Pitt-Georgetown Basketball Game Ordered Moved to a Bigger Arena

Pitt’s Big East basketball season opener against Georgetown will be held in the Civic Arena at the request of the conference, which wants to accommodate television and the fans.

Big East Conference Commissioner Dave Gavitt ordered the move for the Jan. 2 game, which opens ESPN’s college basketball coverage and will be half of a Big East doubleheader.

“Dave has what he feels is an obligation to see that games of great magnitude are moved to public arenas,” said Big East assistant commissioner Tom McElroy. “He waited and saw what games the schools were going to move on their own volition, then he made his suggestions.”

Pitt Athletic Director Ed Bozik objected to moving the game from the Fitzgerald Field House because the date follows New Year’s football games and is a Thursday night, two potential obstacles to drawing fans. But his opposition also had more philosophical grunds.

“We made a commitment to Fitzgerald Field House that we would play our games there,” Bozik said. “It is a good facility with adequate parking and it’s an advantage to us. When it’s rocking, it helps our team.”

A crowd of 16,532 attended Pitt’s 65-53 loss to Georgetown on Jan. 19 at the arena, a record college basketball crowd there. The field house seats 6,586.

Pitt won’t lose any money on the game if attendance falls below 11,000, Pitt’s break-even point, because the league has agreed to cover any losses, Bozik said.

Pitt spent $1.5 million to upgrade the field house since joining the Big East in 1982 and has tried to keep all its conference games on campus to promote season tickets.

Gavitt has also ordered other Big East teams to move. Boston College will play four games in Boston Gardens, Connecticut will play four it Hartford Civic Center and St. John’s will play at least three in Madison Square Garden.

Villanova is negotiating to play three games in the Spectrum in Philadelphia.