Big East name

[Orlando]

The Palestra is small and it is kind of a pit, but it has panache on the East coast. If you have that tourney at the United Center, you will play in a half empty arena with 10 beat writers and your tv partner as the only media in attendance.

There are many big name sports journalists who live and work within a 2 hour drive of the Palestra who would love to spend a day there watching great college basketball and wax nostalgic about the glory days of the sport.

I definitely can see where younger fans might not understand that, but for some reason, the east coast media loves the Palestra.

Plus each team would only have to bring about 700 fans to sell the place out. And Philly would support it big time. It is a big college basketball city.

[TheSultan]

Yeah, honestly places like Chicago and Indy worry me. The only problem with the Palestra idea is that it is pretty small. The A10 even moved their tourney out of there for that very reason.

[MUMac]

The Big 10 is in Chicago this year and then alternates between Indy and Chicago. Those, to me, are not options. Further, the focus on the Midwest Media will be the Big 10 Tournament, at least initially. Thus, I would prefer to keep it in NY or on the East Coast (DC/Philly as other options).

[Orlando]

Yeah, honestly places like Chicago and Indy worry me. The only problem with the Palestra idea is that it is pretty small. The A10 even moved their tourney out of there for that very reason.

It is small. I agree. Maybe too small. I just kind of like the idea of making it a tough ticket for a couple of years. I also like the idea of making it easily accessible to the east coast media at a place where they like to go. Let a day at the Palestra draw them in and then let the quality of basketball hook them. Once the tournament starts getting great press on the east coast, they can move to a bigger place. I would rather have MSG begging the conference to move their tournament there then have the conference begging MSG to squeeze us in around the ACC.

I don't believe this new conference is going to have the problems the A10 had. They had to move because ticket revenue is almost as important to them as tv revenue. Their tv contract is so small. Anyplace that would give them cheap rent and allow them to sell more tickets was going to be attractive. With the lucrative tv contract this conference is going to start with, ticket revenue loses its relevence. Let's say we think this tournament can draw 12,000 a day. The Palestra holds 9,000. Let's say a tournament ticket costs $400. That's $1.2 million in lost ticket revenue. That's a number that is very important to the A10, but pretty insignificant to the new Big East.

I like the idea of a packed Palestra rocking in prime time on Fox as opposed to 12,000 people rattling around in a huge NBA arena. I think the media would like it better also. Also just to be clear, I am not insisting that I am right and I doubt it would ever happen. I just think we need to try something a little different.

[IWB]

Get Madison Square Garden and hold on to it until there is a reason to not go there.

[TheSultan]

I agree that MSG is the way to go. However if it doesn't work out, I really do like the Palestra idea. Or even Hinkle Fieldhouse. Something smaller, more intimate, that can create a better atmosphere then the cookie cutter modern arena, would be fun. I like Orlando's idea as an alternative.

[Orlando]

Get Madison Square Garden and hold on to it until there is a reason to not go there.

I tend to agree with this, but one thing scares me. If we stay at MSG, the first thing every journalist is going to do when they walk into that arena is compare it to the way it used to be. Sports journalism these days is all about putting things down and finding flaws. Any comparison to the old Big East is going to come up short at first, and the new conference will get crucified for it. The media loves to pick at scabs. I don't want to look like the little kid dressed up in his dad's clothes. I want the media saying that this is a great product and a great environment. That won't be the story if we stay at MSG. Not at first anyway.

[wiscwarrior]

Just a thought, but why not pick a warm weather site? Orlando (How'd that pop into my head)? Just to be a little different like a bowl game... great for fans and players.

[IWB]

I tend to agree with this, but one thing scares me. If we stay at MSG, the first thing every journalist is going to do when they walk into that arena is compare it to the way it used to be. Sports journalism these days is all about putting things down and finding flaws. Any comparison to the old Big East is going to come up short at first, and the new conference will get crucified for it. The media loves to pick at scabs. I don't want to look like the little kid dressed up in his dad's clothes. I want the media saying that this is a great product and a great environment. That won't be the story if we stay at MSG. Not at first anyway.

That is a great point Orlando, but I would rather have them pick at the scabs as opposed to hearing them gloat over how great the ACC in Madison Square Garden is.

[MU/Panther]

MSG>Big East name