Two college basketball teams have not walked into the Philadelphia antique that is the Civic Center (whatever happened to Convention Hall?) since Feb. 9, 1980, when Temple and St. Joe's helped the Big 5 celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The old hardwood squeaked louder than the sneakers and the basketball did not always come bouncing back to the person dribbling it. But it was the Big 5's silver anniversary party and everyone seemed willing to overlook a few wooden soft spots.
Now, NCAA men's and women's tourney bids will be at stake beginning tomorrow night when the Mideastern Athletic Conference - eight predominantly black colleges - brings its postseason tournaments north for the second straight season. It will be interesting to see if the MEAC coaches are able to overlook some of the many deficiencies of the place that once was home to the NBA Philadelphia Warriors and 76ers.
"I heard it's been a long time since basketball was played there," said Don Corbett, coach of North Carolina A&T, the MEAC regular season men's champion, which comes to town in search of a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. "I understand it used to be the focus of Philly basketball, but I just hope it's still a major league facility. I loved the Palestra last year, but (if) we show up there this weekend, somebody's going to win by forfeit down the street."
Conference and city spokesmen cited better media accommodations and the Civic Center's proximity to the University City Hilton (across the street) headquarters as reasons for the move from the Palestra. But with the city and the Philadelphia Advisory Council, a private, non-profit group, guaranteeing the MEAC $100,000 and expenses for its men's and women's teams and respective support staffs, it is no secret that saving money was perhaps at the top of the list of reasons for moving the three-day men's and women's tournaments.
A Big 5 source said the city is saving about $30,000 in operating costs by holding the tournaments at the Civic Center. The games drew a one-day high of 3,500 last year. The Palestra also is being spruced up in order to host the NCAA Division I women's East Regional in two weeks.
