It would invite Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Siena, and Iona. The MAAC is a dying conference will small private schools with small budgets. Fairfield and Quinnipiac are #1 and #2 in the MAAC regarding athletic budget. If the AE was able to pull this off, it would being taking arguably the best four brands in the MAAC, leaving that league on life support. The benefits for the AE are that it would get back into CT, grab a good basketball attendance school in Siena, and grab a solid mid-major brand in Iona.

Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

It's pretty generally thought that Fairfield and Quinnipiac have open invites.

(05-12-2022 09:33 AM)shizzle787 Wrote:  It would invite Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Siena, and Iona. The MAAC is a dying conference will small private schools with small budgets. Fairfield and Quinnipiac are #1 and #2 in the MAAC regarding athletic budget. If the AE was able to pull this off, it would being taking arguably the best four brands in the MAAC, leaving that league on life support. The benefits for the AE are that it would get back into CT, grab a good basketball attendance school in Siena, and grab a solid mid-major brand in Iona.

Would never invite Siena. Iona wants the A-10. Have had discussions with the Q, Fairfield, Bryant, CCSU, and a mystery school as part of the process. Strong rumor mill (from contacts in multiple AE athletic departments) was that the Q was coming...however other reputable sources have presented information they gained from athletic department insiders that state the Q is staying put right now.

The original goal, from what I heard, was to get at least 2 of Bryant, the Q, and Fairfield. The Presidents are not keen on CCSU and would accept them only if all three of the schools previously mentioned came on board and CCSU figured out their "football problem". I have deep connections with the Q and I am hearing two reasons why they may not announce: 1) Holding out hope for either an A-10 bid or CAA bid, both I don't think are even remotely in the realm of possibility; and 2) Waiting to see what Albany does. There are still strong rumors that the CAA and Albany are in discussions. Albany was in discussions with the CAA in the fall and what I have heard--from multiple reputable sources--is that UA stated it was not ready for the jump right now. You can go see my post in Stadium renovations about that...as things have changed rather quickly at Albany.

From my Q connections, they are more enamored with the AE than the MAAC for one reason: they like the school affiliation, the "University of...." concept, R1 research schools. The other contributing factor is that the overall athletic departments of the AE schools vs. the MAAC are more well rounded. Yes, MAAC hoops at the top is arguably better than the AE...but overall, the athletic departments and academics at AE schools are far more robust than the MAAC.

So I agree with your post, and it is somewhat in play. Iona has financial issues, Siena has way worse financial issues. However, there is absolute ZERO chance that the AE will ask UA to allow SIENA into the league when it sits literally five miles across town.

Iona would definitely be nice choices (I had Siena listed in my original post ... but I can learn and thus edited, ha) for the America East. But if they could not land them, I would consider taking advantage of the existing FCS football schools. Maybe they could have retained Stony Brook (and added Monmouth) if they had already done so?

With Bryant moving in, they will have four football schools. If the MEAC does break apart, they could offer Delaware State and Morgan State. Perhaps they could land Robert Morris away from the Horizon League. That would give them seven full time football schools (12 for non-football). Who knows, then they might be able to land Rhode Island for football only.

A big prize (though doubtful they would accept) resulting could then be Youngstown State.

(05-12-2022 10:34 AM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  There are still strong rumors that the CAA and Albany are in discussions. Albany was in discussions with the CAA in the fall and what I have heard--from multiple reputable sources--is that UA stated it was not ready for the jump right now. You can go see my post in Stadium renovations about that...as things have changed rather quickly at Albany.

I thought that the CAA should have added both Albany and Stony Brook about ten years ago for non-football. Who knows if true, but message board legends repeated that Hofstra, Northeastern, and Drexel had a voting alliance to exclude both? Obviously that is no longer true with SB now joining.

If Howard does not join the CAA, Albany would be perfect to provide the CAA with two easily divided seven-team divisions for non-football.

I had no idea about Siena's financial challenges. That is big. I have heard good things about their following, though.

(05-12-2022 11:17 AM)MemTGRS Wrote:  Iona would definitely be nice choices (I had Siena listed in my original post ... but I can learn and thus edited, ha) for the America East. But if they could not land them, I would consider taking advantage of the existing FCS football schools. Maybe they could have retained Stony Brook (and added Monmouth) if they had already done so?

With Bryant moving in, they will have four football schools. If the MEAC does break apart, they could offer Delaware State and Morgan State. Perhaps they could land Robert Morris away from the Horizon League. That would give them seven full time football schools (12 for non-football). Who knows, then they might be able to land Rhode Island for football only.

A big prize (though doubtful they would accept) resulting could then be Youngstown State.

(05-12-2022 10:34 AM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  There are still strong rumors that the CAA and Albany are in discussions. Albany was in discussions with the CAA in the fall and what I have heard--from multiple reputable sources--is that UA stated it was not ready for the jump right now. You can go see my post in Stadium renovations about that...as things have changed rather quickly at Albany.

I thought that the CAA should have added both Albany and Stony Brook about ten years ago for non-football. Who knows if true, but message board legends repeated that Hofstra, Northeastern, and Drexel had a voting alliance to exclude both? Obviously that is no longer true with SB now joining.

If Howard does not join the CAA, Albany would be perfect to provide the CAA with two easily divided seven-team divisions for non-football.

I had no idea about Siena's financial challenges. That is big. I have heard good things about their following, though.

Football for the America East is off the table. I was very much a part of the initial football plan for the America East in the yearly 2000'. Hartford, BU, and Vermont killed it. Now, Albany, Maine, and UNH have no reason to leave the CAA football umbrella and as charter members, Maine and UNH cannot be thrown out. Only (and this would be weird legal predicament) if the CAA all-sports schools broke away from the CAA football entity, would UNH, Albany, and Maine look for a home. But the CAA would need an auto-bid to try that maneuver. The CAA football banner is a separate legal entity so it is not like the CAA All-Sport league can just pull it.

I'm not saying that it's at all likely that the AEC and CAA would redistribute teams like this, but it could work at least hypothetically:

America East needs to focus on locking down New England so that they're relatively safe from being picked off. Quinnipiac and Fairfield make sense in this regard. I'm sure they would also take Northeastern if that was on the table, but I get no sense that Northeastern is interested.

Iona isn't going to make that move, having to go through Vermont just makes things harder for both. They're A-10 or bust.

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

No they wouldn't. Albany and Siena HATE each other.

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

Lol no.

(05-12-2022 01:52 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

No they wouldn't. Albany and Siena HATE each other.

Exactly. Only after political pressure, Albany and Siena are renewing the basketball rivalry with some common ground. The three year deal makes a neutral site game next year at the The MVP Arena, publicly owned but Siena is a tenant. It will be stripped of anything Siena related and all sales will be split by the schools. The following year the game will move to Albany, and may even be the opener for our newly renovated arena. The year after we head back to the MVP Arena, which will have Siena declared the home team.

There is literally no love lost between the schools...and they can flat out pound sand.

(05-12-2022 03:04 PM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:52 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

No they wouldn't. Albany and Siena HATE each other.

Exactly. Only after political pressure, Albany and Siena are renewing the basketball rivalry with some common ground. The three year deal makes a neutral site game next year at the The MVP Arena, publicly owned but Siena is a tenant. It will be stripped of anything Siena related and all sales will be split by the schools. The following year the game will move to Albany, and may even be the opener for our newly renovated arena. The year after we head back to the MVP Arena, which will have Siena declared the home team.

There is literally no love lost between the schools...and they can flat out pound sand.

What happened?

(05-12-2022 03:50 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 03:04 PM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:52 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 10:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Those schools prefer to be with other basketball-focused privates with a presence in NYC. They’re not interested in going to the middle of Maine, New Hampshire, or upstate Vermont 90 minutes from Montreal.

edit: except maybe Quinnipiac

But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

No they wouldn't. Albany and Siena HATE each other.

Exactly. Only after political pressure, Albany and Siena are renewing the basketball rivalry with some common ground. The three year deal makes a neutral site game next year at the The MVP Arena, publicly owned but Siena is a tenant. It will be stripped of anything Siena related and all sales will be split by the schools. The following year the game will move to Albany, and may even be the opener for our newly renovated arena. The year after we head back to the MVP Arena, which will have Siena declared the home team.

There is literally no love lost between the schools...and they can flat out pound sand.

What happened?

They fell in love with the same woman.

(05-12-2022 04:16 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 03:50 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 03:04 PM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:52 PM)ccd494 Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 01:48 PM)whittx Wrote:  But Siena would love to be associated with Binghamton. UAlbany, and UVM

No they wouldn't. Albany and Siena HATE each other.

Exactly. Only after political pressure, Albany and Siena are renewing the basketball rivalry with some common ground. The three year deal makes a neutral site game next year at the The MVP Arena, publicly owned but Siena is a tenant. It will be stripped of anything Siena related and all sales will be split by the schools. The following year the game will move to Albany, and may even be the opener for our newly renovated arena. The year after we head back to the MVP Arena, which will have Siena declared the home team.

There is literally no love lost between the schools...and they can flat out pound sand.

What happened?

They fell in love with the same woman.

LOL. Sort of true. :)

It actually goes back to the DIII days, Albany was a powerhouse...Siena hated it. Private uppity school looked down on the "teachers" college. We were considered your across the tracks trash, and we summarily whooped on them in sports. They moved up to DI, that allowed them to build a local following...we stayed in DIII. They refused to play even exhibition games. Then when we came to DI, they refused to play us at home...treated our fans / school like trash at their arena...etc. They basically were elitist. Tide turned...yet, to their credit, they have a great fan base. Problem for them is that fan base is blue haired...and is slowly thinning.

We finally put our foot down and said "home and home" or nothing. WE got one home game, then they cancelled the series because we demanded equal treatment. We also got the MVP Arena to pull Siena's exclusivity clause (I used to work at the arena, and this was a big deal as Siena had a "no Albany" game clause for years). They wanted to corner the DI market.

To be fair, the MVP arena seats 15,000. Albany Cup games average just a hair under 10,000...it's a big deal in the Capital District. So with that, Siena's argument was fans will be locked out of tickets because Albany's arena sat 4200. Our argument was, so what...you can watch it on TV and then Siena can reap the revenue rewards during the MVP Arena games (double the amount Albany would make at our own home games). Alternatively, we asked to split the baby...revenues, concessions, and removal of all Siena branding/logos, including on the floor...making the game at MVP a true neutral game. They refused. Albany vs. Siena was the number one attended game on Siena's home schedule each year, increasing average attendance by about double or just a shy under.

The game is now back on for a three year tilt.


https://www.timesunion.com/sports/articl...767365.php

ALBANY - Siena men's basketball coach Carmen Maciariello got a phone call from a number he didn't recognize the night of last March 18.

The area code was Charlotte, N.C.

"I'm like, is this going to be a recruit or is this going to be a random robo-dial," Maciariello recalled Tuesday..

It was neither. The caller was new University at Albany head coach Dwayne Killings, who just had his introductory news conference.

Among other things, Killings, who once worked as a special assistant for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, wanted to talk Albany Cup. Specifically, how the Saints and Great Danes could get the rivalry game going again after not playing since 2017 because of a disagreement over venue.

"When I first got to town, it was amazing how many people said, 'You've got to get the Siena game back,'" Killings said. "Everywhere I went. The grocery store. Calls from our donors, our alums, our former players. So I actually reached out to Carm and we got together for coffee and I said, 'Is this something we can make happen?' And I think we both shared the same mindset and the same mentality in that this what your student-athletes deserve. This is what your community deserves."

Their meeting at Uncommon Grounds near the UAlbany campus helped lead to Tuesday's news conference at 677 Prime to formally announce the return of the Albany Cup rivalry starting next season.

The schools agreed on a three-year contract with the first game being a neutral-site contest at MVP Arena at a date to be determined. There will be a 50-50 split of the seating bowl and shared costs and revenues, according to UAlbany athletic director Mark Benson, who said his school was "appreciative" of the arrangement.

The second game in 2023 will be a UAlbany home game at SEFCU Arena and the 2024 contest will be back at MVP Arena in front of Siena's season-ticket holders.

Siena's willingness to return to SEFCU Arena was a key element of the deal. The teams played for 17 consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2017, and only one game was contested at UAlbany - an 81-72 Great Danes victory in 2016.

While MVP Arena can seat around 15,000 for basketball, SEFCU Arena has a seating capacity of 4,009. The Albany Cup has drawn a total of 167,251 fans since 2001, an average of 9,838 per game.

D'Argenio said four years ago, "I want to have it somewhere where we can accommodate as many people as possible who want to see it."

Asked about the change of heart, D'Argenio used a little humor and a more serious reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, a topic Benson also broached.

"Well, we have to go back there and avenge a loss, right," D'Argenio said to laughter. "The last time we were there, we lost the game. So we want to do that. And I think Mark put it very well. When you sit here in year two of the pandemic, you have all the other things that are swirling around, it puts everything in perspective. I think it's a good thing to be able to go there, to be able to play in front of their fan base, hopefully we bring some of our fans, then be able to say we're creating an exciting and great event in this area."

The rivalry began in 1940 and Siena holds a 30-24 advantage, including 10-7 in the Division I era. However, the Great Danes won six of the last eight meetings before the current interruption.

"We're a couple of miles apart from each other and it feels like we should be playing this on a regular basis," Benson said. "I think beyond each of our fan bases, this is arguably the premier sporting event in the Capital Region in the winter and beyond. So for the casual basketball fan who may not have an allegiance to either school, they can celebrate with us and know they have a great rivalry."

Benson also noted the toll of the pandemic and added "the beauty of sports is it can bring people together and give them something to rally behind."

Benson added he doesn't think there will more pauses in the rivalry.

"I think probably just continual dialogue, rather than waiting toward the end of a contract," he said. "I think we're in a good place and I don't anticipate any hiccups moving forward."

Maciariello graduated from Siena in 2001, the year before the rivalry began at the Division I level with a 60-48 Siena victory in front of 10,285 fans. Maciariello was in the crowd for that contest and said the atmosphere was "awesome."

"Now you have two programs on the rise that both want to compete for league titles," Maciariello said. "Now this can add to our value ... It's a way to teach our young men, but it's also an opportunity for us to both showcase what we're trying to build."

(05-12-2022 11:17 AM)MemTGRS Wrote:  If Howard does not join the CAA, Albany would be perfect to provide the CAA with two easily divided seven-team divisions for non-football.

And if both join, you could split up the CAA into 2 separate conferences that may each potentially meet NCAA minimums for sports sponsorship for multisport conferences:



At least for the sports I'm keeping track of, anyway.

(05-12-2022 11:17 AM)MemTGRS Wrote:  Iona would definitely be nice choices (I had Siena listed in my original post ... but I can learn and thus edited, ha) for the America East. But if they could not land them, I would consider taking advantage of the existing FCS football schools. Maybe they could have retained Stony Brook (and added Monmouth) if they had already done so?

With Bryant moving in, they will have four football schools. If the MEAC does break apart, they could offer Delaware State and Morgan State. Perhaps they could land Robert Morris away from the Horizon League. That would give them seven full time football schools (12 for non-football). Who knows, then they might be able to land Rhode Island for football only.

A big prize (though doubtful they would accept) resulting could then be Youngstown State.

(05-12-2022 10:34 AM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  There are still strong rumors that the CAA and Albany are in discussions. Albany was in discussions with the CAA in the fall and what I have heard--from multiple reputable sources--is that UA stated it was not ready for the jump right now. You can go see my post in Stadium renovations about that...as things have changed rather quickly at Albany.

I thought that the CAA should have added both Albany and Stony Brook about ten years ago for non-football. Who knows if true, but message board legends repeated that Hofstra, Northeastern, and Drexel had a voting alliance to exclude both? Obviously that is no longer true with SB now joining.

If Howard does not join the CAA, Albany would be perfect to provide the CAA with two easily divided seven-team divisions for non-football.

I had no idea about Siena's financial challenges. That is big. I have heard good things about their following, though.

If UAlbany joined the CAA, would the America East pursue Sienna as a replacement for them?? Or would Binghampton have something to say about that???

I think Siena has hopes for th A 10 someday

(05-16-2022 01:59 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(05-12-2022 11:17 AM)MemTGRS Wrote:  Iona would definitely be nice choices (I had Siena listed in my original post ... but I can learn and thus edited, ha) for the America East. But if they could not land them, I would consider taking advantage of the existing FCS football schools. Maybe they could have retained Stony Brook (and added Monmouth) if they had already done so?

With Bryant moving in, they will have four football schools. If the MEAC does break apart, they could offer Delaware State and Morgan State. Perhaps they could land Robert Morris away from the Horizon League. That would give them seven full time football schools (12 for non-football). Who knows, then they might be able to land Rhode Island for football only.

A big prize (though doubtful they would accept) resulting could then be Youngstown State.

(05-12-2022 10:34 AM)GreatDane96 Wrote:  There are still strong rumors that the CAA and Albany are in discussions. Albany was in discussions with the CAA in the fall and what I have heard--from multiple reputable sources--is that UA stated it was not ready for the jump right now. You can go see my post in Stadium renovations about that...as things have changed rather quickly at Albany.

I thought that the CAA should have added both Albany and Stony Brook about ten years ago for non-football. Who knows if true, but message board legends repeated that Hofstra, Northeastern, and Drexel had a voting alliance to exclude both? Obviously that is no longer true with SB now joining.

If Howard does not join the CAA, Albany would be perfect to provide the CAA with two easily divided seven-team divisions for non-football.

I had no idea about Siena's financial challenges. That is big. I have heard good things about their following, though.

If UAlbany joined the CAA, would the America East pursue Sienna as a replacement for them?? Or would Binghampton have something to say about that???

Siena would never leave MAAC for AEC. Institutional fit, basketball, student recruitment areas all fit the MAAC for Siena.

If someone were to voluntarily leave MAAC for AEC, it would be Quinnipiac. Their priorities and geography are a little different. Quinnipiac and AEC had discussions about 10 years ago.

(05-12-2022 10:20 AM)ccd494 Wrote:  It's pretty generally thought that Fairfield and Quinnipiac have open invites.

LOL. So do Boston College and Penn State.