AAC Women's Basketball Tournament Returns To Mohegan Sun Arena

[jostar1]

The American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament will return to the Mohegan Sun next season.

The conference and the Mohegan Sun have developed a great working relationship over past last two seasons resulting in one of the most successful postseason tournaments in women's college basketball. On Wednesday, the AAC decided there was no reason to look elsewhere for the 2016 tournament.

"The American Athletic Conference has, over the past two years, created a very special experience for our student-athletes," AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement. "We're excited to partner for a third year."

The agreement is just for the 2016 tournament and it is expected any future deals to remain at the casino will mirror the one-year format. The Mohegan Sun, home of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and host of the 2015 WNBA draft and All-Star Game, likely will remain host of the tournament for as long as UConn remains in the AAC.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...urnament-mohegan-sun-0521-20150520-story.html

 

[UConn Dan]

1 year deal is key. They don't expect us to be here for long.

 

[mike012]

There is no way they are having the AAC womens tourney anywhere but in CT... as long as we are here.

 

[UConn Dan]

There is no way they are having the AAC womens tourney anywhere but in CT... as long as we are here.

That's exactly what the article states:
will remain host of the tournament for as long as UConn remains in the AAC.

Hence, they are not renewing the contract at more than 1 year at a time. That is the key. They aren't expecting (hearing?) that we will be in the AAC much longer.

 

[CL82]

That's exactly what the article states:
will remain host of the tournament for as long as UConn remains in the AAC.

Hence, they are not renewing the contract at more than 1 year at a time. That is the key. They aren't expecting (hearing?) that we will be in the AAC much longer.

Please let this be true...

 

[Kolumbo]

They are showcasing Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Letting Delaney know it's a better venue than Atlantic City.

 

[UConn Dan]

Please let this be true...

I think it's true. I just don't think we have a timeline on when we get to another conference. I think we are next up. I don't think it's the ACC (unless ND goes all in which isn't happening). It's either the B1G or Big 12.

I don't have a lot of details, but I've been told more to come.

 

[Adios]

Thinking about it, the Big 12 can become as stable as the ACC through expansion. That would also stabilize both conferences for the long term.

So, the Big Ten better hurry up.

 

[huskypantz]

Please let this be true...

Aside from LOLing at this I have learned that there apparently is a web site dedicated to pictures of cats. Who knew.

 

[huskeynut]

Good venue for the tournament. Not really a bad seat in the house.

I agree that the 1 year contract thing is tied to UCONN being in the AAC. But who really knows for how long is the BIG question.

 

[Waquoit]

For the old-timers, this one year contract is just like Walter Alston's one year contracts.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Good venue for the tournament. Not really a bad seat in the house.

I agree that the 1 year contract thing is tied to UCONN being in the AAC. But who really knows for how long is the BIG question.

have to concur as UConn is basically the only women's basketball team that draws in the America. Unless there is a question with teh venue itself (Foxwoods v Xcel center maybe), there is no real not to sign a multi-year deal, especially with the casinos in SE Ct desperate for money, people, and attendance.

 

[Stinger92860]

The AAC will never sign a multi year deal. What would they do when UConn is not part of the AAC?

 

[Ldandy]

It would be banana balls to host the tournament anywhere else. You can count on one hand the number of fan bases in America that actually support women's basketball. Connecticut is one of them. Seriously where else could they host it? Live from Tulsa in front of 8 people? Smart move by Aresco. Leverage the one fan base that will support the thing from start to finish.

 

[Dooley]

It would be banana balls to host the tournament anywhere else. You can count on one hand the number of fan bases in America that actually support women's basketball. Connecticut is one of them. Seriously where else could they host it? Live from Tulsa in front of 8 people? Smart move by Aresco. Leverage the one fan base that will support the thing from start to finish.

Bingo. I wouldn't be surprised to see the women's tourney held in CT even after a potential B1G/ACC invite. There isn't a place on the planet that follows women's basketball like CT. To be completely honest, I'm surprised that the Final Four isn't held in CT every year too. Or alternate the tourney between CT and TN. But yeah, holding the conference tournament anywhere else besides CT is absolutely stupid. They'd be lucky to sell 100 tickets in the majority of venues in the AAC. In CT, it's guaranteed sellouts. Especially for UConn games.

 

[Kolumbo]

Bingo. I wouldn't be surprised to see the women's tourney held in CT even after a potential B1G/ACC invite. There isn't a place on the planet that follows women's basketball like CT. To be completely honest, I'm surprised that the Final Four isn't held in CT every year too. Or alternate the tourney between CT and TN. But yeah, holding the conference tournament anywhere else besides CT is absolutely stupid. They'd be lucky to sell 100 tickets in the majority of venues in the AAC. In CT, it's guaranteed sellouts. Especially for UConn games.

There are other programs just as popular as UCONN, at least in terms of their home fan base.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/reports/Attend/14att.pdf

 

[DarthGrumpy]

There are other programs just as popular as UCONN, at least in terms of their home fan base.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/reports/Attend/14att.pdf

...yet of the Top 50 programs listed, the only AAC team included is UConn.

 

[CL82]

When viewing attendance numbers keep in mind that UConn prices woman's basketball like men's basketball. There are few, if any, programs in the country that could deliver the same numbers at the same ticket price.