Pepsi Arena's NCAA bid

[statefan]

It has been reported that the Pepsi Arena in conjunction with Siena and the MAAC are putting together another proposal to host the NCAA men's basketball tournament . Now, I know all the answers to this question, but I'll pose it anyway. Why can't UAlbany get some participation in this? Last year, the Siena season ticket holders got priority in the ticket lottery for the NCAA regional, and pretty much every UAlbany fan I know got shut out. Yes, they deserve something for the level of financial support they provide for the Pepsi Arena; I wouldn't dispute that. But, our season ticket holders are also dedicated supporters of D-1 NCAA basketball, even if they are many fewer of us.

 

I hope that in the negotiations for extension of the UAlbany - Siena basketball contract, we can get some priority for UAlbany season ticketholders in any future NCAA tournament lottery; perhaps not the same priority as Siena season ticket holders; but some priority over the general public for our loyalty in purchasing season tickets in support of NCAA D-1 athletics over the years. If this can be negotiated, it would also boost our season ticket sales.

 

Or, am I just engaging in another exercise of wishful thinking?

[DaneFan2k3]

Looks like wishful thinking to me, in that if you look at other cities with multiple Division I teams, it appears that it's usually whichever is the "home" team at the arena that gets preference.

 

Exceptions would be when both teams play in the same conference, such as Niagara, Canisius and the MAAC tri-hosting in Buffalo. But I wouldn't expect UB and St. Bonaventure to have priority at HSBC Arena in that instance, since they have no ties to the other three entities.