Palestra, Big 5, Art Of The Deal

[lasalle69bestever]

Many have posted about Villanova (Rollie) and Martelli about Big 5 games not being played at the Palestra.

I find this whole matter very frustrating when I try to explain to my son about the history, tradition and significance of the Big 5, only to have him watch a City Series game with meager attendance and minimal electricity relative to the ACC, Big East, etc.

Maybe instead of blaming it on people like Rollie, fans should look at UPenn and the Palestra itself. As complained about in the Daily Pennsylvanian, they charge students for BB games. And the attendance is very low due to a lack of historical knowledge and a poor hoops program. But they still have to provide security, amenities, etc even for the low turnout. Look into the possibility of doubleheaders if need be.

So maybe the "art of the deal" should be foisted upon UPenn and the Palestra. Negotiate better terms to allow ALL City Series or Big 5 games to be played there. In La Salle's case, get a donor to specifically direct a gift for buses to increase student turnout. Allow the streamers and huge drums again. Penn could still increase its Palestra profitability even with better terms as the games would either be or approach sellouts (like La Salle vs. Temple this season).

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As it now stands, Big 5 games at both Gola and Liacouris are non-electric. As much as I hate to say it, Hagan joins the Ski Lodge as having much better atmospheres.

If we want to keep the singular, glorious tradition alive - the games MUST be returned the Palestra. We MUST overcome the barriers. And IMO, UPenn is the party that should capitulate to reasonable negotiation.

[durenduren]

Different generation, different times. It'll never return to the glorified past - media perspective and money has changed every aspect of our game, head to toe.

America doesn't care about the Big 5 when you can get 5 top 25 teams streamed into your living room each night. The Big 5 thrived because ALL of Philly breathed life into it, now the focus is on ESPN, in Kansas, in Syracuse, at Duke...

[lasalle69bestever]

Well - The one distinction Philly still has, if we played it right, is a 50-50 split on rooters. No one else can say that. And no one else has five (actually 6) Div 1 programs in the same city. That can make it alluring if promoted right.

(guess I'm showing my age - lol)

[durenduren]

Hey, I'm with you 100%. But coming from someone who is around 5 years removed, there aren't many Big 5 purists in my generation. The appreciation is there, but we've never seen the streamers, never got to live the double-headers. Those exist purely in fantasy to us, and it's hard to keep the Big 5 dream alive when there's inconsistent commitment from some schools. It's less age and more lack of exposure. The stories can only do younger generations so much.

[talkinbball]

Being an old timer who experienced a lot of the glory days of the Big Five I actually find myself cringing at this point when this term is used. As everyone recognizes the "Big Five" is dead and should be left as a memory. To keep referring to it as such does nothing but make us old timers recall memories and younger followers wonder what we are talking about. The concept is still a good idea but needs a reboot. I think a more appropriate name for the times would be the "Philly 5" (or 6 should Drexel be included). This would not only leave the Big Five as the cherished memory that it should be to those of us lucky enough to have experienced it but make it a clear, distinctive entity to the entire college basketball community beyond this area. Seems to me it would make it more identifiable to distinguish it from all the other "Big"s in existence and give it the uniqueness it deserves when broadcasters want/have to refer to it.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2014 11:13:29 GMT -5 durenduren said:

Hey, I'm with you 100%. But coming from someone who is around 5 years removed, there aren't many Big 5 purists in my generation. The appreciation is there, but we've never seen the streamers, never got to live the double-headers. Those exist purely in fantasy to us, and it's hard to keep the Big 5 dream alive when there's inconsistent commitment from some schools. It's less age and more lack of exposure. The stories can only do younger generations so much.

No one wants to go to a doubleheader today. Years ago, you could have followed more than one big 5 team if you were paying $6 to get in and wanted to get your lunch money's worth and if there were good food options in the arena (I'm looking at Delaware for a modern era example). Now, people don't want to find some place that won't charge for parking by the hour so that they can overstay the Palestra and watch two teams you don't know any of the players on. Some people have to get to their second job, rather than a second game in one day. I was brought up this way, and I can't even imagine sitting through two A10 tournament doubleheader games that I paid $40 for.

[lasalle69bestever]

Hey - I posted about the Palestra for Big 5 games 11 days ago.

To far less than unanimous acclaim - lol.

[theneumann64]

I'd love it, I just don't think it's realistic.