Players Era Festival 2026

[Consigliere]

Major changes in formatting and increased payout are being discussed for next year's tournament. I posted in another thread that when Syracuse signed a contract to participate it was a three year commitment. Based on Donna's piece it appears that there are ongoing discussions between tournament organizers and SU. I suspect that the changes being considered likely affect the original contract and this is simply crossing the t's and dotting the i's to ensure SU gets maximum benefit from their participation. It is important to note that SANIL was an original proponent of the event and our relationship with them was a contributing factor in our inclusion. Their demise and the subsequent shut down of Orange United may be a consideration but I am still very confident that the Orange will have the opportunity to be in Vegas next November. And please, this is meant to be a thread limited to the event and potential scheduling for next year. Plenty of other threads to discuss Red's status, the state of the program and the abyssmal last 20 minutes of Syracuse's performance this week.

Will Syracuse play in the Players Era Festival next season?

The Orange left Las Vegas with an 0-3 record.

www.syracuse.com

 

[cusefan88]

A clear tournament structure is the obvious play. Not the weird backroom dealing that happened.

 

[llandz]

I was asked by some posters to write a post about my experience at this tournament this year, and was hesitant to do so because of all the posting going on. But because we might be there next year, I think I will do so here.

I had one of the best times attending this tournament. It was the total environment.

On Sunday night, SU had a welcome event with the players, coaches, and athletic staff. We had to pay to attend, and I am sure it was a way to raise some funds, but the event was first class, and we seemed to be the only school who did this from my conversations with fans from other schools. If you know me, you saw the photo that has been posted all over the football social media accounts of me talking to Sadiq White. All of the players were engaged with us, and we have some seriously nice young student athletes representing us. It was also an opportunity to talk to other SU fans and hear their stories.

I stayed at the Park MGM where all of the players were staying, and many of the fans. Every time I took the elevator up or down, I was on with some player from one of the teams. The environment the whole time was like a big college basketball fest. Of course everyone was wearing team gear everywhere, and this led to many random conversations with fans from all of the schools. It was a very social time.

I walked into Monday's game terribly depressed after hearing that Donnie was out. ps...he told me Sunday night that he was playing, and he was not in a boot or limping. I was sitting around a lot of great SU fans at mid court. I've been told that our Let's Go Orange cheers were very noticeable on TV. Guess who led those cheers??? Anyway, the game was a blast regardless of the outcome. The adjustment without Donnie was well done.

I spent a lot of time after each game with some of the coaching staff families and my best SU fan from NJ. Just know that the staff is well aware of what needs to be worked on. The key is if certain things are fixed the sky is the limit for this team.

Tuesday's game was almost as much fun as Monday's. The fans that I talked to were overall very happy with the team's performance and how they played with the top teams. Once again, we know we have work to do.

Being in Vegas is always fun. I was by myself, but you are never really alone in Vegas. Even if you just are walking around, watching people or starting random conversations, which once again given the atmosphere of college rivalry was easy.

I also got to watch some other really good basketball. I stayed for the Tenn. v Kansas game. We got 3 games each day with our tickets. Then the stadium cleared for the next 3 games and it would require another ticket. I will say tickets were not cheap. High 400s through SU for basically 9 games, but 3 SU games.

My flight was Wednesday morning, and I left for the airport while the team left to play. I was conflicted, and thought about extending my trip. Also we were assigned new seats, and I would have been 2 rows above Melo. I watched in the airport, and then a short flight home.

I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend attending this event if you can, just for the atmosphere alone.

 

[JustPherU]

I was asked by some posters to write a post about my experience at this tournament this year, and was hesitant to do so because of all the posting going on. But because we might be there next year, I think I will do so here.

I had one of the best times attending this tournament. It was the total environment.

On Sunday night, SU had a welcome event with the players, coaches, and athletic staff. We had to pay to attend, and I am sure it was a way to raise some funds, but the event was first class, and we seemed to be the only school who did this from my conversations with fans from other schools. If you know me, you saw the photo that has been posted all over the football social media accounts of me talking to Sadiq White. All of the players were engaged with us, and we have some seriously nice young student athletes representing us. It was also an opportunity to talk to other SU fans and hear their stories.

I stayed at the Park MGM where all of the players were staying, and many of the fans. Every time I took the elevator up or down, I was on with some player from one of the teams. The environment the whole time was like a big college basketball fest. Of course everyone was wearing team gear everywhere, and this led to many random conversations with fans from all of the schools. It was a very social time.

I walked into Monday's game terribly depressed after hearing that Donnie was out. ps...he told me Sunday night that he was playing, and he was not in a boot or limping. I was sitting around a lot of great SU fans at mid court. I've been told that our Let's Go Orange cheers were very noticeable on TV. Guess who led those cheers??? Anyway, the game was a blast regardless of the outcome. The adjustment without Donnie was well done.

I spent a lot of time after each game with some of the coaching staff families and my best SU fan from NJ. Just know that the staff is well aware of what needs to be worked on. The key is if certain things are fixed the sky is the limit for this team.

Tuesday's game was almost as much fun as Monday's. The fans that I talked to were overall very happy with the team's performance and how they played with the top teams. Once again, we know we have work to do.

Being in Vegas is always fun. I was by myself, but you are never really alone in Vegas. Even if you just are walking around, watching people or starting random conversations, which once again given the atmosphere of college rivalry was easy.

I also got to watch some other really good basketball. I stayed for the Tenn. v Kansas game. We got 3 games each day with our tickets. Then the stadium cleared for the next 3 games and it would require another ticket. I will say tickets were not cheap. High 400s through SU for basically 9 games, but 3 SU games.

My flight was Wednesday morning, and I left for the airport while the team left to play. I was conflicted, and thought about extending my trip. Also we were assigned new seats, and I would have been 2 rows above Melo. I watched in the airport, and then a short flight home.

I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend attending this event if you can, just for the atmosphere alone.

Donnie flat out lied to you?

 

[Consigliere]

A clear tournament structure is the obvious play. Not the weird backroom dealing that happened.

There was a published report that they were going to go to four eight team pods next year following a traditional bracket structure. The CEO of the event came out this week and said he likes the reliance on point differential and would like it to be part of the structure though, one of the ideas being floated was to have the four pod winners play the next week in a championship round. That would require an NCAA waiver to allow those games to be considered part of a single MTE and allow that single event to expand to up to five games. The other issue would be how the teams would fill out there schedule in the event they do not advance out of their pod. Do you schedule games the following week or leave it open in hopes that you advance in Vegas? Whatever happens they need to incorporate some structure so strength of opponents is at least somewhat balanced.

 

[llandz]

Donnie flat out lied to you?

He really wanted to play. I think he had convinced himself that they would let him. So no. I don't think he lied. It was more a denial of what had happened to him. Players don't want to sit.

 

[llandz]

There was a published report that they were going to go to four eight team pods next year following a traditional bracket structure. The CEO of the event came out this week and said he likes the reliance on point differential and would like it to be part of the structure though, one of the ideas being floated was to have the four pod winners play the next week in a championship round. That would require an NCAA waiver to allow those games to be considered part of a single MTE and allow that single event to expand to up to five games. The other issue would be how the teams would fill out there schedule in the event they do not advance out of their pod. Do you schedule games the following week or leave it open in hopes that you advance in Vegas? Whatever happens they need to incorporate some structure so strength of opponents is at least somewhat balanced.

And the obvious. Do you travel back to the east coast? Or do you try to schedule another game not that far away. For Syracuse anywhere from let's say Colorado/Arizona area to the west coast.

 

[llandz]

And not knowing that you are going to play the next morning at 10am and not knowing who your opponent was going to be until 10pm the night before, was not an ideal situation. Maybe a buffer day before that last round of games.

 

[CardiacCuse]

And not knowing that you are going to play the next morning at 10am and not knowing who your opponent was going to be until 10pm the night before, was not an ideal situation. Maybe a buffer day before that last round of games.

did you hear any buzz about making it an actual tournament format with a bracket instead of "festival" mumbo jumbo it is now?

 

[RedtheGOB]

He really wanted to play. I think he had convinced himself that they would let him. So no. I don't think he lied. It was more a denial of what had happened to him. Players don't want to sit.

This makes me feel better. I’ve been very critical of Donnie not playing. We’ve seen picture of him moving fine on the bench. I have no doubt we take at least 1 game this week if he toughs it out. Even him in gear he could make free throws.

In my head he was an easy scapegoat and it’s hard to see him miss our most important games. Obvi it wasn’t one of those things though.

He needs to get back.

 

[jncuse]

It was such a strong field that I should have cared who won the tournament. But with the format I didn’t care about following that. Was it Michigan who won? I know they won all the games by a lot.

 

[llandz]

did you hear any buzz about making it an actual tournament format with a bracket instead of "festival" mumbo jumbo it is now?

No. Nothing at all. I didn't engage at all with any tournament officials who I saw walking around.