the myth of ESPN and UNCC

I keep reading in another place that ESPN regional is our saving grace in the conference realignment. From what I have been told, that is completely false. Yes Charlotte has a 1.5 million+ tv market, but our games don't even make money on 64 because the ratings suck in this market. I know who the source of this espn/judy floated scenario is a good one historically, but other sources say it doesn't mean squat. Don't fool yourself into thinking and hoping that ESPN regional will get us into some super basketball conference.

Don't get me wrong, that relationship is great and got us a mediocre Xmas tourny, but it isn't strong enough to sway the schools who will ultimately vote on it's members.

 

Thanks for reading

Interesting that you get still go over to cusa-talk.com for your inside information. Feel free to spread the good Niner word over here. It's all about the program, afterall. The Charlotte people here need to know. Keep up the good work.

 

lefty,
it is ok to spread "not good" 49er info. posting nothing but cheerleading posts is not beneficial to anyboady. you think that a message board is a place to air only clean laundry, and I don't see it that way. Some stuff doesn't need to get out, I agree. But this idea of only posting positive news only hurts your credibility, IMO. and as far as getting inside info on another board, save it, it's called a telephone, plus believe it or not, there are insiders here.

btw, don't act innocent in all this, you sent pm's out insulting the c-usa board saying that it is hard to find, has a low profile, and that some more popular outlets/boards were needed badly.

 

In the end this may be correct, but ESPN does like us. If it weren't for Judy pressing and ESPN's back up our new commissioner would have given our yearly ESPN game with Cincy to Memphis. Both Judy and ESPN said no way, hence we are there again.

 

Our connection with ESPN Regional would be shaky at best. They are what was once the Creative Sports Marketing group which was owned by Bray Cary, the former Asst. Commish of the Sun Belt. He was tight with Rose and Mullins in the late Sun Belt and Metro days. ESPN bough him out and ESPN regional was born. He is now working for NASCAR as some sort of television/media guru I think.

Just because their offices are in Charlotte don't help us much, if any IMO.

 

mk, I am not knocking the espn/uncc relationship, it is a GREAT thing, and I agree that it kept other schools from getting the tourny, but my only point is that it is completely irrelevant when it comes time to conference realignment, as that argument is being floated elsewhere.

 

I think it can go either way. It depends on if a potential conference wants to invest in our potential or not. They would definently want some presence down here, even though it is in the heart of ACC country. i'm sure they would't be kidding themselves as to how much market they could pull but having a foot in down here can open the door to bigger things.

I think if conference expansion shakes out the have's will be looking at the present and the revenue. The have not's will be looking at the future and potential revenue.

 

Re: Re: the myth of ESPN and UNCC

They like us for that 9:30 game slot for sure. The Cincy game last season was a rarity for the early game.

 

Mediocre is the nicest thing I've ever heard said about that tourney. What a letdown.

 

More outlets

The more the merrier, I say. Hopefully, the Charlotte area tbr people will check out a game thanks to the new 49er board. That's why I asked LarryD about the demographics here.

As far a cusa-talk.com goes, I've discussed my concerns with the mods and mac in an effort to improve the board and get more members.

The Charlotte market certainly doesn't hurt us and there is proof that ESPN likes us. 14 out of 16 winning seasons, 5 NCAA appearances in the last 8 years, big city, up and coming University. We've got to promote what we got.