Something very, very good: MSG CONTRACT

[xudash]

In a major F U to the B1G and ACC:

https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2018/12/09/big-east-tournament-madison-square-garden/2241068002/

A truly strategic move and benefit.

And quiets the discussion for expansion.

[Muskie]

Huge news! MSG is a great place to watch a basketball tournament.

[XU 87]

That is great news. And nice to see the BE outdrew the Big Ten, and by a fairly significant amount (3500 per game.)

[Muskie]

That is great news. And nice to see the BE outdrew the Big Ten, and by a fairly significant amount (3500 per game.)

It doesn't hurt that many of the conference fans are merely a train ride away.

[xeus]

The Big East tourney is a great experience. I would encourage all X fans to make the trip.

[Lloyd Braun]

There’s no reason the Big “Ten” should be at MSG. Have their tournament in Indy every year and be done with it.

[bourbonman]

There’s no reason the Big “Ten” should be at MSG. Have their tournament in Indy every year and be done with it.

And I think Charlotte should have the ACC, centrally located.

[GoMuskies]

There’s no reason the Big “Ten” should be at MSG. Have their tournament in Indy every year and be done with it.

Throw in the occasional Chicago, too. ACC also doesn't really belong there. North Carolina, DC, Atlanta, maybe Florida.

[Smooth]

It doesn't hurt that many of the conference fans are merely a train ride away.

What is a train?

[XU 87]

It doesn't hurt that many of the conference fans are merely a train ride away.

True. I'm also guessing the Big Ten and ACC don't want to play in NYC every year but want to play there every 4 years or so.

[XUBison]

This is great news. For one, the impact of MSG on the BE brand cannot be overstated. But maybe more importantly, this is another emphatic statement that the BE’s weight is substantial, so much so that it was able to stamp out this attempted power play from the Big 10 and ACC. BE leadership has been exceptional.

[GIMMFD]

This is great news. For one, the impact of MSG on the BE brand cannot be overstated. But maybe more importantly, this is another emphatic statement that the BE’s weight is substantial, so much so that it was able to stamp out this attempted power play from the Big 10 and ACC. BE leadership has been exceptional.

Yup, definitely great news seeing the Big East got this done, I'm sure the pull of some of our Northeast guys like St. John's, Nova, etc. did wonders with that, but it's a good sign to see going forward. Truth of the matter is that our conference is very good, and MSG is a special place to play. I'm excited that MSG thinks so, and that we could get this done.

[Masterofreality]

The Big East tourney is a great experience. I would encourage all X fans to make the trip.

It really is, and Xavier does a great job in putting together off-site gathering events for the fans.

I had some concern about a year ago, because I was told in confidence from a highly placed Xavier official, that despite the supposed Garden "Lock up", there were actually some triggers that could cause an opt out. There were even some prelim discussions with the B1G about doing a joint tournament during Championship Week- one day Big East, one Day B1G, or a "Day/Night session arrangement" to allay any lock outs of the Big East. That has obviously been put away into the trash can with this deal. Props to Val Ackerman! This is what REAL Commissioners do- not the flotsam that Linda Blutarsky tried to throw out there and that I used to scream about with her.

I'm thinking that even though X and Creighton are down this year- both schools have traditionally outsold their allotment of tickets- that the St. Johns resurgence, the Seton Hall win over UK, and the usual strong turnout from Villanova and Marquette folks will make it up. Georgetown may have a few more than most years, Butler and DePaul always suck in fan appearance and Providence is usually pretty strong, but they're obviously down.

It may not be as a tough a ticket as last year when the league was stronger than ever with good depth, but I think it will represent well.

Glad to see the long term extension! Plus, Congratulations to the Big East Presidents who chose Val Ackerman as Commish. She not only knows Basketball, but has incredible Business Acumen as well. The fact that she is a high profile Woman in an industry that is predominately male dominated makes it even better. The league is in great hands.

[paulxu]

Right up Brew's alley, the AAC is talking about having their school do a Grant of Rights.

After Val's comment about maybe adding one school to keep the round robin.

[GoMuskies]

Why on earth would UConn sign up for that?!?

[Masterofreality]

Why on earth would UConn sign up for that?!?

They wouldn't.

Speculation is that it's more about trying to keep Central Florida in the league with an incentive for more TV money in 2020. Football drives the train supposedly and UCon football does nothing to move the needle. In fact, there seems to be a lot of smoke- some of it being believed by AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC honks- about UCon really thinking of finally trashing their football fantasies- which are costing them tons of dollars- and finding a lower level football league to park their program then moving their other sports to the Big East. This is also along the lines of the Val Ackerman comment yesterday that "If the Big East went to 11 schools, they'd keep the round robin schedule" .

The timing of both of those things yesterday are what has speculation flying.

[Xville]

I know uconn doesnt really fit culturally with the rest of the be schools but they are a tremendous fit basketball and geography wise and.would only enhance the visibility of the conference. Would love to see them join.

Slu would be a good fall back option. Travis Ford is starting to build something there.

[SM#24]

Big East expansion - UConn or no one

[GoMuskies]

Or if they can somehow figure out a way to make Gonzaga work.

[xubrew]

I do have a question.

How much time has to go by before people finally decide that what they are waiting for isn't going to happen?? I guess for me it happens sooner than it does for most people.

As recently as this past November, UConn scheduled a football series with Purdue that will be played in 2025. To me, that is not something a school does when it is planning on cutting or even reclassifying its football program. I don't know how long people have been speculating that UConn is going to cut football, but throughout that entire time UConn has never done it, nor have they done or said anything that indicates that they have any plans to do so. I guess we could discuss whether or not they should, but it seems to me that there isn't a whole lot to discuss on whether or not they will. They seem pretty committed to keeping it and remaining in a conference that plays football and allows them full membership.

But, that's just me. I've been wrong before, and I know that just by posting this it increases the chances that they will announce tomorrow that they are cutting football and leaving the AAC.

[GoMuskies]

They don't have to drop it. They just have to de-emphasize it and move it to the MAC. And I think every year that goes by that their football team is absolutely abysmal and the basketball program continues to fade from prominence that it becomes more likely UConn takes desperate measures.

[xubrew]

Based on what previous affiliate football members of the MAC have had to do in the past, they'd want UConn to play four home and homes a year in both men's and women's basketball against MAC teams, and they'd get a much smaller share of revenue from the league. I can see them not liking that. Staying in the AAC will likely earn them more money even if they continue to stink in football. It's not unusual for high caliber basketball programs to stink in football, but continue to play it anyway.

[GoMuskies]

It may get them a few more schillings, but are they really willing to sell their basketball program's success for such a low price? If they can't figure out a way get get back to being a national powerhouse in basketball via the AAC, they'll at some point have to ponder whether the money is worth it. But they'd probably better make that decision soon. That basketball prominence will soon start to seen like a long time ago.

[xubrew]

I'm not going to pretend that I can read their minds. All I can do is look at what they've done. I have not seen them say or do anything, not one thing, that indicates that they have any intention of making that kind of a move. I'm not all knowing. Maybe they have said something or done something. If they have, then what is it??

The AAC is looking at making between $6-10 million per school per year with their next media deal. That's more than what they'd get by going to the Big East as a full member, and to the MAC as a football affiliate. They're continuing to schedule FBS football games, which indicates that they're not looking at cutting or reclassifying the program, but people continue to throw that out there as a possibility. In fact I think it shows a desire to continue playing football at the level that they're at, and doing so as a full member of a conference that plays FBS football. Perhaps they also feel they can be successful in basketball as members of the AAC, especially with more money and a better media deal on the horizon. Perhaps they're wrong, perhaps they're not, but they may think that.

I just don't think it's happening. But, with or without them, the tournament is at MSG!!!

[xudash]

I'm not going to pretend that I can read their minds. All I can do is look at what they've done. I have not seen them say or do anything, not one thing, that indicates that they have any intention of making that kind of a move. I'm not all knowing. Maybe they have said something or done something. If they have, then what is it??

The AAC is looking at making between $6-10 million per school per year with their next media deal. That's more than what they'd get by going to the Big East as a full member, and to the MAC as a football affiliate. They're continuing to schedule FBS football games, which indicates that they're not looking at cutting or reclassifying the program, but people continue to throw that out there as a possibility. In fact I think it shows a desire to continue playing football at the level that they're at, and doing so as a full member of a conference that plays FBS football. Perhaps they also feel they can be successful in basketball as members of the AAC, especially with more money and a better media deal on the horizon. Perhaps they're wrong, perhaps they're not, but they may think that.

I just don't think it's happening. But, with or without them, the tournament is at MSG!!!

What they're LOOKING to make and what they WILL make are two different things at this point, at least as far as the upper end of that range is concerned.

Besides - it continues to baffle me that people continue to refuse to put their green eyeshades on when it comes to this topic in order to achieve the necessary full view of all this - it isn't about REVENUE BY ITSELF, it's about the full INCOME STATEMENT; expenses have to be factored into the look here in order to know what is and isn't sustainable.

It took less than a minute to pop this up:

UConn Athletics Budget Temporal Analysis
 Between 2005 and 2017, expenditures for the AD grew 70% from $47 million to $80 million.
 During this same period, despite numerous high-profile achievements in women’s and men’s
basketball, earned revenues increased by less than 10%.
 Fairly stagnant revenues meant that most (83%) of the $33 million increase in the Athletics
budget has been subsidized by UConn; an additional $8.3 million comes from mandatory
student fees.
 The subsidy has increased by a factor of almost nine from $3.5 million in 2005 to an
estimated $31 million in 2017.
 The extent to which the AD budget is subsidized grew from 7.3% in 2005 to 38.6% in 2017.

https://senate.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1323/2017/05/2017-0501-Senate-UBC-Report-on-AD-Subsidy-to-Senate.pdf

I haven't done a deep dive on all this, but against the backdrop of funding pressures for this university and the State of Connecticut in general, they need P5 money to exist with football long-term, and that isn't happening.

[xubrew]

Fair enough, I guess.

But what they YOU think they SHOULD do, and what they actually WILL do are also two different things. Nothing that they are actually doing indicates that they are going to cut football, or reclassify football, or join the MAC as an affiliate football member. They underwent budget cuts as an institution a year ago, yet continue to fund football and schedule future games that presumably have expensive buyouts since most football contracts do. They underwent budget cuts, yet they continued to subsidize it. The UConn BOT's most recent meeting was in October. Football was never discussed. Moving conferences was never discussed. I'd say that's a pretty sure sign that the people who will actually be making that decision have no intention of making any changes at the moment. It's fair to bring up all the reasons that you think UConn would benefit from dumping football and joining the Big East because, well, why not? It's a little unrealistic to argue that it is likely to happen in the near future. This has now been speculated about for years, and it hasn't happened yet. I think that if it were going to, then it would have by now.

[xudash]

Fair enough, I guess.

But what they YOU think they SHOULD do, and what they actually WILL do are also two different things. Nothing that they are actually doing indicates that they are going to cut football, or reclassify football, or join the MAC as an affiliate football member. They underwent budget cuts as an institution a year ago, yet continue to fund football and schedule future games that presumably have expensive buyouts since most football contracts do. They underwent budget cuts, yet they continued to subsidize it. The UConn BOT's most recent meeting was in October. Football was never discussed. Moving conferences was never discussed. I'd say that's a pretty sure sign that the people who will actually be making that decision have no intention of making any changes at the moment. It's fair to bring up all the reasons that you think UConn would benefit from dumping football and joining the Big East. It's a little unrealistic to argue that it is likely to happen in the near future. This has now been speculated about for years, and it hasn't happened yet. I think that if it were going to, then it would have by now.

Slow down brew. While I would love for UCONN to come into the BE on mutually equitable terms as soon as possible, I have to agree that it appears as though they are fighting and will continue to fight that idea every step of the way for the foreseeable future, unless something truly dramatic breaks through within this current phase of smoke and GOR discussions.

UCONN has met the enemy and it is them. By some accounts, they've dumped $400mm into football since going full throttle into FBS mode. Along with being in too deep, they're driven by visions of what they believe themselves to be: a major land grant, public research institution that should share drinks at the club with Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, et al. Xavier uses basketball strategically for the institution as we define ourselves. UCONN wants to do the same as it views itself and its peer group.

All this is brutal for every member of the AAC. I can't imagine being an administrator at one of those schools right now. The again, there are some idiot UCONN fans who believe the Catholic schools are going away over time, because they're too expensive and because applications pools will dwindle with changing demographics.

[xubrew]

Slow down brew. While I would love for UCONN to come into the BE on mutually equitable terms as soon as possible, I have to agree that it appears as though they are fighting and will continue to fight that idea every step of the way for the foreseeable future, unless something truly dramatic breaks through within this current phase of smoke and GOR discussions.

UCONN has met the enemy and it is them. By some accounts, they've dumped $400mm into football since going full throttle into FBS mode. Along with being in too deep, they're driven by visions of what they believe themselves to be: a major land grant, public research institution that should share drinks at the club with Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, et al. Xavier uses basketball strategically for the institution as we define ourselves. UCONN wants to do the same as it views itself and its peer group.

All this is brutal for every member of the AAC. I can't imagine being an administrator at one of those schools right now. The again, there are some idiot UCONN fans who believe the Catholic schools are going away over time, because they're too expensive and because applications pools will dwindle with changing demographics.

Good post.

I'm not saying they're not being foolish. I'm just saying that I don't think they're coming anytime soon. And I for one am totally okay with that. Two more OOC games suits me just fine. I like the league the way it is, and think it's doing just fine without them.

[Masterofreality]

I'll just leave it at this.
They need Big East Basketball waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than the Big East ever needs them. In fact need isn't the proper word. If UCon wanted to join, and it's Convenient for the Big East to take them, then they may agree to join.

If it works it works, but we're not going begging. I'm sure that UCon is desperately hoping that Hurley can be the Savior within the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC but if it doesn't work, kinda like when XU put all of its Division One Eggs in the Bob Staak basket, they'll be looking, but we may not touch them at that point. Whatever.

[MHettel]

Or if they can somehow figure out a way to make Gonzaga work.

Yeah. I've been trying to figure that out for years. Basically, you have to go to 16 teams and fill out all the "deadspace" between Chicago / Omaha all the way to Spokane. And you'd have to offer Gonzaga some local opponents to make travel at least SOMEWHAT reasonable. You would end up with 16 teams and 2 divisions....

Desired teams to Add: Gonzaga
OK additions: Dayton, SLU, St. Mary's
Teams you would have to add to make it work (pick 2): Seattle U (fits the profile and is a good market), Detroit Mercy (???? please no), Denver????, Pepperdine????

It just doesnt work

[paulxu]

I'm intrigued by Val mentioning adding one team.
Would keep the round robin and maybe there's some pressure from Fox on better inventory, and looking at other conferences/networks having 20 games.

[muethibp]

The tournament at MSG is such a great experience. This is great news for Xavier and the conference.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I know uconn doesnt really fit culturally with the rest of the be schools but they are a tremendous fit basketball and geography wise and.would only enhance the visibility of the conference. Would love to see them join.

Slu would be a good fall back option. Travis Ford is starting to build something there.

As a SLU grad I would love them if BE ever expanded. They have great facilities, a lot of money, and would be a bridge for Creighton.

Crews really screwed that program up after Majerus passed but Ford has hit on some big recruits. They have some really good young players. SLU should win the A10 this year.

[xubrew]

I do have a question.

How much time has to go by before people finally decide that what they are waiting for isn't going to happen?? I guess for me it happens sooner than it does for most people.

As recently as this past November, UConn scheduled a football series with Purdue that will be played in 2025. To me, that is not something a school does when it is planning on cutting or even reclassifying its football program. I don't know how long people have been speculating that UConn is going to cut football, but throughout that entire time UConn has never done it, nor have they done or said anything that indicates that they have any plans to do so. I guess we could discuss whether or not they should, but it seems to me that there isn't a whole lot to discuss on whether or not they will. They seem pretty committed to keeping it and remaining in a conference that plays football and allows them full membership.

But, that's just me. I've been wrong before, and I know that just by posting this it increases the chances that they will announce tomorrow that they are cutting football and leaving the AAC.

Well, some posts age better than others....

[GoMuskies]

Well, some posts age better than others....

On the other hand, dash and I NAILED it! :)

[paulxu]

I'm intrigued by Val mentioning adding one team.
Would keep the round robin and maybe there's some pressure from Fox on better inventory, and looking at other conferences/networks having 20 games.

I can live with this.

[xudash]

On the other hand, dash and I NAILED it! :)

BJ, please Amazon Prime a cocktail out to Go for me. I'll call you later for my order. Charge them to BREW please.

[94GRAD]

BJ, please Amazon Prime a cocktail out to Go for me. I'll call you later for my order. Charge them to BREW please.

Alexa, send a Hershel Special to Wichita, KS.

[xubrew]

BJ, please Amazon Prime a cocktail out to Go for me. I'll call you later for my order. Charge them to BREW please.

I'll pay for the drink, but not the shipping!

[xubrew]

The board has officially unanimously voted to join the Big East.