TicketsMade my way over to the UC-XU joint presser yesterday at The Freedom Center. The rebranding of the event, now known as The Crosstown Classic, has officially been completed.
The basics can be found here. As for the Cliff's Notes version. The game will be Dec. 19 at US Bank Arena and benefit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This will go on for a two-year trial period with annual assessment.
In the eyes of many, the Crosstown Classic will always be the Crosstown Shootout and that's fine. Regardless, yesterday officially opened a new era of the game. Plus, a new logo!
If you are looking for a full transcript of the press conference, you can go here to GoBearcats.com.
One of the more interesting sections of the dialogue came from Chris Mack and Mick Cronin discussing the neutral site move from the angle of their players.
Mack: "I think No. 1, the atmosphere. If you're a player, how can you not want to play in that type of environment? Whit (Babcock) has mentioned the Missouri-Illinois game, which is a game I've watched, whether as a fan or college coach for a long time. Boy, those teams really compete at a high level. It's a super-charged environment. The game itself has always been a very hard-fought, a very worthwhile game for the city. Whether the floor is over at U.S. Bank Arena, the University of Cincinnati, or Xavier, it's going to be a great game. I think both games will really enjoy playing in the atmosphere."
Consequently, that ticket will not be part of the season ticket package. Though, it was discussed, the specifics were a little too hairy.
"We wanted to keep our season ticket prices as low as we could. We thought about wrapping it in, but there are five different price points that we'll come out with and it's just, 'Where would we set the pricing?' The season ticket holders at UC will have the first and maybe the only opportunity to buy it, but we wanted to somehow reward our season ticket holders, but I bet it will be a hot ticket."
--- The onus now moves to the fans of both schools and residents of this city. Can't we all just get along? They'll have the chance to prove it Dec. 19. Father Michael Graham and Babcock both spoke about familiarity with neutral-site matchups. Babcock comes from the Missouri-Kansas football rivalry played at the Edward Jones Dome.
"Not to make light of it at all, if Kansas and Missouri with 70,000 football fans playing for No. 1 in the country at 9 o'clock at night can do it, we can do it with 17,000. It's got to come off in the right way, but I'm confident it will."
This will be far from the only neutral site rivalry game. Here are some others:
Missouri-Illinois (Scottrade Center)
West Virginia-Marshall (Charleston Civic Center)
Indiana-Notre Dame-Purdue-Butler (Crossroads Classic Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Kentucky-Indiana (1991-2006 RCA Dome/Freedom Hall)
The move to neutral sites is gaining momentum as teams attempt to create NCAA tournament atmospheres. Though, there will be few quite like this in March, the concept will provide a welcome preview.
One of the most consistent arguments I hear about this is those other games don't involve such fierce rivals. Well, that's true. I'd argue right back, outside of maybe Duke-UNC, NO GAME involves more fierce rivals. To use that as a reason not to conduct a game at a neutral site doesn't make much sense.
Plus, at the end of the day, if the concept doesn't work, then it can be changed.
As for expectations of the two contentious fan bases in the same building? Babcock expressed belief in this city's ability to act like rational adults.
"We absolutely talked about (the crowd issue)," Babcock said. "You have to have a security presence but I don't think there's Marshall Law. There were a lot of people embarrassed with what happened. We have confidence in the people that want to put Cincinnati's best foot forward."
--- One final quote from Whit on the liklihood of players interacting in the community with each other to help spread the Kumbaya feel.
"We've had a lot of talks on that and there absolutely will be a community component," he said. "Sometimes we've talked about pairing up the teams or the players and doing something. We on our side want to do a lot down here whether that is elementary school tours that our players go along with if NCAA allows it autograph sessions, other things. We are looking at a lot of things in the community, we know that is a key piece of it, absoultely. Nobody on Xavier's side or our side hasn't acknowledged that is important.
"We got to engage the community and do more than just play a basketball game."
--- Some national reaction:
CBSSports.com on the news.
Andy Katz at ESPN weighs in and favors eventually ditching the neutral site.
Shannon Russell with all her details at The Enquirer.
Friend of the blog Rob Dauster at NBC talks about the Classic and then rips on Skyline Chili. Rob lingering on becoming a former friend of the blog.
Rush the Court wonders if we are seeing an end of home-and-home rivalry games.
--- Happy Friday everyone and hope you enjoy what should be another beautiful weekend. The Cure said it best.
The basics can be found here. As for the Cliff's Notes version. The game will be Dec. 19 at US Bank Arena and benefit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This will go on for a two-year trial period with annual assessment.
In the eyes of many, the Crosstown Classic will always be the Crosstown Shootout and that's fine. Regardless, yesterday officially opened a new era of the game. Plus, a new logo!
If you are looking for a full transcript of the press conference, you can go here to GoBearcats.com.
One of the more interesting sections of the dialogue came from Chris Mack and Mick Cronin discussing the neutral site move from the angle of their players.
Mack: "I think No. 1, the atmosphere. If you're a player, how can you not want to play in that type of environment? Whit (Babcock) has mentioned the Missouri-Illinois game, which is a game I've watched, whether as a fan or college coach for a long time. Boy, those teams really compete at a high level. It's a super-charged environment. The game itself has always been a very hard-fought, a very worthwhile game for the city. Whether the floor is over at U.S. Bank Arena, the University of Cincinnati, or Xavier, it's going to be a great game. I think both games will really enjoy playing in the atmosphere."
Cronin: "Two things, first of all our games loves these games, so they don't care where they play, to be honest about it. For Chris and I, a neutral site is great because we both hope to play in the NCAA Tournament every March. Any time you get a chance to play a big-time game at a neutral site is an advantage for your team. Also, we've played games at U.S. Bank Arena historically at UC and we haven't lost down there in awhile, so I was all for this. That will be put to the test now."
Of course, in true Crosstown mode, Mack offered a final word on the topic:
"We haven't lost there in a while either."
--- In speaking with AD Whit Babcock after the press conference a few pieces of information came out of it of specific importance to the fans. He said UC's half of the ticket allotment will first be offered to its season ticket holders (Xavier doing the same). Odds are that will soak up all of them.Consequently, that ticket will not be part of the season ticket package. Though, it was discussed, the specifics were a little too hairy.
"We wanted to keep our season ticket prices as low as we could. We thought about wrapping it in, but there are five different price points that we'll come out with and it's just, 'Where would we set the pricing?' The season ticket holders at UC will have the first and maybe the only opportunity to buy it, but we wanted to somehow reward our season ticket holders, but I bet it will be a hot ticket."
--- The onus now moves to the fans of both schools and residents of this city. Can't we all just get along? They'll have the chance to prove it Dec. 19. Father Michael Graham and Babcock both spoke about familiarity with neutral-site matchups. Babcock comes from the Missouri-Kansas football rivalry played at the Edward Jones Dome.
"Not to make light of it at all, if Kansas and Missouri with 70,000 football fans playing for No. 1 in the country at 9 o'clock at night can do it, we can do it with 17,000. It's got to come off in the right way, but I'm confident it will."
This will be far from the only neutral site rivalry game. Here are some others:
Missouri-Illinois (Scottrade Center)
West Virginia-Marshall (Charleston Civic Center)
Indiana-Notre Dame-Purdue-Butler (Crossroads Classic Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Kentucky-Indiana (1991-2006 RCA Dome/Freedom Hall)
The move to neutral sites is gaining momentum as teams attempt to create NCAA tournament atmospheres. Though, there will be few quite like this in March, the concept will provide a welcome preview.
One of the most consistent arguments I hear about this is those other games don't involve such fierce rivals. Well, that's true. I'd argue right back, outside of maybe Duke-UNC, NO GAME involves more fierce rivals. To use that as a reason not to conduct a game at a neutral site doesn't make much sense.
Plus, at the end of the day, if the concept doesn't work, then it can be changed.
As for expectations of the two contentious fan bases in the same building? Babcock expressed belief in this city's ability to act like rational adults.
"We absolutely talked about (the crowd issue)," Babcock said. "You have to have a security presence but I don't think there's Marshall Law. There were a lot of people embarrassed with what happened. We have confidence in the people that want to put Cincinnati's best foot forward."
--- One final quote from Whit on the liklihood of players interacting in the community with each other to help spread the Kumbaya feel.
"We've had a lot of talks on that and there absolutely will be a community component," he said. "Sometimes we've talked about pairing up the teams or the players and doing something. We on our side want to do a lot down here whether that is elementary school tours that our players go along with if NCAA allows it autograph sessions, other things. We are looking at a lot of things in the community, we know that is a key piece of it, absoultely. Nobody on Xavier's side or our side hasn't acknowledged that is important.
"We got to engage the community and do more than just play a basketball game."
--- Some national reaction:
CBSSports.com on the news.
Andy Katz at ESPN weighs in and favors eventually ditching the neutral site.
Shannon Russell with all her details at The Enquirer.
Friend of the blog Rob Dauster at NBC talks about the Classic and then rips on Skyline Chili. Rob lingering on becoming a former friend of the blog.
Rush the Court wonders if we are seeing an end of home-and-home rivalry games.
--- Happy Friday everyone and hope you enjoy what should be another beautiful weekend. The Cure said it best.