The Big East Tournament
by tmjoel01 on Mar 7, 2011 7:09 PM EST
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PrintI do not have an opinion on this topic and am eager for the Card Chronicle community to sway me in one of the two directions.
Would you prefer to see the Big East Tournament in New York City every year, or would you like to see a bid process for it by Big East cities?
The NYC Argument
Madison Square Garden is the mecca of basketball and the center of the sports Universe. The allure of having the conference tournament in New York City helps draw fans from all of the teams and also gives people and annual trip and tradition to look forward to.
Holding the BET in NYC can also be a recruiting advantage, as the BET is widely known as the most watched conference tournament and allows top talent a very large stage to play on annually. I think to players like Johnny Flynn that made millions of dollars because of his performance in the BET.
The Rotation Argument
First off, the BET could still be hosted in NYC on a regular basis. Through a rotation, Big East communities would be able to gain the financial benefits of hosting such a prestigious tournament. The Louisville Sports Commission makes big dollars off hosting the BET for Field Hockey...imagine what basketball would bring in.
A week long tournament could have a huge impact on area hotels, restaurants and attractions.
The tournament could have a very positive impact on communities like:
- Louisville
- Milwaukee
- Syracuse
- Hartford
- Cincinnati
- Tampa
It could also be hosted in mega cities like:
- Chicago
- Philly
- Washington D.C.
- NYC
While St. John's would lose their annual competitive advantage, the downside would be that one team would gain a significant home-court advantage on an annual basis.
I am eager to hear the thoughts and opinions of CardChronicloids Near and Far.
Speaking of far...I would be all for a BET in Tucson so we can all shack at our man Austin's house. I call dibs on fist shower. I need my ME time.
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explain yourself
"During my ME time in the shower the other day I thought, we really havn’t goteen THAT signature game yet" - Austin Montgomery
by UofL Redbirds on Mar 7, 2011 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
Go to the BET and you will change your mind.
There is an electricity about the event unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Even though some teams are closer than others (StJ, SHU, RU) and some schools have bigger alumni bases there (SU and ND), the floor and the event are about as neutral as possible. Being the ACC and switching from Greensboro to Tampa to Atlanta is just dumb. Basically, you get a combination of (i) the geographically closest fans and (ii) UNC fans. Same with the SEC and UK. The Big East is much better because it is as neutral as possible and everyone knows that the BET final is at the Garden at 9pm on Saturday night — no exceptions.
Rotate. No doubt the Garden is a primo venue but there is no way it is fair to have one school always have such a huge advantage every year. Indefensible!
by Carolina Cardinal on Mar 7, 2011 7:53 PM EST reply actions
Does one school have a huge advantage, though?
It’s the home court for St. John’s, but Seton Hall and Rutgers are also in the NYC metro area. UConn and Villanova are within a 2-hour drive. Syracuse has a very substantial alumni base there (and ESPN seems to think MSG is a home game for us).
I’m not sure where we’d put the tournament in the unlikely event the football members of the conference split off, but as-is, NYC and MSG work pretty well.
I don't disagree that it's a great venue. It is. But is it fair?
by Carolina Cardinal on Mar 7, 2011 10:57 PM EST up reply actions
There’s not any place that’s better, anyway. NYC/MSG is easy to get to for five Big East fanbases. Chicago would be for three (Marquette, ND, DePaul). Pittsburgh for two (Pitt, WVU), Cinci or Louisville for two (each other), DC for one, Tampa for one (and one that doesn’t care much about basketball; same would go for DFW in the future), Boston for two (UConn, Providence), and Philly for four (‘Nova, St. John’s, and the NJ schools).
It’s kind of like the Rose Bowl — it’s a lot more convenient for the Pac 10 team (especially if it’s USC or UCLA) than the Big Ten team, but it’s a great place to have a football game and has a ton of tradition (and besides, getting out of Big Ten country in January and going to SoCal is always a good idea).
Heh
Of course, we haven’t beaten you guys in anything important since the GERG vs. KRAG1N1 pillow-fights. Which is getting silly; I’m almost to the point where I think if you started a D1 men’s lacrosse team, we’d find a way to lose to it.
Yup
L’ville 10, ‘Cuse 9. That was the only Orange game in the last two years that made me less confident of Marrone’s ability, rather than more (it’s the single most inexplicable Orange football loss in the last two years; HCDM >> KRAG1N!).
Never happen and probably shouldn't.
MSG is the Mecca! Only suiting that the baddest conference plays their tourney there. Although I haven’t made the trip, I would love too. I can’t say the same about road tripping to Milwaukee.
Get him a body bag!! Yeaaaaah!!
I vote: Have it in Louisville every year. Then everyone on CC is happy.
"During my ME time in the shower the other day I thought, we really havn’t goteen THAT signature game yet" - Austin Montgomery
Rotation would be cool.
Primarily because I’d be more able to go to a BET in Cincinnati or Louisville.
by Get_In_My_BELLY_ on Mar 7, 2011 8:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Rotating would be too tough in the Big East.
Do you rotate between every school, thus only getting to the good venues once every 16 years, or do you select a few cities to rotate between and alienate the schools/cities that get left out?
I like it in New York. Every year at this time you always hear about the Big East playing in Madison Square Garden. It’s free advertising to the league, even if one team always has home court.
I would treat it like the Super Bowl
And make people bid on it ever year. Sure Miami and New Orleans might get it more often (read NYC and Philadelphia for the Big East), but at least everyone would have a chance to make a compelling bid.
nothing like MSG
I have been to last three BETs. A real specticle that you have to attend at least once. The publicity the city of Louisville got two years ago by the cards winning IN NY was priceless. Also having such a special one of a kind tournament is a recruiting advantage for big east schools. It will never be moved
by GlavCard on Mar 7, 2011 8:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
MSG
Nobody should even consider moving this tournament.
What’s next – rotate the Rose Bowl to Columbus, Ann Arbor, and Madison for fairness and community impacy?
Bid it out
I’m pretty sure the ACC does it. ACC Tourney often ends up in “neutral” sites like Greensboro & Charlotte. Bigger venues (KFC Yum) with community facilities to support it are going to have the advantage.
I went to the BET in '09
And I’ve gotta say not too much beats seeing your team play in MSG. I think it’s a lot of what makes the tournament so unique and revered, and as it was mentioned, it’s a nice little advantage to be able to mention to recruits that they get to play for the conference’s ultimate prize in the World’s Most Famous Arena
by Gettin Dieng-y With It on Mar 7, 2011 11:37 PM EST reply actions
Damnit. Just so we’re clear, I posted King stay the king before I read down to this.
by Leeroy Jenkins on Mar 8, 2011 8:29 AM EST up reply actions
You should be punched
for even suggesting the unfathomable. The Big East tournament IS New York City.
If St Johns has such an unfair advantage, why have they only won the tournament 3 times?
I could see your argument if they were in the final every year, or something like that—but it has obviously had NO affect on their play.
Keep it in NYC.
Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!
NYC NYC NYC
I’m sure the Kentucky Derby could help out some other economies too but you’re not going to move that. The BET is NEW YORK!!! Don’t mess with it!!
by Tbone74 on Mar 8, 2011 12:24 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Considering we're just a baby in the Big East
There’s absolutely no way that any suggestion would convince anyone in terms of moving it. It’s in MSG to stay, so we might as well get used to it.
That said, I get kind of sick of this argument that MSG is the mecca of basketball, the Big East Tournament is synonymous with New York, blah blah blah blah blah. Many, many people in New York could give a shit about college basketball, and this sort of falls in line with the idea that New York is the center of the universe, therefore it is the most important place, therefore everything must be in New York. I’m not saying to have it in the Yum Center (although an arena like ours puts MSG to shame), but to act like there aren’t other places that would host a fantastic Big East Tournament is ridiculous and, frankly, irritating.
That kind of attitude is the same kind of attitude that supports New York everything and considers Louisville to be a nothing city in a flyover state. If you haven’t spent an appreciable amount of time outside KY, you may not realize how many people, particularly from the Northeast, have such views about Louisville and many towns like it. I find it extremely disrespectful, and as long as we assume New York is the center of the universe and MSG is the building of all buildings, this kind of stuff is going to be perpetuated. I know that it’s a tradition that won’t be altered, but that tradition has nothing to do with somewhere being a “mecca” of college basketball. People in Louisville know a hell of a lot more about college basketball than people in New York do, and that’s a fact.
I'd buy that argument a bit
if the people posting here that there’s no place better for it were New Yorkers with that NYC-centric attitude (which is largely based on never having been anywhere else other than flythroughs and which I agree is annoying, disrespectful and perhaps most important – wrong) … but because this is a UofL “blog”, I’m pretty sure most posters are from the Ville. So I think your point is fundamentally flawed in this context.
by Leeroy Jenkins on Mar 8, 2011 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
I continue to see both sides
But as a resident of Louisville, it is hard to ignore the impact and buzz that would be created by getting the opportunity to host a BET.
The KC Star says that Kansas City is set to bring in $14.1 million in economic impact for the Big 12 Tourney this year.
I appreciate everything the MSG brings to the table and think it sets the BET apart from the rest, however, I would love for Louisville to have the opportunity to showcase itself and the city at such a large magnitude event.
It would be quite a site to see 16 Big East fanbases congregating in Louisville if we were given the opportunity to host such an event.
Thanks for the hospitality.
All Big East fans are welcome over at The Smoking Musket.
by Country Roads on Mar 8, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
We've seen your kind of "welcome"
Thanks but no thanks.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
What are you talking about?
Seriously. I know some of our fans can be unwelcoming (there are a few of those in every crowd), but we enjoy having folks come over and engage in (relatively) intelligent discussion about our respective teams. Sure, there may be some smack talk. But if you have something constructive to say, we’d love to hear from you.
www.smokingmusket.com
by Country Roads on Mar 9, 2011 8:54 AM EST up reply actions
I get along with WVU fans I've come across
Of course, it may be a hills thing… I grew up 11 miles in Kentucky from the WV border.
Nothing against you personally, and I'm sure WVU has some nice folks among their fan base
but I’ve heard more tales of physical aggression towards visiting-team fans who come into Morgantown than anywhere else. The basic sense I’ve picked up is that it’s not safe to go there.
Maybe I should give it a try myself instead of spouting off about it based on hearsay. My mistake, sorry.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
WVU already has The Tavern booked as their home bar - just in case
by tmjoel01 on Mar 8, 2011 12:57 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Regional Play in games to make it to MSG
What about the first 4 games played as regional games at 4 different sites with the team with best conf record or higher ranking playing at home. The 4 winners would then join the remaining 8 teams at MSG for the remainder of the tournament every year.
Yes, that is Kyle Kuric
by TheRealSlimShady on Mar 8, 2011 1:44 AM EST reply actions
This is an awesome idea
UConn has to beat Depaul at home just to “make it NYC”. Love it. And anything that gives the better seed the advantage makes it fun to watch teams play for the better seed.
I'm all for seeing it rotate
Would be good for fans all across the league to see the tournament come to their city once in a while, instead of only having the option to go to New York. Having it only there means an annual home court advantage for Syracuse and St John’s with UConn, Providence, & Pitt as well being in such close proximity. Louisville fans, and worse yet, South Florida fans have to plan a major trip to get up there to support their teams (not that USF is a big basketball program, but if they were I don’t think many would make the trip).
Imagine the Big East Championship going down in the Yum Center. Would be good fun and would be huge for this city.
________________________________________________
www.lordkayoss.com
leave it the way it is
Ive always wanted to have the opp to attend the BET at MSG. Ive been by the place, but never attended a game. Theres just so much more to offer in NYC than any other city, IMO. It caters to just about every fan.
Now while the idea of having it in other venues (such as the YUM) is very tantalizing, especially for someone like myself that is on a limited budget, I just dont see it ever changing. Its been in NYC forever, and the commish isnt going to change that.
BET
I just don’t believe that NYC is the basketball mecca that it once was. I think that concept is dated and so is having the BET in NYC every year. I went to the St. John’s/Louisville game last year when we got blown out in MSG. I wasn’t all that impressed with the arena itself, what makes it cool is that it is in the middle of Manhattan. I would really like to see a rotation that would benefit more cities and teams. New York City is the most expensive destination in the Big East and this is college basketball. Let’s share the wealth, both financially and as an experience.
Keep it in The Garden!
I want nothing more than to be able to afford heading to the BET in New York and MSG. The BET is a fantastic event regardless of the venue it’s played in, but there is just something special about heading to NYC and entering MSG at the end of the season with the hopes and dreams of a successful post season run permeating the brain.
Rotate?
I’d like to see how many fans travel to Texas when it’s held at TCU.
"During my ME time in the shower the other day I thought, we really havn’t goteen THAT signature game yet" - Austin Montgomery
I'd be there
Don’t underestimate the stunning drawing power of the Dallas Metroplex. Assuming it won’t be attacked by an icestorm / ticket fiasco combo like the Superbowl was
Home court advantage?
This is NOT a rhetorical question, I’d love to see an answer: has St. John’s (or have NYC-area schools in general) actually fared better than expected in the BET tournament over the years?
I’m for keeping it in MSG. Louisville is a wonderful city. It’s a great place to be from, and a great place to live, but for a weekend visit (excepting one week a year) it doesn’t hold a candle to the Big Apple.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
hahaha
They’d end up selling tickets at PTA-run booths at several local high schools across the city.
USF & DePaul fans, we have 4 tickets available for purchase at Walden & KCD. Everyone else, J-Town, Eastern & Ballard.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 8, 2011 9:08 AM EST up reply actions
As much as I’d love for the tournament to be at the Yum Center once, it should never be moved. I can’t wait to make my first trip up there, although it won’t be this year
by uoflcard on Mar 8, 2011 10:25 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Good, question, great discussion.
My vote is to keep it at MSG. I see the argument for fairness and economics in rotating the tournament, but I’m a guy who loves tradition and thinks there is something to be said for “special” places and events.
I went to the BET last year and was absolutely blown away with the event. I was born in WV and attended WVU, but I’ve lived in Ohio and Pennsylvania and done a lot of traveling, and there is just something awesome about NYC. MSG is not really that great of an arena, but for one week a year, NYC is focused on BE basketball. Being there for the BET is like going to a bowl game on steroids—-all the teams and fans right in the heart of one of the best cities in the world. There’s nothing like it.
Just curious: is there anyone who is in favor of rotating the tournament that has actually attended the event?
Going on Thursday...
I’ve been a couple times before, and heading down from Boston this Thurs. Its a great atmosphere at MSG. That said, it seems like barely a ‘blip’ on the radar for NYC.
I would selfishly LOVE to see it held at the Yum! Center; so I could visit home while catching the BET, and to see our town as the focus of such a major event (other than Derby). But I doubt there’s even a chance it ever moves, the BET+NYC is a sports institution.
horrible, naive argument
NOT A QUESTION. of course the BE tourney should b in MSG every year. just watch the production and coverage from ESPN and imagine watching in through the eyes of a high school bball player.
the big east is the reason a lot of these guys choose their schools. playing there with the excitement of single elimination adds to that. i have never seen a similar feel from any other conference tournament. we should want the tournament at MSG every year. and for those within our fan base who still choos to fight it should get with the program.
maybe fans of syracuse and Uconn have an easier road to get there, but with UofL fans love for the sport, we should see way more of us making the trip to NY every year. MSG is a tradition that we got a later start on, but i’m sure If we infiltrate the Garden, give some support to the guys, everyone will take notice!!
(if MSG wasn’t such a big deal, why would duke play there once a year???)
Problem with rotating?
Being in Syracuse, NY in early March? Brrr…
MSG is the better answer, IMHO.
"There is no OFF position to the genius switch" - D. Letterman
Fist shower in ME time, no less
with Tyler Durden, I presume…
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
MSG is the best venue.
Home court advantage would overrated during the Big East Conference tournament. They limit the number of tickets to each school and if schools don’t sell them; they go on the free market where the highest bidder/capitalism takes over. The host school isn’t any more likely to buy them than any other school, in my opinion. I know there are a lot more than 2,000 fans from Louisville that want to go to the BET every year.
However, in a smaller conference that doesn’t have good attendance, the home team does get to buy many of the unsold tickets. An example, The Mountain West Conference has hosted their tournament in Las Vegas (UNLV’s home court) every year (save for 3) since 2000. They quit hosting it at a neutral site in Denver, because attendance took a nose dive. In the 8 years on UNLV’s home court, UNLV has won the tournament 3 times and finished runner-up 3 times. I don’t know what their seed was in those, but I don’t believe they were 1-2 in all 6 years they made it to the finals.
I think if the Johnnies make it to the finals (or win) the tournament this year or several years in a row, then moving the tournament might gain some steam. Until then, I don’t think it would even be considered.
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