Last Friday, I did a post on the NCAA trimming floor seats for the media from 200 to 72.
As you’d expect, the move didn’t go over well. I received an update from John Akers of Basketball Times and president of the United States Basketball Writers Association.
From Akers:
“Well, yeah, there were definitely complaints. There were four seats in each of the corners near courtside, just above the handicapped areas, where many reporters could not see because fans were standing. So that’s 16 of the courtside seats, and most of them turn out to be bad ones. And there were many longtime writers who wound up in the auxiliary box and felt disrespected. Combine that with a $295 hotel rate, and there are many writers who are wondering whether they will come back.”
I followed up with Akers, asking if in reality there were only 54 floor seats?
Akers replied, “Apparently not all of those 16 seats were bad, but there were fewer than 72 good seats.”
The hotel issue hardly is trivial. Shelling more than $300 per night (including taxes) for four-five nights hardly is feasible for many media outlets in this economic climate. It is incumbent on the NCAA to negotiate a better rate.
And for the people who say the media should stop whining…: “At least, they are in the stadium.”
Well, there are a couple of things at play here. It is about respect. Many of these media members have been covering the Final Four for decades, long before it became a huge event. Their coverage did play a role in what the tournament is today. To be shuttled to the “Uecker Seats” is a major slap in the face.
And it is difficult to cover a game when the players look like dots running around on the floor. Many reporters feel as if they would be better off watching on TV in the press room. And if you’re going to do that, you might as well tune in from the comforts of your couch.
Does the NCAA care? Probably not. Judging by this administration, caring about the media isn’t high on the priority list.
And if they watched at home they could turn down the sound so they didn’t need to hear Jim Nance….
Ed, I’m among those cast off to the football press box for the Final Four, and the bigger problem is trying to get quickly from there to the interview area, which is in an adjacent building. I wasn’t able to make it between games Saturday.
It’s interesting that the Marriott Marquis advertises its regular rate as $195, so this “media rate” is $100 higher than that. I found it much easier to stay outside of Atlanta for a third of the cost and drive in. I just wish the NCAA would issue more parking passes.
Please–you don’t think the NCAA gets kickbacks on their deals? From plane tickets and hotels to tickets, they rake in the bucks. AUDIT THE NCAA and that criminal Emmert who runs the place.
This is in response to your Twitter question on whether I would miss Final Four coverage if my basketball sources no longer covered the event. The short answer to the question is “no”. I’m sure I am like a lot of people in that I don’t really read much about the event unless my team (Indiana) is in it. I assume that local reporters from newspapers, broadcast media, and web sites will still go to the event when their local team is in it. Living in Chicago, I don’t really care if the Tribune, Sun Times, or Daily Herald send reporters there since I probably wouldn’t read the articles anyway unless Indiana was involved.
I am curious as to why they slashed media seats to begin with. The Georgia Dome isn’t a smaller venue. There were more than 74,000 people at the National Championship game last night. It’s not like the floor seats would allow for more paying customers. Was there a reason given?