SJU considering playing fewer games at MSG

Move Lou Carnesecca Court to Louis Armstrong domed stadium and play non MSG home games at the Lou- Lou, while real non-crisis planning and decision-making is done regarding upgrade of on-campus arena or other non MSG local solution. Just the hype of playing at the Lou-Lou should help attendance as it's a word that on-air sports folks can actually say with relative ease.
 
It appears Cragg is getting a lesson in NYC college basketball. It is very difficult to sell tickets and in SJU's case even getting people to attend for free. From thoughts of expanding CA to now playing fewer games in MSG shows how difficult it is.
Last season was mildly successful but this season has been a disaster.OOC games always have 2500 empty seats and last week Creighton while not a perennial power but a top ten team had 1500 empty seats to what was a great matchup.
Before expanding or moving to Belmont where because of the expense and difficulty getting to you couldn't draw 1000 people to an OOC game. Let's get a couple of sell outs at CA before planning any moves. Try selling tickets to an NIT game if SJU gets a bid and a home game later this month.
 
Our Program hasn’t challenged for a BE Championship since the Artest , Barkley years . That’s a very long time to be a bottom tier team and expect great attendance at MSG . When the results improve , attendance will improve . This year shows we need a lot of incoming Recruits that can play at a BE level . Improved shooting from 3 and the foul line are areas to improve next season .
 
[quote="thetux1" post=380140]Beat top 10 Creighton easily at carnesecca with a hometown crowd lose heartbreaking games to seton Hall Georgetown and Xavier at Neutral court MSG I wonder how different this season would be if we played all our games on our home court like every other team instead of surrendering that advantage to play in a half filled Garden. We better play UConn at Carnesecca next year[/quote]
I love CA but This should be, at most, a one season tactic. Goal should be to get the program to a point where we can play most BE games at MSG. BE will not be happy with us playing increasing # of games in a mid-major size arena.
 
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="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 Chair of the Elon Board of Trustees is a St. John's grad
 
[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="Moose" post=380166]Villanova is the school most similar to SJU I think. How many do they play on campus vs. Wells Fargo?

Hall I think plays 1-2 games on campus.
Gtown used to and I don't think they do anymore.
Prov is all at the Dunk
DePaul might play a game or 2 on campus if I recall.
Creighton all in their big arena
Butler all in Hinkle
Xavier is all Cintas I think
Marquette I'm not sure off top of my head

For the future what is UConn split between Gampel and Hartford?[/quote]

You're 100% right - most Big East games are played in larger facilities
But we can't even sell out CA with 5,602 seats let alone MSG
Without checking the stats, we must be near the bottom in attendance
Years ago, someone said we pay $100K in rent per game at MSG
With a lack of fan support, it sounds like a losing financial proposition for us
I don't have an answer - CA is a minor league facility but we don't draw enough to play elsewhere on a regular basis
 
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I don't think this is so controversial. We get better again and we'll play more at MSG. Until then, Nova, Georgetown, Uconn and Seton Hall (for now) should be lock Garden games, as well as a few power 5 out of conference matchups. The midwestern schools and others can play at CA until the tide changes.
 
[quote="otis" post=380233]Belts have been tightened in all department at St. John’s.

The decision to play more games at Carnesecca is financial.[/quote]

Any word on how many games they are thinking at MSG next year? I do see a lot of recruits mentioning playing at MSG is one of the big reason they like St. John's. I would think they wouldn't want to hurt that sales pitch.

IMO, as long as it's at least 5 games it wouldn't hurt recruiting that much. Have one marquee OOC game at MSG, then have UConn, Georgetown, Villanova, and Seton Hall as the conference games at MSG, plus BET. That's selling a recruiting on at least 6-9 games played at MSG, while still getting the vast majority of the home games at CA.
 
Less games, not zero games.

Makes sense to me. We can create a raucous foreboding atmosphere at CA with 5500 fans. At the Garden, 8000 is pretty empty and not as loud.

MSG is expensive to rent. Break even is over 10,000 in attendance. Until we have a better squad and draw, cutting back to four dates makes sense
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=380409]Less games, not zero games.

Makes sense to me. We can create a raucous foreboding atmosphere at CA with 5500 fans. At the Garden, 8000 is pretty empty and not as loud.

MSG is expensive to rent. Break even is over 10,000 in attendance. Until we have a better squad and draw, cutting back to four dates makes sense[/quote]

Villanova, Georgetown, Uconn, and Seton Hall would be appear to be locks at the Garden

In addition, maybe a Nationaly ranked Out of Conference opponent ?

That would be five games at MSG

Providence wants to play us at the Garden but I would rather play them at CA.

I would also like to play Uconn at CA but can't see that happening.
 
[quote="James Ray Lamb" post=380154]They're thinking about serving alcohol on campus at a traditional Catholic school? Really?

I enjoy a cold brew. I wouldn't expect one at a religious school's facilities.

Do the Johnnies practice at Taffner Field House or Carnesecca? Which court do they actually use day to day?[/quote]

James, if you ever experience a game at Carnesecca Arena, you will understand why alcohol intake is desirable.
 
Should be half the BE games at MSG. Then throw in one OOC game. Pretty simple formula.
 
[quote="James Ray Lamb" post=380161][quote="Moose" post=380159]Am I imagining or didn't Cragg say the goal was MORE games at MSG early this year?[/quote]
Yes, he talked about MSG in an interview last summer. MSG was going to be the focus of the Johnnies program. Heck MSG is probably a big reason Anderson took the job. He coached at the modern Bud Walton Arena. It seats 19,368 and often sells out. The environment is a big part of the Razorbacks success.

Now, Cragg wants to give up after one season. It takes time and patience to rebuild the fan base. Especially for a program that's been in decline for 20 years.

Winning creates excitement and puts asses in seats. They could be drawing 15k or more at MSG. Three times what Carnesecca can hold.[/quote]

Mike Cragg is NOT giving up , not ONE BIT. His goal is to win a national championship here. It's lofty and I like that, because why not?

Being at the Garden with a crowd of 8000 doesn't do us a damned bit of good. When people watching on tv see empty seats, it doesnt help nm us. Paying for an arena that seats 19000 and is half full is bad business.

Think of how many of our most passionate posters who are local and wont come to games, where a single game ticket at msg is $85 bucks or so. Why? Because to them it isnt affordable orr worth it. Winning will change that perception. When we do and are a hot ticket, we will move more games there.

Alcohol was served on campus until the drinking age rose from 18 to 21. Has nothing to do with religion. Alcohol still served at rw events including pre ganes
 
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[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="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]
There are out houses that are nicer (and this coming from someone who's father took him to a communion breakfast there as a youngster and was one of the reasons I picked St. John's because I was so impressed with the then Alumni Hall but that was about 50 years ago).
 
[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]

Some very little schools have very big donors. Villanova RENOVATED their 6000 seat on campus arena at a pricetag of $70 million after a single 22 million donation. They packed the place to play sju 2 weeks ago
 
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.
 
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