TD Ameritrade Park

[QueRico]

I caught a few innings of the Creighton/SIU game on ESPNU Sunday.
What a ballpark! I'd describe it as somewhere between AAA & Major League.
While Cinn. is essentially the geographic center of the conference, if the site of the BET is determined strictly by facilities it's a no brainer.
Obviously one can't expect 24,000 fans to turn out, but it certainly can handle any/all schools bringing their fans to the tournament.

[Omaha1]

It hosted the MVC tournament a couple of years ago. The place looks pretty empty because most tourney games are held on weekdays, but it is an awesome ballpark.

[Bluejay]

I know in the other thread a Marquette guy talked about lacrosse being a revenue sport and important for the league.

At Creighton, baseball is a pretty big sport and generates some solid revenue (although probably still loses money overall). All of the games are on radio, attract decent crowds and the school regularly competes for NCAA bids. Looking at some of the baseball facilities in the conference, it looks like baseball is a complete afterthought at some places. Is it true that some of the facilities don't even have press boxes!?!

I think if the conference doesn't take advantage of TD Ameritrade ("TDAPO"), it would be wasting a really nice opportunity not available elsewhere in the conference. I also think that Omahans will support the event.

[redmen9194]

St. John's has a strong baseball program (went to NCAA super regional last season) and has a small but nice stadium on campus. If the baseball tourney was in NY, look for it where the Brooklyn Cyclones play in Brooklyn (Mets affiliate). It hosted the BE tourney a few years back. That being said, would certainly not mind having Creighton host the baseball tourney.

[Dew]

Pardon my ignorance, but how many of the 10 Big East schools play D1 baseball?

[yorost]

7, minus DePaul, Marquette, and Providence.

[gmoser1210]

Butler technically has a baseball stadium, but someone sitting in the very back row could sneeze and hit the catcher.

[yorost]

[BillEsq]

Baseball is a decent Non-rev, the problem with it is that it will always be a non rev because of the costs of travel associated with it for Northern teams. However since Baseball is played in the Spring the weakest of the college sports seasons it does give Fox inventory for TV and any competing schools exposure. I would rate baseball behind Lacrosse and Soccer in regards to best potential non revs for the league.




(however if you need another good team- with nice new facilities there are representatives at SLU waiting to handle your call)

And yikes Butler-- that is horrific... It looks like a small town softball field. (its a good thing you guys have those two recent final four(plus) basketball runs.

[QueRico]

Despite 127 years of playing baseball and some success (2011 BET winners), it never has been much of a spectator draw @ Seton Hall.
Owen T. Carroll Field is located on a highly developed campus w/ no room to expand. There is a minor league stadium near the Prudential Center that would love to have the Hall play there, but no one wants to move any more sports off campus. While it does feature a state of the art playing surface & a brand new LED video board, OTC Field is a multi-purpose facility that is converted into a soccer field in the fall via movable fences. Ain't nobody here laughing @ Butler. Few schools in the northeast will have flagship stadiums due to weather issues. Every year teams start on extensive road trips against fair weather teams (SHU's season was nearly derailed by a disastrous warm weather trip this year).

The Cyclones' MCU Park is a really fun venue that would be a great option if the tournament rotates. With the Cyclones playing short season A ball, availability wouldn't be an issue.