The Univ. of Pittsburgh athletic department “could shell out as much as $310,000 to participate in the College Basketball Invitational,” but depending on attendance, the school could see a “financial windfall from the event,” according to John Grupp of the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW. N.J.-based Gazelle Group spokesperson Ray Cella, whose company runs the tournament, said, "Teams have made money off of this. Depending on what they draw, they are going to make money. It's a misnomer to say it's a pay for play. It's not buying your way in." Pitt is “looking at the possible six-figure outlay -- depending on how many games it hosts -- after accepting a berth to the 16-team CBI.” Pitt will host Wofford tomorrow at Petersen Events Center in a game that “will cost the athletic department $35,000, minus gate and concession receipts.” The CBI has a “minimum ticket guarantee, the amount a school pays to host a game: The guarantees are $35,000 for first-round games, $50,000 for the quarterfinals and $75,000 per game for the semifinals and the best-of-three finals.” But anything “over those costs, and Pitt will make a profit.” Grupp notes unlike the NIT, the NCAA “does not own and run the CBI, but allows its members to participate in the postseason tournament” (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/13).
SAVE THE DATE: In Austin, Kevin Lyttle notes the Univ. of Texas next year will host the NCAA men's basketball tournament with eight teams “assigned to Austin for second- and third-round games.” It “wouldn't be possible except for a calendar quirk, which will allow the NCAA to avoid a conflict with the South by Southwest Music Festival, set for the second week of March.” Former UT Associate AD/Events & Operations Jim Baker, who recently accepted a position as UT-Arlington AD, said, "SXSW almost always conflicts with the NCAA early rounds, so we usually can't bid on those. Just not enough hotel rooms for both." Baker: "The school gets 15 to 20 percent of the ticket sales. The NCAA pays the teams for expenses, and the school keeps 20 percent of novelty sales. It's meant $400,000-$500,000 to the university in the past'' (AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, 3/13).
