Living close to Manhattan my wife and I usually trek over to the city Thanksgiving weekend to check out the store windows.

Depending on who's playing ,we go to the Preseason NIT Final.

One problem is that if the favorites get knocked off before the semis (think O.U.), the Garden is more then 1/2 empty for the Final.
 
Some years we've gotten lower level,center court seats the day of the game.

This approach makes sure they have teams that will draw a crowd.

I believe it. The event had zero cache any more because it wasn't the singular basketball event and now that the exempt tournament that allowed for extra games has become a regular thing there's little incentive to participate.