NIT will reportedly leave MSG until at least 2025

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/nit-will-reportedly-leave-madison-square-garden-until-at-least-2025/


NIT will reportedly leave Madison Square Garden until at least 2025

Madison Square Garden has hosted the NIT semifinals and championship game since 1938   
By Chris Bengel
Mar 24, 2022 at 10:52 am ET

The end of a long era at Madison Square Garden is coming. MSG, which is currently hosting the NIT, will no longer be home to the tournament the following two years, according to the Associated Press.

Nothing has decided beyond 2024, but ESPN reported that the NIT is "accepting bids from numerous venues" to host the next NITs.

The NIT, college basketball's oldest national tournament and second in importance only to the NCAA Tournament, has taken place at Madison Square Garden since 1938. For decades the venue hosted every single game of the tournament, but that stopped in 1977. Since then, MSG has hosted just the semifinals and final. Early round games are instead played on college campuses and at regional venues.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong effect on the NIT. In 2021 it was played in North Texas -- a long ways from MSG -- with a reduced field of teams. A year earlier, in 2020, the NIT -- like the NCAA Tournament -- was completely cancelled due to the pandemic.

The NIT will makes its return to Madison Square Garden later in March when Xavier takes on St. Bonaventure in the semifinals. On the other hand, Texas A&M will face Washington State and the two winners will meet in Thursday's championship game. After that title game, it remains to be seen when the tournament will return to Madison Square Garden.

[Herman Cain]

Don't understand why they would do this . The NIT is only in the garden for the Semi Finals and Finals. That has always been the consolation prize for teams that made it that far .

The AP story references Vegas and Hinkle Field house are alternatives.

https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-lifestyle-mens-college-basketball-f34fd19967ad2e4310be7c11462ec14b

[Silent Verbal]

Xavier firing Travis Steele after a first round NIT win tells you everything you need to know about that tournament.  Would anyone be sad if the NCAA dropped it altogether?

[Hards Alumni]

Xavier firing Travis Steele after a first round NIT win tells you everything you need to know about that tournament.  Would anyone be sad if the NCAA dropped it altogether?

He was always getting fired.

[Dish]

Make$ no $ense.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Xavier firing Travis Steele after a first round NIT win tells you everything you need to know about that tournament.  Would anyone be sad if the NCAA dropped it altogether?

Not sad, but disappointed.

[Dr. Blackheart]

MSG Sphere?

[The Lens]

I would guess MSG is in revenue maximizing mode after COVID so they didn't want to hold the dates for a smaller gate like the NIT when they can book Billy Joel or Phish.

[DFW HOYA]

Don't understand why they would do this .

1. MSG is very expensive and the NIT doesn't sell out.
2. Other venues will offer the NCAA lots of money for the prestige.

[Herman Cain]

Easy money making opportunity . Play the semi finals and finals on Friday and Sunday of Final Four weekend. Have the games at the same location as Final Four and increase the ticket price for the Final Four tickets to include NIT tickets . Final four tickets sell out anyway, so the additional revenue from the add on will be very high margin.

[Dish]

Easy money making opportunity . Play the semi finals and finals on Friday and Sunday of Final Four weekend. Have the games at the same location as Final Four and increase the ticket price for the Final Four tickets to include NIT tickets . Final four tickets sell out anyway, so the additional revenue from the add on will be very high margin.

I'm going to assume you've never gone to a Final Four weekend. This has 0.0% chance of happening.

[The Sultan]

Easy money making opportunity . Play the semi finals and finals on Friday and Sunday of Final Four weekend. Have the games at the same location as Final Four and increase the ticket price for the Final Four tickets to include NIT tickets . Final four tickets sell out anyway, so the additional revenue from the add on will be very high margin.

Hotel space would be an issue. But really it's best just held elsewhere.

[mileskishnish72]

Sort of sad for the old-timers who remember when the NIT meant something. I can remember my alma mater being very pleased that they won both the NIT and the NCAA ('54 AND '47). CCNY impressively won both in the same year.

Even years later the NIT had some cachet. There was a guy named McGuire who spurned an NCAA bid to go to the NIT in '70. They faced Pistol Pete and Dr. J prior to winning vs. St. John's.

The NCAA tournament has become a dollar machine. The expansion of that tournament has also led to also-rans in the NIT. It's too bad, but things change over time.

[Herman Cain]

I'm going to assume you've never gone to a Final Four weekend. This has 0.0% chance of happening.

I have been to plenty .

There is easily room for these games on Friday and Sunday.

NCAA is doing an HBCU all star game on Sunday this year ,could easily do the NIT.

[Uncle Rico]

I have been to plenty .

There is easily room for these games on Friday and Sunday.

NCAA is doing an HBCU all star game on Sunday this year ,could easily do the NIT.

Lol

[MU82]

That's it. Al's refusing his next NIT bid and will take MU to the CBI.