Whenever Val Ackerman wanted to show someone what college sports was about—or what it could be at its absolute best—she would take them to the Mecca in March.
It was the ultimate trump card for the Big East commissioner to make a point about the sport she so closely guarded and guided over the course of nearly four decades, all as the “World’s Most Famous Arena” hosted the most meaningful men’s basketball tournament. The energy, passion, conference branding and even corporate hospitality in the pulsating heart of New York City has few parallels before you even sit down for 40 minutes of high-level action on the hard court.
