumption. Last year the Big East sold out for the 8th straight year . . . which means that they did not sell out 9 years ago. That was 2005 when they failed to sell out despite the fact that the league was coming off back-to-back national championships. Even still, attendance had been hovering around 19,000, or just shy of a sell out, since 2000.

But you just have to go back to 1999 when attendance averaged 17,700 per session for the tournament, to find a time when the tournament was not bordering on a sell out despite the fact that the league had 13 members. In 1998, attendance averaged only 16,700. So, it obviously took the league 25 years to build up to sell outs, increasing its membership from the original 7 members to 16 while doing so. With a new Big East of only 10 members, why do we assume that the tournament will sell out when it couldn't do that just 15 years ago with more members?

When the tournament finally achieved sell outs 8 years ago, not only did the league have 16 members, but 10 of them were in the Northeast. Now the total membership is 10 and half of them are in the Midwest with less of a likelihood that they will be sending a large contingent to the tournament. If each school simply sends the same number that the members did in 1998, average attendance will be 13,000. With the Big East making noise about moving its tournament to the Garden, will 13,000 be good enough for MSG? The uncertainty has to be a real concern for the league.

Because now the BET is an event. Lots of fans who attend these games have no affiliation to the schools. It's just an event. It's the cool thing to do. The BET has a reputation. It's what NYC sport fans do that week in March. The people will come.

[dmac80]

If we are worried about selling out the Garden for the Big East Tournament then perhaps it is time to temper down the 'Winning the Big East Tournament is on par with winning the national championship' talk.

I don't care if they were selling the roof off of msg, while winning the BET was no doubt the crown jewel of conf tournaments, I've always found that statement comparing it to winning the national championship to be laughable.


For the record I think total and avg attendance will certainly be down, however I feel the c7 schools will step up attendance and the 3 n00bs will attend out of the novelty and curiosity factor. So I think the attendance will be respectable. The key will be sustaining it.

[Bill Marsh]

I assume the Big East will sell out.

I'm a Valley guy. SLU shot themselves in the head in 2005 following Xavier and Dayton.

That's a pretty big assumption. Last year the Big East sold out for the 8th straight year . . . which means that they did not sell out 9 years ago. That was 2005 when they failed to sell out despite the fact that the league was coming off back-to-back national championships. Even still, attendance had been hovering around 19,000, or just shy of a sell out, since 2000.

But you just have to go back to 1999 when attendance averaged 17,700 per session for the tournament, to find a time when the tournament was not bordering on a sell out despite the fact that the league had 13 members. In 1998, attendance averaged only 16,700. So, it obviously took the league 25 years to build up to sell outs, increasing its membership from the original 7 members to 16 while doing so. With a new Big East of only 10 members, why do we assume that the tournament will sell out when it couldn't do that just 15 years ago with more members?

When the tournament finally achieved sell outs 8 years ago, not only did the league have 16 members, but 10 of them were in the Northeast. Now the total membership is 10 and half of them are in the Midwest with less of a likelihood that they will be sending a large contingent to the tournament. If each school simply sends the same number that the members did in 1998, average attendance will be 13,000. With the Big East making noise about moving its tournament to the Garden, will 13,000 be good enough for MSG? The uncertainty has to be a real concern for the league.

Because now the BET is an event. Lots of fans who attend these games have no affiliation to the schools. It's just an event. It's the cool thing to do. The BET has a reputation. It's what NYC sport fans do that week in March. The people will come.

Nope.

The Big East tournament WAS an event. Didn't you notice ESPN holding a wake for it last spring?

The tournament is starting over. You can't simply ignore the fact that those Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, etc fans won't be attending any more.

[DumpsterFireA10]

I assume the Big East will sell out.

I'm a Valley guy. SLU shot themselves in the head in 2005 following Xavier and Dayton.

That's a pretty big assumption. Last year the Big East sold out for the 8th straight year . . . which means that they did not sell out 9 years ago. That was 2005 when they failed to sell out despite the fact that the league was coming off back-to-back national championships. Even still, attendance had been hovering around 19,000, or just shy of a sell out, since 2000.

But you just have to go back to 1999 when attendance averaged 17,700 per session for the tournament, to find a time when the tournament was not bordering on a sell out despite the fact that the league had 13 members. In 1998, attendance averaged only 16,700. So, it obviously took the league 25 years to build up to sell outs, increasing its membership from the original 7 members to 16 while doing so. With a new Big East of only 10 members, why do we assume that the tournament will sell out when it couldn't do that just 15 years ago with more members?

When the tournament finally achieved sell outs 8 years ago, not only did the league have 16 members, but 10 of them were in the Northeast. Now the total membership is 10 and half of them are in the Midwest with less of a likelihood that they will be sending a large contingent to the tournament. If each school simply sends the same number that the members did in 1998, average attendance will be 13,000. With the Big East making noise about moving its tournament to the Garden, will 13,000 be good enough for MSG? The uncertainty has to be a real concern for the league.

I think you're overplaying the uncertainty. You're a smart guy, and other than your repeated shots at SLU, I find you to be quite informative. I don't think attendance with these 10 programs will be an issue. Sure, some great programs departed...but some great programs came over too. If I'm right and this tournament sells out, expansion is dead. This is the Big East...it's not the whatever crap 1-bid league you can fill in there.

The lowest-rated program in this league is in a better position than every other school not in this league, P5, or AAC. It's a great setup, and I think they (the fanbases) will deliver.

Enjoy the Big East...it's set up to be great. At least it isn't the Dumpster Fire. It will never get that bad here.

[TheHall]

Nope.

The Big East tournament WAS an event. Didn't you notice ESPN holding a wake for it last spring?

The tournament is starting over. You can't simply ignore the fact that those Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, etc fans won't be attending any more.

If this doesn't qualify as trolling on a Big East forum, what does?

[Irishdawg]

Nope.

The Big East tournament WAS an event. Didn't you notice ESPN holding a wake for it last spring?

The tournament is starting over. You can't simply ignore the fact that those Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, etc fans won't be attending any more.

I'll give you UConn and Syracuse, but Notre Dame? If you went to the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis the last two years, you'd be surprised that they actually had fans. They have a great home atmosphere, but you play a game more than 20 minutes away from the Joyce, and fans became a LOT harder to find.

Now the ND women? Their fans travel.

[Bill Marsh]

I assume the Big East will sell out.

I'm a Valley guy. SLU shot themselves in the head in 2005 following Xavier and Dayton.

That's a pretty big assumption. Last year the Big East sold out for the 8th straight year . . . which means that they did not sell out 9 years ago. That was 2005 when they failed to sell out despite the fact that the league was coming off back-to-back national championships. Even still, attendance had been hovering around 19,000, or just shy of a sell out, since 2000.

But you just have to go back to 1999 when attendance averaged 17,700 per session for the tournament, to find a time when the tournament was not bordering on a sell out despite the fact that the league had 13 members. In 1998, attendance averaged only 16,700. So, it obviously took the league 25 years to build up to sell outs, increasing its membership from the original 7 members to 16 while doing so. With a new Big East of only 10 members, why do we assume that the tournament will sell out when it couldn't do that just 15 years ago with more members?

When the tournament finally achieved sell outs 8 years ago, not only did the league have 16 members, but 10 of them were in the Northeast. Now the total membership is 10 and half of them are in the Midwest with less of a likelihood that they will be sending a large contingent to the tournament. If each school simply sends the same number that the members did in 1998, average attendance will be 13,000. With the Big East making noise about moving its tournament to the Garden, will 13,000 be good enough for MSG? The uncertainty has to be a real concern for the league.

I think you're overplaying the uncertainty. You're a smart guy, and other than your repeated shots at SLU, I find you to be quite informative. I don't think attendance with these 10 programs will be an issue. Sure, some great programs departed...but some great programs came over too. If I'm right and this tournament sells out, expansion is dead. This is the Big East...it's not the whatever crap 1-bid league you can fill in there.

The lowest-rated program in this league is in a better position than every other school not in this league, P5, or AAC. It's a great setup, and I think they (the fanbases) will deliver.

Enjoy the Big East...it's set up to be great. At least it isn't the Dumpster Fire. It will never get that bad here.

Dumpster Fire, I truly apologize for offending you with any of my remarks about St Louis. None were intended as shots. I call it like I see it, so those were just my opinions. No animosity toward the Billikens. If they join the Big East, I will wish them well and all of their fans such as yourself also.

It's very kind of you to find value in my posts especially in light of the fact that you felt I was insulting your team. I would completely understand if you hadn't . The fact that you have only leads me to respect and appreciate you.

I completely agree with your comment that this league is very well set up.i love the conference and what's been done with it. That doesn't mean that there might not be realistic concerns over whether these10 schools can fill up a 20,000 seat arena for 4days, which is between 600-1000 miles or more from half of them. I certainly do not wish for the return of Syracuse, Pitt, West Vkrginia, or whatever other quislings might have left, regardless of how many tickets they can sell. From a selfish POV, I wish that UConn would drop football and rejoin the BIg East but I know that's not in the cards.

I will enjoy the Big East, thank you. I wish you the same.

[Bill Marsh]

Nope.

The Big East tournament WAS an event. Didn't you notice ESPN holding a wake for it last spring?

The tournament is starting over. You can't simply ignore the fact that those Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, etc fans won't be attending any more.

If this doesn't qualify as trolling on a Big East forum, what does?

Trolling? I'm laughing at ESPN for their ridiculous and self-serving posturing last spring and scoffing at them for their shabby treatment of the C7 who were moving forward to soldier on and maintain the traditions and founding principles of the original Big East.

Fact is the Big East is starting over. Nothing will be handed to it, which is how it was even in the beginning. When I say that the tournament was an event, I don't mean to disparage the even that it is to become. But it's not there yet. It will have to earn it's new stature. It will take time and it will take big wins to carve out new traditions.

[MUSeashells&Balloons]

Nope.

The Big East tournament WAS an event. Didn't you notice ESPN holding a wake for it last spring?

The tournament is starting over. You can't simply ignore the fact that those Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, etc fans won't be attending any more.

I'll give you UConn and Syracuse, but Notre Dame? If you went to the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis the last two years, you'd be surprised that they actually had fans. They have a great home atmosphere, but you play a game more than 20 minutes away from the Joyce, and fans became a LOT harder to find.

Now the ND women? Their fans travel.

yeah I have family members that went to Notre Dame they say basketball isn't important there. They also claim that they don't have basketball rivals, I think Marquette fans would beg to differ.