My information is that the NYC tournament will be 12/22/98, one night only,
involving UNH, Maine, Colgate and RPI.  My understanding is that two of the
teams (UNH is one of them) will give up a home game for the pleasure of
being in the Big Apple three days before Christmas.
 
As for the likelihood that this thing will draw .  .  .  In my opinion the
chances are nil.  NY is a pro sports town, even college basketball doesn't
sell anymore.  The pre-season NIT, usually involving some of the top hoop
teams in the country, has not been a success.  In addition, I noticed on TV
during the holidays that the ECAC Holiday Festival, which included St.
Johns and Iona (I think) had a ton of empty seats.
 
There has to be some sort of guarantee to the leagues and the schools to
entice them to participate.  The same sort of mindset that produced the
Great Western Freeze Out a few years ago.
 
As for the fans, as much of a fan as *I* am, I will probably not go.  I
think UNH is scheduled to play RPI but I am in no mood (nor is my wallet)
to try to get a hotel room in Manhattan during Christmas season, at $200+
per night.  Nor would I be so presumptuous to impose on friends in the
area, especially during the holiday season.
 
NYC is, unfortunately, a pro sports town now.  College basketball has
dwindled, big time college football hasn't existed in 50 years and college
hockey never did exist so why do the powers that be (and I can't blame this
all on Joe B.) think that they can wow the Big Apple now?  I hope you
scribes that will be at the press conference tomorrow ask this particular
question.
 
Greg Ambrose, UNH '72
GO BLUE!!!
 
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