Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[BCPanther]

The A10 is NOT the next level.

Thank you!!

The only difference is that we had the audacity to not be located on the East Coast.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Belmont to the A10? Where did this come from? If they moved would an invisible fan base suddenly appear ... and their local media suddenly express any interest? I still suspect that "Belmont University" does not actually exist ... it's an AI simulation

I've been on the hunt for a year that Belmont fans are AI-generated. They have some who show up to Arch Madness, but they interact with NO ONE. They just sit in their seats, are programmed to autoclap after scores, then return to their cars (self-drive Teslas) not to be seen again. I've yet to find anyone who's had a real, human conversation with them. I've tried to get their attention in STL but they have no awareness I exist when I approach them...that can only happen if they're not real humans.

No idea if Elon Musk or another tech mogul is behind it, but something is up.

[Birdfan2018]

Belmont to the A10? Where did this come from? If they moved would an invisible fan base suddenly appear ... and their local media suddenly express any interest? I still suspect that "Belmont University" does not actually exist ... it's an AI simulation

I've been on the hunt for a year that Belmont fans are AI-generated. They have some who show up to Arch Madness, but they interact with NO ONE. They just sit in their seats, are programmed to autoclap after scores, then return to their cars (self-drive Teslas) not to be seen again. I've yet to find anyone who's had a real, human conversation with them. I've tried to get their attention in STL but they have no awareness I exist when I approach them...that can only happen if they're not real humans.

No idea if Elon Musk or another tech mogul is behind it, but something is up.

Maybe they do post on here, but they hide behind screen names that nobody really knows what school they are cheering for?

[Ali]

The A10 is NOT the next level.

Thank you!!

The only difference is that we had the audacity to not be located on the East Coast.

Unfortunately, it is the opinion of the casual college hoops fan that the A10 is a notch above the MVC. History hasn't really proven that out, but perception is reality.

[ReZyNeZy]

The A10 gets more primetime games and Dayton is the play in site. All the casual fan sees is what's on tv. Therefore to the casual fan, the A10 is better because they are on TV more often.

[tribecalledquest]

I don't mean to sound like an ass but who cares what the "casual fan" thinks?

Humans believe all kinds of s*** that isn't true.

[Drakey]

Casual fans have no idea who in any conference other than the conference of their favorite P5 program. They have no idea what D1 is or who is in it other than well known P5s. Most people on this board are hard core fans.

[squirrel]

The A10 is NOT the next level.

Thank you!!

The only difference is that we had the audacity to not be located on the East Coast.

From a basketball perspective, their top team(s) CAN be - Dayton was a bona fide National Championship contender in the COVID-cancelled postseason.

But you are right, in that the difference from a basketball standpoint generally is negligible at worst and a push at best.

However, there are many realities that do separate them.

TV and Revenue: 2023 revenues were $21.3M for the A10 and $13.9M for the Valley. The A10 given their markets and eastern orientation, do benefit from that. They will always have better actual TV (non-streaming) packages, and therefore better advertising revenues.

Budgets: Many would fall out of their chair when they see A10 budgets. Outside of some non-football outliers on the low end of the spectrum, many A10 budgets are double. Even Fordham is knocking on the door of $40M ($39.57M in 2023).

7 schools ahead of the Valley's 2 biggest spenders, Missouri St. and Illinois St. That includes 4 non-football schools and 1 non-scholarship football school.

Then you have 4 more ahead of SIU, the Valley's next biggest spender. And 2 of those are non-football schools.

In total, the Valley has just 3 schools at $20M or over (granted, 3 more are virtually at the $20M mark); none above $30M. The A10 has 5 at $34M or above, 7 at $30M or above, and 12 of their 14 members above $20M. St. Bonaventure and La Salle on the low end in the mid-teens and are among the bottom 4 between both leagues, but ahead of Evansville and Valpo. La Salle is in the process of starting 4 new sports which will increase their expenses to some degree.

With Missouri State exiting the picture, the disparity gets even larger.

National and Global Reach: Members of the A10, for the most part, are better recognized nationally, and have a significantly broader international and global student population. This is important as well, because that is a student population that pays cash as they go. - This is the reason SLU will never return to the Valley, despite mediocre at best athletic performance, and a major enticement for Loyola to continue to build their brand nationally and globally.

[IllinoisState]

Belmont to the A10? Where did this come from? If they moved would an invisible fan base suddenly appear ... and their local media suddenly express any interest? I still suspect that "Belmont University" does not actually exist ... it's an AI simulation

I've been on the hunt for a year that Belmont fans are AI-generated. They have some who show up to Arch Madness, but they interact with NO ONE. They just sit in their seats, are programmed to autoclap after scores, then return to their cars (self-drive Teslas) not to be seen again. I've yet to find anyone who's had a real, human conversation with them. I've tried to get their attention in STL but they have no awareness I exist when I approach them...that can only happen if they're not real humans.

No idea if Elon Musk or another tech mogul is behind it, but something is up.

Maybe they do post on here, but they hide behind screen names that nobody really knows what school they are cheering for?

Guilty.

[PretzelDawg]

Thanks for the info, squirrel. Where do you find your spending numbers?