Bilas says ACC should be at MSG

[Xudash]

Big East should be proactive, but not concerned.

1. We are good through 2026, period.
2. By then, who knows what our makeup will be. Maybe we add UConn. Maybe we add VCU and they turn into a power. Maybe SJU and Georgetown return to power and fill the arena. Also, don't forget SJU is the host for the NCAAs this year (along with MSG). SJU returning to power would be huge for a number of reasons.
3. It is unlikely the ACC would want to go to MSG every year. However, even if they did and won the bid what would stop us from making our tournament the week prior (similar to what the Big Ten will do)?
4. So, the only real threat would be if BOTH the ACC and Big Ten got into a bidding war and both beat us out for those 2 weeks. Again, this is extremely unlikely.
5. Absolute worst case, we go to Barclays. I don't see that happening though, and it's pointless to worry about things 10 years from now.

That said, VCU and Dayton would really help to fill the arena. Weren't they basically the only 2 fan bases at Barclays the past couple years?

Unless I'm misreading some articles concerning this issue, you do realize the place has been pretty damn full through the efforts of the existing members already.

Beyond that, the Big East leadership, when it comes to the matter of contemplating adding programs, which they certainly don't appear to be doing in the slightest presently, probably will focus on performance metrics that are above and beyond how well a program travels to a conference tournament. From their point of view, that will be expected.

[adoraz]

Big East should be proactive, but not concerned.

1. We are good through 2026, period.
2. By then, who knows what our makeup will be. Maybe we add UConn. Maybe we add VCU and they turn into a power. Maybe SJU and Georgetown return to power and fill the arena. Also, don't forget SJU is the host for the NCAAs this year (along with MSG). SJU returning to power would be huge for a number of reasons.
3. It is unlikely the ACC would want to go to MSG every year. However, even if they did and won the bid what would stop us from making our tournament the week prior (similar to what the Big Ten will do)?
4. So, the only real threat would be if BOTH the ACC and Big Ten got into a bidding war and both beat us out for those 2 weeks. Again, this is extremely unlikely.
5. Absolute worst case, we go to Barclays. I don't see that happening though, and it's pointless to worry about things 10 years from now.

That said, VCU and Dayton would really help to fill the arena. Weren't they basically the only 2 fan bases at Barclays the past couple years?

Unless I'm misreading some articles concerning this issue, you do realize the place has been pretty damn full through the efforts of the existing members already.

Beyond that, the Big East leadership, when it comes to the matter of contemplating adding programs, which they certainly don't appear to be doing in the slightest presently, probably will focus on performance metrics that are above and beyond how well a program travels to a conference tournament. From their point of view, that will be expected.

3 years and sold out 1 game so far. Not bad, and we've been improving, but room for improvement. Original Big East sold out more than just the finals.

[Xudash]

Big East should be proactive, but not concerned.

1. We are good through 2026, period.
2. By then, who knows what our makeup will be. Maybe we add UConn. Maybe we add VCU and they turn into a power. Maybe SJU and Georgetown return to power and fill the arena. Also, don't forget SJU is the host for the NCAAs this year (along with MSG). SJU returning to power would be huge for a number of reasons.
3. It is unlikely the ACC would want to go to MSG every year. However, even if they did and won the bid what would stop us from making our tournament the week prior (similar to what the Big Ten will do)?
4. So, the only real threat would be if BOTH the ACC and Big Ten got into a bidding war and both beat us out for those 2 weeks. Again, this is extremely unlikely.
5. Absolute worst case, we go to Barclays. I don't see that happening though, and it's pointless to worry about things 10 years from now.

That said, VCU and Dayton would really help to fill the arena. Weren't they basically the only 2 fan bases at Barclays the past couple years?

Unless I'm misreading some articles concerning this issue, you do realize the place has been pretty damn full through the efforts of the existing members already.

Beyond that, the Big East leadership, when it comes to the matter of contemplating adding programs, which they certainly don't appear to be doing in the slightest presently, probably will focus on performance metrics that are above and beyond how well a program travels to a conference tournament. From their point of view, that will be expected.

3 years and sold out 1 game so far. Not bad, and we've been improving, but room for improvement. Original Big East sold out more than just the finals.

You can't solve that with UD. You can't solve that with VCU.

You're after something that would appear to require UCONN and Syracuse - at a minimum - if this is about selling out every session every year.

[EMT]

Why would the B1G not be interested in a yearly MSG tournament? Is travel really that big a deal? They sent their football champ to the Rose Bowl for one hundred years and didn't seam to mind the travel.

Ummmmm.... Because Bowl games are played in warm weather locations?

The other conferences have always switched venues. What affinity does NYC have to Midwest schools that they would want to permanently relocate their tournament ?

[adoraz]

You can't solve that with UD. You can't solve that with VCU.

You're after something that would appear to require UCONN and Syracuse - at a minimum - if this is about selling out every session every year.

Nah, you're jumping from selling out one game in 3 years to selling out the Wednesday games. Let's start with selling out the FInals every year and selling out a Friday game or two.

Dayton and VCU won't solve the problem completely, that'd require UConn, but they'd certainly help. Those 2 fan bases travel very well. They went to the A10 tournament in Barclays, they'd definitely go to the Big East tournament at MSG. In fact, they might be better than half the league at travelling.

[billyjack]

The ACC is not getting MSG. It doesn't matter what Bilas says. It would have had to have happened back in 2013, before our 12 year MSG contract, and before the Big East once again solidified itself as a premier conference, and especially before Kris Jenkins' shot.

They will forever have Big East envy. It's embarrassing. They have no original thoughts or ideas. They follow our every move like a bunch of creeps.

Just the idea of the ACC trying to convince people that Brooklyn equals Manhattan is so ludicrous. Or that BC + Pitt + Lower Canada = NYC is so insane.

[billyjack]

Someone with a Twitter account should pound Bilas with questions about the UNC cheating scandal, and the Louisville hooker scandal, and the fact that Syracuse will be stuck with the sucky Mike Hopkins as their coach in 2 years.

[alduflux]

Why would the B1G not be interested in a yearly MSG tournament? Is travel really that big a deal? They sent their football champ to the Rose Bowl for one hundred years and didn't seam to mind the travel.

What affinity does NYC have to Midwest schools that they would want to permanently relocate their tournament ?

Half the Big East is in the Mid-West. Why would those schools want a permanent tourney in NYC?

[hoops22]

I feel the perception of the league is important. If we were to get bounced out of the Garden after 35 plus years, it would be a blow to the image of the league. People in NYC really don't care much about the ACC. Tickets were going on stub hub for $5 for today's games, and the place was still a ghost town. But with 15 teams and traveling fan bases from UNC, Duke, Syracuse and Louisville, they will bring people once those teams begin play. I think it's important we have solid attendence ourselves, to avoid the perception we're getting outmuscled in what has always been a BE town. They even had their stupid mascots in Grand Central today, I hate having them here.

Getting back to the perception issue, the main story line after Sunday's selection show will be the ACC got 10 teams in while we and the B1G were next with 7. We all know we will get a higher percentage of teams in from the BE, but the story line will be that the ACC created separation from the rest of us, because they'll likely get 10. That's the perception the country at large will take from it all. Getting 7 teams in is probably a high water mark for us, since it seems nearly impossible to get 8 in from a 10 team conference. It's a reason why it's worth looking into the benefits of having say, a 14 team league. That would put us in the mix where 7-9 bids yearly should be a common result. And if somehow those additional teams were UCONN,VCU, Dayton, and whoever (St. Louis?) we would easily match the ACC in attendence,plus give the Garden an extra day of games. Again NYC people don't care much about UCONN, but those Connecticut people are crazy, and will fill the trains into the city, and make their presence known and felt at MSG.

One of the problems the BE had in the past, was totally inept and incompetent leadership that seemed to be wearing a "kick me" sign on his back (Marinatto) I hope the leadrship today is proactive in protecting what is important to us, and not destined to be reactive, after we get another hard body blow from the ACC and ESPN. If keeping the Garden is a priority, then a plan should be in place to ensure it remains ours. And finally, I will be doing my part tomorrow night, hoping to see the Johnnies extend their season for one more day. If only that damn team would start winning, that would go a long way to solving any ticket issue.

[billyjack]

Why would the B1G not be interested in a yearly MSG tournament? Is travel really that big a deal? They sent their football champ to the Rose Bowl for one hundred years and didn't seam to mind the travel.

What affinity does NYC have to Midwest schools that they would want to permanently relocate their tournament ?

Half the Big East is in the Mid-West. Why would those schools want a permanent tourney in NYC?

- 80% of the Big Ten is in the Midwest.
- Only 1 Big Ten team within 500 miles of NY City doesn't suck.
- We've been in MSG for 35 years.