Quote:Capacity would be reduced from 13,176 to 10,000. Like with Nippert Stadium and especially in college basketball, having a 25-30k-seat stadium isn’t the objective. Improving the in-game experience and pumping cash into the athletic department by way of luxury seating is. Plus, dropping capacity by ~3,000 isn’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

http://cincyontheprowl.com/2014/04/18/fi...ll-campus/

UC is dropping its basketball arena capacity from 13,000 to 10,000. They are heading in the opposite direction of bigger crowds.

(11-20-2014 08:48 PM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 02:05 PM)BE4evah Wrote:  While there has been a lot of peculation surrounding Mr. Swofford's comments regarding expansion as more likely coming about from movement from a G5 to a P5 conference, I found it interesting that Uconn has approached the new Big East about possible membership, but apparently has been rebuffed.

I wonder if these are related. If the conventiinal wisdom is to be believed, and Cincy is one of those G5 schools moving, might we see Uconn covering its bases?

This information is straight from one of the most respected (and knowledgeable) Uconn insiders. It's difficult for me to get a handle on all the possible variables and changes that might come about, but at least from the Uconn guy, something is stirring.

Edit to add: I can provide the link/proof of the Uconn insider's statements, but don't want to look like advertising for another website.

It already gone 5 pages, people are obviously interested, I'd love a link/proof.

He's quoting another troll as a source. The internet is a wonderful thing.

BE4evah deserves some credit for the successful troll-thread fantasy. Good job.

(11-20-2014 11:43 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

Quote:Capacity would be reduced from 13,176 to 10,000. Like with Nippert Stadium and especially in college basketball, having a 25-30k-seat stadium isn’t the objective. Improving the in-game experience and pumping cash into the athletic department by way of luxury seating is. Plus, dropping capacity by ~3,000 isn’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

http://cincyontheprowl.com/2014/04/18/fi...ll-campus/

UC is dropping its basketball arena capacity from 13,000 to 10,000. They are heading in the opposite direction of bigger crowds.

What you failed to mention is that our attendance in 2011-12 was 8,069, and in 2010-11 it was only 7,344. 2013-14 was the most brutal winter in Cincinnati in 20 years. That definitely had an impact on the attendance. It was also our first year in the AAC, which is a major step down from the Big East.

Our season opener last year drew 6,532. This year, it drew 7,114. Both were against similar competition and both were on a Friday. Barring another freak winter, we will be back up over 9,000 this year. Our attendance is fine... it isn't what it was under Huggins, but attendance nationwide has been trending downward for a long time now.

As for taking the capacity from 13,176 to near 10,000, Fifth Third Arena has a lot of upper deck seats with horrible sight lines. The new plan also calls for adding a LOT of premium seating and replacing all the bleachers with chair backs. There have been plenty of sellouts and near sellouts (12,000+) the last few seasons, but the name of the game is increasing revenue with a better game viewing experience and more premium seating options.

From the posts I've seen you make, it seems like you have a personal vendetta against Cincinnati. We are not Kentucky or Duke, and we may not be a national title contender every season. But you make it sound like the program is on the decline, and that couldn't be further from the truth.

(11-20-2014 09:40 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 07:16 PM)Dasville Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 04:05 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 03:56 PM)Dasville Wrote:  Unfortunately, the new BE will only gain creditability if it plays the American and beats them. Not sure they can do that.

That's the only way to gain credibility? Says who?

I don't think the Big East really cares one way or the other about the American. They have a series with the Big Ten starting next year and Syracuse has shown to be more than willing to schedule the Big East schools.

You're right. It's not the only way to gain credibility but as far as the top 25 goes.......the AAC is the better basketball conference.

No.

UConn & Memphis are better than anything the BE has but after that its a STEEP drop off in the AAC. The next best 5 or 6 programs are in the BE. Definitely more depth and tradition in the BE.

I'm of the opinion that UConn and Memphis should just join the BE.....more TV dollars and then they can go out and sign their own TV contract as independents in football.

With the new CFP system there is no real advantage of being in a G5 conference or having a championship game. More ways to loose. Less potential ways to win. The schools with nice basketball that can get out of them should get out of them.

This is easy to say but not likely, why?

Fox is probably slapping themselves for making the stupid decision to over pay the Big East. They were assuming it would be on the level of the old Big East in terms of excitement and competition but it's no where near that.

They won't pay more money, they would probably make them split what's already there more. Then you are not considering that Memphis does care about it's football team even though it's been on hard times. Indy would be very challenging for Memphis and Uconn because they would find themselves in a lot of money games.

You seem to have this obsession with trying to break apart the AAC in every thread.

Be4evah has to have the creepiest obsession with uconn I have ever seen. He seems to be absolutely terrified that the new big east is doomed if uconn doesn't come back. I will give him credit for 1 thing perhaps and that is his make believe scenarios can draw the aac haters quicker than anything I've ever seen.

If the new big east is so stable then why is it being reported and not rumored but actually reported that nova has applied for membership to the Acc?

(11-21-2014 02:10 AM)tigersmoke1 Wrote:  If the new big east is so stable then why is it being reported and not rumored but actually reported that nova has applied for membership to the Acc?

In 2011?

Big12 grabs UC, UConn and USF and Their exit fees are mostly paid off from previous exit fees. They can also claim that the rest of any exit fees could be forfeited because of loss of revenue by AAC having a horrible TV contract and losing AQ type of status. Those 3 could conceivably pull out ala WVU and move into the Big12 next year. Add in BYU and Big12 at 14 schools like the SEC, ACC, B1G. But could also go with UCF, Memphis but most likely Those would have to remain for at least 18 months and payout exit fees from the schools own funds.

(11-21-2014 01:00 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 09:40 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 07:16 PM)Dasville Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 04:05 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 03:56 PM)Dasville Wrote:  Unfortunately, the new BE will only gain creditability if it plays the American and beats them. Not sure they can do that.

That's the only way to gain credibility? Says who?

I don't think the Big East really cares one way or the other about the American. They have a series with the Big Ten starting next year and Syracuse has shown to be more than willing to schedule the Big East schools.

You're right. It's not the only way to gain credibility but as far as the top 25 goes.......the AAC is the better basketball conference.

No.

UConn & Memphis are better than anything the BE has but after that its a STEEP drop off in the AAC. The next best 5 or 6 programs are in the BE. Definitely more depth and tradition in the BE.

I'm of the opinion that UConn and Memphis should just join the BE.....more TV dollars and then they can go out and sign their own TV contract as independents in football.

With the new CFP system there is no real advantage of being in a G5 conference or having a championship game. More ways to loose. Less potential ways to win. The schools with nice basketball that can get out of them should get out of them.

This is easy to say but not likely, why?

Fox is probably slapping themselves for making the stupid decision to over pay the Big East. They were assuming it would be on the level of the old Big East in terms of excitement and competition but it's no where near that.

They won't pay more money, they would probably make them split what's already there more. Then you are not considering that Memphis does care about it's football team even though it's been on hard times. Indy would be very challenging for Memphis and Uconn because they would find themselves in a lot of money games.

You seem to have this obsession with trying to break apart the AAC in every thread.

Its more that I like to sync my realignment opinions to the the latest trends in the sport.

The latest trends I can see are the full cost of attendance and CFP screw job of the G5. Therefore for some schools to go Independent may be the way to get around those screw jobs. While at the same time opening the door for more programs that could make it in FBS.

Does NMSU and Idaho leaving the SBC open the door for Missouri State to join all sports the SBC? I think it does.

Could Hawaii leaving the MWC as an Independent open the door for UTEP to join the MWC and ULL to get into CUSA? It definitely could. This is the conference realignment board so what ever that can be done to help the conferences I'm considering.

Indy (Hawaii, NMSU, Idaho)
BE (UConn, Memphis)
MWC (UTEP)
CUSA (Louisiana)
SBC (Missouri St, Wichita St)

Western Independents: Hawaii, Idaho, NMSU, BYU
Eastern Independents: Memphis, UConn, UMass, Army

I don't know anyone linked to anything in the BE or UCONN ,but this is not the way I see it . UCONN is aligning itself to the B1G mold. They are adding hockey and doing other things that point to this being their ideal conference . When all is said and done this is where they probably wind up.

If this is true (and I don't believe it is), the Big East would be stupid to decline UConn.

(11-20-2014 11:37 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 11:30 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 11:18 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 10:39 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-20-2014 09:40 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  No.

UConn & Memphis are better than anything the BE has but after that its a STEEP drop off in the AAC. The next best 5 or 6 programs are in the BE. Definitely more depth and tradition in the BE.

I'm of the opinion that UConn and Memphis should just join the BE.....more TV dollars and then they can go out and sign their own TV contract as independents in football.

With the new CFP system there is no real advantage of being in a G5 conference or having a championship game. More ways to loose. Less potential ways to win. The schools with nice basketball that can get out of them should get out of them.

Don't forget SMU and Cinci. After those---yeah, theres a drop off---but theres a drop off after the top 3 or so In most any league. That's a solid core. Temple and Houston are decent possible NIT type teams. That's a pretty solid top 50% of the league.

SMU is new money to the game of elite basketball. One wrong turn and the riches are over.

Cincinnati has dropped back to Temple's level. Attendance has slid. The school has become a football oriented school.

Our attendance has been on the rise for a few years now. Also, we have more Final Fours than anyone in either the AAC or Big East, so our tradition is solid. Cincinnati basketball isn't going anywhere. Cronin is a Bearcat for life... I'm not saying he's on the level of Coach K or even Jim Boeheim, but he will still be coaching the team in 20 years and will have a lot of success.

Quote:The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball attendance for all home games at Fifth Third Arena is down 7.4% from the previous season. UC averaged 8,567 butts in the seats this past season, good for 53rd nationally, and down from 9,253 in 2012-13.

http://cincyontheprowl.com/2014/07/01/uc...e-games-7/

Cincinnati is still a Top 50 program but its not on the level it was when Huggins was in power anymore. Back then it UC basketball was superior to Memphis and now I would argue its the other way around.

Still trolling UC, LOL. UC is an all time top 20 program by any metric one can conjure up.
We beat Memphis twice last year, and have a winning record vs. them all time. Both UC and Memphis have solid programs. Sorry but your divide and conquer won't work. The AAC and the Big East are both very good basketball conferences, much better than the MAC.

UC is going to renovate 5/3 with a focus on premium, club seating and luxury suites.
That takes up space which mean less bleacher seating.

(11-21-2014 09:13 AM)FUB Wrote:  I don't know anyone linked to anything in the BE or UCONN ,but this is not the way I see it . UCONN is aligning itself to the B1G mold. They are adding hockey and doing other things that point to this being their ideal conference . When all is said and done this is where they probably wind up.

If UConn is aligning itself to the B1G mold, and is #15, then there is a #16 out there with a GOR. UConn would need to be somewhere for a decade waiting #16's GOR to run out. Indy FB and BE for other sports could make sense in the long term under this scenario. It would make sense for the BE to say no for stability. It would also make sense to say yes to maintain a relationship with the BIG and if there was a clear partner with UConn

(11-21-2014 04:24 AM)Lurker Above Wrote:  

(11-21-2014 02:10 AM)tigersmoke1 Wrote:  If the new big east is so stable then why is it being reported and not rumored but actually reported that nova has applied for membership to the Acc?

In 2011?

Details like that don't matter

(11-21-2014 10:22 AM)MUAvalanche Wrote:  

(11-21-2014 09:13 AM)FUB Wrote:  I don't know anyone linked to anything in the BE or UCONN ,but this is not the way I see it . UCONN is aligning itself to the B1G mold. They are adding hockey and doing other things that point to this being their ideal conference . When all is said and done this is where they probably wind up.

If UConn is aligning itself to the B1G mold, and is #15, then there is a #16 out there with a GOR. UConn would need to be somewhere for a decade waiting #16's GOR to run out. Indy FB and BE for other sports could make sense in the long term under this scenario. It would make sense for the BE to say no for stability. It would also make sense to say yes to maintain a relationship with the BIG and if there was a clear partner with UConn

The problem with the Big Ten scenario is twofold.

First, I don't think anyone believes any moves would happen for the Big Ten for a decade. Scott Gray, the Connecticut reporter, claimed a UConn move was imminent. No hemming or hawking. He claimed it was going to happen. But it hasn't. With the playoffs, NCAA lawsuits etc., too much has occurred for the Big Ten to make a move. And in a decade, even the most optimistic UConn supporter realizes that the money and prestige gap will be too great to compete with the majors. So every year UConn gets weaker. Look at the football team. Memphis ((southern culture), UCF/USF (Florida), Cincy (Louisville peer) all will continue to pound UConn. Houston/SMU. On and on. Those schools have great advantages and have the ability to become strong programs.

UConn in the football sports world is irrelevant, which is much much worse than being hated (Boise/BYU). I can't remember when they even had a winning record, even against very weak competition.

So it looks like those in some kind of power at UConn are taking a realist's view of its predicament. The chorus to save basketball is undoubtedly getting louder and louder. They think UConn is on borrowed time...and in all candor, who among you don't truly believe that? That's a huge problem for UConn. And for whatever reason, the Big East doesn't want to bailm them out.

(11-21-2014 10:54 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  UConn in the football sports world is irrelevant, which is much much worse than being hated (Boise/BYU). I can't remember when they even had a winning record, even against very weak competition.

Is four years REALLY that long ago?

(11-21-2014 10:56 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-21-2014 10:54 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  UConn in the football sports world is irrelevant, which is much much worse than being hated (Boise/BYU). I can't remember when they even had a winning record, even against very weak competition.

Is four years REALLY that long ago?

On top of that, correct me if I am wrong, but UConn went 5-7 in 2011 and 2012, right? And I think they had, what 3-4 games in both seasons that they lost by one score? I mean, I'm no UConn fan, but let's get real here.

(11-21-2014 10:54 AM)BE4evah Wrote:  

(11-21-2014 10:22 AM)MUAvalanche Wrote:  

(11-21-2014 09:13 AM)FUB Wrote:  I don't know anyone linked to anything in the BE or UCONN ,but this is not the way I see it . UCONN is aligning itself to the B1G mold. They are adding hockey and doing other things that point to this being their ideal conference . When all is said and done this is where they probably wind up.

If UConn is aligning itself to the B1G mold, and is #15, then there is a #16 out there with a GOR. UConn would need to be somewhere for a decade waiting #16's GOR to run out. Indy FB and BE for other sports could make sense in the long term under this scenario. It would make sense for the BE to say no for stability. It would also make sense to say yes to maintain a relationship with the BIG and if there was a clear partner with UConn

The problem with the Big Ten scenario is twofold.

First, I don't think anyone believes any moves would happen for the Big Ten for a decade. Scott Gray, the Connecticut reporter, claimed a UConn move was imminent. No hemming or hawking. He claimed it was going to happen. But it hasn't. With the playoffs, NCAA lawsuits etc., too much has occurred for the Big Ten to make a move. And in a decade, even the most optimistic UConn supporter realizes that the money and prestige gap will be too great to compete with the majors. So every year UConn gets weaker. Look at the football team. Memphis ((southern culture), UCF/USF (Florida), Cincy (Louisville peer) all will continue to pound UConn. Houston/SMU. On and on. Those schools have great advantages and have the ability to become strong programs.

UConn in the football sports world is irrelevant, which is much much worse than being hated (Boise/BYU). I can't remember when they even had a winning record, even against very weak competition.

So it looks like those in some kind of power at UConn are taking a realist's view of its predicament. The chorus to save basketball is undoubtedly getting louder and louder. They think UConn is on borrowed time...and in all candor, who among you don't truly believe that? That's a huge problem for UConn. And for whatever reason, the Big East doesn't want to bailm them out.

You need to relax. Life after UConn will be ok for the NBE. I know you miss your prize programs of the last twenty years, but maybe Providence or St John's can start competing again in Uconn/Cuse/Louisville/etc's absence. Creating these false realities on these boards as often as you do does not make anything you write accurate. I can say with 100% certainty - UConn has not approached the NBE about any sort of membership past the field hockey affiliation (which the school continues to dominate )