Barclay's or MSG To Host Final Four???
- Thread starter NYCRedmen
- Start date
beast of the east
Active member
Not sure either are viable. Hotels in NYC are mega expensive as compared to the upcoming venues. I used to think NYC would be a great venue, but a Final Four in a smaller city literally captures the entire city. In NYC it would just be another of many simultaneous events.
Let's see how they pull off the Super Bowl next year - I know the game is technically in NJ, but I think that will be an interesting test. NYC will be the site for most hotels, pre-game events etc. If that goes well, I could see them putting a Final Four in Brooklyn or MSG.
Della9250
Active member
There is no way they ever host a final four. Not big enough. The NCAA is throwing away revenue by having it in a building that small.
The only possibility is that they throw MSG a bone for being a historic venue, like they did with picking them as a host for the first time in forever.
The only possibility is that they throw MSG a bone for being a historic venue, like they did with picking them as a host for the first time in forever.
I think there was a stated policy about having it at a venue with a very high minimum capacity, i.e., 40,000?
I could be wrong, but either MSG or Barclays are way below that figure?
The fact is that BB, unlike Football and Soccer, is meant to be played in a stadium with a 20,00 max capacity, so I hope the event goes back to its roots!
I could be wrong, but either MSG or Barclays are way below that figure?
The fact is that BB, unlike Football and Soccer, is meant to be played in a stadium with a 20,00 max capacity, so I hope the event goes back to its roots!
It may be interesting to note that the last NCAA game played at the Garden was in 1961 between Wake Forest and St. Johns. Our coach was Joe Lapchick and Looie had just joined the team the previous year as assistant. We got blown out by Wake by 20+ points or so (95-73 ?) It was a rare visit to the NCAA for StJ as we frequently turned down the invites to compete in the NIT which, up till the mid 50's or so, was still more or, later, equally prestegious. It was in 1960 that the NCAA raised the payout to $25,000 for being one of the 16 teams in it's tourney; the NIT still payed $24,000 only for winning it's tourney. That changed a lot of attitudes.
It was fairly widely believed at the time that NCAA games in the Garden were shunned because of the fixing scandals that emanated bookies in MSG in the early 50's. There was also a story that the '61 first round was put in the Garden to attract StJ which was one of the biggest names in the nation, and we favored the NIT for a large number of reasons.
It was fairly widely believed at the time that NCAA games in the Garden were shunned because of the fixing scandals that emanated bookies in MSG in the early 50's. There was also a story that the '61 first round was put in the Garden to attract StJ which was one of the biggest names in the nation, and we favored the NIT for a large number of reasons.
