FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Frank Rossi]

Yes -- and there was a lot of talk around that law a couple years ago but Delaware bowed to the pressure.

Pat - what happens if Rowan faces Kean in the second or third round ever?

[Pat Coleman]

That's a great question and I'm sure the NCAA people that made this decision haven't thought one lick about it. But I suspect the football championships committee will ponder it.

I'd suspect in that case they would have to host at Widener or ... wow, a lot of the other schools I would suggest no longer have football, so not sure. La Salle or Iona would have been options once upon a time. An aircraft carrier?

The baseball committee will have some issues, too, because the Mid-Atlantic Regional is often hosted at a minor league ballpark in New Jersey.

[Frank Rossi]

That's a great question and I'm sure the NCAA people that made this decision haven't thought one lick about it. But I suspect the football championships committee will ponder it.

I'd suspect in that case they would have to host at Widener or ... wow, a lot of the other schools I would suggest no longer have football, so not sure. La Salle or Iona would have been options once upon a time. An aircraft carrier?

The baseball committee will have some issues, too, because the Mid-Atlantic Regional is often hosted at a minor league ballpark in New Jersey.

Honestly, though, that means the rest of the country suffers because New Jersey, like Nevada, chose to do something within their legal parameters.  While the NCAA may have the right to discriminate against the state for the law, the requirement to potentially create arbitrary matchups to avoid a NJ hosting site makes the bracketing gymnastics that are already a major challenge even more of a problem.  Note that Nevada hasn't caved -- so, why would New Jersey?  All the while, sports books will continue to operate in this way because the revenue generated by the state from the sports books will far exceed the minor revenue lost from hosting these events.  This isn't the smartest NCAA move, in my estimation, from a business and legal perspective.

[jknezek]

Honestly, though, that means the rest of the country suffers because New Jersey, like Nevada, chose to do something within their legal parameters.   While the NCAA may have the right to discriminate against the state for the law, the requirement to potentially create arbitrary matchups to avoid a NJ hosting site makes the bracketing gymnastics that are already a major challenge even more of a problem.  Note that Nevada hasn't caved -- so, why would New Jersey?  All the while, sports books will continue to operate in this way because the revenue generated by the state from the sports books will far exceed the minor revenue lost from hosting these events.  This isn't the smartest NCAA move, in my estimation, from a business and legal perspective.

Actually the part in bold may not be true. There is a federal law on the books that if you wanted to enact sports gambling, you had to do it prior to 1991 or something like that. NJ did not enact sports gambling at that time, so according to federal law they are not legally allowed to start it now.

Whether this law will pass a constitutional challenge right now I don't know, but technically sports gambling in NJ should still be illegal, regardless of whether the NJ executive and legislative bodies allow it.

[bman]

I'd suspect in that case they would have to host at Widener or ... wow, a lot of the other schools I would suggest no longer have football, so not sure. La Salle or Iona would have been options once upon a time. An aircraft carrier?

C'mon over Rowan...we'll "Host" you! 

[Frank Rossi]

Honestly, though, that means the rest of the country suffers because New Jersey, like Nevada, chose to do something within their legal parameters.   While the NCAA may have the right to discriminate against the state for the law, the requirement to potentially create arbitrary matchups to avoid a NJ hosting site makes the bracketing gymnastics that are already a major challenge even more of a problem.  Note that Nevada hasn't caved -- so, why would New Jersey?  All the while, sports books will continue to operate in this way because the revenue generated by the state from the sports books will far exceed the minor revenue lost from hosting these events.  This isn't the smartest NCAA move, in my estimation, from a business and legal perspective.

Actually the part in bold may not be true. There is a federal law on the books that if you wanted to enact sports gambling, you had to do it prior to 1991 or something like that. NJ did not enact sports gambling at that time, so according to federal law they are not legally allowed to start it now.

Whether this law will pass a constitutional challenge right now I don't know, but technically sports gambling in NJ should still be illegal, regardless of whether the NJ executive and legislative bodies allow it.

Here's a good explanation as to why it may be legal and within New Jersey's 10th Amendment rights, as it eliminates interstate commerce concerns at first blush:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kylesmith/2012/08/23/legalize-sports-betting-and-let-gov-chris-christie-spike-the-football/

[PBR...]

That's a great question and I'm sure the NCAA people that made this decision haven't thought one lick about it. But I suspect the football championships committee will ponder it.

I'd suspect in that case they would have to host at Widener or ... wow, a lot of the other schools I would suggest no longer have football, so not sure. La Salle or Iona would have been options once upon a time. An aircraft carrier?

The baseball committee will have some issues, too, because the Mid-Atlantic Regional is often hosted at a minor league ballpark in New Jersey.

Honestly, though, that means the rest of the country suffers because New Jersey, like Nevada, chose to do something within their legal parameters.  While the NCAA may have the right to discriminate against the state for the law, the requirement to potentially create arbitrary matchups to avoid a NJ hosting site makes the bracketing gymnastics that are already a major challenge even more of a problem.  Note that Nevada hasn't caved -- so, why would New Jersey?  All the while, sports books will continue to operate in this way because the revenue generated by the state from the sports books will far exceed the minor revenue lost from hosting these events.  This isn't the smartest NCAA move, in my estimation, from a business and legal perspective.

Also keep in mind that PA has now legalized gambling and IMHO won't be long before they allow betting on games. The NCAA is going to have to figure this out long term. You can't have teams traveling 3 states away to play another team from their own state just because of legalized betting on games. We all know the NCAA is driven solely by the almighty $$$$ so I can't see the NCAA digging into their own pockets to cover expenses....

[bill]

Guys
This discussion has been fascinating. I know this is a football board, but think for a moment the countless (it's got to be at least 30-40) women's NCAA games played at TCNJ alone over the past 10-15 years. Field Hockey, Softball, Lacrosse....wow!

If this law passes, I need to open up a multi-sports facility just over the river in PA

[Knightstalker]

The NJ law forbids gambling on college games played in NJ and games involving NJ college teams.  The NCAA is being stupid with this, legalized gambling whose rules are backed with law enforcement bad, illegal gambling in every state that is run by organized crime ok.  You are more likely to have scandals involving gambling in states where sports betting is illegal than in states where it is legal.  The people running the NCAA need to got to a proctologist and have their cranial-rectal inversion repaired.

[ITH radio]

We've confirmed that NJAC Commissioner Terry Small will join us to discuss the NCAA decision and its ramifications for NJ based schools, especially football, this Sunday night at 8:30 PM.  Tune into www.inthehuddlle.com to hear his perspective and please feel free to PM us with any questions you'd like us to ask the Commissioner. 

[phil]

Guys
This discussion has been fascinating. I know this is a football board, but think for a moment the countless (it's got to be at least 30-40) women's NCAA games played at TCNJ alone over the past 10-15 years. Field Hockey, Softball, Lacrosse....wow!

If this law passes, I need to open up a multi-sports facility just over the river in PA

This is especially bad for the TCNJ women. Field Hockey, Soccer and Lacrosse are perennial Top Ten programs, those three teams alone have 79 NCAA appearances and 26 National Championships. When they recruit they'll do so with the prospect knowing they'll never play an NCAA Tournament game on their home field. With this economic windfall from sports betting, I'm sure (note the dripping sarcasm), the state colleges will greatly benefit with added state funding. Where do I go to bet the over/under on the TCNJ v. Stockton field hockey game?

I think TCNJ might need to purchase some land for multi-purpose fields in Newtown, Pa – about 15 minutes away!

[gordonmann]

For baseball, the Mid Atlantic regional has bounced between minor league stadiums in New Jersey and a site in Boyertown, PA.  So that's the natural landing for the baseball regional, provided the Boyertown hosts are interested.

For basketball, the NJAC usually hosts one site for men or women (sometimes both).  Their teams are routinely at the top of the Atlantic Region rankings and their facilities are large enough to host four team pods.

[Jonny Utah]

Guys
This discussion has been fascinating. I know this is a football board, but think for a moment the countless (it's got to be at least 30-40) women's NCAA games played at TCNJ alone over the past 10-15 years. Field Hockey, Softball, Lacrosse....wow!

If this law passes, I need to open up a multi-sports facility just over the river in PA

This is especially bad for the TCNJ women. Field Hockey, Soccer and Lacrosse are perennial Top Ten programs, those three teams alone have 79 NCAA appearances and 26 National Championships. When they recruit they'll do so with the prospect knowing they'll never play an NCAA Tournament game on their home field. With this economic windfall from sports betting, I'm sure (note the dripping sarcasm), the state colleges will greatly benefit with added state funding. Where do I go to bet the over/under on the TCNJ v. Stockton field hockey game?

I think TCNJ might need to purchase some land for multi-purpose fields in Newtown, Pa – about 15 minutes away!

How much does the state plan on making on this move?

Edit: I just read that they plan to make 120 million a year.

[bman]

Given that they are 10.5B in debt, seems like pennies...

[jknezek]

Given that they are 10.5B in debt, seems like pennies...

Maybe, but it might help keep atlantic city alive as well. While atlantic city never lived up to the promises made when gambling was legalized, and the city itself outside the strip leaves something to be desired, it does provide a lot of jobs to South Jersey. At the same time, the expansion of gambling in other states is taking a big toll on the casinos, and offering something no one else around provides might be of some assistance in keeping those jobs in place.

The loss of a few NCAA events, crushing to the students involved and a big issue to those of us who care about these things, is small potatoes to the thousands of jobs and votes tied up in Atlantic City. Of course, I don't think sports gambling is a panacea for Atlantic City, but I can see the rationalization for proceding along the current lines.