Uh oh...the Providence AD Bob Driscoll says, "We have dates locked in for a long time [through 2026],” he said. “We definitely have strong enough teams to sell the place out. Ours fans love coming to New York and we’ll do what it takes to get an absolute sellout.”

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/...-ahead.ece

That's how we roll at PC! We don't take no guff from punks!

Yeah, Driscoll basically put to bed any thoughts of an ACC-MSG deal. To most of us, the ACC-MSG thing had a really low probability at best and was a pipedream in Coach K's head.

Also, love the Big East tip-off day he mentioned, with 5 games across Opening Day - "The league will sponsor an 18-game, round-robin schedule and Fox is said to excited about a potential Tip-Off day/night where all 10 schools would play".

Also, keep in mind that Driscoll said the 10 of us have to "market and promote the tournament better than we ever have but that’s because before we never even had to sell tickets. It just always sold out."... the demand was high, and the demand will continue to be high...

And the round robin is awesome too.

Every one of the schools need to start filling their ticket allotments. (Yeah, that means you too, DePaul.)

Sell it out and ESPN can turn their conspiracy theories elsewhere.

(05-24-2013 07:39 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  Every one of the schools need to start filling their ticket allotments. (Yeah, that means you too, DePaul.)

Sell it out and ESPN can turn their conspiracy theories elsewhere.

The Big East just needs to require every school purchase 2,000 tickets and therefore ensure that the game is a "sellout."

(05-23-2013 12:35 PM)billyjack Wrote:  Also, keep in mind that Driscoll said the 10 of us have to "market and promote the tournament better than we ever have but that’s because before we never even had to sell tickets. It just always sold out."... the demand was high, and the demand will continue to be high...

The problem with that feeling is... the teams that created the demand over the last decade or more for the old Big East Tournament aren't the teams in the New Big East. I don't think it's impossible by any means to create demand and sellout the Garden, BUT there is NO room for resting on their laurels.

All the schools must now carry their weight and fill it up. If there are sold but tons of empty seats in prime-time on tv, or perception becomes the Big East Tournament is just another upper mid-major event like the A10 in Brooklyn, then I ensure you, MSG will seek a way out of the contract sooner rather than later. The New Big East members must all step it up, as perception is reality on the World's Biggest Stage.

Next year, who knows, there could be more Syracuse fans in MSG than in Greensboro. Think about it... how many NYC area Syracuse alumni will willingly board a plane for Greensboro in mid-March to watch Clemson, Va Tech and Wake run around? The Big East tourney will still be very familiar to everyone, and Syracuse fans may choose to enjoy NYC like they have for the last 30+ years. U guys still have way more in common with all of us.

(05-25-2013 05:52 AM)IceJus10 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:35 PM)billyjack Wrote:  Also, keep in mind that Driscoll said the 10 of us have to "market and promote the tournament better than we ever have but that’s because before we never even had to sell tickets. It just always sold out."... the demand was high, and the demand will continue to be high...

The problem with that feeling is... the teams that created the demand over the last decade or more for the old Big East Tournament aren't the teams in the New Big East. I don't think it's impossible by any means to create demand and sellout the Garden, BUT there is NO room for resting on their laurels.

All the schools must now carry their weight and fill it up. If there are sold but tons of empty seats in prime-time on tv, or perception becomes the Big East Tournament is just another upper mid-major event like the A10 in Brooklyn, then I ensure you, MSG will seek a way out of the contract sooner rather than later. The New Big East members must all step it up, as perception is reality on the World's Biggest Stage.

Okay hold on a second.

1. You have no idea what you are talking about. The Big East tournament wasn't sold out for every session just because of UConn, Cuse and UofL. Most of those schools had a single or double bye every year so they weren't purchasing every session. Most of the time they were just purchasing the sessions they were playing in.

2. You and all the other butthurt ACC fans can wish in one hand for us to be a mid-major and crap in the other and see which one fills up first.

3. It's really funny hearing a ACC fan talking about how WE need to sell out every session while they haven't been able to fill up Greensboro the last couple of years. Now all of a sudden they think they will sell out MSG!

4. If MSG wanted the ACC so bad then why didn't they sign with them just 2 months ago when they signed the Big East to a 13 year deal? Are you saying all of a sudden they just realized your awesomeness?

5. The Big East is essentially for contract purposes a new league. MSG used it's out with the old conference to drop them and sign with the Big East. They didn't even submit a bid for the ACC and without even a game played they are looking for an out? I think you ACC fanboys are a little to high on your league.

(05-25-2013 10:57 AM)NJRedMan Wrote:  1. You have no idea what you are talking about. The Big East tournament wasn't sold out for every session just because of UConn, Cuse and UofL. Most of those schools had a single or double bye every year so they weren't purchasing every session. Most of the time they were just purchasing the sessions they were playing in.

Yes and no. Tickets are sold on a package level (all games) only, and while a lot of Syr and UConn people bought individual session tickets on the street, many bought packages direct from schools like DePaul and USF which were never going to sell their allotments. That's why there was usually more UConn fans in the lower levels (buying the other schools' better tickets) and the Syracuse people were left with the upper level session seats.

When it comes to the current schools, Georgetown, Villanova, and (usually) Marquette would sell their allotments out, but that was about it. There hasn't been a decent St. John's turnout at these games since Bootsy Thornton.

What Syracuse fans will learn about Greensboro--people don't give up their seats. And with about 700 seats per school, there 's not a lot to go around at a tournament whose last public sale was in 1966. It's a 13 hour drive from Syracuse (9-10 from the city) and that's not an easy trek if you're thinking of hanging around for session tickets.

(05-25-2013 10:04 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(05-25-2013 10:57 AM)NJRedMan Wrote:  1. You have no idea what you are talking about. The Big East tournament wasn't sold out for every session just because of UConn, Cuse and UofL. Most of those schools had a single or double bye every year so they weren't purchasing every session. Most of the time they were just purchasing the sessions they were playing in.

Yes and no. Tickets are sold on a package level (all games) only, and while a lot of Syr and UConn people bought individual session tickets on the street, many bought packages direct from schools like DePaul and USF which were never going to sell their allotments. That's why there was usually more UConn fans in the lower levels (buying the other schools' better tickets) and the Syracuse people were left with the upper level session seats.

When it comes to the current schools, Georgetown, Villanova, and (usually) Marquette would sell their allotments out, but that was about it. There hasn't been a decent St. John's turnout at these games since Bootsy Thornton.

What Syracuse fans will learn about Greensboro--people don't give up their seats. And with about 700 seats per school, there 's not a lot to go around at a tournament whose last public sale was in 1966.

Creighton is going to bring a quite the fan base to msg. They already have a group set up to travel to new york this summer to get a list of hotels for their fans and directions how to get around from said hotels. These folks are going to show up in force.

(05-25-2013 10:53 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  Creighton is going to bring a quite the fan base to msg. They already have a group set up to travel to new york this summer to get a list of hotels for their fans and directions how to get around from said hotels. These folks are going to show up in force.

I hope they do just that. I hope they love the experience and plan on returning. I suspect that after the initial BET there will be a significant drop in CU fans (at least non East Coast fans). Hopefully their East Coast fans who may never have attended St Louis (post grad) would help balance that out.

(05-25-2013 10:53 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(05-25-2013 10:04 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(05-25-2013 10:57 AM)NJRedMan Wrote:  1. You have no idea what you are talking about. The Big East tournament wasn't sold out for every session just because of UConn, Cuse and UofL. Most of those schools had a single or double bye every year so they weren't purchasing every session. Most of the time they were just purchasing the sessions they were playing in.

Yes and no. Tickets are sold on a package level (all games) only, and while a lot of Syr and UConn people bought individual session tickets on the street, many bought packages direct from schools like DePaul and USF which were never going to sell their allotments. That's why there was usually more UConn fans in the lower levels (buying the other schools' better tickets) and the Syracuse people were left with the upper level session seats.

When it comes to the current schools, Georgetown, Villanova, and (usually) Marquette would sell their allotments out, but that was about it. There hasn't been a decent St. John's turnout at these games since Bootsy Thornton.

What Syracuse fans will learn about Greensboro--people don't give up their seats. And with about 700 seats per school, there 's not a lot to go around at a tournament whose last public sale was in 1966.

Creighton is going to bring a quite the fan base to msg. They already have a group set up to travel to new york this summer to get a list of hotels for their fans and directions how to get around from said hotels. These folks are going to show up in force.

There will be alot of us there next year. Some people from our board already booked hotels. I'll be there!

(05-26-2013 07:31 AM)trephin Wrote:  

(05-25-2013 10:53 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  Creighton is going to bring a quite the fan base to msg. They already have a group set up to travel to new york this summer to get a list of hotels for their fans and directions how to get around from said hotels. These folks are going to show up in force.

I hope they do just that. I hope they love the experience and plan on returning. I suspect that after the initial BET there will be a significant drop in CU fans (at least non East Coast fans). Hopefully their East Coast fans who may never have attended St Louis (post grad) would help balance that out.

NYC is the #1 tourist attraction in the country. It's the place that people can keep coming back to and still see or do something they haven't seen or done before. I'm a native New Yorker, but I feel the same way about New Orleans. Love that city & would go back 100 times.

That's the beauty of holding the tournament in NYC. A trip to NY is not just a chance to attend the tournament, but a chance to go to a special place and enjoy a great vacation week. B1G fans repeatedly return to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl every year. I don't see why Big East fans won't return to the Big Apple annually for what's guaranteed to be a great time regardless of how your basketball team does.

(05-25-2013 10:04 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(05-25-2013 10:57 AM)NJRedMan Wrote:  1. You have no idea what you are talking about. The Big East tournament wasn't sold out for every session just because of UConn, Cuse and UofL. Most of those schools had a single or double bye every year so they weren't purchasing every session. Most of the time they were just purchasing the sessions they were playing in.

Yes and no. Tickets are sold on a package level (all games) only, and while a lot of Syr and UConn people bought individual session tickets on the street, many bought packages direct from schools like DePaul and USF which were never going to sell their allotments. That's why there was usually more UConn fans in the lower levels (buying the other schools' better tickets) and the Syracuse people were left with the upper level session seats.

When it comes to the current schools, Georgetown, Villanova, and (usually) Marquette would sell their allotments out, but that was about it. There hasn't been a decent St. John's turnout at these games since Bootsy Thornton.

What Syracuse fans will learn about Greensboro--people don't give up their seats. And with about 700 seats per school, there 's not a lot to go around at a tournament whose last public sale was in 1966. It's a 13 hour drive from Syracuse (9-10 from the city) and that's not an easy trek if you're thinking of hanging around for session tickets.

What you're saying is that teams with strong programs sell out their allotment. Agree.

As solid as UConn has been in ticket sales, do you really think they were selling out their allotment in the 1980's? And do you think you could touch a St. John's ticket for most of the '80's and '90's?

Is it just a coincidence that the 3 schools you mentioned as selling out their allotment have also been 3 of the most consistent winners for most of the past decade?

There will still be top programs in the Big East and they will still sell out their allotments.

I think with only 10 teams right now, every school should just be required to buy whatever of their allotment is left over. Whatever they do with the extra tickets is up to them.[/align]

(05-26-2013 11:11 AM)Jet915 Wrote:  I think with only 10 teams right now, every school should just be required to buy whatever of their allotment is left over. Whatever they do with the extra tickets is up to them.[/align]

If they are smart they will continue to purchase all tix themselves. At least for the time being.

(05-26-2013 10:11 AM)Melky Cabrera Wrote:  I don't see why Big East fans won't return to the Big Apple annually for what's guaranteed to be a great time regardless of how your basketball team does.

You don't need to sell me on NYC as a destination or the BET as an event. :)

I was thinking about CU mainly because they have been in driving distance of their tournament for years and that the possible economic challenges facing the CU faithful might blunt future turnout. If a family or group of friends have to choose one destination a year, NYC might not be an annual choice.

The eastern schools are in driving distance of nyc. The schools need to have more incentives to get the student bodies to attend. As well as opening up affordable ticket packages for the alumni

(05-26-2013 12:25 PM)trephin Wrote:  

(05-26-2013 10:11 AM)Melky Cabrera Wrote:  I don't see why Big East fans won't return to the Big Apple annually for what's guaranteed to be a great time regardless of how your basketball team does.

You don't need to sell me on NYC as a destination or the BET as an event. :)

I was thinking about CU mainly because they have been in driving distance of their tournament for years and that the possible economic challenges facing the CU faithful might blunt future turnout. If a family or group of friends have to choose one destination a year, NYC might not be an annual choice.

They sell out their arena of 17 thousand every game. They have a large and devoted fan base. I'm not worried about the Creighton faithful.