REPORT: Murray to the Valley?

[RacerJoeD]

Murray needs the MVC, the MVC doesn’t need Murray. Maybe it’s just that simple. The MVC can afford to wait and choose who they want, they are in the driver’s seat. People may as well forget all the grassy knoll theories, it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

This was one of the things that was said among OVC fans at different times. It was said when the OVC passed on Northern Kentucky, Bellarmine, Lipscomb, and who knows what others. I hope you don’t find yourself in that same situation, because complacency is dangerous.

[RacerJoeD]

With all due respect to “markets” and those who think they’re important to a conference whose teams barely make a media or viewership dent in their existing markets, Belmont over Murray, if that turns out to be the case, was a stupid add. Murray has proven the ability to sustain success over multiple decades and multiple head coaches, while the jury is still out on Belmont’s long term viability. Both schools would be a great package, but Belmont without Murray is short sighted. A bad decision without more of a track record sans Rick Byrd.

But when leaving important decisions to university presidents, one is likely to get stupid decisions.

Markets matter a ton, especially to University presidents. It's all about prospective students for general University enrollment and getting your University visibility in major markets where there are exponentially more people is incredibly beneficial. That's why I think we're much more likely to see an Arlington or a Little Rock or someone we haven't even discussed than Murray. It's also the reason SLU chooses to be the outlier in the A10.

As for your Belmont take. Woof, man, woof.

You all are aware of my biases here so I won’t repeat them.

Here is the “market for students” problem with expansion. In their best years, Belmont gets no recognition in Nashville media. I would bet that there are people who live less than 20 miles away from the Curb Event Center who aren’t aware that Belmont is in Tennessee. I believe Belmont is a great add for the mvc, but it has nothing to do with the city it’s in. Really it’s more in spite of their location. Because they will help get more MVC games on national television. That’s where you can actually get the name of your school exposure to large audiences. Playing road games in Nashville won’t increase your exposure to new students. Probably won’t do much to increase your exposure to current Belmont students. The key should be to get games on TV. Get talked about on national media.

[Murraygrad05]

Has anyone considered the fact that maybe there is not anymore fan support than what currently exists is because Belmont plays in the OVC? Who wants to waste time and money watching low majors?

Well if that was the case we wouldn’t be averaging 4,500 a game and have sold out our arena on numerous occasions despite it being against OVC teams the past few years.

Belmont, even in the years that we played them in the OVC final in Nashville, brought maybe, MAYBE a couple hundred fans. And Vince Gill. Any way you want to sugar coat the fan base its just not there. How many fans have posted here? Try to find a board for fans for them.

I have nothing against the add of Belmont due to the fact they are a very good team and always have been a thorn in our side. But, to say it’s due to market expansion is just dumb.

[tribecalledquest]

Belmont was added because it has been very good at basketball recently and fits the academic profile some of the league Presidents wanted. It's that simple.

[30ASaluki]

Has anyone considered the fact that maybe there is not anymore fan support than what currently exists is because Belmont plays in the OVC? Who wants to waste time and money watching low majors?

Well if that was the case we wouldn’t be averaging 4,500 a game and have sold out our arena on numerous occasions despite it being against OVC teams the past few years.

Belmont, even in the years that we played them in the OVC final in Nashville, brought maybe, MAYBE a couple hundred fans. And Vince Gill. Any way you want to sugar coat the fan base its just not there. How many fans have posted here? Try to find a board for fans for them.

I have nothing against the add of Belmont due to the fact they are a very good team and always have been a thorn in our side. But, to say it’s due to market expansion is just dumb.

Uhh, so is there a SEC team in Murray, think Vanderbilt, where basketball fans can go watch teams other than SIUE, TN State, Tech, (and apparently Murray) and you just go ahead and fill in the blanks with the other +300 teams in your pathetic conference? There are a few other options for basketball fans in Nashville.

[racernation]

Has anyone considered the fact that maybe there is not anymore fan support than what currently exists is because Belmont plays in the OVC? Who wants to waste time and money watching low majors?

Well if that was the case we wouldn’t be averaging 4,500 a game and have sold out our arena on numerous occasions despite it being against OVC teams the past few years.

Belmont, even in the years that we played them in the OVC final in Nashville, brought maybe, MAYBE a couple hundred fans. And Vince Gill. Any way you want to sugar coat the fan base its just not there. How many fans have posted here? Try to find a board for fans for them.

I have nothing against the add of Belmont due to the fact they are a very good team and always have been a thorn in our side. But, to say it’s due to market expansion is just dumb.

Uhh, so is there a SEC team in Murray, think Vanderbilt, where basketball fans can go watch teams other than SIUE, TN State, Tech, (and apparently Murray) and you just go ahead and fill in the blanks with the other +300 teams in your pathetic conference? There are a few other options for basketball fans in Nashville.

I realize you received your "education" from SIU, so I'll forgive you for the incoherence of this post. Not sure what you're trying to say here.

[Murraygrad05]

Has anyone considered the fact that maybe there is not anymore fan support than what currently exists is because Belmont plays in the OVC? Who wants to waste time and money watching low majors?

Well if that was the case we wouldn’t be averaging 4,500 a game and have sold out our arena on numerous occasions despite it being against OVC teams the past few years.

Belmont, even in the years that we played them in the OVC final in Nashville, brought maybe, MAYBE a couple hundred fans. And Vince Gill. Any way you want to sugar coat the fan base its just not there. How many fans have posted here? Try to find a board for fans for them.

I have nothing against the add of Belmont due to the fact they are a very good team and always have been a thorn in our side. But, to say it’s due to market expansion is just dumb.

Uhh, so is there a SEC team in Murray, think Vanderbilt, where basketball fans can go watch teams other than SIUE, TN State, Tech, (and apparently Murray) and you just go ahead and fill in the blanks with the other +300 teams in your pathetic conference? There are a few other options for basketball fans in Nashville.

Yep you got me. I can see it now. There will be standing room only at the Curb Center when Indiana State or even SIU rolls in to town.

[SalukiWorld]

I think Belmont's lack of fan support has more to do with the fact that they're still relatively new for D1 Basketball. Their first year in D1 was 1996 and their first NCAA Tournament was 2005-06. Every school in the MVC has some kind of past history where a fanbase has been around and growing for decades.

[MolineRacer]

The simple truth is that in nashville absolutely no one gives a crap about basketball. This town is football 24/7. I’ve lived here for 15 years. Basketball, no matter who’s playing, is barely an afterthought here.

[Mikovio]

With all due respect to Murray, money talks. Belmont was fortunate to have a Rick Byrd yes, but they kept Byrd because they paid him a million dollar salary. Casey Alexander is being paid $800K. So while they don't have thousands of fans buying $5 tickets, their deep pocket donors make up for that and will help keep them humming at an elite level no matter how many casual fans walk through the turnstiles. Give me Belmont over the poverty programs who cycle through coaches and cross their fingers they don't go bust. The big market is the icing as I'm sure it helps TV deal negotiations.