20/21 Home Game Venue(s)

[Dub]

I hadn't seen this discussed yet.

The PCC manager was interviewed today by Greg & Dan on 1470 to share that the City helped out PCC with $4M to pay off immediate tax debt and to operate on a skeleton crew for 1 year. He was asked about Bradley Basketball and revealed that the first scheduled event with BU Men's bball is scheduled for Jan 3, 2021... which I believe lines up with our first conference home game.

He mentioned that it was undetermined yet regarding fan attendance and/or protocol.

This tells me two main things.

First, BU must be planning to host the non-con home schedule at another venue, presumably RenCol. I'd imagine they are in hot debate as we speak regarding fan attendance for the non-con. On one hand, there is currently an extremely strict Covid protocol right now on campus which may be scaring them away from hosting fans. On the other hand, they surely will not want to reimburse even partial revenue already invoiced / collected from season ticket renewals (like mine). At any rate, BU likely sees this as a way to save some cash vs paying PCC early in the season when fan demand may be low.

Second, it would seem that fans are expected to attend at the start of conference season when the PCC begins to host. Otherwise, why even move to the bigger gym and share the revenue?

Overall, I am encouraged by the news as it seems to point toward my being able to watch in person this season, in some form.

[Da Coach]

Another possibility is that those MVC conference dates are the only ones that are known for certain and are locked in with the Civic Center. Perhaps since the non-conference schedule is still a work in progress, they have not yet set those dates into the PCC calendar, but eventually they will be.
However, I wouldn't blame Bradley is they were entertaining a contingency plan to play non-conference games at the Renaissance Coliseum, especially if they cannot be assured they will be allowed to sell tickets and have fans at games. It would turn into a massive money-losing deal if they had to pay the steep prices for Carver Arena, and not get any of the parking or concessions money.
The state, the city, and the Civic Center people need to get their act together and work out a plan to allow games to be played with fans in the stands, and get back to normal asap or this temporary $4 million taxpayer-funded bailout won't do any good and won't end up saving the place.

[egib52]

The state, the city, and the Civic Center people need to get their act together and work out a plan to allow games to be played with fans in the stands, and get back to normal asap or this temporary $4 million taxpayer-funded bailout won't do any good and won't end up saving the place.

This I 100% agree with. I know this can be constantly said about government as a whole, but the shortsightedness of these plans are ridiculous. At some point there will have to be risk taken as there is in every facet of life, and at some point there needs to be a logical approach to saving facilities around the State. The fact that the City agreed to a $4 million band aid without a plan in place to save the CC is ridiculous. I have no desire to see the CC fail, but I also know that you don't throw money away.

[Tommy]

This I 100% agree with. I know this can be constantly said about government as a whole, but the shortsightedness of these plans are ridiculous. At some point there will have to be risk taken as there is in every facet of life, and at some point there needs to be a logical approach to saving facilities around the State. The fact that the City agreed to a $4 million band aid without a plan in place to save the CC is ridiculous. I have no desire to see the CC fail, but I also know that you don't throw money away.

I agree with every single sentiment in this statement. Well said, egib52.

[Dub]

Another possibility is that those MVC conference dates are the only ones that are known for certain and are locked in with the Civic Center. Perhaps since the non-conference schedule is still a work in progress, they have not yet set those dates into the PCC calendar, but eventually they will be....

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. I would have thought that at least one of the non-con dates had been reaffirmed by now, but maybe not. We'll see, but again I'm just happy to be hearing something more that sounds like basketball being played and watched in person.... this season.