(04-30-2013 05:13 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I mean, you're picking a place so far from the best travelling fanbases as far as basketball is concerned (Memphis and Cincinnati) that this will not be filled.

They draw over 7,000 per game for professional women's basketball. The place would sell out.

(04-30-2013 05:34 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:13 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I mean, you're picking a place so far from the best travelling fanbases as far as basketball is concerned (Memphis and Cincinnati) that this will not be filled.

They draw over 7,000 per game for professional women's basketball. The place would sell out.

Yes...and those people have reason and desire to be there. You think we'd draw anywhere near that for Tulsa-Houston, or ECU-UCF you're nuts. You need to find a centralized location that's within driving-ish distance, or has a lower cost of travel than the NYC/NE area.

(04-30-2013 05:40 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:34 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:13 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I mean, you're picking a place so far from the best travelling fanbases as far as basketball is concerned (Memphis and Cincinnati) that this will not be filled.

They draw over 7,000 per game for professional women's basketball. The place would sell out.

Yes...and those people have reason and desire to be there. You think we'd draw anywhere near that for Tulsa-Houston, or ECU-UCF you're nuts. You need to find a centralized location that's within driving-ish distance, or has a lower cost of travel than the NYC/NE area.

No you don't. You just need it in a place near at least one school that draws well (UConn), and in a place that has a huge amount of traffic on a daily basis. Do you think Tulsa, Houston, or UCF fans would travel in bigger numbers to Cincinnati, Memphis, or Louisville? I think you would get more of them to take a few days to one of the biggest casinos in the country.

(04-30-2013 04:02 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  gambling , booze, basketball ..now all we need is loose women and we are set....count me in.

Oh hell yeah

(04-30-2013 05:43 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:40 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:34 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 05:13 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I mean, you're picking a place so far from the best travelling fanbases as far as basketball is concerned (Memphis and Cincinnati) that this will not be filled.

They draw over 7,000 per game for professional women's basketball. The place would sell out.

Yes...and those people have reason and desire to be there. You think we'd draw anywhere near that for Tulsa-Houston, or ECU-UCF you're nuts. You need to find a centralized location that's within driving-ish distance, or has a lower cost of travel than the NYC/NE area.

No you don't. You just need it in a place near at least one school that draws well (UConn), and in a place that has a huge amount of traffic on a daily basis. Do you think Tulsa, Houston, or UCF fans would travel in bigger numbers to Cincinnati, Memphis, or Louisville? I think you would get more of them to take a few days to one of the biggest casinos in the country.

I just don't see it working out that way, I think the best option is a rotating venue or a centralized locale...agree to disagree I guess.

I lived 15 minutes from Foxwoods and Mohegan for 4 years. I know what kind of draw those two places have. I am fairly certain that Mohegan would have no problem selling tickets for a conference tournament there.

(04-30-2013 06:15 PM)subflea Wrote:  I lived 15 minutes from Foxwoods and Mohegan for 4 years. I know what kind of draw those two places have. I am fairly certain that Mohegan would have no problem selling tickets for a conference tournament there.

I'm not discounting your knowledge of the area. I've only been up there once for a weekend bachelor party, so I know next to nothing about the area...I just don't think it will draw that well...personal opinion.

I love the Palestra idea... I mean, we need as much publicity for the AAC as wen can and playing in Philadelphia at the Palestra will definitely do that for us... I also believe our basketball recruiting side will blossom even more... I like it, I say we go for it and make the Palestra our home permanently.

(04-30-2013 05:32 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(04-30-2013 04:58 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  I just don't see a Native-American Casino in the back-woods of Connecticut being a viable tournament site. Might as well let a member school host it in their own gym.

Never been to Mohegan or Foxwoods, huh?

I don't partake in casino gambling and don't intend to. I consider it to be a mindless expenditure of time and a sucker proposition. The one time that I did stay in one (on business with the construction company which built it), was at the Choctaw Indian (Dancing Rabbit) casino(s). Can't get more back-woods than Philadelphia, Mississippi. Plenty of people were there, for sure.

(04-30-2013 06:31 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  I love the Palestra idea... I mean, we need as much publicity for the AAC as wen can and playing in Philadelphia at the Palestra will definitely do that for us... I also believe our basketball recruiting side will blossom even more... I like it, I say we go for it and make the Palestra our home permanently.

Believe UCF is one of the main proponents behind the scenes pushing the Philly Palestra idea (vs Hartford or Memphis).

UCF Coach Donnie Jones has had some great recent success recruiting Philly kids to sunny Orlando...as UCF guards Calvin Newell and Daiquan Walker that Jones recruited to UCF are both from Philly.

While Philly is not NYC and while the Palestra is not MSG...its probably the 2nd best thing out there for AAC recruiting publicity...much more so than say having the tourn in Hartford or Memphis or Tampa, etc...

This UCF fan is all in for a casino hosted conference tournament. Put it in the Palestra or some other tired old building and im harder to convince.

(04-30-2013 06:31 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  I love the Palestra idea... I mean, we need as much publicity for the AAC as wen can and playing in Philadelphia at the Palestra will definitely do that for us... I also believe our basketball recruiting side will blossom even more... I like it, I say we go for it and make the Palestra our home permanently.

I think that Aresco understands the importance of how the tournament will sell on TV. In staging a TV event, it's much more important to have a sold out smaller venue than to have a larger one with empty seats.

I also think that Aresco is trying to start the conference's tournament experience some place that can evoke college basketball's history the way that MSG did for the Big East. The first NCAA tournament game ever was played at the Palaestra. More NCAA tournament games have been played at the Palaestra than at any other arena. I'm sure that kind of history will be used in their marketing campaign not only to seek the tournament but to sell the conference and to project a place in college basketball history for the new league.

The more I hear about this idea the better I like although it wasn't convinced at first.

If you want a casino why not in Cincy, it is within walking distance of the arena? The geography is right in the middle of the conference. The Casino is 2 months old and the city has much more to do than n rural Conn.

You guys are drinking the kool-aid hard. The only media attention this will get is ESPN and others laughing at how small time the "new big east" is. From MSG to the outhouse out back. If you are wanting the Palestra, I hope you're here to eat crow when ESPN and others start writing about how small time AAC is now in basketball.

(05-01-2013 09:04 AM)Bearcat T Wrote:  If you want a casino why not in Cincy, it is within walking distance of the arena? The geography is right in the middle of the conference. The Casino is 2 months old and the city has much more to do than n rural Conn.

sure, tell them to make a bid.

(05-01-2013 09:05 AM)Knights_of_UCF Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 09:04 AM)Bearcat T Wrote:  If you want a casino why not in Cincy, it is within walking distance of the arena? The geography is right in the middle of the conference. The Casino is 2 months old and the city has much more to do than n rural Conn.

sure, tell them to make a bid.

For those who might not know, there are also casinos in Tunica, MS, within a short distance of Memphis. Personally, I am neutral on this matter and trust Aresco's judgement.

(05-01-2013 09:04 AM)Knights_of_UCF Wrote:  You guys are drinking the kool-aid hard. The only media attention this will get is ESPN and others laughing at how small time the "new big east" is. From MSG to the outhouse out back. If you are wanting the Palestra, I hope you're here to eat crow when ESPN and others start writing about how small time AAC is now in basketball.

All the more reason to add VCU, Wichita, and UMass or Olympic sports.

(05-01-2013 09:17 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 09:04 AM)Knights_of_UCF Wrote:  You guys are drinking the kool-aid hard. The only media attention this will get is ESPN and others laughing at how small time the "new big east" is. From MSG to the outhouse out back. If you are wanting the Palestra, I hope you're here to eat crow when ESPN and others start writing about how small time AAC is now in basketball.

All the more reason to add VCU, Wichita, and UMass or Olympic sports.

good additions if you ask me.

According to the folks I just talked to, Palestra is a done deal.

(05-01-2013 09:04 AM)Knights_of_UCF Wrote:  You guys are drinking the kool-aid hard. The only media attention this will get is ESPN and others laughing at how small time the "new big east" is. From MSG to the outhouse out back. If you are wanting the Palestra, I hope you're here to eat crow when ESPN and others start writing about how small time AAC is now in basketball.

You're the one who's likely to be eating crow.

Nothing says small time than an empty arena, or one that's only half full. the A10 played in a beautiful new arena in an upscale part of Brooklyn last year, but were a laughing stock because the place was empty. Aresco understands the importance of sell out crowds even if they are in a smaller arena. He also understands the importance of locating the tournament some place where fans will actually turn out for the games.