glen
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Post by glen on Apr 22, 2014 11:41:55 GMT -5
I sorta like what the AE does...play the first few rounds at a central site, then the finals at the highest seed's home court. That strikes a good balance between the economics and the fairness issues.
It takes a few years to build up fan support for a tourney like the MAAC. Jumping the location around is bad for everyone. I believe Bridgeport did OK...I'd alternate between Albany and Bridgeport until the other teams could show an ability to draw.
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Post by DelmartianEd on Apr 22, 2014 13:58:16 GMT -5
Vermont would disagree.
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saints22
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Post by saints22 on Apr 22, 2014 14:55:39 GMT -5
I'm not sure that we'd do better going back out on the market for another commissioner. Ensor is actually fairly close to the Siena program. The problem is that he's got 10 other bosses, and we haven't figured out a way to fire another college's president. Agreed it was the presidents that wanted it moved..as soon as Springfield put up the guarantee money - MAAC presidents moved tournament in a heart beat- Only reason why its coming back is Albany is only place they can make any money. Square and Tony have already made the point, but it bears repeating………the final decision to move the tournament to Springfield for three years wasn’t up to the Commissioner. It was the school presidents who made that call (I’m guessing that it wasn’t unanimous). Not saying that Rich Ensor didn’t recommend it. He may have, after appropriate study and research, and after offering a few options. But the basic charge to the league from the presidents was probably “find a suitable neutral site”. Given that neutrality was the driving force, and that guarantee money was secured, Springfield was not a bad option……short drive from Capital District; nice arena with good sightlines; plenty of parking at a reasonable price; number of decent places to eat around the arena. Just not many people bothered to show up. Too bad. And, if as the Commissioner says: “…..in the past they (TUC) had low bid us to a certain extent. Our being away made them recognize how much they need the championship for the business community there. We came to value them more and they came to value us more, so I think that’s probably the best thing that came out of the Springfield experience.” maybe everyone learned a lesson. Hopefully so. And not sure that I agree that the TUC is a fail-safe place to hold the tournament. It’s great when Siena is in it up to the final, but if they go out early, which has happened several times, attendance drops off markedly. Still, more people will come out for early-round games in Albany than at any of the other sites where it has been held, so just on that score alone, the league makes out better in Albany than at other sites, but not to the degree that we may try to convince ourselves. I also think that the league has to break off the women’s tournament to another city/site. Maybe hold it on the campus of one of the schools. It’s not fair to the women to play in front of nearly empty seats in a large facility, and it adds nothing to the overall “prestige” or appeal of the tournament. Would probably save the league some money, too……..if nothing else in terms of renting an arena for fewer days.
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Post by SaintsFan on Apr 22, 2014 21:41:23 GMT -5
I sorta like what the AE does...play the first few rounds at a central site, then the finals at the highest seed's home court. That strikes a good balance between the economics and the fairness issues. It takes a few years to build up fan support for a tourney like the MAAC. Jumping the location around is bad for everyone. I believe Bridgeport did OK...I'd alternate between Albany and Bridgeport until the other teams could show an ability to draw. Bridgeport was a bust... just not as big a bust as the other non TUC venues. And Fairfield was pretty good along with Marist. Its not fair that siena host the tournament? Is it fair that siena spends like 3x st peters? The resources arent similar and yet its the venue where we start picking and choosing what is fair and what isnt??? Stupid
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glen
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Post by glen on Apr 23, 2014 7:07:22 GMT -5
SF - I don't have a problem with the "fairness" issue...the league presidents do. I agree 100% with you that the inequality is earned. We spend the money. We developed the brand. Other schools didn't, yet now they b*tch that the only viable single-site location for the tournament is in Albany. How many years did CC go before they cut McDonald? SPU is generally toward the bottom of the heap. Unfortunately this is the league we're in.
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Post by SaintsFan on Apr 23, 2014 7:18:09 GMT -5
SF - I don't have a problem with the "fairness" issue...the league presidents do. I agree 100% with you that the inequality is earned. We spend the money. We developed the brand. Other schools didn't, yet now they b*tch that the only viable single-site location for the tournament is in Albany. How many years did CC go before they cut McDonald? SPU is generally toward the bottom of the heap. Unfortunately this is the league we're in. yeah sorry if it looked like my comment was directed at you. Just frustrated with the conference.
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