It isn't easy being only a basketball conference trying to compete with the major programs. No football money from the 1-A level, even to be a patsy team like the Sun Belt, MAC or the ilk. The Atlantic 10 has managed to make it work, but apparently the money is no longer there. Reports are out that the Atlantic 10 is moving its offices to Newport News, Virginia. There are no member schools in Newport News. The closest school is Richmond. Nearly 80 miles away. The move is apparently driven by economics, as the city's development office actively courted the A-10 to move into new digs no where near any of their members.
The A-10 offices have been located in Philadelphia. It has made sense since three (LaSalle, Temple, St. Joe's) of the fourteen full members are located in Philly. Add in Duquesne in Pittsburgh and associate member West Chester, and the A-10 has its basketball tournament in Atlantic City, NJ. To say nothing of a major airport located in the area that all members could get direct flights to and from. it would appear to have little reason to move the offices from Philadelphia.
Apparently the office space in Philly, though, is just too expensive for the A-10. Wonder how many direct flights there are to the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport (a third runway coming in 2012) from the various cities .




