Can some of you Big East fans fill us new members in on what to expect. I know we have been told we will get about 800 tickets per
school which is not many for new members UC and UL. Typically we
were the only schools besides Memphis to use the 250 allotment
minimum in CUSA. UL and UC can bring numbers in the thousands.
UC is gearing its next booster campaign with the goal of being ranked high enough in the membership to get included in this allotment. Are there other tickets available from schools who
do not make the tourney or who have had off seasons? Can you buy any on the streets or from other losers etc very easily in case we have more in our party than the allotment allows us? Do you suggest any specific hotels? We made some at the new Hampton Inn Madison Square Gardens hotel at about 215.00 a night? Is this
about right for what to pay? I know we can stay down near Times
Square for like 279 but then you cannot walk back and forth per say. What about staying outside NYC like in Spring Valley or even in NJ and comuting in? It seems by the time you pay parking it may not be much cheaper...The other thing is we may be able to stay with the team but you never know too far ahead..Do most fly in for the
tourney or drive? If flying which airport is closest? What about seating? Does each school get a variety of seat sections in each level or are they all together in just one block? Any information is
helpful.

BearcatT,
I too am making plans on going to the tournament, and need some info. Did you already make reservations for the hotels, because I was affraid to because I don't know the tourney dates yet.

If you found some great room rates (please) let me know, as for tickets will they even be sold at the Gardens box office or will they go to season ticket holders? I will be there no matter what hope to see you

MoFo, :wave:

MoFoCard Wrote:BearcatT,
I too am making plans on going to the tournament, and need some info. Did you already make reservations for the hotels, because I was affraid to because I don't know the tourney dates yet.

If you found some great room rates (please) let me know, as for tickets will they even be sold at the Gardens box office or will they go to season ticket holders? I will be there no matter what hope to see you

MoFo, :wave:

Reserve away. BTW, if you get tickets and can't go don't worry you'll be able to sell them for a premium. I suggest each new team find a bar near MSG to become your unofficial bar for the tourney.

<a href='http://www.bigeast.org/sports/mbball/champs/future.asp' target='_blank'>FUTURE DATES</a>

We were told there would most likely be no public sale of tickets?
If you take 12 or 16 teams x 800 tickets that does not leave many. I wonder if you get your allotment if your team does not make the top 12 and actually gets to play? You can find the dates on the Big East official website ..I think it says March 8th to 12th. I believe the Big East plays their game on Sat at 6:00 in the evening which basically makes you stay another night. I like the game time better but it was nice to leave the CUSA tourney by 2:00 on Sat. so you could get home and get organized for selection Sunday and th trip the next week. I'm afraid it would be tough to fly out Sat night late? I found that new Hampton Inn Madison Gardens to be somewhat affordable. It looks like several of the very large hotels
right around the Garden are saying sold out probably blocked by the Big East for the teams etc. I was told it is about a ten minute walk from the hotels around Time Square. We were
also told we would have to buy from the allotment in November not like mid to late Jan in CUSA.

Bearcat T Wrote:Can some of you Big East fans fill us new members in on what to expect. I know we have been told we will get about 800 tickets per
school which is not many for new members UC and UL. Typically we
were the only schools besides Memphis to use the 250 allotment
minimum in CUSA. UL and UC can bring numbers in the thousands.
UC is gearing its next booster campaign with the goal of being ranked high enough in the membership to get included in this allotment. Are there other tickets available from schools who
do not make the tourney or who have had off seasons? Can you buy any on the streets or from other losers etc very easily in case we have more in our party than the allotment allows us? Do you suggest any specific hotels? We made some at the new Hampton Inn Madison Square Gardens hotel at about 215.00 a night? Is this
about right for what to pay? I know we can stay down near Times
Square for like 279 but then you cannot walk back and forth per say. What about staying outside NYC like in Spring Valley or even in NJ and comuting in? It seems by the time you pay parking it may not be much cheaper...The other thing is we may be able to stay with the team but you never know too far ahead..Do most fly in for the
tourney or drive? If flying which airport is closest? What about seating? Does each school get a variety of seat sections in each level or are they all together in just one block? Any information is
helpful.

Stay in the City...No need to stay in NJ.

One of the benefits of playing at the Garden is that you can STAY in NYC and enjoy everything the City has to offer.

If you can find a very nice clean hotel for $200...that's a pretty good deal.

Most "Business/Full-Service Hotels" charge around @280-$400 a night...but if you don't need all the services (i.e. several restaurants/bars/meeting rooms, etc..) don't pay for it.

Plus...enjoy all the CITY Bars/Restaurants instead of "chain" bars/restaurants in major hotels like Marriott, etc.

Enjoy!! Smart to plan ahead!

KL

PS. Because of all the Sponsorship to this Tournament (they get almost 1/2 the tickets), that is why there aren't any left for the "public" to buy.

But one can usually find single tix are very good prices to most sessions...plus...further into the Tourn you go....you buy tix QUICKLY from those that just lost. Never a problem.