enigmaax;947370 wrote:I don't know if you were still referring to my questions, but just to be clear, I absolutely agree that from a conference's standpoint the competitiveness of an incoming team isn't and probably shouldn't be a huge consideration. My question about how well Rutgers would really do in the B1G (as an example) is strictly from a TV/ratings/market standpoint. Are the ratings they'd pull as a bottom-dweller in the B1G going to benefit the B1G in the NYC market?
If there is a huge disparity between their top games (during the seasons that they were ranked and still in the running for a league title very late in the season) and their normal season, then I wonder how valuable they really are as a representative of the market. I don't know enough about that dynamic to have an opinion on whether they are worth it or not, but it isn't just the fact that they don't win often, it is about what that means to their value to the bottom line.
To be honest enig, I couldn't find the answers you were looking for from your previous post. Not trying to dodge the question, just couldn't find answers lol I am a member of the RU premium board, and posed the questions there..so hopefully I'll get a response. I can't find the ratings from last year (their only down year since 2003), soon as I find them, I'll obviously post them.
I do know that the 5 highest rated games on ESPN in the NY market were:
1) RU-Louisville '06
2) RU-WVU '06
3) OSU-USC '09
4) RU-Cinci '06
5) RU-USF '07
So yes, 3 of the top 5 games were from their best year, which obviously points out the bandwagon mentality of RU's fanbase..and it's something I see on a daily basis--it's frustrating. We sold over 700 tickets to the WVU game last week..then lost to Louisville..this week? 240 tickets.
They did rank in the top 3 in attendance last year in the Big East, a 4-8 season. So it's not like the fans are awful, they just sort of quietly support the program when they're not doing great.
It's not like any RU apologist is going to argue the NY market are huge RU fans...it's simply not. But it WOULD in my opinion get the B1G the NY market. And that is something Delany makes no attempts at covering up-he wants the NY market. If ND joins the B1G, there isn't a better option than Rutgers to be the 14th member. It's not the "sexy" pick, but from a pure business standpoint, how can you say it doesn't strengthen the value of the conference? You have the largest TV market in the country; great academic school (AAU, as well..we all know the B1G's hard-on for AAU schools), great non-football programs, up and coming basketball program, tradition (another B1G value), and a HUGE alumni base.
As for your Big Ten Network question..best thing I could find was a 2010 article that said the NYC market did NOT carry the BTN. It has a contract that only allows it in markets with B1G schools. Whether or not that is true now, I don't know.