MVC looking at ways to avoid shot-clock problems at ends of games

[Da Coach]

The MVC spring meetings begin today in Kansas City.
Among the top issues the MVC and Comissioner Doug Elgin are considering is looking at ways to avoid shot-clock problems at ends of games--

http://www.kansas.com/sports/shockers/story/815850.html

The MVC is actually in the minority of conferences that do not use a wireless system to start and stop the clock which could lower the chances of error in the final minutes of games.

Other issues to be discussed include cost-cutting issues. Could the MVC go back to a system that only allows the top 8 teams to qualify for the MVC tournament, and eliminate the "play-in games" and the extra day for the tournament?

[BradleyBrave]

The MVC spring meetings begin today in Kansas City.
Among the top issues the MVC and Comissioner Doug Elgin are considering is looking at ways to avoid shot-clock problems at ends of games--

http://www.kansas.com/sports/shockers/story/815850.html

The MVC is actually in the minority of conferences that do not use a wireless system to start and stop the clock which could lower the chances of error in the final minutes of games.

Other issues to be discussed include cost-cutting issues. Could the MVC go back to a system that only allows the top 8 teams to qualify for the MVC tournament, and eliminate the "play-in games" and the extra day for the tournament?

Are the play-in games financial losers? More games means more ticket sales, more concession sales, and more merchandise sales. Is that being offset by the cost of renting the Scottrade Center and paying the officials? I would think that the MVC is locked into a contract with the Scottrade Center that has the place rented from Thursday to Sunday, but I don't know the details.

[Da Coach]

I don't know, but I suspect they are money-losers. The fact that it is mentioned as a possibility suggests the play-in games do lose money. In addition to renting the Scottrade Center for an extra day, there are extra costs of transportation and lodging for the 2 extra teams, as well as the costs of bringing all the other support staff, officials, and others to St. Louis for an extra day.

[BradleyBrave]

I don't know, but I suspect they are money-losers. The fact that it is mentioned as a possibility suggests the play-in games do lose money. In addition to renting the Scottrade Center for an extra day, there are extra costs of transportation and lodging for the 2 extra teams, as well as the costs of bringing all the other support staff, officials, and others to St. Louis for an extra day.

Interesting. I am guessing that in past years where attendance was up for Friday-Sunday, that the losses on Thursday were more than covered. With attendance and all-session tickets having such a huge decline this year, I could see those Thursday game losses sticking out. FWIW, I hope they keep them. I quite enjoy going down to St. Louis a day early and catching some Valley hoops on a Thursday night...just as long as my team isn't playing.

[Rusty 54]

I like that every team in the MVC is in the Conference Tournament. FWIW.

Do AD's go to these meetings? If the do, maybe House-Browning can lobby Elgin to give us isu and Creighton at home when students aren't on break

[SFP]

Cutting expenses is nice but if they cut into the Valley's ability to reach more people then what is the use in the long run. What they need to do is reach a minimum standard from each in every school on what they are bringing to the conference. It is a shame that CU, BU, WSU and SIU have to subsidize the rest of the conference for the most part year in and year out. If you are not contributing to the positive bottom line of the conference then you should not be put on TV. That $27K a game should be for the schools that have the fan support on a consistant bases that pay the MVC's bills. There are some schools that consistantly drag the overall quality of the Valley down and someone needs the b@lls to address this.

[real fan]

The thurs. night play-in games should be eliminated , if you don"t finish in the top 8 you have no business playing in any tour. at the end of the season.

[Double D]

Part of the questions becomes how they sell advance tickets to schools who may not make the tournament. I am sure when teams that travel well to the tournament (Wichita State) and sell a lot of advance tickets, having that team not make the tourney would be a train wreck.

[SFP]

Part of the questions becomes how they sell advance tickets to schools who may not make the tournament. I am sure when teams that travel well to the tournament (Wichita State) and sell a lot of advance tickets, having that team not make the tourney would be a train wreck.

The way to work this is to make every school purchase a minimum amount of tickets! PERIOD. What they do with them is their problem and then the question of financial viability of the play in game goes away. Right now the profitability of the tournament is on the backs of a few schools fan base. Why should WSU be subsidizing Evansville? If they cannot generate the fan base to economically compete in the MVC then they should look elsewhere. Right now they can continue to make a small investment in their program and continue to sponge off the other programs. Is there any type of metric used by the MVC in order to gage the competent of a program in this league. Even the DOW Jones replaces corporation from their listing if they do meet certain standards.

[leebiddlecome]

Not that the will ask me but I have no problem getting rid of the play in games. It makes the 7/8 seeds fresher for the first round if they don't have to play the night before.

[it's boogie time]

I like the advantage the 1 and 2 seeds get because of the play-in games. It's a reward for finishing in the top two spots. It also makes the difference between 6th and 7th place bigger.