Future Basketball Success Hinges on Football

[jjw23]

Steve,
Is there any fundraising campaigns specifically targeted for stadium improvements beyond putting lipstick on a pig? I feel like if such an announcement would take place then ticket sales would increase now.

jjw23, I have posted this a few places, but there is both a short term 10-12M McGuirk improvement and a 50+M. With UMass at the bond limit, think this is how it needs to be done and will repost a prior post and the thread link.
Think this RFP with private partnership, could be a way UMass eventual completes the McGuirk long term upgrade. Quoting from above.

We have developed a master plan for McGuirk that includes short-term (next 1-2 years) investments of an additional $10-12M and long-term (8-10 years) investments ($50M+) that will update and modernize the facility. With many of the important health and safety projects either completed or in-process, our primary objective with any short-or-long-term stadium project is to upgrade the fan experience.

Here is an RFP for modernizing campus housing and will link it and include some interesting quotes. https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/umass ... -housing/?

Newmark, a leading commercial real estate advisory firm, will manage the procurement process. The procurement is designed to devise responsible and creative mixed-use plans to strategically renovate and/or expand the flagship campus’ existing housing stock to meet diverse affordability needs; integrate sustainable design; enhance infrastructure supporting the academic and campus life experience for students, faculty and staff; and ease regional pressures for undergraduate, graduate and non-student housing.
...
The proposal process opened Jan. 22, 2025. This RFP is the first step in exploring what public-private partnership opportunities may be available to the university as it implements its 10-year strategic plan.

This link spells out the football vision, strategy, goals, scheduling, NIL and dollar commitments. We are no longer trying to do more with less and investing in football!
https://csnbbs.com/thread-1003706.html

[eldonabe]

Don’t understand this big hit for the bball team. They have been mediocre to bad for a decade. The A10 is not what it was. FM has not turned the program around and will need to rebuild the roster yet again. Its a big win next year if they can win the MAC title and get that auto bid.

Yes - winning the conference and making the tourney would be a huge win.... As I have said previously - I would be content (maybe not quite happy) for a top 8 and MAC tourney appearance.


What makes you think they can do that - other than that they have a 1 in 12 chance? I read your post as you have some level of confidence that it will happen?

[stevemaz]

The next three years are extremely imortant as we try to thread the needle to relevance. There is 100% chance that players are going to be paid substantially by the schools directly and the collectives will be banned as they are basically legalized cheating. I think UMass will decide to join the top tier of programs with this investment. We are going to see salary caps, signed contracts, trades,etc..the genie is out of the bottle. Football will be the first sport that is peeled off from the NCAA, to be followed by Men's BB, Women's BBall, and others. For example, 5 years ago nobody could ever imagine an 18 year old point guard who plays for Georgia being traded to Michigan, but that is going to happen. It sucks, especially for us grumpy old, well older, guys.

[eldonabe]

The next three years are extremely imortant as we try to thread the needle to relevance. There is 100% chance that players are going to be paid substantially by the schools directly and the collectives will be banned as they are basically legalized cheating. I think UMass will decide to join the top tier of programs with this investment. We are going to see salary caps, signed contracts, trades,etc..the genie is out of the bottle. Football will be the first sport that is peeled off from the NCAA, to be followed by Men's BB, Women's BBall, and others. For example, 5 years ago nobody could ever imagine an 18 year old point guard who plays for Georgia being traded to Michigan, but that is going to happen. It sucks, especially for us grumpy old, well older, guys.

Steve - there is no question the NIL thing is here to stay, but there is no way the the Collectives go away.

You take that away - things revert to the old days when everything when there was none of that going on wink-wink. It is best to keep it out in the open.

[Bob1975]

I think you can look at this year's NCAA tournament and clearly see that basketball success follows footbal. The SEC is now the premier conference in basketball, with the Big 10 close behind. The mid-majors are done and can no longer compete. With football money you have more NIL dollars for other sports, and money now attracts the best players. In today's world, Dr J and Marcus Cambey would be gone after their freshman year.

It's only a matter of time before Basketball and Football separate into a separate division made up of the power 2 schools and a few ACC and Big 12 teams. The best thing UMASS can do is position themselves for the future. In the second tier league you will still need football money for success.

Given all this, the MAC was the best possible move for us.

Maybe it will all play out, UCONN, BC, Syracuse get left out of the tier one conference, and we can eventually return to a regional conference. Hockey East for all sports makes sense geographically, and it would make for a nice basketball conference: UConn, Umass, BC, Providence, Vermont not bad for the top of the conference

[InnervisionsUMASS]

In today's world, Dr J and Marcus Cambey would be gone after their freshman year.

We might still be able to keep Marcus Cambey... not sure we'd be able to keep Marcus Camby again, though.

[Steve81]

Steve,
Is there any fundraising campaigns specifically targeted for stadium improvements beyond putting lipstick on a pig? I feel like if such an announcement would take place then ticket sales would increase now.

jjw, did not want to answer this, but to say nothing would leave people to image their is no real plan. Secondly don't consider 10-12 M as lipstick on a pig. The game atmosphere at a UMass football game is so satisfying that despite the stadium size and our record over the past decade plus, we have over 12k people attending. Image if we can win the opener with Temple. The administration better be prepared with SRO tickets for homecoming. Lastly, when some tells you things in confidence, you never betray that confidence. Especially if it is from someone that you respect, enjoy immensely the sort visits at events, and an immense fan of UMass Athletics.

So what I will say is that the Bostonrealestatetimes article is the key. It would have to be through a public-private partnership as stated in an earlier article that I have posted.

I ask you not to pry, doubt, feel resentment for knowing more; but to draw from that little kid inside of you. To believe, have faith and the joy of excitement that something is coming, even thou you have no idea of specifics beyond your wild excitement and imagination.

[eldonabe]

Given all this, the MAC was the best possible move for us.

Technically you are correct - but the reality is that was our ONLY choice.... and frankly one (of a number of) reasons I want Ryan Bamford gone.

The guy came in with a mandate to get Umass into another football division. 9 fucking years as an Independent, then we have to crawl back to the same conference we left which is now much weaker than it was when we originally left - and we have to accept that as the "best possible move".

Fuck..... just fuck!

[stevemaz]

The next three years are extremely imortant as we try to thread the needle to relevance. There is 100% chance that players are going to be paid substantially by the schools directly and the collectives will be banned as they are basically legalized cheating. I think UMass will decide to join the top tier of programs with this investment. We are going to see salary caps, signed contracts, trades,etc..the genie is out of the bottle. Football will be the first sport that is peeled off from the NCAA, to be followed by Men's BB, Women's BBall, and others. For example, 5 years ago nobody could ever imagine an 18 year old point guard who plays for Georgia being traded to Michigan, but that is going to happen. It sucks, especially for us grumpy old, well older, guys.

Steve - there is no question the NIL thing is here to stay, but there is no way the the Collectives go away.

You take that away - things revert to the old days when everything when there was none of that going on wink-wink. It is best to keep it out in the open.

They will be gone..full fledged sports leagues.. to circle back to my original nutso proposal from 2014.. we end up with the remnants of the Big Ten and win National Title in 2034..LOL Massachusetts is easily in the top 5 wealthiest states..maybe #3.. the reason why we have a chance..

[stevemaz]

To quote the great Morpheus.."Free your mind" I am either a visionary or a nut

[Steve81]

Given all this, the MAC was the best possible move for us.

Technically you are correct - but the reality is that was our ONLY choice.... and frankly one (of a number of) reasons I want Ryan Bamford gone.

The guy came in with a mandate to get Umass into another football division. 9 fucking years as an Independent, then we have to crawl back to the same conference we left which is now much weaker than it was when we originally left - and we have to accept that as the "best possible move".

Fuck..... just fuck!

No it was not the only choice. CUSA waited for our decision As we went well with Delaware. Then they went with their fall back and invited Missouri State. To be clear, CUSA wanted us and we chose the MAC. (Delaware wanted the MAC, but when they reached out to the MAC, before we communicated our interest, were told not now.)

[eldonabe]

Given all this, the MAC was the best possible move for us.

Technically you are correct - but the reality is that was our ONLY choice.... and frankly one (of a number of) reasons I want Ryan Bamford gone.

The guy came in with a mandate to get Umass into another football division. 9 fucking years as an Independent, then we have to crawl back to the same conference we left which is now much weaker than it was when we originally left - and we have to accept that as the "best possible move".

Fuck..... just fuck!

No it was not the only choice. CUSA waited for our decision As we went well with Delaware. Then they went with their fall back and invited Missouri State. To be clear, CUSA wanted us and we chose the MAC. (Delaware wanted the MAC, but when they reached out to the MAC, before we communicated our interest, were told not now.)

And (assuming you have knowledge we all do not and it's true) who exactly does all of the above idiocy fall on? MAC with Delaware is better for us than MAC without.


CUSA is not a great conference either, but there is a ton more potential there for Umass.

Fuck..... just fuck!

[InnervisionsUMASS]

No it was not the only choice. CUSA waited for our decision As we went well with Delaware. Then they went with their fall back and invited Missouri State. To be clear, CUSA wanted us and we chose the MAC. (Delaware wanted the MAC, but when they reached out to the MAC, before we communicated our interest, were told not now.)

Citations needed.

[Steve81]

No it was not the only choice. CUSA waited for our decision As we went well with Delaware. Then they went with their fall back and invited Missouri State. To be clear, CUSA wanted us and we chose the MAC. (Delaware wanted the MAC, but when they reached out to the MAC, before we communicated our interest, were told not now.)

Citations needed.

To bad, your not getting something that tighten up neatly.

Look at the timing of when the MAC presidents voted at the end of February and when CUSA final sent out the invite to Missouri State. Or the Atlantic reporting or the local news paper "Report says Missouri State 'remains an option' in Conference USA expansion" on Feb 26th. The Atlantic specifically states CUSA had conversations with UMass. They waited until we committed to the MAC and then gave that invite to Missouri State.

Missouri State has re-emerged in conference realignment conversations after a national report tied the school to a league hoping to expand.

Nicole Auerbach and Chris Vannini of The Athletic wrote Monday afternoon when breaking UMass' move to the MAC that Conference USA had conversations with the school about joining the conference.

With UMass now reportedly headed for a different league, The Athletic reported CUSA still hopes to add a 12th member this spring and "Missouri State remains an option there."

https://www.news-leader.com/story/sport ... 749100007/

[DEM]

And (assuming you have knowledge we all do not and it's true) who exactly does all of the above idiocy fall on? MAC with Delaware is better for us than MAC without.

CUSA is not a great conference either, but there is a ton more potential there for Umass.

I agree that MAC + Delaware would have been better (for UMass) than the MAC without, but I disagree with you about CUSA. At this point, any difference in quality between CUSA and MAC is marginal, and with CUSA there is no geographical logic to the conference aside from the programs all being located in the continental United States. And overall, aside from Delaware, UMass probably has more in common with MAC institutions like Buffalo and Ohio than it does with those in CUSA (Liberty, Sam Houston, Middle Tennessee, etc). So if there was a choice between the two, I think UMass made the correct decision.