(07-20-2017 09:35 AM)megadrone Wrote:  

(07-20-2017 09:23 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(07-20-2017 08:50 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-20-2017 08:00 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  I don't think there are enough Women and Beta Males watching UConn WBB to bring in that revenue to tip the balance. If UConn gets added they will get added for factors other than WBB.

Agree about WBB at UConn.

Beyond that, I don't think UConn gets added to the ACC in the forseeable future. The ACC already has northeast corridor penetration via Syracuse and Boston College. Sure, UConn is closer to NYC, but the value-added on top of Cuse isn't there.

Basically, the ACC was interested in New York, but it was a case of either Syracuse or UConn fulfilling that role, because they didn't need both, and the ACC went with Syracuse. Just like the B1G had the same issue, and chose Rutgers over UConn. That leaves UConn out in the cold, because there isn't another power conference with geographical interest in NYC, and that's basically what UConn brings.

I have to disagree with the market logic. The ACC and the Big Ten won't fully capture the New York City market until they have two teams that are in the general market area. New Yorkers won't tune in to college sports unless they are given something special in the form of rivalries and are watching schools that absolutely hate each other. UConn and Syracuse both lay claim to NYC, both share an intense rivalry on the court/field, both have large fan bases in NYC, and both school can't stand each other. That right there is the recipe for success in getting NYC eyeballs. The ACC could benefit from that in NYC. As for the Big Ten, UConn and Rutgers were actually making their rivalry begin to be something special when Rutgers left for the Big Ten (and both programs took steps backward on the field). Rutgers and UConn will never be as good in football as the Big Ten heavyweights, but those two teams competing in the Big Ten would still have a nice feel from a rivalry perspective and could only help that league get eyeballs in NYC.

The same holds true for Boston College. I live in Boston and not many people care about BC or the other ACC schools. However, the city does pay more attention when BC plays Notre Dame or Syracuse. However, there is no hatred better than UConn and BC hatred. Having UConn in the ACC would definitely create a larger focus on BC in Boston.

Does the ACC or Big Ten "need" UConn for the NYC or Boston markets? No. Would UConn help market penetration? Absolutely.

Valid points but still won't add enough to either conference to include UConn. No rivalry in the Big 10 will ever come close to tOSU and That School Up North. The only school that would generate enough interest in New York that would move the needle is Notre Dame, and they're already in the ACC with partial TV exposure when visiting ACC schools for football.

I agree that if the numbers show that UConn wouldn't add value to either league from a monetary perspective, then both leagues will definitely pass on UConn for now. However, who knows how we will all be watching sports when the next round of realignment begins in 2023. I guess we won't know what the numbers on UConn will be until then.