If MU hosts NIT game, it'll be at the Al

[Warrior of Law]

Agreed.  Charging anything other than a nominal admission fee ($5 for adults; free for students) would be ridiculous if they are able to host a game rent-free.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

You guys must be joking. High schools charge admission. If we host an NIT game, I will be there and I will gladly pay for my ticket.

[77ncaachamps]

NIT at the more intimate AL?! Sweet.

NIT at the equally intimate US Cellular with the old MECCA parquet floor?
Sweeter

[bradley center bat]

Some high D1 programs that have down years and host an NIT game offer free admission. Of course, we don't own our game day facility. However, charging for an NIT game is bush league.

I hope your joking. 

[wardle2wade]

Some high D1 programs that have down years and host an NIT game offer free admission. Of course, we don't own our game day facility. However, charging for an NIT game is bush league.

I agree with you, but we had to pay last time was in the NIT.  Maybe it would be different with the game at the Al.

[wardle2wade]

And for the record, I'd be willing to pay for a ticket if i were in town.  With a very small place on campus like the Al, I may even rather pay some nominal price to make sure I could get a decent seat without hassle. 

[chapman]

Supply and demand.  There are only 4,000 seats available.  They can get enough change to pay for a buy game next year by setting a price that will sell out without leaving much money on the table.  No idea what that price(s) is/are, but yes, it should be done.   

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Too Small... move the MU floor across to the MECCA (US Cellular) and have the game there...  Fits about 10,000 and can be VERY loud.

MECCA is also hosting the Wisconsin Regional Robotics Competition March 20-22. NIT Selection won't be complete until late on March 16th. You're not sending a team out to play the next day, and I have to imagine the Robotics competition takes at least 1 day to set up, so that leaves you one (maybe) available day (the 18th) to potentially pay a ton of money in rent, with the reward of being able to play on UWM's floor.

Or you could play at a facility you control, create a hostile atmosphere with fans right on top of the floor, pay no rent, and get all the revenue, and play any day of the week. I know a lot of posters on this board have fond memories of the MECCA, but the Al sounds like a no-brainer to me. 

[Coleman]

MECCA is also hosting the Wisconsin Regional Robotics Competition March 20-22. NIT Selection won't be complete until late on March 16th. You're not sending a team out to play the next day, and I have to imagine the Robotics competition takes at least 1 day to set up, so that leaves you one (maybe) available day (the 18th) to potentially pay a ton of money in rent, with the reward of being able to play on UWM's floor.

Or you could play at a facility you control, create a hostile atmosphere with fans right on top of the floor, pay no rent, and get all the revenue, and play any day of the week. I know a lot of posters on this board have fond memories of the MECCA, but the Al sounds like a no-brainer to me. 

+1

Especially if we are only going to draw 3-4,000 people anyway. The Arena would be over half empty

[WarriorFan]

I still think an NIT game would fill the MECCA.  Offer students tickets for about 2/3 of the lower bowl for around $8-10, season ticket holders get dibs next for lower bowl at $30, and upper to anyone for $12.  That's over $100k in revenue without any concessions or program revenue. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I still think an NIT game would fill the MECCA.  Offer students tickets for about 2/3 of the lower bowl for around $8-10, season ticket holders get dibs next for lower bowl at $30, and upper to anyone for $12.  That's over $100k in revenue without any concessions or program revenue. 

We couldn't fill the MECCA when Steve Nash was in town back in the 1990's with months to sell it.  Very unlikely MU would fill the MECCA.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

We couldn't fill the MECCA when Steve Nash was in town back in the 1990's with months to sell it.  Very unlikely MU would fill the MECCA.

I agree we probably wouldn't sell it out. But your point about Steve Nash is a little misleading. Santa Clara was in town. Nobody had ever heard of Steve Nash at the time.

[MUfan12]

I agree we probably wouldn't sell it out. But your point about Steve Nash is a little misleading. Santa Clara was in town. Nobody had ever heard of Steve Nash at the time.

This.

They almost filled it in '95 for that USF game with only a couple days notice. But, that was the first time since the BC was built that MU played at the Arena, so there was a novelty to it. That was some crowd that night, I wish I could find some video of that game.

[melissasmooth]

I don't think it would draw that much more than 4,000, so I would rather see a packed Al instead of a half empty Arena.

[Coleman]

I don't think it would draw that much more than 4,000, so I would rather see a packed Al instead of a half empty Arena.

Stars and bars, eh?

[melissasmooth]

Stars and bars, eh?

back home for break

[bradley center bat]

NIT Show is at 8pm every year at 8pm.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This.

They almost filled it in '95 for that USF game with only a couple days notice. But, that was the first time since the BC was built that MU played at the Arena, so there was a novelty to it. That was some crowd that night, I wish I could find some video of that game.

That was also for a trip to New York and the NIT "final four"

[ChicosBailBonds]

I agree we probably wouldn't sell it out. But your point about Steve Nash is a little misleading. Santa Clara was in town. Nobody had ever heard of Steve Nash at the time.

Santa Clara was a NCAA team the year prior and again the year we played them in Milwaukee.  It was a regular season game for MU, months to sell it out and it didn't happen.  

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/1995/dec/17/marquette-puts-the-cls-on-nash-santa-clara/

[Ari Gold]

I'm glad the game is being played at the Al because of how embarrassing that should be for the team. the Real tournament is playing at their home arena a few blocks away and they'll be farting out a game at the Al... awesome.

As a season ticket holder, I will only show up if I'm punished with free tickets.

[TJ]

The quicker they lose in the NIT, the better. Let's be honest. Why draw attention to even being in it.?

No sarcasm.

Seriously?  I want them to win the whole damn thing.  Why do so many posters here believe that the only thing that matters at all is the NCAA tournament?  I want MU to win anything it has the opportunity to -- regular season titles, Big East Tournament titles, NIT titles, etc.  Anything would be awesome and exciting.  Of course it's not as awesome as NCAA tournament success like a Sweet 16, but that doesn't mean it's totally without value.

[mu-rara]

Santa Clara was a NCAA team the year prior and again the year we played them in Milwaukee.  It was a regular season game for MU, months to sell it out and it didn't happen.  

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/1995/dec/17/marquette-puts-the-cls-on-nash-santa-clara/

Leave it to CBB to emphasize the negative.

[GOO]

I would love to see a game at the Al.  If it happens, I just hope I can buy some tickets.  I think it will be a really hot ticket, with only 4K available and with it being in a small gym (Al).  I'll be very happy to pay, if I am given the opportunity.

The more games the better.  More experience for our players in a one and done scenario.  More practice time.  New life, new season, new attitudes.  All good in my book. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

back home for break

Take that confederate crap down. You are embarrassing the rest of us southerners.

[bradley center bat]

That was also for a trip to New York and the NIT "final four"

It was over 8,000. The BC was booked because the Admirals had a game.