The bigger concern is that for season tickets holders like myself, we would jump at the opportunity to host one more game this season. I have been to all of the games this season including both NIT games. The crowd that shows up also shows out... Giving up what little home court advantage the Super Pit gives the team is a disservice to our student athletes and students. Having a nationally televised game with your Court as the backdrop can do more for recruiting, retention and legitimacy for the program. I feel for our student athletes (most are seniors) that don't get the opportunity to play for their home crowd one last time. A 3 + hour road trip to Stillwater sounds fun, but it's not our court and it won't be the same... I understand the business of a facility, but as another person put it on some social app, everyone knows March and post season basketball go together like peanut butter and jelly, especially with this team we have Right Now. How hard is it to be a little flexible in scheduling to allow for the "possibility" of post season games being hosted at the Super Pit?
Yeah I am of the mind that the University did itself a disservice by not planning better. They forwent a lot of possible good in revenue and exposure for some certainty in planning a luncheon.
That this happens so often in the NIT tells me that 1) there must be more to facilities management than I am aware and 2) the opportunity cost is low.
I know that hosting NIT games isn’t as lucrative for the host institution as regular season games because the revenue is split with the tournament. The costs of hosting are also solely borne by the host institution.
It was sort of like the CBI where we had a couple of home games in the finals but the program didn’t make much money.
The real exposure and stuff comes in the final four though, which is again why I don’t think this specific instance is a Huge deal but merely a missed opportunity. So to be clear, I don’t like that it happened but I don’t know that we need to be calling for anyone’s job.
Adam, I would agree the benefit is not financial but merely a "home court" advantage but the publicity of having your court as the backdrop (win or lose) on a nationally televised game during prime time, can expose the school to so many more eyes, that the benefit "could" outweigh the cost.....
Two statements about this scheduling "conflict". 1) "they" - NT Admin, Athletics, someone - knew a week ago that this "conflict" could occur when the pairings were released.
2) dating myself, but the Super Pit soldout for many Southland conference games...for that matter back then, our "commuter" school's men's soccer team drew more at Fouts than our current basketball teams. Thirty years later, we now have twice the active student base, the fourth largest school in Texas and can't draw for one of the best teams in NT history?
Asking this question NT Admin staff - Why is it that football attracts the alumni, students, Greek life, etc. and basketball does not?
Am also one of those who cares and feels it doesn't do many (namely over at that "other" Mean Green fan board) much service to claim so many (administrators, coaches, and players) would automatically "jump ship" to some other, supposed, "greener pasture" (no pun intended). It's SO CYNICAL! Not EVERYONE is a "mercenary" (to put it more politely than suggesting they're women who engage in relations with men for money), even in this day and age of NIL and the transfer portal. This user wouldn't take a position at Alabama or Oklahoma for a million dollars and other benefits on and under the table! Am, primarily, a "football-first" kind of fan, yes, this user admits that, but has attended many Mean Green basketball games during their previous time at, and while still around, Denton, and enjoyed most of those experiences, even in losses, for what it's worth! Yes, it would be nice to fully "pack the Pit", as it were, the same for the former Apogee, now DATCU Stadium.
(There seriously needs to be a better marketing ploy with that name in here somewhere, and turn the "music and art teaching school" narrative against itself, such as in commercials, like...."DAT CU[E], it's-your-cue", or some such rhetoric to give a sense of urgency and importance to attend, and even play for, UNT, and have the commercial full of stage-lights and curtains; the announcers already pronounce it "DAT-CU[E], why hasn't someone from marketing jumped on this?)
Loved this article. GMG
The bigger concern is that for season tickets holders like myself, we would jump at the opportunity to host one more game this season. I have been to all of the games this season including both NIT games. The crowd that shows up also shows out... Giving up what little home court advantage the Super Pit gives the team is a disservice to our student athletes and students. Having a nationally televised game with your Court as the backdrop can do more for recruiting, retention and legitimacy for the program. I feel for our student athletes (most are seniors) that don't get the opportunity to play for their home crowd one last time. A 3 + hour road trip to Stillwater sounds fun, but it's not our court and it won't be the same... I understand the business of a facility, but as another person put it on some social app, everyone knows March and post season basketball go together like peanut butter and jelly, especially with this team we have Right Now. How hard is it to be a little flexible in scheduling to allow for the "possibility" of post season games being hosted at the Super Pit?
Yeah I am of the mind that the University did itself a disservice by not planning better. They forwent a lot of possible good in revenue and exposure for some certainty in planning a luncheon.
That this happens so often in the NIT tells me that 1) there must be more to facilities management than I am aware and 2) the opportunity cost is low.
I know that hosting NIT games isn’t as lucrative for the host institution as regular season games because the revenue is split with the tournament. The costs of hosting are also solely borne by the host institution.
It was sort of like the CBI where we had a couple of home games in the finals but the program didn’t make much money.
The real exposure and stuff comes in the final four though, which is again why I don’t think this specific instance is a Huge deal but merely a missed opportunity. So to be clear, I don’t like that it happened but I don’t know that we need to be calling for anyone’s job.
Adam, I would agree the benefit is not financial but merely a "home court" advantage but the publicity of having your court as the backdrop (win or lose) on a nationally televised game during prime time, can expose the school to so many more eyes, that the benefit "could" outweigh the cost.....
Agreed, but.
Two statements about this scheduling "conflict". 1) "they" - NT Admin, Athletics, someone - knew a week ago that this "conflict" could occur when the pairings were released.
2) dating myself, but the Super Pit soldout for many Southland conference games...for that matter back then, our "commuter" school's men's soccer team drew more at Fouts than our current basketball teams. Thirty years later, we now have twice the active student base, the fourth largest school in Texas and can't draw for one of the best teams in NT history?
Asking this question NT Admin staff - Why is it that football attracts the alumni, students, Greek life, etc. and basketball does not?
Yeah the statement given to the DRC was a little vague but like Burton said, they can do a better job of not scheduling the Pit until April.
Well written!
Am also one of those who cares and feels it doesn't do many (namely over at that "other" Mean Green fan board) much service to claim so many (administrators, coaches, and players) would automatically "jump ship" to some other, supposed, "greener pasture" (no pun intended). It's SO CYNICAL! Not EVERYONE is a "mercenary" (to put it more politely than suggesting they're women who engage in relations with men for money), even in this day and age of NIL and the transfer portal. This user wouldn't take a position at Alabama or Oklahoma for a million dollars and other benefits on and under the table! Am, primarily, a "football-first" kind of fan, yes, this user admits that, but has attended many Mean Green basketball games during their previous time at, and while still around, Denton, and enjoyed most of those experiences, even in losses, for what it's worth! Yes, it would be nice to fully "pack the Pit", as it were, the same for the former Apogee, now DATCU Stadium.
(There seriously needs to be a better marketing ploy with that name in here somewhere, and turn the "music and art teaching school" narrative against itself, such as in commercials, like...."DAT CU[E], it's-your-cue", or some such rhetoric to give a sense of urgency and importance to attend, and even play for, UNT, and have the commercial full of stage-lights and curtains; the announcers already pronounce it "DAT-CU[E], why hasn't someone from marketing jumped on this?)
Here's to another NIT win! GMG!