Big East name

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Originally Posted by Jim Ganzer, "IWB"

I was watching ESPN the other day and they were preparing for an NBA game. I didn't get the name of the guy lacing up his shoes, but he said, and I quote, "Hell yeah I'm excited for tonight, playing in the Garden? This place is where everyone wants to play. This is the Mecca of basketball. This is the biggest stage in the world."

Now that is an NBA player saying that. It is the biggest stage. I don't care if they don't have Louisville or Syracuse or Pitt. It might not be the same, but no one will talk about the Greensboro Coliseum as the basketball Mecca, it has been and always will be the pinnacle of college basketball!

The name would be great - The Garden is important!

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Staying on the discussion of what is more important the name or the garden:

What has helped the MU program more in the past: telling kids we play in the Big East or telling them they will have a chance of playing a few games in the Garden? I'm not discounting the alure of the Garden but the answer is clearly the Big East name.

What will help the MU program more going forward: telling kids we play in the Big East or telling them they will have a chance of playing a few games in the Garden? Despite many of the teams being different and some of the potential negative connotations with the Big East name due to some departures, the name still carries significant cache' on the national level and imo still has more value than the allure of playing a couple games in the Garden.

Both would be ideal but in choosing between the two imo the B7 should place more of it's resources in acquiring the Big East name.

it was Steve Novak who said that recently. But some others who said the same were: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. Why do you think they loved to torch and tourture the Knicks ?

I disagree, the reason the Big East name was a bigger draw is because of who was in the Big East and all the pub it got. This new league won't get that kind of run and won't hold the same cache as the old Big East did, simply won't happen. The garden will be a bigger draw than the name. I'm a firm believer that kids are smart enough to know who they are playing against and that's why the conference names are important, you change the teams and the names all change meaning. The great brand of football made the SEC name, the SEC name didn't build the great brand of football. So you downgrade the football and people will downgrade the name. That's what is happening to the Big East. Kids aren't dumb, they are following this stuff and they know who is good and who isn't.

If the players think it is cool and it helps in recruiting, then fine, keep it at MSG. The coaches will let the Presidents and future Commish know if it important or not.

Other than that, I am indifferent. If it was closer, there is a greater liklihood that I would attend.

Not only is the Garden the biggest baddest place to play hoops in the world, I sure as hell don't want the ACC to ever host their tournament there.

I am warming to the idea of a new name, but sure do want to keep MSG.

The Garden is the best place basketball-wise without question. Is it sustainable financially? UConn and Syracuse populated the place the four times I have gone. Good showings from Pitt and Louisville fans too. The rest were just OK--including us. The question is whether there will be local interest. There will be a lot of Xavier and Butler fans in year one, but it is likely to drop off thereafter. Will the New York fans show for a MU vs Butler final? Creighton vs Xavier? Villanova and GTown fans would show for a big game because it is driveable--obviously St. John's too. As much as I want the Garden to work, I fear the roatation is the only financially viable way to go.

That's a really good point Gato. I could see there being a real challenge to fill it up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jim Ganzer, "IWB"

I was watching ESPN the other day and they were preparing for an NBA game. I didn't get the name of the guy lacing up his shoes, but he said, and I quote, "Hell yeah I'm excited for tonight, playing in the Garden? This place is where everyone wants to play. This is the Mecca of basketball. This is the biggest stage in the world."

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I remember the first time I walked into Greensboro Coliseum and the chills that went down my......wait, I mean the Charlotte..... oh wait.
Yeah, the Garden is a dump, but I still love walking into that place.

I think a great place to host the tournament for the first few years would be the Palestra in Philadelphia.* It is small, but that does not effect TV.* In fact the atmosphere would come off great on TV.* I also like the idea of demand for tickets being greater than supply for a few years.* This would give it kind of an exclusive feel.

The Palestra is synonomous with urban private school basketball and is known as the cathedral of college basketball.* It is probably the most famous college basketball arena in the country.* I think it would be just what this new conference needed as a host to really kick start a great product.

If the demand for tickets grows, you can always find someplace else.* Meanwhile, I believe the evironment would be really special and would get great publicity.

The most famous college basketball arena?!? The Palestra? Nope. I can think of 5 that come to mind before the Palestra. Cameron Indoor, Fogg Allen Fieldhouse, Rupp Arena, Assembly Hall, Pauley Pavilion, heck even Hinkle Fieldhouse could make an arguement that its more famous because of Hoosiers. That said even on a CBB level MSG carries 100x more clout than the Palestra.

If MSG falls through I'd suggest doing an alternating site between DC, Chicago, maybe Indy, or go for the Hail Mary and try to get the Barclays.