I see this point, and I am sure that is what they are thinking. However, I don't know how realistic that is. I don't see myself dropping big or medium coin until I know we are going....how many MAC fans buy Motor City Bowl tickets in case their team makes it---I doubt if it is too many. Those chances get even worse if I would have to buy a ticket and get off work on a Thursday to drive to (for example) Cincy to watch Toledo and Marshall play. It doesn't seem likely.Redwingtom wrote:Think about it...if the MACC was at a neutral site last year, there would have been thousands of tickets sold to Toledo, Marshall and Northern Illinois fans during the season. Fans would have started reserving hotel rooms and making travel plans etc.
Watch Fox36 if you're in Toledo tonight...(7-26)
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orangeandbrown
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Re: MACC
And don't forget about the corporate sponsors
I think picking a neutral location and knowing the location in advance could help line up some corporate sponsorship. I know Marathon jumped in a sponsered the game last year, but that didn't happen until the week of the game. With better planning, this could be more like a bowl game. So I think Cincy or Columbus makes more sense in that respect since Detroit already has a bowl game.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."
- Ernest Hemingway
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It's the Journey...
- Peregrine
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I personally like the idea of having the MACC game at a neutral site, especially if it is in an NFL facility. I just don't understand why Cleveland Borwns Stadium in Cleveland isn't on the list. With the MAC office there, and the basketball championships there it would make sence to me to move football in as well. Plus, there is nothing wrong with a stadium outfited in Orange and Brown.
"If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage."
A. Lincoln
The BGSU Men's Chorus
America's Finest Singing Machine
BGSU Brothers Sing On
Charge on Colts, Charge on!
"ROLL ALONG!"
A. Lincoln
The BGSU Men's Chorus
America's Finest Singing Machine
BGSU Brothers Sing On
Charge on Colts, Charge on!
"ROLL ALONG!"
fawcett
i'm all for the game in canton, and more good football on the right side of the state. the problem with fawcett in late november or early december is that you'd have to schedule around the ohsaa championships. for example, the ohsaa games are the friday and saturday the 3rd and 4th this year, while the macc is the 2nd. while certainly doable, having four games in three days on an artificial surface, it'd still be difficult i'm sure for tom brabson and the canton schools folks to do.
Columbus Support?
Wow! THis topic was brought up in the OSU football discussion board, and I was quite surprised to see a TON of support. They thought that it was a great idea to hold the MACC game in Columbus, and many of them said they'd go nearly every year, especially if it contained an Ohio team.
Despite what many may think of OSU fans, they all indicated that many of them root for at least one of the other Ohio schools, and besides they love football of any sort. Sure, I find it disgusting that most of them root for OSU over their alma mater, but many are actually MAC grads. Certainly there are a TON of MAC grads in Columbus, and presumably they'd be interested. I think Columbus is the most centrally located of the possible locations.
That said, they also agreed that the Crew stadium isn't the best venue available. To my surprise most of them were advocating playing it in the HORSESHOE! If the university would approve of such a thing I think it is a fantastic idea. Its a chance for the MAC kids to get to play in the shoe, which many of them would probably love to do (of course most of the Ohio schools these days will play OSU at some time in a kid's scholarship). Also its a big, beautiful venue with a ton of history. Its also outside, so it will be real football, and of course it is still in Columbus, and should draw a big crowd.
Many of the posters on there feel that it could draw up to 50,000 people. I find that hard to believe, but we did put 30,000 in the Doyt last season on short notice, in BG, so you never know. If as many of these Buckeye fans are going to go out to the game as it sounds like they might get close to 50,000. Not sure how it would work out being on a another college campus, but certainly there is plenty of parking in the area, and its used to having more than twice that many people around.
Just thought I'd throw this out there, since it was discussed on bucknuts.
Despite what many may think of OSU fans, they all indicated that many of them root for at least one of the other Ohio schools, and besides they love football of any sort. Sure, I find it disgusting that most of them root for OSU over their alma mater, but many are actually MAC grads. Certainly there are a TON of MAC grads in Columbus, and presumably they'd be interested. I think Columbus is the most centrally located of the possible locations.
That said, they also agreed that the Crew stadium isn't the best venue available. To my surprise most of them were advocating playing it in the HORSESHOE! If the university would approve of such a thing I think it is a fantastic idea. Its a chance for the MAC kids to get to play in the shoe, which many of them would probably love to do (of course most of the Ohio schools these days will play OSU at some time in a kid's scholarship). Also its a big, beautiful venue with a ton of history. Its also outside, so it will be real football, and of course it is still in Columbus, and should draw a big crowd.
Many of the posters on there feel that it could draw up to 50,000 people. I find that hard to believe, but we did put 30,000 in the Doyt last season on short notice, in BG, so you never know. If as many of these Buckeye fans are going to go out to the game as it sounds like they might get close to 50,000. Not sure how it would work out being on a another college campus, but certainly there is plenty of parking in the area, and its used to having more than twice that many people around.
Just thought I'd throw this out there, since it was discussed on bucknuts.
Setting emotions aside, let's look at it pragmatically.
The downside to a large venue like the Shoe is that it would look pretty vacant, even with 50,000. Same could be said for the pro stadiums.
That being said, it's all about reach. Columbus is centrally located, accessible by major highways from all directions. There is a built-in fan base, as mentioned. If the MAC can generate 50,000 people, that's a nice chunk of revenue, though part of that would, presumably, go to Ohio State. I'd be interested in having access to the information necessary to crunch the numbers to see how it shakes out, but I would assume that the MAC - and the participating schools, would do quite well.
As a side note, the MAC could begin marketing the game to local sponsors immediately - that is work with Columbus hotels, restaurants, etc. to create additional revenue streams. By playing at a conference member, the league must wait until the season is over (or practically over) before making solid plans. That certainly cuts out the opportunity to generate some additional dollars. I've mentioned marketing numerous times on this board (and its previous incarnation!) and this is exactly what I mean. This provides the MAC with a great chance to do some marketing, create some partnerships and generate some cash.
So the bottom line, as they taught us in my MBA program is, in fact, the bottom line. A neutral site should help the MAC generate more money, and that's a good thing.
Homefield is such a big advantage. It would make the game more interesting to have it played at a neutral site, just to mitigate that major factor.
So get over the Buckeye thing and think about the future of the conference - Bigger crowds for the championship game and more money for the schools and the conference. How is that bad?
The downside to a large venue like the Shoe is that it would look pretty vacant, even with 50,000. Same could be said for the pro stadiums.
That being said, it's all about reach. Columbus is centrally located, accessible by major highways from all directions. There is a built-in fan base, as mentioned. If the MAC can generate 50,000 people, that's a nice chunk of revenue, though part of that would, presumably, go to Ohio State. I'd be interested in having access to the information necessary to crunch the numbers to see how it shakes out, but I would assume that the MAC - and the participating schools, would do quite well.
As a side note, the MAC could begin marketing the game to local sponsors immediately - that is work with Columbus hotels, restaurants, etc. to create additional revenue streams. By playing at a conference member, the league must wait until the season is over (or practically over) before making solid plans. That certainly cuts out the opportunity to generate some additional dollars. I've mentioned marketing numerous times on this board (and its previous incarnation!) and this is exactly what I mean. This provides the MAC with a great chance to do some marketing, create some partnerships and generate some cash.
So the bottom line, as they taught us in my MBA program is, in fact, the bottom line. A neutral site should help the MAC generate more money, and that's a good thing.
Homefield is such a big advantage. It would make the game more interesting to have it played at a neutral site, just to mitigate that major factor.
So get over the Buckeye thing and think about the future of the conference - Bigger crowds for the championship game and more money for the schools and the conference. How is that bad?
If you see OSU as the enemy then you are fighting a war you cannot win. I see OSU as the Swiss. Rooting for OSU & BG are two different things and neither will ever be on the same level. I'd love BG to rise up and be on that level but it will not happen. That's not to say that BG couldn't rise up some year and beat OSU on the field some season, it coudl certainly happen. That's not the issue. OSU is on a different level of the college football landscape with his history & tradition. BG has a great history of its own, but it will never compete with OSU's.factman wrote:I agree........a neutral site is good.........OSU and the Horseshoe are enemy to the entire conference!!!!!! not neutral!!!!
I don't see why everyone has to be so dead set that OSU is the enemy, that they cannot even open their eyes to see that playing the MACC game there would be the greatest thing that ever happened to MAC football. Of course I doubt OSU would let the MAC use Ohio Stadium, so its probably a moot point.
sees it as you described ...-
Tricky_Falcon
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It's because not everyone here is inlove with osu. Playing at their field is just going to generate more money for their school...like they really need more money. Playing at the shoe isn't everyone's dream. That is the arrogance of a typical osu fan that most people hate. Not everyone dreams to be like osu. 
Also football programs are becoming a lot more balanced than what they used to be. All I heard last year was that there was no way that BG will compete with osu...BG doesn't have the depth and all of the other excuses. Did we come out on top against osu? No. But we didn't falter that Saturday because of a lack of depth. I remember hearing that we were going to get thrashed by Purdue because of the same reasons. That didn't happen.
You may hope that no MAC school ever gets on the level as the almighty bucks but there will be a day that they will be on the same level. MAC schools already produce players that are more than capable of playing for Big 10 teams and other conferences for that matter. The gap is only going to get smaller. If the BCS was equal to every program...the "mid-majors" would look a little more enticing to go to. But once you label a team a mid-major and don't even give a team the chance to compete for a national championship the playing field is a little distorted to say the least.
If you constantly give the rich teams more benefits and say to hell with these other conferences it is going to be tougher for a school like BG or Miami to be on the same level and come close to having a tradition like osu. Once this whole BCS crap is changed and gives every school an opportunity then schools will have the capability of having the tradition of an osu.
Also football programs are becoming a lot more balanced than what they used to be. All I heard last year was that there was no way that BG will compete with osu...BG doesn't have the depth and all of the other excuses. Did we come out on top against osu? No. But we didn't falter that Saturday because of a lack of depth. I remember hearing that we were going to get thrashed by Purdue because of the same reasons. That didn't happen.
You may hope that no MAC school ever gets on the level as the almighty bucks but there will be a day that they will be on the same level. MAC schools already produce players that are more than capable of playing for Big 10 teams and other conferences for that matter. The gap is only going to get smaller. If the BCS was equal to every program...the "mid-majors" would look a little more enticing to go to. But once you label a team a mid-major and don't even give a team the chance to compete for a national championship the playing field is a little distorted to say the least.
If you constantly give the rich teams more benefits and say to hell with these other conferences it is going to be tougher for a school like BG or Miami to be on the same level and come close to having a tradition like osu. Once this whole BCS crap is changed and gives every school an opportunity then schools will have the capability of having the tradition of an osu.
Tricky:
OSU would realize a minimal amount of money from such an arrangement, so I hardly see it as filling their coffers.
Playing the MACC would also not be an indication that the MAC schools want to be like OSU. It's just a good venue in a geographically desirable spot with good access to a large fan base.
Tulane's program doesn't benefit from the Sugar Bowl being played in New Orleans, Arizona State doesn't benefit from the Sun Bowl being played in Tempe.
I agree that the gap is closing, but I really don't think it pertains to this discussion. It's not like the MAC is on its knees begging someone to let it use a stadium.
OSU would realize a minimal amount of money from such an arrangement, so I hardly see it as filling their coffers.
Playing the MACC would also not be an indication that the MAC schools want to be like OSU. It's just a good venue in a geographically desirable spot with good access to a large fan base.
Tulane's program doesn't benefit from the Sugar Bowl being played in New Orleans, Arizona State doesn't benefit from the Sun Bowl being played in Tempe.
I agree that the gap is closing, but I really don't think it pertains to this discussion. It's not like the MAC is on its knees begging someone to let it use a stadium.
