2025-26 Basketball Schedule

[OrangeXtreme]

I think it would be when we played a bunch of Canadian teams one summer about 10 years ago…..

Didn't we go to Italy recently?

 

[sutomcat]

Didn't we go to Italy recently?

It was more recent than Canada so yes, this is true.

Not sure why we are playing an exhibition game in Buffalo in a season where we shaved a few games off home schedule.

Not sure why we didn’t do a tour of Canada this summer like we did back then. I think it was prior to Ennis’ frosh season. I could understand not going to ItLy again. That must have been expensive.

But how much could it cost to do a short tour of Canada again? Fans would love it. More importantly, It would give this team, with so many new faces, a chance to travel together and play together a lot.

Still glad we are actually playing a D1 team in an exhibition. Sad we are so late to embrace progressive ideas.

 

[Bill Orange]

Are we trying to avoid the embarrassment of an empty dome for week night and maybe weekend non conference games in November and December?

A home bball game used to be gold for the balance sheet, now we're giving them away?

It was mentioned to me at a game back in the beginning of 2024 that attendance needs to be around 22-23K just to break even.

 

[kirbivore]

Sad we are so late to embrace progressive ideas.

That's the SU Athletic Dept way

 

[Lukeyloo]

Happy to see the staff choose to challenge themselves a bit now that teams can play exhibition games against other D1 teams. Playing D2 teams does nothing for learning more about the team's abilities and shortcomings.

Especially pleased to see them go on the road. They're going to need to get comfortable in a road environment (although with how bad UB has been, I doubt it will be very hostile) given the schedule.

 

[RedtheGOB]

It was mentioned to me at a game back in the beginning of 2024 that attendance needs to be around 22-23K per game just to break even.

Or god forbid they cut costs somewhere ha. Really though accounting and how they manage the books is how this all goes down. The major renovations are big upfront costs that they account for over decades. Some games and events they are going to make bank, others not as much. I doubt more than a few people on the hill see the books and what the #'s really look like. I'm sure alot more people see how much we made on tickets during a game and how much we spent / brought in on food and beer and merch. Then multiple that out.

Someone mentioning 22K and then the telephone game starts and all the sudden the rumors swirl that they need XX # of people to break even per game. That's not how it works at all for a big venue.

One thing I'd be interested in is how much the big concerts are bringing in. Getting to see Metallica was one of my big bucket list things and that was an awesome show. Most people I've ever seen at the Dome.

 

[RedtheGOB]

That's the SU Athletic Dept way

While I agree with the sentiment I also think that "progressive" is a little bit naive. We need to all be aware that the deep South and places like Michigan, Ohio, ND have much more support for their college athletics from a state government perspective.

Some of these states have former football coaches running them, others we've seen judges arbitrarily rule for their state school sports programs without a legal basis. They can live in a world where they can push a limit with their athletic program first and know that their state govt and judges will back them up after. They're all intertwined, aint no one in these places getting elected or staying elected if they aren't a friend of the football programs.

SU does not have the luxury of just being able to do what they want and knowing that the state govt and state judges will back them up. We are on our own as a Private University in a state that does not live and breathe football. Yes we should do more but we'll never be at the tip of the spear.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

well it's about time we stopped playing exhibitions against D2 schools and giving us a false sense of security. After one of the exhibitions last season, somebody said on this board that Jaquan Carlos looked like another Tyler Ennis, LMAO. I remember Kaleb Joseph and Jalen Carey looking like All-Americans vs. the D2 schools.

Eh, that might have been me, and the context is a little different. Intent wouldn't have been to draw equivalence between Carlos and Ennis as players, moreso to say it looked like Carlos could have played the point guard position in a steady, Ennis-like way.

Spoiler: Spoiler alert

He did not.

 

[Orangezoo]

It was more recent than Canada so yes, this is true.

Not sure why we are playing an exhibition game in Buffalo in a season where we shaved a few games off home schedule.

Not sure why we didn’t do a tour of Canada this summer like we did back then. I think it was prior to Ennis’ frosh season. I could understand not going to ItLy again. That must have been expensive.

But how much could it cost to do a short tour of Canada again? Fans would love it. More importantly, It would give this team, with so many new faces, a chance to travel together and play together a lot.

Still glad we are actually playing a D1 team in an exhibition. Sad we are so late to embrace progressive ideas.

Still dont understand this, especially with a couple of foreign kids on the team to get some across the border NIL. Maybe the current visa environment and the not so pro American views outside our borders? Who knows but it’s a bummer and a missed opportunity to get ready for the season.

 

[Dinkyspond]

Eh, that might have been me, and the context is a little different. Intent wouldn't have been to draw equivalence between Carlos and Ennis as players, moreso to say it looked like Carlos could have played the point guard position in a steady, Ennis-like way.

Spoiler: Spoiler alert

He did not.

Understood, no malice intended here, my board friend from beautiful Salt Lake City!

 

[IraSez]

Back in June there was a report that SU was playing in Philly on November 15th vs Drexel as part of doubleheader. Don't see that game on the schedule. Anyone know what happened there?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Back in June there was a report that SU was playing in Philly on November 15th vs Drexel as part of doubleheader. Don't see that game on the schedule. Anyone know what happened there?

It's hot as hell in Philadelphia.

 

[IraSez]

It's hot as hell in Philadelphia.

Sit down John????

 

[syrBossHogg]

We lost to Dayton there in the 2014 second round, but I assume you meant regular season game.

Yep

 

[DilemaCuse]

It was mentioned to me at a game back in the beginning of 2024 that attendance needs to be around 22-23K just to break even.

Wow, wouldn't have thought it needed to be that high but now I see the strategy or reason for this.

That has to have JW concerned as we have previously mentioned. Can only have that for so many seasons

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Wow, wouldn't have thought it needed to be that high but now I see the strategy or reason for this.

That has to have JW concerned as we have previously mentioned. Can only have that for so many seasons

Yep. They took a huge risk just running it back this year. Hopefully it pays off.

 

[FloridaCuse]

It was mentioned to me at a game back in the beginning of 2024 that attendance needs to be around 22-23K just to break even.

The question could be asked though what expenses are included in determining the amount of revenue needed to "break even". If it includes part of the amortization of the cost to renovate the Dome, or even an imputed amount for renting the Dome for each home game, the amount needed to cover the variable costs (even including an amount to cover a share of the administrative costs of the Athletic Dept) may be somewhat less. I've wondered how SU includes the fixed costs of the Dome in determining the budget for each sport that uses the Dome (football, MBB, WBB, MLAX & WLAX). And a corollary being the university can't really afford to not have D1 teams in football & MBB because of the already sunk (spent) cost of the Dome.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's hot as hell in Philadelphia.

Well, that's cuz it's always sunny.

 

[Ozone!]

 

[IthacaMatt]

View attachment 253912

Board portrait. LOL

 

[cliftonparksufan]

It was mentioned to me at a game back in the beginning of 2024 that attendance needs to be around 22-23K just to break even.

I'm not sure I understand that. Obviously, WBB and the lacrosse programs draw less than 5000 fans a game, so that basketball number can't be a number to be the minimum open the door and turn on the lights price.

Unless Men's basketball is supporting those other programs. How does football come into play? Is there a minimum number floating around for them?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I'm not sure I understand that. Obviously, WBB and the lacrosse programs draw less than 5000 fans a game, so that basketball number can't be a number to be the minimum open the door and turn on the lights price.

Unless Men's basketball is supporting those other programs. How does football come into play? Is there a minimum number floating around for them?

I haven't been to a WBB game in years, but for LAX they don't open up the 300 level (unless it's a huge game against Hop or an ACC team).

For WLAX they don't even let anyone sit on the North side. Seating is only permitted on the team bench side.

For MBB, you need everything open, both upstairs and downstairs. More ushers, more security, more concession stands, more cleaning crew afterwards...

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I haven't been to a WBB game in years, but for LAX they don't open up the 300 level (unless it's a huge game against Hop or an ACC team).

For WLAX they don't even let anyone sit on the North side. Seating is only permitted on the team bench side.

For MBB, you need everything open, both upstairs and downstairs. More ushers, more security, more concession stands, more cleaning crew afterwards...

Yes, I understand all of that, but you are still turning on all the lights and your fixed costs are the same. So are my basketball season tickets allowing those other programs to use the dome.

 

[orangecuse]

This will also be our first game in WNY since November 2006

In my view, not surprising at all. I don't think WNY, for the most part, gives a rat's arse about Syracuse University hoops, or football for that matter.

Back in the 80's when I was at school in Buffalo, I attended a game at the old Buffalo Auditorium when SU played Canisius. The place was pretty full, and most of the crowd was rooting against SU. And, booing JB repeatedly. Generally, I don't believe much has changed over the years relative to Syracuse's following in WNY. Understandably, due to the composition of NYS and its schools.

IMO, with Syracuse's private status, it doesn't maintain the state's broad(er) appeal. NYS, with its SUNY system, numerous private institution's, etc., and lack of a true Flagship university, is partitioned, if you will, to various school's in those specific regions or locations.

Ultimately, SU/the state's lack of a true flagship university, etc. probably keeps the state unrepresented in one of the two future power conferences.

 

[jsween]

Yes, I understand all of that, but you are still turning on all the lights and your fixed costs are the same. So are my basketball season tickets allowing those other programs to use the dome.

Yes, it’s all part of the athletic dept budget. Money comes in, including ticket sales from any sports, and money goes out funding everything, including sports that are free to attend.