2013 BE Media Day Thread

[DanofXav76]

Taking in all of the pageantry associated with Media Day got me to thinking about the only other time that the Big East teams all come together under one roof - the Big East Tournament.

Last year the tournament averaged 20,000 attendance per session. Contrast that with the Atlantic Ten tournament , which averaged 6,000 per session across the river at the Barclay Center. That's the conference from which 2 of the 3 new members will be coming. Creighton is used to bigger numbers than that at its conference tournament, which averaged 14,000 last year.

Will the new Big East be able to sell out the Garden as the old version did? Will the tournament be a happening?

If they don't sell out, expansion will be coming sooner rather than later in order to sell more tickets. That thought makes me realize why Dayton is still in the running for an expansion spot. Not only was their 12,400 home attendance 26th in the country last year, but they are located farther east than any of the other Midwest members of the conference. Contrast them with St Louis, which sits 362 miles farther west and averaged 7,673 in attendance last year. Which of those 2 is more likely to deliver fans at tournament time? VCU averaged 7693 in attendance last year, only a tick higher than St Louis, but they are also only a 333 mile drive up I-95 from Richmond and an easy commute to the tournament by Amtrak or air line. Richmond, the other frequently mentioned expansion candidate has the same location advantage as VCU but attendance last year (5960) that was under 6000 and barely made the top 100 in the country (95th).

The economics of the new conference normally focus on TV ratings and TV market, but ticket sales at the tournament are a big deal and relate heavily to the conference's ability to sell its tournament to the TV networks. It will be interesting to see how these economics effect expansion decisions when and if that time comes.

Xavier historically travels well. Last year was a bit of an anomaly. With Butler expected to be down a bit this year guessing their numbers could be on the low side. I'm really interested to see how many folks Creighton brings. Team with high pre- season expectations, awesome fan base and potential cbb POY but the farthest distance to travel.

[Bill Marsh]

You matched up the Big East with the worst conference in America. Easy to make any point that way.

But they're not the worst conference in America. Want a list of the conferences that drew worse?

I was simply presenting best case scenario, I.e. old Big East. But that was with as many as 16 teams including some that are a lot bigger than most of the current BE and others who are closer than many of the new BE and who have many alumni in NY/NJ.

Then I contrasted it with where a couple of our new members are coming from, i.e. a place the new BE doesn't want to be. Anyone who isn't willing to look at the down side possibilities that the league faces just isn't being realistic about the risks facing a 10 team league with a number of relatively small schools playing their tournament on the East Coast with HalfThe members coming from the Midwest.

[DumpsterFireA10]

You compared the Big East to the Jokelantic 10. That's not a downside, that's Armageddon.

The A-10 is brutal, and I would rather see my school independent than be a member of it.

[Bill Marsh]

You compared the Big East to the Jokelantic 10. That's not a downside, that's Armageddon.

The A-10 is brutal, and I would rather see my school independent than be a member of it.

So, what would you use as a contrast to a 20,000 sell out at the Garden? Or do you assume that sell outs are a given?

[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.

[ChelseaFriar]

You matched up the Big East with the worst conference in America. Easy to make any point that way.

But they're not the worst conference in America. Want a list of the conferences that drew worse?

I was simply presenting best case scenario, I.e. old Big East. But that was with as many as 16 teams including some that are a lot bigger than most of the current BE and others who are closer than many of the new BE and who have many alumni in NY/NJ.

Then I contrasted it with where a couple of our new members are coming from, i.e. a place the new BE doesn't want to be. Anyone who isn't willing to look at the down side possibilities that the league faces just isn't being realistic about the risks facing a 10 team league with a number of relatively small schools playing their tournament on the East Coast with HalfThe members coming from the Midwest.

Yeah, and some of the schools that left have their entire states following them. UConn basically has the state of CT following them and they border NY. Syracuse has all of upstate NY following them and thousands of alumni in the NYC region. ND has many, many alumni in NYC. L'Ville travelled very well. Pitt and WVU travelled surprisingly well to the BET. Rutgers is near NYC, but they really didn't have the same representation at the BET as teams like L'Ville and Pitt.

[Hall2012]

I think they'll sell out the garden. Each school is just getting a larger allotment of tickets than they would in the past and they'll figure out how to sell them. For example, this year SHU significantly lowered its minimum donation to be eligible to purchase BET tickets. It used to be pretty exclusive- you pretty much needed to be a season ticket holder with good seats. Now it's open to pretty much all season ticket holders and even non-holders who meet the minimum donation.

[Hall2012]

That, and apparently tickets will be put on sale to the general public this year.

[XtoDC]

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.

[DumpsterFireA10]

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 really don't think it will be for the Big East. I hate conference tournaments of any type or form, but this is MSG, and there are 10 good programs playing.

It'll be fine.

*back to my corner now.