SJU considering playing fewer games at MSG

I'm with Paultzman and Beast on this one. Right now, St. John's is not a good program. Years of mismanagement has led them to this point. That's why you are seeing 8,000 or 9,000 fans at MSG games. Nobody is going to waste time and money on a losing product. So if the school is going to save a little money by playing Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Marquette, Providence, and Xavier at home, then I say go for it. Is CA a dump? Of course it is. Nobody on this board would deny it. But there's no point to having them play Marquette in front of an empty MSG.

But this is a fixable problem if Mike Anderson and his staff show consistent success. I know it feels like eons ago, but go back to the 2010-11 season, when SJU was pulling off upsets left and right. MSG would typically have, let's say, 14,000 or 15,000 fans at games because the Johnnies were winning. On the court success will bring the fans (both students and old timers) back. You just have to give them something to look forward to. IMO, continue to play Villanova, SHU, and Georgetown at MSG. Probably UConn too cause they draw. And if you can get a good OOC game, go for it. I don't see the need for more than 5 games as it currently stands. Next year when Williams and Champagnie are dominating the Big East, we can revisit :)
 
[quote="Enright" post=380430]Both Hofsfra and Stoney Brook have built arenas much more modern than CA. They charge much lower prices than SJU and still struggle to get their 4500 arenas even half full. I am sure Cragg is aware that even filling a 5500 arena is very difficult even if it had all the modern conveniences in the metropolitan area.
It is going to take a winning team, an upgraded OOC schedule and some marketing plans like lower prices for high school students etc. It is a daunting assignment in this pro team area.[/quote]
Get what you're saying but can't compare level of interest in St. John's basketball with either SB or Hofstra.
 
[quote="Las Vegan" post=380424][quote="mjmaherjr" post=380395][quote="Andrew" post=380387]It's one thing to play in a small on campus arena that gives you a nice home court advantage. Its another to play in an arena that looked old when I had my junior high school graduation there 35 years ago. The fact that MJ Maher won't step foot in the place tells you enough. It is uncomfortable, hot and has almost no emenities. I have been touring a lot of schools with my kids getting ready for college. Go see the Events Center in Binghamton or the brand new Schlar Center at Elon University for what a 5,000 seat arena should look like. I don't have a solution to the problem but I don't know how you can be in the Big East with that arena as your primary home court.[/quote] The Hofstra Arena blows away ours too[/quote]

There are campus venues in the little West Coast Conference that are nicer.[/quote]

We would have a nice on campus arena too if we didn't have to pay as much as we do in MSG rent. Damned if you do damned if you dont.
 
Bamafan correctly posted that there is much more interest in SJU basketball than either Hofstra or Stoney Brook. My point is that drawing people to college games is very difficult Neither of those teams play a great schedule but they both have modern arenas, thousands of students on campus, have hundreds of thousand alumni in the area ,charge reasonable prices and struggle to sell 2500 tickets.
How do you get people to come?
 
I heard Cragg wants the UConn game on campus but is getting push back from big East.


Next year the game vs UConn will be rough. Their fans will treat it like a celebration for their return to big East. This game should be on campus for just next year and then following year back at msg.

I agree with previous post nova Georgetown UConn and then choose hall or providence. One non conference gavit or big 12 and should be fine. Once start winning consistently schedule more
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=380445]I heard Cragg wants the UConn game on campus but is getting push back from big East.


Next year the game vs UConn will be rough. Their fans will treat it like a celebration for their return to big East. This game should be on campus for just next year and then following year back at msg.

I agree with previous post nova Georgetown UConn and then choose hall or providence. One non conference gavit or big 12 and should be fine. Once start winning consistently schedule more[/quote]

Cragg deserve a lifetime contract if he manages to do that. Screw the BE. You play schools where you want to play them.
 
from a business standpoint if the breakeven MSG number is 10k and its profit after that then I'm not thinking twice I'm putting Uconn at MSG because thats going to be at least 15k seats if not more

Simple as this. Just beat them
 
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[quote="DoodyNY33" post=380433]I'm with Paultzman and Beast on this one. Right now, St. John's is not a good program. Years of mismanagement has led them to this point. That's why you are seeing 8,000 or 9,000 fans at MSG games. Nobody is going to waste time and money on a losing product. So if the school is going to save a little money by playing Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Marquette, Providence, and Xavier at home, then I say go for it. Is CA a dump? Of course it is. Nobody on this board would deny it. But there's no point to having them play Marquette in front of an empty MSG.

But this is a fixable problem if Mike Anderson and his staff show consistent success. I know it feels like eons ago, but go back to the 2010-11 season, when SJU was pulling off upsets left and right. MSG would typically have, let's say, 14,000 or 15,000 fans at games because the Johnnies were winning. On the court success will bring the fans (both students and old timers) back. You just have to give them something to look forward to. IMO, continue to play Villanova, SHU, and Georgetown at MSG. Probably UConn too cause they draw. And if you can get a good OOC game, go for it. I don't see the need for more than 5 games as it currently stands. Next year when Williams and Champagnie are dominating the Big East, we can revisit :)[/quote]

I can’t argue that we overdid it with the MSG games this year. I personally would like to see the old Big East games at the Garden (Seton Hall, Georgetown , Villanova, UCONN and Providence)
 
He is not going to win a National Championship playing more games at the band box and less at MSG. I go back to a time when they played most of their games at the Garden .that is what made them the true New York City team and not a parochial suburban team.
 
Seton Hall and Georgetown on campus gyms make CA look like a palace. Neither has capacity large enough to host a BE game.
As to beer at games at CA, why not. Creighton, a Catholic institution, not only has beer at their games, they have $1 Beer Nights that even got a Lavin feature on Fox. Can anyone imagine Dolan allowing $1 beer night at MSG. Maybe this could fill CA for central Connecticut?
I agree with suggestions of 4 BE (SH, Gt, Nova and Con) and one major OOC game per year.
 
[quote="mjmaherjr" post=380447]from a business standpoint if the breakeven MSG number is 10k and its profit after that then I'm not thinking twice I'm putting Uconn at MSG because thats going to be at least 15k seats if not more

Simple as this. Just beat them[/quote]

We should screw them for at least one year. They deserve it for the years of taking the garden and the league for granted and trying to leave the league in a loud way.

Just beat them in Queens.
 
[quote="BrooklynRed" post=380457]Seton Hall and Georgetown on campus gyms make CA look like a palace. Neither has capacity large enough to host a BE game.
As to beer at games at CA, why not. Creighton, a Catholic institution, not only has beer at their games, they have $1 Beer Nights that even got a Lavin feature on Fox. Can anyone imagine Dolan allowing $1 beer night at MSG. Maybe this could fill CA for central Connecticut?
I agree with suggestions of 4 BE (SH, Gt, Nova and Con) and one major OOC game per year.[/quote]

As I pointed out in an earlier thread the lack of beer or alcohol at Carnesecca has nothing to do with being a Catholic institution. With the rise of the drinking age to 21 most students are underage. My guess is monitoring who purchase and consumes alcohol is time consuming and expensive. For example, Citifield and I assume Yankee Stadium and other venues hire “alcohol compliance” officers. NYS has penalties for non compliance. In addition, just imagine the liability if a student gets drunk at Carnesseca, gets in a car and well you can guess the rest.
I am not agreeing/disagreeing with the logic but I don’t think it’s as simple as it sounds. Times have change.

I haven’t been but there is a pregame area for Red/White or Other ticket holders before the game. Does that include alcohol?
 
[quote="sjc88" post=380467][quote="BrooklynRed" post=380457]Seton Hall and Georgetown on campus gyms make CA look like a palace. Neither has capacity large enough to host a BE game.
As to beer at games at CA, why not. Creighton, a Catholic institution, not only has beer at their games, they have $1 Beer Nights that even got a Lavin feature on Fox. Can anyone imagine Dolan allowing $1 beer night at MSG. Maybe this could fill CA for central Connecticut?
I agree with suggestions of 4 BE (SH, Gt, Nova and Con) and one major OOC game per year.[/quote]

As I pointed out in an earlier thread the lack of beer or alcohol at Carnesecca has nothing to do with being a Catholic institution. With the rise of the drinking age to 21 most students are underage. My guess is monitoring who purchase and consumes alcohol is time consuming and expensive. For example, Citifield and I assume Yankee Stadium and other venues hire “alcohol compliance” officers. NYS has penalties for non compliance. In addition, just imagine the liability if a student gets drunk at Carnesseca, gets in a car and well you can guess the rest.
I am not agreeing/disagreeing with the logic but I don’t think it’s as simple as it sounds. Times have change.

I haven’t been but there is a pregame area for Red/White or Other ticket holders before the game. Does that include alcohol?[/quote]

Red/White has full open bar before, 1/2 time and post game.

Nebraska (Creighton) has 21 drinking age.
 
Will there be a Holiday Festival next season? If there is and we play four BE Conference home games that will still be five games at MSG. Plus we normally wind up playing one game at Barclays every year somehow. Are we in the preseason NIT next year? Then we have the Big East - Big Ten challenge and don’t we have the Big East - Big Twelve challenge also. We could still wind up playing 6 MSG and 1 Barclays game. That’s enough all things considered. But, eventually I would Like to get to the point where can play the bulk of our home games at MSG. If don’t play enough games there it will hurt recruiting.
 
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[quote="Mean Gene" post=380471]Will there be a Holiday Festival next season? If there is and we play four BE Conference home games that will still be five games at MSG. Plus we normally wind up playing one game at Barclays every year somehow. Are we in the preseason NIT next year? Then we have the Big East - Big Ten challenge and don’t we have the Big East - Big Twelve challenge also. We could still wind up playing 6 MSG and 1 Barclays game. That’s enough all things considered. But, eventually I would to get to the point where can play the bulk of our home games at MSG. If don’t play enough games there it will hurt recruiting.[/quote]
Yes in pre season NIT so 2 games minimum at Barclays where we usually draw about 57 people.
 
Ok so Cragg says he wants to play every game last year at MSG. This year he wants to back off. He’s also backtracking on the price policies. I thing the guy is great and has a ton of experience, but he’s finding out this isn’t an automatic sell like Duke. Dude had never been challenged in his career in Athletic administration.

The good part is that I think he’s smart enough to navigate this. The bad part is that he’s learning on the job. He made huge mistakes with his overpricing policy which is part of the reason he is in this pickle.

He underestimated the negative fan response to firing Mullin and doubled down to impress the SJU brass by raising prices to “get in line” with industry standards, on a down year.

I think luckily that Mike Anderson might save him, but he’s gonna have to greatly discount things and eat a bit of s#%t by digressing and starting with lesser goals.

SJU does well and draws big crowds when the team is doing well, people are on board with the coach, and prices are reasonable. First gotta sell the coach and the team, then prices can follow.

The ultimate answer is not playing less games at the garden. The answer is selling this thing big until we are winning, selling mike Anderson and then raising prices.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=380236]In my opinion , if you want to think of fewer games at MSG , AD Cragg might want to get Applications to join the MAAC League ! For one , telling possible BE Recruits they will be playing in a 85 degree 1959 Gym that seats 5000 fans is likely to get a , look that says NO Thanks ! And , who could blame them ? A local kid as many have done during the Willard era , is more likely to want to play in a full Roc in Newark than a full CA . The Nova - SH game the other night was a significant example . The Place was rocking and 2 good teams battling down to the final whistle before 12-15 000 is what we should be aspiring to be ! AGAIN ! As we once were . St John’s has $ 750 million in Endowment Funds . The school shouldn’t be in Financial difficulty and if it is , why? The Schools Academics have dropped substantially over the last 20 years , just as our BB fortunes have done . If you want better attendance , put a contending BE team on the floor ! Not 1 that you hope gets to a 9-9 BE record and finish mid pack . I do know the school is working hard to improve the Academic Standing but , so many years of neglect by the prior Administration takes a while . It would make more sense to ditch CA for all but 2-3 Early season games against cupcakes and split the BE games between MSG and the new Belmont Arena . I get many Alums wax nostalgic about CA but , harsh reality is that it’s beneath a BE School .[/quote]

Really...ever heard of Cameron Indoor? It's all these things but built in 1940. Just sayin
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=380476]Ok so Cragg says he wants to play every game last year at MSG. This year he wants to back off. He’s also backtracking on the price policies. I thing the guy is great and has a ton of experience, but he’s finding out this isn’t an automatic sell like Duke. Dude had never been challenged in his career in Athletic administration.

The good part is that I think he’s smart enough to navigate this. The bad part is that he’s learning on the job. He made huge mistakes with his overpricing policy which is part of the reason he is in this pickle.

He underestimated the negative fan response to firing Mullin and doubled down to impress the SJU brass by raising prices to “get in line” with industry standards, on a down year.

I think luckily that Mike Anderson might save him, but he’s gonna have to greatly discount things and eat a bit of s#%t by digressing and starting with lesser goals.

SJU does well and draws big crowds when the team is doing well, people are on board with the coach, and prices are reasonable. First gotta sell the coach and the team, then prices can follow.

The ultimate answer is not playing less games at the garden. The answer is selling this thing big until we are winning, selling mike Anderson and then raising prices.[/quote]

Cragg is doing a terrific job. Mullin left the program in horrible shape. His lack of effort tarnishes his image in my mind. Great player, poor coach.
 
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[quote="Anthony Mattia" post=380479][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=380236]In my opinion , if you want to think of fewer games at MSG , AD Cragg might want to get Applications to join the MAAC League ! For one , telling possible BE Recruits they will be playing in a 85 degree 1959 Gym that seats 5000 fans is likely to get a , look that says NO Thanks ! And , who could blame them ? A local kid as many have done during the Willard era , is more likely to want to play in a full Roc in Newark than a full CA . The Nova - SH game the other night was a significant example . The Place was rocking and 2 good teams battling down to the final whistle before 12-15 000 is what we should be aspiring to be ! AGAIN ! As we once were . St John’s has $ 750 million in Endowment Funds . The school shouldn’t be in Financial difficulty and if it is , why? The Schools Academics have dropped substantially over the last 20 years , just as our BB fortunes have done . If you want better attendance , put a contending BE team on the floor ! Not 1 that you hope gets to a 9-9 BE record and finish mid pack . I do know the school is working hard to improve the Academic Standing but , so many years of neglect by the prior Administration takes a while . It would make more sense to ditch CA for all but 2-3 Early season games against cupcakes and split the BE games between MSG and the new Belmont Arena . I get many Alums wax nostalgic about CA but , harsh reality is that it’s beneath a BE School .[/quote]

Really...ever heard of Cameron Indoor? It's all these things but built in 1940. Just sayin[/quote]

Capacity at Cameron Indoor is a little over 9,000 , big difference.
 
Cameron is different. It's a craphole from age but it seats 9,300 now and there is an unusual feel for basketball before the game outside the gates, more like a tailgate football experience.

I never expected that until I saw it live attending the game againt us last year.

Carnesecca will never have that.
 
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