There's something gratifying about seeing the name "Bridgeport" on national television (at least in a positive light). Last year, Harbor Yard played host to the regional finals of the women's NCAA basketball tournament, and the University of Connecticut's Huskies brought a wide audience, live and on television, to the state's largest city. This year, the men's and women's annual Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournaments will be held at the Arena, with first-round women's games starting today.
Early-round games will be shown on the Madison Square Garden network, and the men's final Monday night will air on ESPN2, allowing the nation another glimpse at the Park City. There's plenty here to offer, and fans of visiting teams will hopefully take some time, see more than just the parking lot and get to know what the area has to offer.
Downtown Bridgeport has high hopes. Much like a high-level concert, like The Who or Bruce Springsteen, the MAAC tournament has people buzzing about increased foot traffic and packed bars and restaurants. With five days of games featuring 10 regional schools, many of which have a fervent local fan base, there's real potential to boost interest in Bridgeport.
Certainly the local favorites, the Stags from Fairfield University, are aiming high. After the men's team hit bottom in mid-January with a 3-15 record, the team came back strong, winning 10 of their past 13 games. Seeded sixth, the team is looking for big things when they face Loyola in their quarterfinal matchup Saturday. The women, seeded fourth, tip off Friday at 5 p.m. against No. 4 Siena.
There is a quibble, though, and it's not a minor one. Saturday's Fairfield men's game, which, if the seeds hold up, could be the team's one and only showcase, will start at 10 p.m. It's true that the schedules are made up beforehand according to seed, and it's pure happenstance that Fairfield gets the late game. But as the home team, Fairfield is the school likeliest to draw a big crowd, and by playing the game so late, attendance, and media coverage, will shrink. An exception could and should have been made to get the home team out there earlier.
With luck, though, both Fairfield U. teams will play a few games this week, and maybe the men can find a way to make that nationally televised championship game Monday night. Either way, putting Bridgeport on the national sports map can only be a good thing.
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