Question Re: 11-Member Tournament

[Bogg]

I know Val said that once UConn is added the conference is likely to add a third session to Wednesday (basically the way the Big Ten used to structure their tournament), but has there been any indication of how ticketing is going to work for Wednesday? More specifically, is it likely to be one three-game whole-day ticket or are they going to break it up into two or three individually-ticketed sessions?

[adoraz]

I'd guess one all day ticket with the first game starting around 5:00. Opening night is always the weakest attendance wise so I can't see them breaking it into 3 games. Plus, it'd be a pain for them to get everyone out and through security again.

[BFieldHusky]

Bogg my guess is they do a 1 session triple header. I could see it looking like this:

Game 1: 3:30 8 v.s. 9 seed
Game 2: 6:00 7 v.s. 10 seed
Game 3: 8:30 6 v.s. 11 seed

You could adjust the times slightly if you want but this would make the most sense IMO. What this also does is at least give the 8/9 winner a chance to catch their breath before playing noon on Thursday. The current format has the 8/9 game finishing at 9 pm, and then turning around and playing the 1 seed at noon the next day.

[Husky_U]

It will be hella funny when the opening afternoon Big East game outdraws the AAC Final in Fort Worth.

[coreynj2461]

Agreed with field husky. Not only does it give the 8/9 winner 3 extra hours, but the fans in attendance an extra hour or so. The 7/10 game doesnt end till 1130 in the current format and Im not home till 1230/1. With the tight turn around the next morning having to get back to the garden at noon and catching the bus around 1030 as we get ready for the quadruple header.

[scoscox]

It will be hella funny when the opening afternoon Big East game outdraws the AAC Final in Fort Worth.

I mean that's not in doubt. When we say the opening games are the most lightly attended, we mean maybe 19,500 instead of 19,819. The AAC final draws like 5,000 people. theres no comparison at all

[Bogg]

Bogg my guess is they do a 1 session triple header. I could see it looking like this:

Game 1: 3:30 8 v.s. 9 seed
Game 2: 6:00 7 v.s. 10 seed
Game 3: 8:30 6 v.s. 11 seed

You could adjust the times slightly if you want but this would make the most sense IMO. What this also does is at least give the 8/9 winner a chance to catch their breath before playing noon on Thursday. The current format has the 8/9 game finishing at 9 pm, and then turning around and playing the 1 seed at noon the next day.

A triple-header is what I'm hoping for. Three straight games on the same ticket, with the expected reduced cost that comes with the opening day, could make for a nice little afternoon/evening to kick things off.

[ecasadoSBU]

Same session triple-header just makes sense. I have attended opening night since realignment and it has been a lot of fun.

With the additional game I expect to boost the attendance (if that's even possible, near sellouts the past couple of years) and add additional excitement to opening day as there will be some solid teams playing to advance

[Omaha1]

Someone buy Andrew Luck a ticket. Apparently he made a comment about always wanting to attend a full day of the Big East tournament and now he will be able to.