MSG

[CoachK]

That's not a set of good choices.
Keeping our relations strong with MSG...even with no fans. Having to solely rely on TV dollars/insurance dollars.

While at the same time running a major risk of losing team (s) to Covid and missing the
NCAA Tourney and its $Million+ per head.

I'm a little confused how there is so much more risk of having the tournament at MSG than anywhere else. From what I've heard, all teams will stay in the same hotel, with entire floors blocked off for them (sounds like Mohegan, which was very successful). Its only 4-5 days, I'm sure teams will be extremely firm about now letting players go out anywhere for that short period of time.

And for a team then going to Indy, they take a charter bus to the airport, where they catch a charter plane to Indianapolis. Just doesn't seem like a huge difference in risk to me.

[Xavier4036]

I don't understand Val and co.'s insistence on playing the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The priority (both financially and otherwise) needs to be ensuring Big East teams are healthy for the NCAA tournament. Get them in Indianapolis, in a some sort of a bubble for the Big East tournament so they can role right into the NCAA. Big 10 just moved their tournament from Chicago to Indianapolis. The lack of proactiveness or contingency planning over the entire season from the Big East office has been disappointing.

I'm guessing this has to do with $$$. We don't have the football cash cow, missing BET 2 years in a row will probably be a killer financially.

I'd assume $$$ from NCAA tournament credits are a lot more lucrative than the income from a fan-less Big East tournament. If Villanova or Creighton can't play in the NCAA and the conference forfeits all of that projected income, would not be great. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it's like $1.7-1.8M per game.

[ecasadoSBU]

The show must go on!!

BET needs to happen. The alternatives of hosting the tournament @ Indy doesn't make much of a difference to me. I'm sure some of the student-athletes are also looking forward to being at the garden for the BET (even with 10% capacity).

I think at the end of the day it comes down to how good you abide by covid-19 protocols to ensure the safety of ALL student athletes. You need to enforce the precautions well and keep the students away from harm. That can be done in NYC, Indy, and anywhere else really.

With that said, I hope the BE and its respective members really take the task seriously to reduce the likelihood/possibility of a covid19 pause/exit right before the NCAA Tournament. I do understand that there will always be a certain amount of risk that cannot be mitigated unfortunately.

[Xudash]

I don't understand Val and co.'s insistence on playing the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The priority (both financially and otherwise) needs to be ensuring Big East teams are healthy for the NCAA tournament. Get them in Indianapolis, in a some sort of a bubble for the Big East tournament so they can role right into the NCAA. Big 10 just moved their tournament from Chicago to Indianapolis. The lack of proactiveness or contingency planning over the entire season from the Big East office has been disappointing.

I'm guessing this has to do with $$$. We don't have the football cash cow, missing BET 2 years in a row will probably be a killer financially.

I'd assume $$$ from NCAA tournament credits are a lot more lucrative than the income from a fan-less Big East tournament. If Villanova or Creighton can't play in the NCAA and the conference forfeits all of that projected income, would not be great. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it's like $1.7-1.8M per game.

You should never screw your business partners, but you NEVER screw a strategic business partner that is vital to your future. And your short-term grab at money - which unjustifiably assumes failure with the MSG option - fails to consider the long-term importance of maintaining the BET at MSG.

[adoraz]

Needs to be played at MSG, period. Don't forget the ACC and Big Ten tried stealing it a couple years ago.

[Hall2012]

MSG will be safe to play at. I'm familiar with very strict COVID safety protocols that the NHL is mandating on all of its arenas and I assume the NBA is acting similarly. Between the 2, MSG without a doubt has a strong system in place and by Big East tourney time will be able to adapt it to whether or not fans are permitted.

[billyjack]

I agree that it needs to be at MSG.

[coreynj2461]

NYpostbrazila just posted BET is on and will be normal dates. Including Thursday and Friday night sessions starting an hour earlier at 6!

[sju88grad]

NYpostbrazila just posted BET is on and will be normal dates. Including Thursday and Friday night sessions starting an hour earlier at 6!

Awesome!!

[Bogg]

MSG isn't just a venue. For better or worse (mostly better), it's one of the pillars of the conference. Aside from the contract between the entities probably requiring the tournament to be at MSG if it's held at all, you don't burn MSG by breaking the contract (even if there's a way to cover yourself legally) and hold a one-off tournament in a (relatively) random location.