Post by lichoya68 on May 8, 2023 7:07:57 GMT -5
Arrived to the conversation late, but a few thoughts:
1. JCW events are usually planned out up to a year in advance, depending on the venue, and it's not unusual that Thursday's events (which are largely geared toward visiting the city, versus sitting in panel discussions Friday at the headquarters hotel) would sell out over events held inside. In past years, there have been a cadre of registrants (mostly parents and Board of Regents members) that sign up for every tour on day one and they quickly sell out. The more walkable a city is, the more likely people will want to get out and about. Fourteen of the 18 events for Thursday, net of the evening reception, have sold out, and they're all outside the hotel.
2. Getting Cooley to make the trip from DC is a win-win: it's shows his interest in meeting with people, and it's a community-building effort. This readership does not need to be reminded that past iterations of the basketball office showed zero interest in events outside its control, and alumni and parents took notice. The last two John Carroll Weekend events (Nashville, Boston) were, at most, a two hour flight for the head coach who could have attended and he could have been home the same day if he so chose, and he chose not to. Taking time out of the whirlwind of the portal at this time of the year is no small commitment, either. It is encouraging that coach Cooley is going to be a visible member of the Georgetown community, which is going to be a sea change from two generations of alumni, parents, and donors who saw men's basketball as disconnected from University and alumni life.
3. While I politely complain about the cost of events, particularly for younger alumni, John Carroll Weekend remains an absolutely unique event that is done first-class by the University. I am not aware of any major university which takes its alumni awards weekend on the road to places near and far: 32 different US cities and four cities in Europe have hosted it. I like to say that those who don't go will never go, but for those that do, they'll want to return and see new cities and experiences each year. For reference, here's how the event last year in Nashville turned out--despite being a non-traditional venue versus a New York, Chicago or a San Francisco, it was well attended and people really enjoyed it. If you're able to travel to one of these in the future, please consider it.
. WELL SAID GO HOYAS