tonight's games in the MVC (11/19)

[Cdizzle]

According to Nielsen, the Chicago media market is third largest in the US with 7,910,200 people over the age of 12. The second largest media market in the current MVC is Des Moines, at 73rd in the country, with 682,600 people 12 years or older. That's 1/12 as many people as Chicago. Wichita, at 101st in the country with 499,700 people over the age of 12, is third. So Chicago is almost 16x the size of the third largest market in the league. The Chicago media market has MORE THAN DOUBLE the number of people of the other 9 MVC metro areas COMBINED.

When it comes to eyeballs (not to mention average expendable income-- where the Chicago area exceeds every other market in the current MVC by 20% or more), adding a team in the Chicago area suddenly makes the MVC a TV-worthy league. I think it's already apparent that between the ESPN networks and ComcastSportsNet out of Chicago, the MVC is getting a lot more coverage. So what's the big, misplaced fuss about schools having to draw 6000+?

UCLA's Pauly Pavilion seated a maximum of 9200 people before its recent renovation. St. Joseph University's gym seats 4200. Loyola just recently played Tulane, whose gym seats 3600 and is rarely filled. Attendance is important, but it is not the ultimate key to success.

Are you really comparing the 9200 of UCLA to 1300? Do you really want to be Tulane? Not exactly a powerhouse program.

I wonder, with all the millions of people in the area and receiving news about Loyola athletics, why none of them attend Loyola basketball games? Say it doesn't matter all you want, but nobody wants to play D1 ball in a gym with 1800 people in it.

Tokyo has a metro population of 36 million, perhaps the Valley should have added a team from there.

So far the only reasonable conclusion I can draw from the data you've provided is that the Chicago media market of some 8 million is so well informed by their media outlets they know not to attend a Loyola basketball game. Which is fine, that's worked well for Chicago for a long time. But now Loyola is associated with the Valley, and that kind of perception in a broad media market seems to be the opposite of what we're going for.

[saluki762]

I wonder, with all the millions of people in the area and receiving news about Loyola athletics, why none of them attend Loyola basketball games? Say it doesn't matter all you want, but nobody wants to play D1 ball in a gym with 1800 people in it.

Tokyo has a metro population of 36 million, perhaps the Valley should have added a team from there.

So far the only reasonable conclusion I can draw from the data you've provided is that the Chicago media market of some 8 million is so well informed by their media outlets they know not to attend a Loyola basketball game. Which is fine, that's worked well for Chicago for a long time. But now Loyola is associated with the Valley, and that kind of perception in a broad media market seems to be the opposite of what we're going for.

With the start of conference play the Valley will see a big bump in Chicago coverage with the addition of Loyola. Especially for the top teams in the conference, the games will be covered by media. The large number of Valley alumni in the market will help this. Loyola was a good long term add, to think that 4 games into their first Valley season that they would have a huge attendance spike and spike in media coverage is crazy. If that was anyone's expectation, you were setting the bar way, way to high and were set up for disappointment.

[agrinut]

The problem with the Loyola addition is they bring exactly 0 of the Chicago market. Sure they have a massive MSA but what percentage of the market gives a rip. Every other team in the league dominates thier market, Loyola can't get more than 1300 to a game, most high schools draw that. It is a shame the league has to be drug down like that.

[Cdizzle]

I wonder, with all the millions of people in the area and receiving news about Loyola athletics, why none of them attend Loyola basketball games? Say it doesn't matter all you want, but nobody wants to play D1 ball in a gym with 1800 people in it.

Tokyo has a metro population of 36 million, perhaps the Valley should have added a team from there.

So far the only reasonable conclusion I can draw from the data you've provided is that the Chicago media market of some 8 million is so well informed by their media outlets they know not to attend a Loyola basketball game. Which is fine, that's worked well for Chicago for a long time. But now Loyola is associated with the Valley, and that kind of perception in a broad media market seems to be the opposite of what we're going for.

With the start of conference play the Valley will see a big bump in Chicago coverage with the addition of Loyola. Especially for the top teams in the conference, the games will be covered by media. The large number of Valley alumni in the market will help this. Loyola was a good long term add, to think that 4 games into their first Valley season that they would have a huge attendance spike and spike in media coverage is crazy. If that was anyone's expectation, you were setting the bar way, way to high and were set up for disappointment.

I think it's pretty clear that a lot of us have set the bar way, way higher than Elgin.

[TylerDurden]

According to Nielsen, the Chicago media market is third largest in the US with 7,910,200 people over the age of 12. The second largest media market in the current MVC is Des Moines, at 73rd in the country, with 682,600 people 12 years or older. That's 1/12 as many people as Chicago. Wichita, at 101st in the country with 499,700 people over the age of 12, is third. So Chicago is almost 16x the size of the third largest market in the league. The Chicago media market has MORE THAN DOUBLE the number of people of the other 9 MVC metro areas COMBINED.

When it comes to eyeballs (not to mention average expendable income-- where the Chicago area exceeds every other market in the current MVC by 20% or more), adding a team in the Chicago area suddenly makes the MVC a TV-worthy league. I think it's already apparent that between the ESPN networks and ComcastSportsNet out of Chicago, the MVC is getting a lot more coverage. So what's the big, misplaced fuss about schools having to draw 6000+?

UCLA's Pauly Pavilion seated a maximum of 9200 people before its recent renovation. St. Joseph University's gym seats 4200. Loyola just recently played Tulane, whose gym seats 3600 and is rarely filled. Attendance is important, but it is not the ultimate key to success.

Other than the Neilsen numbers, this is complete nonsense.

The MVC had the TV deals you mentioned in place long before Loyola was even considered for membership. So, no, it's not getting a lot more coverage all of a sudden because of Loyola. I do believe in the future that market will pay dividends because the MVC has a nice TV base to work from, but that remains to be seen, doesn't it? It's not like the Horizon League had a TV deal at all, outside of covering it's league championship game...and they are in huge markets.

You're absolutely correct about the size of the media market and how it dwarfs the other MVC media markets. But let's be clear: Chicago is a pro market and Loyola isn't currently getting an amount of coverage in local newspapers or TV to make anyone jump for joy. Will those entities cover MVC games? Will they make the front page?

As for the attendance, people care about basketball in this league and when they see a school lacking that same commitment, they get riled up. Loyola, in most folks eyes, isn't anywhere close.

I understand it's still early and this is a new level for Loyola's basketball, but people are impatient. I think Loyola can be a great long-term addition...but they have a lot of work to do. Don't kid yourself. If Loyola remains at the level they are, it wasn't a good addition. At its current level, it's a non-factor in Chicago media and the MVC.

[TylerDurden]

I wonder, with all the millions of people in the area and receiving news about Loyola athletics, why none of them attend Loyola basketball games? Say it doesn't matter all you want, but nobody wants to play D1 ball in a gym with 1800 people in it.

Tokyo has a metro population of 36 million, perhaps the Valley should have added a team from there.

So far the only reasonable conclusion I can draw from the data you've provided is that the Chicago media market of some 8 million is so well informed by their media outlets they know not to attend a Loyola basketball game. Which is fine, that's worked well for Chicago for a long time. But now Loyola is associated with the Valley, and that kind of perception in a broad media market seems to be the opposite of what we're going for.

With the start of conference play the Valley will see a big bump in Chicago coverage with the addition of Loyola. Especially for the top teams in the conference, the games will be covered by media. The large number of Valley alumni in the market will help this. Loyola was a good long term add, to think that 4 games into their first Valley season that they would have a huge attendance spike and spike in media coverage is crazy. If that was anyone's expectation, you were setting the bar way, way to high and were set up for disappointment.

I think it's pretty clear that a lot of us have set the bar way, way higher than Elgin.

Also nonsense.

[Cdizzle]

I think it's pretty clear that a lot of us have set the bar way, way higher than Elgin.

Also nonsense.

When you accept mediocrity, it is the best you will get. Hope you enjoy it.

[TylerDurden]

I think it's pretty clear that a lot of us have set the bar way, way higher than Elgin.

Also nonsense.

When you accept mediocrity, it is what you will get. Hope you enjoy it.

Because you can't see beyond the end of your nose does not mean others cannot.

WSU fans should thank Elgin every single day for doing what he has for WSU and its basketball program.

[Cdizzle]

Because you can't see beyond the end of your nose does not mean others cannot.

WSU fans should thank Elgin every single day for doing what he has for WSU and its basketball program.

Obviously I'm uninformed. Could you provide a list so my thank you is specific enough?

[saluki762]

Because you can't see beyond the end of your nose does not mean others cannot.

WSU fans should thank Elgin every single day for doing what he has for WSU and its basketball program.

Obviously I'm uninformed. Could you provide a list so my thank you is specific enough?

If you need a list to understand what Elgin has done for the Valley, it is obvious that you haven't watched much Valley basketball since 1988.