"After two years in Springfield and middling attendance numbers, the MAAC and Albany came to find they needed each other, as commissioner Rich Ensor said for the next bid cycle when it was decided last year.
“We tried Springfield, we did credible business there and it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t the type of attendance we like,” Ensor said. “It also kept Albany in the game, in the past they had low bid us to a certain extent, our being away made them recognize how much they need the championship for the business community there.”
When the tournament comes to the Times Union Center in March 2015, the MAAC will come in and add their own court floor as well as change the look of the arena. While some coaches worry that moving the tournament back to Siena’s home arena might hurt their own chances, Ensor said that time will tell if the advantage favors the Saints too much when they consider the next bid cycle in 2016.
“There has been some inclination to go to Bridgeport again, that was noted when we selected Albany, but we’ll see what happens,” Ensor said noting that they will begin to prepare for the bid cycle for the 2018-2020 MAAC tournament in the spring of 2016.
"some coaches worry that moving the tournament back to Siena’s home arena might hurt their own chances" and "if the advantage favors the Saints too much".... Playing the MAAC Tournament for the next 3 years in Siena's home building no matter what colors the court is painted and in downtown Albany before their own Capital District Saint fans who average around 6,600 a game during the regular season must have Jimmy Patsos and the Siena Administration ecstatic. "Ensor said that time will tell if the advantage favors the Saints too much". You won't have to wait for "time to tell" Mr. Commissioner because YES it does and you don't have to be a genius or have to wait 3 years to figure that out but then again maybe he does.
Ensor / MAAC was outmaneuvered by other conferences for more neutral venues. Times Union isn't a showplace. That said, Albany isn't bad for dining and side activities.
When the tournament comes to the Times Union Center in March 2015, the MAAC will come in and add their own court floor as well as change the look of the arena. While some coaches worry that moving the tournament back to Siena’s home arena might hurt their own chances, Ensor said that time will tell if the advantage favors the Saints too much when they consider the next bid cycle in 2016.
“There has been some inclination to go to Bridgeport again, that was noted when we selected Albany, but we’ll see what happens,” Ensor said noting that they will begin to prepare for the bid cycle for the 2018-2020 MAAC tournament in the spring of 2016.
"some coaches worry that moving the tournament back to Siena’s home arena might hurt their own chances" and "if the advantage favors the Saints too much".... Playing the MAAC Tournament for the next 3 years in Siena's home building no matter what colors the court is painted and in downtown Albany before their own Capital District Saint fans who average around 6,600 a game during the regular season must have Jimmy Patsos and the Siena Administration ecstatic. "Ensor said that time will tell if the advantage favors the Saints too much". You won't have to wait for "time to tell" Mr. Commissioner because YES it does and you don't have to be a genius or have to wait 3 years to figure that out but then again maybe he does.
So Ensor says "that time will tell if the advantage favors the Saints too much." Hasn't it already been proven that it does in previous sequencial years at the TUC? It's not so much any one game or any one tournament on the floor, anyone can win a game or a tournament. The real unfairness is that knowing the event will be in Albany for three years in a row serves as a great recruiting tool for Patsos and Siena, especially in competition with other MAAC schools. He can say to a prospect that the odds will be better that you can be playing in the NCAA Tournament if you come there, and he would be right. In fact he could be using that line right now as he tries to acquire talent for the future. Unfair advantage for sure!
And when Siena leaves the MAAC after next season, the MAAC will have a venue with NO draw. Bank on it.
Amen Sobro. It will be as bad as Springfield. You really have to wonder about the MAAC presidents. It goes beyond acceptance. They have endorsed this guy with a long contract. Can anyone explain any of this with some facts? There has to be some reason this guy keeps his job.
Id put the odds of Siena leaving the MAAC at like 10%. They dont have the money to put all sports in a better league. They would have to cut basically every other sport to even maybe afford it. At about 2.67m for basketball (according to www.bbstate.com/info/teams-hoopsbudget&c=MAAC), thats puts them second to last in A10 spending only beating out the Bonnies (who have GUTTED their D1 sports) by about 200k.
