ACC Push for MSG Tourney

[MileHigh]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. http://espn.go.com/new-york/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9278832/acc-investigating-playing-conference-tournament-madison-square-garden-sources-say?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co

Interesting line from a "source", Sources said MSG can get out of its deal before 2026 if the new Big East doesn't reach certain benchmarks.   I wonder what these benchmarks are?

Plus it makes sense for ESPN to make a push to get back into MSG.  I presume Fox Sports 1 would have rights to the tourney and when you broadcast from MSG, there is some lucrative money floating around there I would assume.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Win basketball games and this takes care of itself. ACC can hope all they want, but we are still in the driver's seat. Never really been a "root for your conference" kind of guy, but the next few years are going to be different.

[Groin_pull]

I fully expect the ACC (and ESPN) to keep trying and trying and trying.

We need ranked teams...competitive games...and big crowds. Otherwise, the ACC will win.

[ecompt]

You will see fans from the Carolinas and further south scream bloody murder if that tournament moves to NY.

[chapman]

You will see fans from the Carolinas and further south scream bloody murder if that tournament moves to NY.

Yep, it's pretty much a state holiday when the tournament is in Greensboro.  Syracuse, Pitt, and some of the schools who fight now to get the tournament in Atlanta in some years because it's not Greensboro probably would be pro-MSG.

[Donnybrook]

"There is real momentum to play the tournament at Madison Square Garden," a source said. "Why shouldn't the premier basketball conference play in the world's premier arena?"
Sources attending the meetings said the ACC should always look at ways to improve its product.
"No matter what business model you're in, if you're the best -- and our league is the best -- you should take it to New York," a source said.


I don't deny that the new ACC is quite stacked but WOW those are some arrogant remarks. ND is going to fit in just fine down there.

[Groin_pull]

You will see fans from the Carolinas and further south scream bloody murder if that tournament moves to NY.

Doesn't matter what fans in the deep south want. This comes down to what ESPN wants...and they want the ACC at MSG. They won't rest until it happens. And eventually, it will. At that point, where does the Big East go? Philly? Brooklyn? Washington DC? Chicago?

[Jet915]

I hope it never happens and MSG stays with the Big East but I would think the most logical spot would be like the United Center in Chicago (assuming the Big Ten is not there).  It's more centrally located and is closest to the largest fanbases (Marquette and Creighton).  I know Creighton would send upwards of 5-6K there on competitive years.

[79Warrior]

Doesn't matter what fans in the deep south want. This comes down to what ESPN wants...and they want the ACC at MSG. They won't rest until it happens. And eventually, it will. At that point, where does the Big East go? Philly? Brooklyn? Washington DC? Chicago?

What matters is can the Big East fill the garden or not. We fillsthe building and we are in good shape. If the fans leave the place half empty, we are out. Pretty simple.

[Tums Festival]

I hate the ACC more and more with each passing day.

[ecompt]

Well, if their conference is so freaking good, how come we obliterated their best team in the tournament?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Sources attending the meetings said the ACC should always look at ways to improve its product.

I don't deny that the new ACC is quite stacked but WOW those are some arrogant remarks. ND is going to fit in just fine down there.

Then why don't they take UConn?  There one of the biggest draws at MSG and their basketball team would be among the best in the ACC. 
Arrogant is plain right.

I'm glad St. John's is in our conference which ought to help with MSG. 

[The Process]

And eventually, it will.

Maybe in 2027 if they pay a ton...

[Groin_pull]

I'm sure that contract has several outs that MSG can exercise. And I expect them to do just that. Syracuse, Duke, UNC, ND, and Louisville travel well and will pack the house. If ESPN wants this to happen ( and they do), it will happen. Hate to say it, but it's the truth.

Just hope we land on our feet. Brooklyn?

[🏀]

 Indianapolis anyone? 

[The Process]

Indianapolis anyone? 

Dayton fans will make the trip.

[Sunbelt15]

Doesn't matter what fans in the deep south want. This comes down to what ESPN wants...and they want the ACC at MSG. They won't rest until it happens. And eventually, it will. At that point, where does the Big East go? Philly? Brooklyn? Washington DC? Chicago?

+1.   The Barclays or the United Center would be a great replacement.

[Benny B]

"There is real momentum to play the tournament at Madison Square Garden," a source said.

A pebble rolling down a hill can gain momentum.  But it's still a pebble.

"Why shouldn't the premier basketball conference play in the world's premier arena?"

They are.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Butler fans travelled well to Maui and the NCAA's.  Xavier fans travelled well to Disney and the NCAA's.  Creighton travels well.  Not like the previous obviously, but I think the Garden will fill up.  The key issue is number of teams and tickets sold.  With 16 teams, fans had to buy the entire slot of games, so MSG always sold out because the aftermarket was strong with Cuse, UCONN, Pitt, ND, UL fans willing to gobble up the extras.  But, that money never made it into MSG coffers.  Will fans buy the entire slot is the critical question and is in doubt?  I think they will to start.

[jsglow]

I understand that there are numerous 'outs' in the current MSG contract and that each BEast school's administration is keenly aware of the need to 'travel well' so those outs aren't exercisable.

[WarriorDoc]

I don't see how the BE keeps MSG through 2026.  Let's face it--ACC powerhouses Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Louisville and Pitt are going to travel significantly better than the BE powerhouses and they'll fill the Garden. 

I think you just have to look realistically at the conference.  The BE powerhouses (Georgetown and Marquette) fans travel decently well, and will probably travel a bit better than the last few years considering one or the other will likely be in the finals each year. Seton Hall and Providence COULD travel well because of proximity, but I just don't see them showing up unless the teams get some consistent success.  Nova has been a conundrum as of late, who knows if their fans will show up.  St. John's isn't the main draw for New York anymore, that belongs to Syracuse.  Creighton, Xavier, and Butler have solid fan bases that turn out to games, but will they travel to the Garden?

Frankly, I think it comes down to a couple factors:

• BE schools have too small and too spread out of an alumni base to compare to larger alumni bases of Pitt, Syracuse, Lville, and UNC
• BE schools don't attract much non-alumni following.  Syracuse, Louisville, Notre Dame, Duke are all schools with significant non-alumni following, aka in-state/local fans. 
• Most of the BE teams aren't successful enough for fans and alumni to justify the flight out each year
• Casual fans probably will care more about the ACC's best matchup (probably a game with a toss-up of Duke, UNC, Syracuse, or Louisville) vs the BE's best matchup (Marquette vs Georgetown).  I would say same goes for the ACC's worst matchup vs BE's worst matchup.

For those reasons, I don't think the Garden will be packed when the BE tourney hits.  Andy Katz was right--Marquette could have legitimized the BE conference a little more than it already is with a FF appearance.  However, I really really want to be wrong, and I really want to see the Garden sell for the BE matchups.

[Groin_pull]

This will happen because ESPN wants it to happen. Probably within 2-3 years.

The Big East needs to start looking for another location. I say grab the Barclays Center from the A-10. You're still in the NYC metro area...and the arena is supposed to be amazing.

[Spotcheck Billy]

if conference re-alignment starts up again there may not be an ACC as we know it to worry about losing MSG

[WarriorInNYC]

This will happen because ESPN wants it to happen. Probably within 2-3 years.

The Big East needs to start looking for another location. I say grab the Barclays Center from the A-10. You're still in the NYC metro area...and the arena is supposed to be amazing.

I went to the first game in that building, a Nets preseason game, and was very impressed with that stadium.  It looks a little weird on the outside, but is absolutely gorgeous inside.

[Tums Festival]

The longer it takes for this to possibly happen, the less the likelihood that Krzyzewski, Boeheim and possibly Pitino will still be coaching. And hopefully the "newness" of being in the Big East will bring big crowds from Butler, Creighton and Xavier.