Cost of Al versus BC/Arena for NIT Games

[Macallan 18]

Just curious if anyone had any insights on whether Marquette is making or losing money playing these 3 NIT games in the Al versus the BC or Arena.

Marquette could sell more tickets for the BC/Arena, but there is the rental fee. Yes, there are still expenses for the Al, paying concessions and security, but no rental fee and sell outs for all 3 games.

[jsglow]

Marquette had to make a decision.  And they almost certainly based that decision on history when relatively small crowds (by BMO BC standards) showed up for NIT games.

I believe, but have not had this confirmed, that they have viewed this past week as a smashing success.  So there you have it.

[PBRme]

My guess if they breakeven at The AL that would be a smashing success.  At most they are pulling in $40-50K plus a little concession money.

Parking might be the biggest $$ on a net basis

[Marcus92]

I'd expect concessions at the Al is a revenue-generator, not a cost. I don't think you can say the same for games at the Bradley Center. The same likely goes for parking.

[warriorchick]

I'd expect concessions at the Al is a revenue-generator, not a cost. I don't think you can say the same for games at the Bradley Center. The same likely goes for parking.

Yep, Marquette is really making bank on all those sales of popcorn and Pepsi.

[Mr. Nielsen]

MU is not losing money playing games at the AL. Would have had to sell tickets at a much higher cost and pay rent to play at the BC.

Plus, image matters. Pack houses look better on national TV.

[PBRme]

I'd say it probably depends on if WOJO has a rider for bonus money for post season games,

[Marcus92]

Yep, Marquette is really making bank on all those sales of popcorn and Pepsi.

Never said MU was making a lot on concessions. Prices have been pretty reasonable (yesterday I paid $7.50 for the brat combo, including chips and a drink). But even that is still a significant markup. If the average spend is something like $4 to $5 per fan per game (soda/water for you, box of popcorn for your kid), you're talking somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 in revenue.

[Litehouse]

Plus, image matters. Pack houses look better on national TV.

I was thinking about that yesterday while watching the game.  Yes, it was packed, but it still looks like a big HS gym.  If someone watched MU on TV and thought that was our normal gym, I don't think they'd consider us a big time program.

[StillAWarrior]

I was thinking about that yesterday while watching the game.  Yes, it was packed, but it still looks like a big HS gym.  If someone watched MU on TV and thought that was our normal gym, I don't think they'd consider us a big time program.

If someone is so ignorant of college basketball that they're going to form their opinion of whether or not Marquette is a "big time program" based upon our facility, they're probably going to be more influenced by the fact that we're playing in the NIT.

As a fan watching on TV, I love the packed house and atmosphere. I really don't think Marquette should be making its decisions based upon whether or not a casual fan (i.e., an ignorant non-fan) thinks we're a "big time program."

[Rick Majerus’ Manager]

I was thinking about that yesterday while watching the game.  Yes, it was packed, but it still looks like a big HS gym.  If someone watched MU on TV and thought that was our normal gym, I don't think they'd consider us a big time program.

So Nova is a mid-major because they play several games a year in their 6500 seat on campus arena?  DittoSt. Johns when they play games in Queens.

I guess Duke is a second rate team because Cameron Indoor is nothing more than a large HS gym.

[MU82]

So Nova is a mid-major because they play several games a year in their 6500 seat on campus arena?  DittoSt. Johns when they play games in Queens.

I guess Duke is a second rate team because Cameron Indoor is nothing more than a large HS gym.

Yep yep.

[Litehouse]

I just don't get the romanticizing of an on-campus arena.  The AL is the same size as Matt Heldt's HS gym in Neenah.  We picked on UWM when they played at the Klotschke, which is the same size as the AL.

The other programs you mentioned don't have an option like we do.  The Pavilion at 6,500 is manageable for Villanova, but it's a 30 minute drive from campus to Wells Fargo.  Carnesecca Arena is 5,600, but it's a 45 min drive to the Garden.  And yes, I think it makes St. Johns look mid-majorish to play at Carnesecca.  Cameron Indoor is unique to college basketball, but it's still 9,300 people.

We have a world-class facility 6 blocks from campus and conveniently located for fans.  I thought the BC was one of the best facilities in college basketball, and the new arena is going to be even better.  I just don't get why people want to give that up to play in the AL.  We're a small catholic school, and the pro/college hybrid environment is something that helps set us apart in the college basketball world.

[jsglow]

I just don't get the romanticizing of an on-campus arena.  The AL is the same size as Matt Heldt's HS gym in Neenah.  We picked on UWM when they played at the Klotschke, which is the same size as the AL.

The other programs you mentioned don't have an option like we do.  The Pavilion at 6,500 is manageable for Villanova, but it's a 30 minute drive from campus to Wells Fargo.  Carnesecca Arena is 5,600, but it's a 45 min drive to the Garden.  And yes, I think it makes St. Johns look mid-majorish to play at Carnesecca.  Cameron Indoor is unique to college basketball, but it's still 9,300 people.

We have a world-class facility 6 blocks from campus and conveniently located for fans.  I thought the BC was one of the best facilities in college basketball, and the new arena is going to be even better.  I just don't get why people want to give that up to play in the AL.  We're a small catholic school, and the pro/college hybrid environment is something that helps set us apart in the college basketball world.

Because too many think with their hearts and not their heads.  #nobrainer

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I am quite certain MU made nithing on parking and concessions at tge Bradley.  They paid rent n got ticket revenue.  Thats it.  Understand in no way does this mean i am in favor if pkaying games at tge Al sans maybe 1 a year.
I think people will be drastically surprised with the new arena.
The problem i have had with the bradley center since 1988 is tgat it is a hirrible arena.  Architects got it wrong.  Sans 1-2 games a year it provided little to no home court advantage.  I firmly belive the new arena will provide mu with that tru college atmosphere that we have lacked since leaving tge mecca.  Hopefully its worth 1-2 games a year.  MUs home record has not been as good as it shoukd have been and i blame some of that on the crap arena we pkayed in.  Total stab but im guessing the New arena is wirth 4 more points a game than the fin bradley dump.  Really looking forward to walking into an electric arena versus that mausoleum

[Pakuni]

I just don't get the romanticizing of an on-campus arena.  The AL is the same size as Matt Heldt's HS gym in Neenah.  We picked on UWM when they played at the Klotschke, which is the same size as the AL.

The other programs you mentioned don't have an option like we do.  The Pavilion at 6,500 is manageable for Villanova, but it's a 30 minute drive from campus to Wells Fargo.  Carnesecca Arena is 5,600, but it's a 45 min drive to the Garden.  And yes, I think it makes St. Johns look mid-majorish to play at Carnesecca.  Cameron Indoor is unique to college basketball, but it's still 9,300 people.

We have a world-class facility 6 blocks from campus and conveniently located for fans.  I thought the BC was one of the best facilities in college basketball, and the new arena is going to be even better.  I just don't get why people want to give that up to play in the AL.  We're a small catholic school, and the pro/college hybrid environment is something that helps set us apart in the college basketball world.

This is all true, but I don't think many (any?) people here are advocating for a full schedule at the Al. But it's a cool thing to do when the opportunity presents itself, perhaps one buy game a year or something. It would at least bring some interest to what's usually a bad game with bad attendance.

[PaintTouches]

Working on getting some hard figures, but all ticket, TV, Radio and Internet revenue for the NIT gets collected by the NIT LLC. They then take a cut and distribute to each team based on games played.

The NIT LLC explicitly says it will not pay for rent of an arena, so MU would have been on the hook for it. Rent at the BC is/was 29k, plus 2$ of every ticket sold. So 3 games with 8k each would have run MU $135k ($87K directly) simply in rent. And again, the NIT gets the rest of the ticket revenue, not MU.

A 2009 article I found said a school that made it to NY would get $25-50k. I'm sure that's gone up with new TV contracts. 

All that said, I think it was a no-brainer to play (and continue playing) these games at the Al.     

[StillAWarrior]

I just don't get the romanticizing of an on-campus arena. 

For the record, my response above relates to the stated topic of the thread:  playing at the Al for these NIT games.  As much as I'd love it if MU had a suitable on-campus facility (i.e., well north of 10k seats), I can't see that as a financially viable/responsible decision for the BOT.  I do love seeing them filling the Al for these NIT games that would likely be sparsely attended at the Bradley Center.

[Marcus92]

The Bradley Center could also rock for big games. Not just Marquette-Wisconsin either. MU-Cincy comes to mind, a fantastic rivalry at its peak with regular sellout crowds that could make the rafters shake. UConn and Louisville were also huge draws.

Haven't seen a true sellout in a while, even for the Villanova game (announced attendance just over 17,000 this year, but still a great crowd). If we get back to winning consistently, that should help. I see potential future rivalries in the making with Xavier, Creighton and Butler (hate losing to those guys). It also should help that the new Bucks arena is slightly smaller than the BC (17,500 capacity versus 18,500+).

[Litehouse]

Working on getting some hard figures, but all ticket, TV, Radio and Internet revenue for the NIT gets collected by the NIT LLC. They then take a cut and distribute to each team based on games played.

The NIT LLC explicitly says it will not pay for rent of an arena, so MU would have been on the hook for it. Rent at the BC is/was 29k, plus 2$ of every ticket sold. So 3 games with 8k each would have run MU $135k ($87K directly) simply in rent. And again, the NIT gets the rest of the ticket revenue, not MU.

A 2009 article I found said a school that made it to NY would get $25-50k. I'm sure that's gone up with new TV contracts. 

All that said, I think it was a no-brainer to play (and continue playing) these games at the Al.   

This is great info.  I agree, playing these games at the AL is the best option and a unique opportunity for the fans.  I didn't make it to the 2 previous games, but I'm hoping to go tomorrow if I can get tickets.  I just don't think a packed house of 3,700 looks all that impressive on TV.

[GGGG]

I was thinking about that yesterday while watching the game.  Yes, it was packed, but it still looks like a big HS gym.  If someone watched MU on TV and thought that was our normal gym, I don't think they'd consider us a big time program.

If it makes you feel better, no one outside of the fanbases of the two teams was watching that game.

And I don't think it left anyone with as bad an impression as you state.

[jsglow]

Working on getting some hard figures, but all ticket, TV, Radio and Internet revenue for the NIT gets collected by the NIT LLC. They then take a cut and distribute to each team based on games played.

The NIT LLC explicitly says it will not pay for rent of an arena, so MU would have been on the hook for it. Rent at the BC is/was 29k, plus 2$ of every ticket sold. So 3 games with 8k each would have run MU $135k ($87K directly) simply in rent. And again, the NIT gets the rest of the ticket revenue, not MU.

A 2009 article I found said a school that made it to NY would get $25-50k. I'm sure that's gone up with new TV contracts. 

All that said, I think it was a no-brainer to play (and continue playing) these games at the Al.   

Thanks.  Good stuff.  So at the BMO BC the NIT would have cost MU money while at the AL we end up making money.  Done.  Next on the agenda?   

[Herman Cain]

I am quite certain MU made nithing on parking and concessions at tge Bradley.  They paid rent n got ticket revenue.  Thats it.  Understand in no way does this mean i am in favor if pkaying games at tge Al sans maybe 1 a year.
I think people will be drastically surprised with the new arena.
The problem i have had with the bradley center since 1988 is tgat it is a hirrible arena.  Architects got it wrong.  Sans 1-2 games a year it provided little to no home court advantage.  I firmly belive the new arena will provide mu with that tru college atmosphere that we have lacked since leaving tge mecca.  Hopefully its worth 1-2 games a year.  MUs home record has not been as good as it shoukd have been and i blame some of that on the crap arena we pkayed in.  Total stab but im guessing the New arena is wirth 4 more points a game than the fin bradley dump.  Really looking forward to walking into an electric arena versus that mausoleum

These are very good points your making.

[GOO]

Well, playing in an NBA arena right near campus makes the most sense... until it doesn't financially.  To build our own, would be a bit silly, if he Bucks make it financially attractive for Marquette. 

I don't know about the details of the negotiations, but it seems they did not go too well for Marquette.  Maybe that is just because Marquette's expectations were not in line with reality or maybe the Bucks really did stick it to MU. 

I had read/heard (no inside info) that the Bucks were offering a one year deal or some sort of short term deal to begin negotiations.  Probably just a bargaining chip to give in on to "concede" some other point to Marquette.

When doesn't it make sense to play in the new arena, when the Bucks make is financially a no brainer to build your own, or don't enter into early negotiations on an extension for the current deal (7 years?)... we will need to start planning for the new arena now, and start negotiating in 4 years on the extension. If it doesn't go well at all, we will have a new arena.  Maybe the Admirals can be a tenant.

Anyone with inside info on how the negotiations really went that can share some details here?

[jsglow]

The initial proposal was 3 years.  MU wanted 15 as I recall.