America East will keep combined tournaments
America East commissioner Patrick Nero said the league voted this month to keep the men’s and women’s tournaments at the same site next year.
Now it’s just a matter of deciding where the tournament will held, with Albany’s Times Union Center a possible option.
The America East combined its men’s and women’s events for the first time in league history at the University of Hartford in March. Nero said the experiment was a success.
“Financially … we saw tremendous growth and that was very critical,” Nero said. “Our women’s attendance doubled from last year to this year, and a lot of that was overlap because a lot of people who normally come to the men’s games and might not have come to the women’s tournament, came out (this year). The venue size (at Hartford) allowed us to have a great atmosphere every night. We felt every game was well attended and we were very, very pleased with it.”
Nero said the league will continue to hold the first round through the semifinals at one site, with championship games being played a week later at the highest remaining men’s and women’s seed, respectively.
Nero said the America East is committed to the Saturday afternoon spot on ESPN2 for the men’s championship game, and that the week of build-up is good exposure for the league.
As for next year’s location, Nero said bid materials have already been sent out to the league members. Interested venues have until mid-May to enter a bid, and the league will hopefully choose a site by the end of May, according to Nero.
Nero said he expects there to be five or six finalists. Although the league has typically only awarded the tournament on a year-to-year basis, Nero said this time the America East could announce the tournament host or hosts from 2011 through 2013.
Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber has said he plans to bid, although it might be for the 2012 event rather than next year because of scheduling conflicts, as well as uncertainty how good UAlbany will be next year.
“I think Bob does a great job,” Nero said. “He’s very very interested. We’ve had several conversations with them. I anticipate they’ll be seriously considered in this three-year window.”
Nero has toured Times Union Center and said he doesn’t think its approximate 15,000-seat capacity is too large given the ability to use curtains to block off some seats, as the building does for Siena regular-season games.
“We anticipate they’ll show us different (seating) configurations,” Nero said
America East commissioner Patrick Nero said the league voted this month to keep the men’s and women’s tournaments at the same site next year.
Now it’s just a matter of deciding where the tournament will held, with Albany’s Times Union Center a possible option.
The America East combined its men’s and women’s events for the first time in league history at the University of Hartford in March. Nero said the experiment was a success.
“Financially … we saw tremendous growth and that was very critical,” Nero said. “Our women’s attendance doubled from last year to this year, and a lot of that was overlap because a lot of people who normally come to the men’s games and might not have come to the women’s tournament, came out (this year). The venue size (at Hartford) allowed us to have a great atmosphere every night. We felt every game was well attended and we were very, very pleased with it.”
Nero said the league will continue to hold the first round through the semifinals at one site, with championship games being played a week later at the highest remaining men’s and women’s seed, respectively.
Nero said the America East is committed to the Saturday afternoon spot on ESPN2 for the men’s championship game, and that the week of build-up is good exposure for the league.
As for next year’s location, Nero said bid materials have already been sent out to the league members. Interested venues have until mid-May to enter a bid, and the league will hopefully choose a site by the end of May, according to Nero.
Nero said he expects there to be five or six finalists. Although the league has typically only awarded the tournament on a year-to-year basis, Nero said this time the America East could announce the tournament host or hosts from 2011 through 2013.
Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber has said he plans to bid, although it might be for the 2012 event rather than next year because of scheduling conflicts, as well as uncertainty how good UAlbany will be next year.
“I think Bob does a great job,” Nero said. “He’s very very interested. We’ve had several conversations with them. I anticipate they’ll be seriously considered in this three-year window.”
Nero has toured Times Union Center and said he doesn’t think its approximate 15,000-seat capacity is too large given the ability to use curtains to block off some seats, as the building does for Siena regular-season games.
“We anticipate they’ll show us different (seating) configurations,” Nero said
