In six years in the ACC, Virginia Tech fans have yet to fully embrace the ACC
Tournament, one of the crown jewels of college athletics. It’s an exciting,
one-of-a-kind event, but Hokie fans don’t attend in large numbers, and VT has
even had trouble selling their full ticket allotment in some years. The reasons
why are multi-faceted, and boil down to one thing: Tech’s history with
conference tournaments is long and ugly, in many ways.

At other schools that have been in the ACC for decades, tickets to the ACC
Tournament are coveted. Donors who pony up big bucks aren’t even on the
distribution list for tickets, and tickets are often hard to come by, especially
when the tourney is in Greensboro or Charlotte and the North Carolina schools
are good.

The ACC Tournament is second to none in college basketball. Long-time ACC
fans love it and look forward to it.

At Virginia Tech, the tournament has received a lukewarm reception from Hokie
fans. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest one is simply
"culture." Attending conference basketball tournaments is not in the
culture of Virginia Tech athletics.

...