Notre Dame vs. UK at MSG?

OnUK

Heisman
Jan 13, 2013
24,400
59,572
113
Ugh.

I loved this series set up, but only if the neutral was played somewhere like Louisville or Indianapolis.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,666
62,518
113
Ugh.

I loved this series set up, but only if the neutral was played somewhere like Louisville or Indianapolis.

If you're going to play neutral site games, they shouldn't be played an hour or two away from where local fans get to watch all their games anyways..

NYC (Or Chicago, Atlanta, etc) are big market cities and would give fans in that area a chance to see Kentucky more easily. We don't need more neutral site games near Lexington..
 
  • Like
Reactions: CatfanMike47

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
21,619
0
If you're going to play neutral site games, they shouldn't be played an hour or two away from where local fans get to watch all their games anyways..

NYC (Or Chicago, Atlanta, etc) are big market cities and would give fans in that area a chance to see Kentucky more easily. We don't need more neutral site games near Lexington..
Games in NYC generally don’t draw well unless It’s part of a big time double header. The last 4 single games we have played in NYC outside of big double headers have drawn 10,000, 10,000, 7,500 and 8,000. ND might draw a little bigger crowd, but I’m not sure it will draw much more than Seton Hall did in 2018 (10,000). I live the environment of a single neutral site game at a location between the 2 campuses much better than one far away.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,666
62,518
113
Games in NYC generally don’t draw well unless It’s part of a big time double header. The last 4 single games we have played in NYC outside of big double headers have drawn 10,000, 10,000, 7,500 and 8,000. ND might draw a little bigger crowd, but I’m not sure it will draw much more than Seton Hall did in 2018 (10,000). I live the environment of a single neutral site game at a location between the 2 campuses much better than one far away.

Is that total attendance or just UK? Seton Hall/UK drew nearly 20k, but that was also kind of a home game for Seton Hall. Was that a 4-team double header? Even so, the other two teams, IIRC, were not good.

update: mis-read the attendance

Normally, I'd be fine with a Midwest team/UK playing at a neutral site in the midwest. But Notre Dame is kind of a unique animal. Their fanbase is much more evenly spread throughout the US, and there are TONS of Irish fans up here in the northeast.

I have to believe that game would draw 15k easily at MSG. And it gives the kids a chance to play somewhere storied and unique.
 
Last edited:

Trinity45

All-American
Oct 26, 2005
3,396
5,289
113
College basketball would be better off by getting rid of neutral site games.
I agree, I might drive to Indy for a game, or Nashville, but I am not going to New York to watch a game, we have one of the best arena's in the country yet we never play any one except SEC opponents in it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: drew_ukfan_rivals

bthaunert

Heisman
Apr 4, 2007
29,518
21,619
0
Is that total attendance or just UK? Seton Hall/UK drew nearly 20k, but that was also kind of a home game for Seton Hall. Was that a 4-team double header? Even so, the other two teams, IIRC, were not good.

Normally, I'd be fine with a Midwest team/UK playing at a neutral site in the midwest. But Notre Dame is kind of a unique animal. Their fanbase is much more evenly spread throughout the US, and there are TONS of Irish fans up here in the northeast.

I have to believe that game would draw 15k easily at MSG. And it gives the kids a chance to play somewhere storied and unique.
10,244 was the official attendance. It was about 50% full. I do agree about ND having a large fan base with all the Catholics in the NE.

Those one off neutral site games just usually don’t draw well. Hope I’m wrong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LineSkiCat14

Whoppercat

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2003
2,732
1,176
0
If you're going to play neutral site games, they shouldn't be played an hour or two away from where local fans get to watch all their games anyways..
.
Yeah, the local fans get Utah Valley, Mount St. Mary’s and Lamar. And now you want a halfway decent game, too?
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,666
62,518
113
Yeah, the local fans get Utah Valley, Mount St. Mary’s and Lamar. And now you want a halfway decent game, too?

I'm not sure what you're arguing for.. but the local fans DO get about 20 home games a year. I don't think it's out of the question to have a few neutral site games in bigger venues.. I don't even care if it's a place nowhere near me.. It allows non-local Kentucky fans to get to see their team once in a while and the players might enjoy it.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,666
62,518
113
Cal is doing it for a reason, for recruiting or a player on the team. He always is going to schedule for a reason, it's just we don't know why it is going to be in NYC...

One thing I find myself at odds with our fanbase, is this need to keep everything traditional and the way it is. We want blue hairs in the stands.. we want all our games close to home.. we want to keep the same jerseys... we want to hear 70's bands at BBM..

I've always thought were better served to branch out. And with these lesser universities grabbing all the elite talent, how to we appeal to recruits? Play near their home, offer new jerseys, play in front of their peers, don't play music they don't know.

The education angle is gone.. And Lexington isn't exactly a hot spot.. how do we recruit in the 2020's? This stuff is more important than people think.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RunninRichie

kentucky_wildcat_#1

All-Conference
Aug 23, 2003
33,780
1,041
0
Mike Brey is still coaching Notre Dame? The dude has been the coach there forever it seems and the program is pretty much below average. I would have thought the school would have wanted to actually start to win some games and get rid of Brey and hire a coach that can coach hoops.
 

March 22

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2007
1,142
1,725
0
One thing I find myself at odds with our fanbase, is this need to keep everything traditional and the way it is. We want blue hairs in the stands.. we want all our games close to home.. we want to keep the same jerseys... we want to hear 70's bands at BBM..

I've always thought were better served to branch out. And with these lesser universities grabbing all the elite talent, how to we appeal to recruits? Play near their home, offer new jerseys, play in front of their peers, don't play music they don't know.

The education angle is gone.. And Lexington isn't exactly a hot spot.. how do we recruit in the 2020's? This stuff is more important than people think.


Yeah, but on the other side of the coin you have to have a season ticket product that supports the high ticket cost. I think UK is going to have major problems if they continue on the same course, having most upper echelon games at neutral sites with a big price to pay for a litany of Popcorn State games. They are continuing to take the base for granted, and its going to turn on them rapidly at some point. Also, I don't think many fans want to go to NYC anytime soon for a host of reasons.
 
KSR

Latest

  1. 01 KSR Football Kentucky will be icy-white in College Station
  2. 02 KSR Podcasts 11 Personnel: Kentucky in the NIL Arms Race + Texas A&M Preview
  3. 03 KSR Basketball EvanMiya is high on sophomore Malachi Moreno, ranks Kentucky among preseason top 20
  4. 04 KSR Football Kentucky Preparing For the Storm at Kyle Field
  5. 05 KSR Baseball Commitment Wave: Kentucky baseball's 2028 class is up to nine commits after hot September run