Realistically will B1G tournament be back at MSG?

Local Shill

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Aug 30, 2001
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For most Rutgers fans, MSG, Newark, or Meadowlands would be easiest to get to.

For other B10 fans, I think Newark is an easier choice than Brooklyn. If you are staying in Manhattan, you have to take a train or PATH to Newark vs subway to Brooklyn (or uber/taxi either way). If you're staying outside Manhattan, you have more hotel choices and less expensive choices in NJ vs Brooklyn.The biggest downside of Newark is perception.

But since the BTT is scheduled for Chicago/Indy for the next 4 years, the earliest it could move east is 2023. And in 2026, MSG will no longer have their current contract with the BE. So the Big Ten can always negotiate a schedule with MSG starting in 2026.
2027. The Big East contract goes through the ‘26 tourney.

http://www.nj.com/college-basketbal...o_keep_big_east_tournament_at_the_garden.html
 

Russ Wood

Heisman
Oct 12, 2011
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NYC big ten alumni had to love the games this week. I can't imagine it would be much more crowded if it were in Chicago or Indy. Do you think they bring it back ever?
There have been years that the B1G Tournament averaged 20k people per session when it was in Chicago. I think it is just as good in Indianapolis with the way Indiana people love basketball, it's the heart of the B1G footprint, fans of most programs can drive to Indianapolis and hotels are not $200 a night.
 

Russ Wood

Heisman
Oct 12, 2011
94,313
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A rotation between MSG and Chicago every year would be perfect.
I disagree.

The B1G is a Midwestern conference. The tournament belongs in the Midwest. It was nice that they had it close to Maryland one year and close to Rutgers one year but the tournament belongs in the Midwest.

The SEC going to St. Louis is dumb, it should be in Atlanta or Nashville. The ACC having its tournament in Tampa and Georgia was dumb, it should be in Charlotte or Greensboro (actually Greensboro).
 

S_Janowski

Heisman
May 24, 2009
14,034
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I disagree.

The B1G is a Midwestern conference. The tournament belongs in the Midwest. It was nice that they had it close to Maryland one year and close to Rutgers one year but the tournament belongs in the Midwest.

The SEC going to St. Louis is dumb, it should be in Atlanta or Nashville. The ACC having its tournament in Tampa and Georgia was dumb, it should be in Charlotte or Greensboro (actually Greensboro).

Disagree.

BIG is no longer just a Midwestern conference.

Also there are thousands of BIG alumni on the east coast from each school.
 
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King of S

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There have been years that the B1G Tournament averaged 20k people per session when it was in Chicago. I think it is just as good in Indianapolis with the way Indiana people love basketball, it's the heart of the B1G footprint, fans of most programs can drive to Indianapolis and hotels are not $200 a night.
MSG was not sold out for the first two rounds. Maybe 12K so that will not help the cause going back to MSG.
 
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G- RUnit

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Sep 13, 2004
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I think the bigger issue at least this year is Michigan may be the hottest team in the nation and now gets shut down for almost two weeks. It’s really odd.
 

hinson32

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Jul 29, 2005
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There have been years that the B1G Tournament averaged 20k people per session when it was in Chicago. I think it is just as good in Indianapolis with the way Indiana people love basketball, it's the heart of the B1G footprint, fans of most programs can drive to Indianapolis and hotels are not $200 a night.
Attendance at MSG has been better than the last tournaments in Indy and Chicago.
 
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RURM85

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I disagree.

The B1G is a Midwestern conference. The tournament belongs in the Midwest. It was nice that they had it close to Maryland one year and close to Rutgers one year but the tournament belongs in the Midwest.

The SEC going to St. Louis is dumb, it should be in Atlanta or Nashville. The ACC having its tournament in Tampa and Georgia was dumb, it should be in Charlotte or Greensboro (actually Greensboro).

Regionalism of conferences died some time ago. Yes, the B1G loves its tradition, and it can hold on to that while at the same time living in today's environment. Approximately 20% of the B1G schools are east of the original base, and the Conference Tourney should come east once every 5 years which is fair.
Other than the sacrifices (condensed schedule, period between end of today and NCAA Tourney) made this year, to bring the Tourney to MSG, it has been nothing short of successful. Most of the coaches, players, B1G alumni in the area, B1G travelers, BTN crew, NY media would agree with its success. Rutgers helped with the enthusiastic crowds Wednesday through Friday, and yesterday's semi-final was a sellout. It gave an opportunity for large B1G alumni bases in our area to participate and go out and root for their school.
http://www.nydailynews.com/newswire...-week-madison-square-garden-article-1.3854035
 

satnom

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Jun 28, 2002
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BIG is no longer a Midwest centric conference. That’s why it expanded to the East because that’s where the growth and money are. Went down to DC for RU first and second round games of the BIG tourney last year. Games on day one were at half capacity of Verizon Center (Cap One now) and crowds went up every round until full capacity or close to full capacity for semi finals and finals. It was pretty neat seeing fans of different B10 schools roaming around downtown DC schools with school colors. Just like how B10 fans were roaming 8th and 7th aves in Midtown.

To those thinking BIG tourney would never come to Newark just think about how the ACC tourney has and will be played in Brooklyn which at one time was far fetched. If Amazon selects Newark watchout. Heck 20+ yrs ago no one thought an arena would be built in downtown DC where the Caps and Wizards would play let alone host a BIG tourney one day. Good thing I invested in a condo beside arena before area became what it is today.

Delany is a visionary and will do what’s best in the interest of the BIG conference. That being said if BIG tourney is back at MSG it will be in the time slot that the Big East tourney currently occupies.

GO RU
 

RCBeta79

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Jun 7, 2013
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The Tournament at MSG was a huge success.

I believe that MSG will be added to the mix of rotating geographic tournament sites going forward....Chicago, Indianapolis, Washington DC, MSG....more geographic exposure for the BIG brand and more/better Corporate TV Sponsor Revenue.
 

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
19,284
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Big 10 tourney will come east every 5 years either in philly, Barclays or D.C. Only chance to play at msg again is if msg doesn't renew with big east when the contract terminates in 2025 or thereabouts. Again Delany has said no tourneys again prior to the regular week so msg is locked out as big east plays then.
 
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BigLou

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Jul 25, 2001
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Some positive reactin from Michigan

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2018/03/attendance_at_big_ten_tourname.html

Not sure what the total attendance figures are for this year but for the last 3 years:
2017 (D.C.) 92,964
2016 (Indy) 117,051
2015 (Chicago) 118,496

This year should be competitive with Indy and Chicago. Doubtful they go back to DC and I just don't see Philly as an East Coast alternative.

Problem is, MSG likes having "franchises" - Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Billy Joel & Big East sell a large # of seats each year. I seriously doubt they wil drop them in favor of the Big Ten coming every 3 or 4 years.
 

AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
124,521
58,551
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If we're playing well we would draw very good in Philly. Not MSG-good, until maybe the quarters, but good nonetheless. Make semis and we'd pack the place. DC? Didn't that FLOP last time?
 

RU_Planning

Heisman
Aug 14, 2002
18,337
22,764
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Some positive reactin from Michigan

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2018/03/attendance_at_big_ten_tourname.html

Not sure what the total attendance figures are for this year but for the last 3 years:
2017 (D.C.) 92,964
2016 (Indy) 117,051
2015 (Chicago) 118,496

This year should be competitive with Indy and Chicago. Doubtful they go back to DC and I just don't see Philly as an East Coast alternative.

Problem is, MSG likes having "franchises" - Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Billy Joel & Big East sell a large # of seats each year. I seriously doubt they wil drop them in favor of the Big Ten coming every 3 or 4 years.
Good point on attendance. Prudential and Barclays are much smaller venues than United, Banker’s Life and MSG (by about 2,000 - 2,500).

Also, the Big East of 2026 might be different than it is today. You never know with conference realignment.
 

AreYouNUTS

Heisman
Aug 1, 2001
124,521
58,551
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I disagree.

The B1G is a Midwestern conference. The tournament belongs in the Midwest. It was nice that they had it close to Maryland one year and close to Rutgers one year but the tournament belongs in the Midwest.

The SEC going to St. Louis is dumb, it should be in Atlanta or Nashville. The ACC having its tournament in Tampa and Georgia was dumb, it should be in Charlotte or Greensboro (actually Greensboro).

But it's NOT a "Midwest conference" anymore, Russ, it stopped being one the minute Maryland and Rutgers would thrown into a mix that already included Penn State...and most B1G schools have HUGE alumni bases within an hour of NYC. There is zero reason it can't be here every 4-5 years and still draw as well IF NOT better.
 
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batts

All-Conference
Jun 6, 2001
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Russ, what’s wrong with you! Only 12 of the 14 Conference Teams are in the Midwest. Lol

A lot of nonsense and wishful thinking being spewed in this thread.
 
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satnom

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“Great to win a B10 championship in the world’s greatest arena, Madison Square Garden, in front of our fans” Coach Beilein. Sorry, the B10 conference ain’t just a Midwest conference anymore.

GO RU
 

King of S

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Kinda a ho- hum championship game. Would of like to seen a little more of an exciting game.
 

batts

All-Conference
Jun 6, 2001
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And 86% of the B10 n the Midwest. But it’s not really a Midwest centric conference. Hmmm

All kidding aside, the B10 is not coming
back in the near future by design. MSG is never going to bump the BE for a Conference that visits every 5 years.
 

RURM85

All-Conference
Dec 1, 2012
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And 86% of the B10 n the Midwest. But it’s not really a Midwest centric conference. Hmmm

All kidding aside, the B10 is not coming
back in the near future by design. MSG is never going to bump the BE for a Conference that visits every 5 years.

You think Penn State is in the mid-west? Geographically it's not, nor the make-up of its student population with more than 50% from Eastern Pennsylvania and east coast states. More than 20% of the B1G schools are east of it mid-west base.
 

Russ Wood

Heisman
Oct 12, 2011
94,313
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Disagree.

BIG is no longer just a Midwestern conference.

Also there are thousands of BIG alumni on the east coast from each school.
I love the fact that Maryland and Rutgers are in the B1G but it is still a Midwestern conference and Delaney, who I think is very smart, has to keep those fans happy while keeping the two east coast schools included in all their reindeer games. In comparison, despite adding Syracuse, Boston College, Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech the ACC is still a Carolina Conference. In fact you have probably heard the phrase All Carolina Conference.

Non Carolina teams have complained for decades about how difficult it was to get a fair shake in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

Now the B1G is not the ACC. I think the ACC still holds conference meetings in a Waffle House just off of I-40.
 

Scarlet Shack

Heisman
Feb 3, 2004
26,321
16,082
73
Big 10 tourney will come east every 5 years either in philly, Barclays or D.C. Only chance to play at msg again is if msg doesn't renew with big east when the contract terminates in 2025 or thereabouts. Again Delany has said no tourneys again prior to the regular week so msg is locked out as big east plays then.

Trust me on this when I say...hold that thought for a bit

Big ten will be back to the garden ...period

Mark my words and, if you guys know my track record on things like this, I don’t say things confidently without some back up to it
 

batts

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Jun 6, 2001
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You think Penn State is in the mid-west? Geographically it's not, nor the make-up of its student population with more than 50% from Eastern Pennsylvania and east coast states. More than 20% of the B1G schools are east of it mid-west base.

I’m just busting chops. You guys had a good Tournament at MSG.
 
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Russ Wood

Heisman
Oct 12, 2011
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BIG is no longer a Midwest centric conference. That’s why it expanded to the East because that’s where the growth and money are.
GO RU
The conference expanded east to get the NYC, DC and Baltimore TV markets for the BTN. I'm assuming that's what you meant about the money part. I agree with you on Delany. He is a visionary, and a BAWSE. Probably because when he went to UNC they didn't have fake classes [laughing]
 
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RURM85

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Trust me on this when I say...hold that thought for a bit

Big ten will be back to the garden ...period

Mark my words and, if you guys know my track record on things like this, I don’t say things confidently without some back up to it

Agree. The fact that the Big East has locked up MSG during prime week when 50% of its school make-up is nowhere near NYC or the East Coast cracks me up. Regionalism is dead and gone.
 

DHajekRC84

Heisman
Aug 9, 2001
30,708
19,816
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MSG was not sold out for the first two rounds. Maybe 12K so that will not help the cause going back to MSG.
Yeah but after this it would change. And I went to the big east semi last year. No juice and plenty of open sets. Big east can move to philly or the roc. Once every few years to make room for us lol.
 

Knights 1212

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Sep 9, 2003
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I know that several SHU fans said the BIG would draw flies at MSG. Somehow I think they will be wrong. The BE never got crowds like we did in the first round games. I will not be surprised that the BIG gets a final report of bigger crowds than the Big East this year. Also the BE is now 50 % not from the east with Depaul, Butler, Marquette, Xavier & Creighton.
 
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batts

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Jun 6, 2001
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I would love for the B10 to hold its Tournament in the Prudential Center. It's a great venue, but Newark might be a hard sell for the fans.

The key issues for the Big returning to MSG on a regular basis for its Tournament, depends on (1) whether the constituent members want to convene the Tournament in NYC, as I am sure that there will be push back from Indy and Chicago; and (2) Will MSG bump the Big East during the years that the B10 wants to return, common sense says "no", but money can sometimes move mountains.
 

RU_Planning

Heisman
Aug 14, 2002
18,337
22,764
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Was there....bar options etc completely different and the vibe not even close to this weeks event.
While I personally prefer arena location in downtowns with bars and restaurants, the NCAA has had success locating games in arenas surrounded by parking lots. Meadowlands is one. I don’t necessarily think it is a major part of the NCAA’s decision making process. Although it might be more significant for conferences when selecting conference tournament locations.
 
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