Big East expansion - looking at some numbers
by guyngreen on Dec 16, 2009 1:11 PM EST
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PrintThe fans of the "newly" expanded Big East have wanted an additional expansion to its football programs to fix the scheduling issues and keep other conferences from raiding their teams. I think it is time the Big East commissioner heeds the warning from the Big 10's public announcement about expansion, and do a little expanding themselves. The question is what program(s) would actually bring in a benefit to the football conference? The Big East says no program out there fits the mold to bring any value to the conference, so I set out to prove them wrong by looking at other BCS conferences and comparing some of their teams to the teams mentioned by fans for Big East expansion. I did a quick attendance comparison between some programs and included six BCS conference teams and six "future Big East programs" mentioned by fans... after all, it's pretty much all about the revenue, right (which usually means butts in the seats)?
| BCS Conference Teams | Seating Capacity | Avg Attendance (2008) | Fill % |
| Baylor | 50000 | 34124 | 68.25 |
| Indiana | 52692 | 31782 | 60.32 |
| Northwestern | 47130 | 28590 | 60.66 |
| Vanderbilt | 39790 | 38460 | 96.66 |
| Wake Forest | 31500 | 31666 | 100.53 |
| Washington St | 35117 | 30719 | 87.48 |
| Big East additions? | Seating Capacity | Avg Attendance (2008) | Fill % |
| Appalachian St | 20150 | 25161 | 124.87 |
| Delaware | 22000 | 21609 | 98.22 |
| ECU | 43000 | 42016 | 97.71 |
| Memphis | 62380 | 25003 | 40.08 |
| UCF | 45301 | 39596 | 87.41 |
| Villanova | 12500 | 6691 | 53.53 |
If I were the Big East commissioner, based on potential revenue, I would look at possible additions in the following order: UCF, ECU, Memphis, Appalachian St, Delaware, Villanova. Even though Villanova is a basketball member of the Big East, do you really see them bringing any value whatsoever to the football conference? Not only does your stadium only hold 12,500, but you are only able to barely hit 50% of its capacity: WEAK!
If you use the same logic, you might be asking why I would have Memphis as the 3rd choice... because that 25,003 average in 2008 includes the 40,248 that attended the Louisville game. Think how that number might change if Louisville, Cincinnati, USF (all old CUSA foes), or West Virginia came to town every other year. I like the renewed rivalries as well (especially on the hardwood).
I'm also surprised about the Northwestern numbers. You would think a program (even one that has winning records lately more times than not) is pulling in such low attendance numbers. What's up with that?
Let me know what you think... (FYI, I blatantly chose to not include any Big East school's numbers in my quick research)
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I really want to see the rationale...
…for anyone that thinks Villanova would bring any value to the football conference.
I would use UCONN as an example
They built a program from nothing pretty quickly. The exposure and opportunity to play against top competition would give Villanova a huge leg up in recruiting, they would, however, need to commit to improving their stadium and facilities to Big East standards before we would think about including them.
The only difference is
UConn was filling their stadium to about 70%+ back in years like 1994 when they were paying in a 16,200 capacity stadium. Villanova definitely needs to step up their attendance if they want to be considered.
UCONN does have 3 times the enrollment in undergrad
6k to 20k, that’s the biggest factor, certainly. There really isn’t a good replacement candidate in the current Big East group of schools. I think the choice would have to be ECU, UCF or Memphis, realistically.
None of these teams listed are good choices
Rather than hunting mice, the Big East should be shooting elephants. Miami made a HORRIBLE choice by moving to the ACC. BC did the same. The Big East should get one of them to round out the football conference. Then, the Big East can boot Depaul from the league.
Ask any BC grad if they’d prefer to be playing Villanova in the Garden during the Big East Tournament or if they’d rather play NC State in Tampa, FL instead.
I also like BC
Would they really be able to come back? I don’t think it would be possible, no matter how much I would hope they could. I also obviously think ND would be a great fit, but realistic additions were omitted on my part. Either way, I would think you would have voted “Other”.
Voted for memphis
A basketball decision more than anything else. If the acc took bc, they would expand again. I guess they would take south Florida or another big east team. The cycle would never stop
by cardscott5 on Dec 16, 2009 5:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions
How about none of the above?
Memphis the only one that appeals on some national level. Most BE schools are in urban areas so I don’t think some make that cut. Nova is in urban area, but I can’t see them using money to develop football. UCF just sound weird to me and Orlando is just a little strange plus it’s way further south than all BE schools except USF. If these are the choices then I’m happy with what we have right now.
Maddie in Portland, Oregon
Purdue?
Their stadium seats 62,500. They haven’t won the Big Ten since 2000. They are rivals with ND. I would like to see the Cards play them.
Purdue will never leave the Big Ten
This also doesn’t make sense while the Big Ten is looking to expand. I wish we would play them though, as my wife is a Purdue grad, and I almost went there instead of Speed School at UofL.
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