(01-19-2023 10:47 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

The 5K arena isn't a deal-breaker anyway.

It's practically a Big East thing to play big games at the local NBA/NHL arena.

The Wild's arena is 10-15 minutes from campus in downtown St. Paul; the Wolves' arena is about 15 minutes away in Minneapolis.

The challenge — like with any program trying to level up — will be hiring the right coach and growing fan interest.

But the Twin Cities is certainly a market where it could work ...

I don't interpret it that way, and I don't think St. Thomas will draw all that well for basketball. As of this past summer, the plans for their new arena didn't even include basketball. 40% of their students are white males, mostly from wealthy families. In MN, those kids grow up playing hockey. 4 of the 5 other D1 hockey programs in MN average over 4k fans a game - that's where the fan support will be, and that's where they will have in state rivalries. Gophers/UST could be a fun basketball rivalry, but will the Gophers be too afraid to schedule them?

Reusse's sources are delusional UST admins/alums and not anyone associated with the Big East.

If St Thomas is Big East bound, it'll be 2036 after demonstrating sustained success/fan support, not 2026 after 1 year of NCAA Tournament eligibility.

(01-19-2023 10:59 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 10:47 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

The 5K arena isn't a deal-breaker anyway.

It's practically a Big East thing to play big games at the local NBA/NHL arena.

The Wild's arena is 10-15 minutes from campus in downtown St. Paul; the Wolves' arena is about 15 minutes away in Minneapolis.

The challenge — like with any program trying to level up — will be hiring the right coach and growing fan interest.

But the Twin Cities is certainly a market where it could work ...

(01-19-2023 12:13 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Reusse's sources are delusional UST admins/alums and not anyone associated with the Big East.

If St Thomas is Big East bound, it'll be 2036 after demonstrating sustained success/fan support, not 2026 after 1 year of NCAA Tournament eligibility.

Yeah, I think he's just trying to point out how nice of an arena it will be while prodding Gopher fans at the same time.

(01-18-2023 07:23 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 07:15 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 02:21 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 02:04 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(01-17-2023 09:45 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  We have a lot of hidden gems in D2 and D3 that needs thia type of gift to upgrade their facilities.

List please.

Also, what is the criteria to be a "hidden gem" at the small-college level?

Great. You released the kraken.

I was just ready to comment on that.

I believe this is the first time I’ve seen anyone requesting a David St list!

One day, there will be a museum with an extensive catalog of DavidSt's lists that will rival presidential museums.

Isn't he one of the candidates to be President of the Big 10?!

(01-19-2023 10:47 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

Reusse is a long-time columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Guessing his prediction is based on conversations with leadership at St. Thomas, who no doubt have talked to folks at the Big East office.

UST isn't building a $175M arena to max out in the Missouri Valley Conference with it's mostly low-profile membership.

Gotta figure this means Saint Louis (and Dayton if there's any justice) are on deck for BE membership as well. Very possibly the Zags, too.

5,000 would put them near the bottom of attendance in the MVC.

(01-19-2023 12:18 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 07:23 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 07:15 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 02:21 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 02:04 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  List please.

Also, what is the criteria to be a "hidden gem" at the small-college level?

Great. You released the kraken.

I was just ready to comment on that.

I believe this is the first time I’ve seen anyone requesting a David St list!

One day, there will be a museum with an extensive catalog of DavidSt's lists that will rival presidential museums.

Isn't he one of the candidates to be President of the Big 10?!

According to the #1 source in realignment, Brett McMurphy!

I'd imagine larger basketball games could be played at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, where the Minnesota Wild play. Capacity in just a hair under 18,000. 5,000 does seem a bit small though if the Big East is truly the goal.

I also don't see 2026 as realistic. I'm thinking 2030 at the very earliest if they can sustain competitive success and draw well. I don't know why St. Louis isn't in the Big East or why they went with Creighton in a smaller though wealthier market. But I do think that given the strength of MSP, if St. Thomas can replicate what Creighton was doing making the tournament every other year and a few wins, they'll be in the Big East at some point. If they become the dominant program in the Summit, that will happen that much sooner.

(01-19-2023 12:32 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  I'd imagine larger basketball games could be played at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, where the Minnesota Wild play. Capacity in just a hair under 18,000. 5,000 does seem a bit small though if the Big East is truly the goal.

I also don't see 2026 as realistic. I'm thinking 2030 at the very earliest if they can sustain competitive success and draw well. I don't know why St. Louis isn't in the Big East or why they went with Creighton in a smaller though wealthier market. But I do think that given the strength of MSP, if St. Thomas can replicate what Creighton was doing making the tournament every other year and a few wins, they'll be in the Big East at some point. If they become the dominant program in the Summit, that will happen that much sooner.

The Big East added Creighton, in large part, because the Jays annually rank in the nation's top 20 for attendance in men's home basketball games. Simple as that.

It's hyperbole.

(01-19-2023 10:47 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

Reusse is a long-time columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Guessing his prediction is based on conversations with leadership at St. Thomas, who no doubt have talked to folks at the Big East office.

UST isn't building a $175M arena to max out in the Missouri Valley Conference with it's mostly low-profile membership.

Gotta figure this means Saint Louis (and Dayton if there's any justice) are on deck for BE membership as well. Very possibly the Zags, too.

It's a click-bait hot take from a radio host just like Dan Patrick or Paul Finebaum saying that a conference realignment move "will" happen. Nothing more and nothing less. This isn't a report.

I'm impressed with the St. Thomas plans, but it will be a LOOOOOONG time before St. Thomas is a viable Big East candidate. Once again, this forum seems to weirdly completely underrate the Big East's standards (as "Catholic school in a large market" isn't the sole criteria or else there would be a ton of other schools already in the league who have much longer histories).

(01-19-2023 03:25 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 10:47 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

Reusse is a long-time columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Guessing his prediction is based on conversations with leadership at St. Thomas, who no doubt have talked to folks at the Big East office.

UST isn't building a $175M arena to max out in the Missouri Valley Conference with it's mostly low-profile membership.

Gotta figure this means Saint Louis (and Dayton if there's any justice) are on deck for BE membership as well. Very possibly the Zags, too.

It's a click-bait hot take from a radio host just like Dan Patrick or Paul Finebaum saying that a conference realignment move "will" happen. Nothing more and nothing less. This isn't a report.

I'm impressed with the St. Thomas plans, but it will be a LOOOOOONG time before St. Thomas is a viable Big East candidate. Once again, this forum seems to weirdly completely underrate the Big East's standards (as "Catholic school in a large market" isn't the sole criteria or else there would be a ton of other schools already in the league who have much longer histories).

Yeah, this article gives some context to St. Thomas's vision. I don't want to say that basketball was an afterthought, but it's pretty clear that basketball isn't necessarily what's driving the bus here.

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2023/01/...on-campus/

Esten said UST added basketball to the plan last July after abandoning efforts to build the arena in the Highland Bridge development in Highland Park. Men’s and women’s basketball play on campus at 1,800-capacity Schoenecker Arena, one of the Summit League’s smallest venues. Both teams need more seating to generate additional revenue and attract better non-conference opponents.

“As we pivoted from Highland Bridge and looked at bringing hockey to campus, we looked real hard at whether it would work for basketball as well,” Esten said. “We just thought it made financial sense, and it was economical prudent to double down on that and make sure that those facilities are used in an efficient way.”


Assuming the Summit League can remain stable, I don't think it's necessarily a given that St. Thomas will dominate the conference, either. They will most likely be competing for championships, but SDSU and ORU are making impressive facility improvements and have a history of success, NDSU is usually competitive, and USD has a new arena as well. None of those schools will have to compete with hockey, and they will have the benefit of basketball specific arenas.

SDSU arena renovation
ORU new practice facility

Are they bringing Kansas with them or nah?