Topic: Banowski didnt sign the contract...

[W0lfman]

When bids were put in for the 2005 tournament, Louisville appeared to be in good shape. Memphis' $1 million bid was less than the Cardinals' $1.2 million bid, which included lower ticket prices.

Despite its earlier promises to Louisville, the league awarded the tournament to Memphis - part of C-USA's future - instead of the Big East- bound Cardinals.


Picking Memphis Backfired

That move backfired when news leaked this week that a $1 million guarantee by the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority was no longer valid because Banowsky failed to sign the contract. So C-USA was stuck with leasing FedExForum, paying all the expenses and taking whatever profits, if any, remained from ticket sales.

``They never signed the contract,'' Kevin Kane, president of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. ``Thank God, there never was a signed agreement.

``If there had been, the Sports Authority would have been on the hook for what could have been hundreds of thousands of dollars.''

http://www.tampatrib.com/Sports/MGB19VHQ86E.html

[biggreenthunder]

We (as Herd fans) have very limited knowledge of Banowsky as a Commissioner but I've talked to a few CUSA fans that are not happy with him and some are down right disgusted with him.  They view this "slip up" with the contract to be one example of his inability to grasp the fine details.  Also letting UL use Marshall to satisfy the CUSA BBall requirement instead of playing a member of the old CUSA that is staying in the conference.  I really don't know what to make of this guy but I'm hoping he's not nearly the dim wit some are starting to paint him out to be.

[Chris884mu]

When he didn't sign CUSA didn't get gaurentee but can reap all ticket sales.  When Memphis made it to final the game produced a big crowd and CUSA will probably make more money than they would have.

[Blade]

Could it be that legal contracts inside CUSA has some sort of guidelines?  I mean, nearly all organizations have guidelines when contracting labor, materials or facilities.

IF the CUSA bylaws state that when bidding out for conference championships, the award will go to the highest bidder.  That alone would leave BB no choice but to either givei it to UL or take a chance on Memphis.  

If that was the case, I don't think he made that deal without the support of the remaining members.