“To play the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship at the Barclays Center is a significant opportunity for the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Barclays Center will be a premier basketball arena – one in which our student-athletes, fans and alumni will experience a first-class event. Commissioner McGlade’s leadership on this decision has led to an outstanding opportunity for the Atlantic 10.”
Rev. Michael J Graham
Chair of the Atlantic 10 Council of Presidents
Xavier University President
“The Barclays Center under the leadership of Brett Yormark has clearly demonstrated their enthusiasm to partner with the Atlantic 10 and help achieve our goal of joining together to make the A-10 Championship one of the premier college basketball events in the country.
We are looking forward to returning to Boardwalk Hall for the 2012 Championship. The Atlantic 10 Conference has had a great experience in Atlantic City, however we are fortunate to have the opportunity to move our Men’s Championship to another region of our Conference footprint. This will enable us to further brand the Atlantic 10 and showcase our event to even more alumni and fans.”
Bernadette V. McGlade
Commissioner, Atlantic 10 Conference
“It is a tremendous opportunity to take the tournament to a world-class facility and media center. We are extremely excited about our new relationship with the Barclays Center and the opportunity this presents to the A-10 conference.”
John McCutcheon
Chair, Atlantic 10 Council of Athletic Directors
Director of Athletics, Massachusetts
“I am excited about the announcement. What an experience for our guys to play our conference tournament in the NBA’s newest arena. Combined with the opportunity for fans to be in the city that never sleeps, our conference has done themselves right.”
Chris Mack
Chair, Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Coaches
Xavier University Head Coach
“Moving the Atlantic 10 Championship to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn is a tremendous move on the part of the Conference office. I am extremely excited for the A-10, the great basketball programs in this conference, and the University of Rhode Island. So many fans of A-10 and Runnin’ Rams basketball live in the tri-state and NYC metropolitan area and by playing in a state-of-the-art facility like the Barclays Center, it will only serve to enhance what is already one of the best conference basketball championships in the country. And on a personal note, having grown up just 10 minutes away in the Cooper Park Projects in Greenpoint, it will be a thrill to coach to Brooklyn.”
Jim Baron
Rhode Island University Head Coach
“I think it’s an exciting time of growth for the Atlantic 10 Conference and the opportunity to hold the men’s basketball championship tournament in the greatest city in the world, a city that is rich in college basketball tradition, will only help increase the exposure of the conference. Having the championship in New York City will be a great experience for the student-athletes, alumni and fans of every conference school.”
Tom Pecora
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Fordham University
“Moving the A-10 tournament to the Barclays Center is a great move by the league. The A-10 has been searching for an identity with its tournament for years. A campus site could work, but only if it were at Xavier or Dayton but then it’s too much of a home court advantage. So the A-10 jumped at the chance of getting into the new digs in Brooklyn. This may turn out to be the alternative to Madison Square Garden in future years for the ACC or the Big East. The A-10 is seeking a destination and it may have found one.”
Andy Katz
Senior Writer, ESPN
“Moving the tournament to the basketball hot bed of New York City is a great move. I grew up, coached and played in Brooklyn, so I know the passion the fans there have for basketball. It’s a win for both sides, the conference gets to play in a beautiful new arena in a major market and the Barclays Center gets to showcase compelling college basketball action in March from a quality league.”
Pete Gillen
College Basketball Analyst, CBS Sports Network
“This is a smart move …
The A-10 could also piggyback on some of the fan and media interest from the Big East tournament.”
Jeff Goodman
College Basketball Writer, CBSSports.com
As for the A-10, it’s sort of a no-brainer.
Eamonn Brennan
ESPN College Nation Blogger
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