USA Today note on bowl attendance requirements.

[NWLB]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... -cap_x.htm

Props to the Miami fan that noted the article on their board.

The upshot is that the bowls must average 25,000 fans over three years, and three games are below that, including the SVB, New Orleans Bowl, and the former Tangerine Bowl.

If the New Orleans bowl folds, that burns the Sun Belt's bowl, and one of CUSA precious five bids.

The SVB and old Tangerine bowl have WAC, Pac 10, ACC, and Big 12 ties. I consider the MAC to be safe with the Toronto bowl. The Indy group would have an easier time locking in teams and sponsors if any of the noted bowls fails.

In truth I can see new bowls forming to fill the gaps. But I think CUSA might lose a bid for the long-term unless it signs with the group from Indy.

Lots of unknowns of course.

[UK Peregrine]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... -cap_x.htm

I wasn't aware that those three bowls were hurting so bad for attendance. If they do fold, my guess is that one of the proposed sites (Denver, Miami, Atlanta, San Diego, Indianapolis, New Yrk and Toronto) will quickly fill up the open slots. Also, interesting that the NCAA proposes a cap at 28 bowl per year. Probably a good thing, just have to get the MAC a couple of more automatic bids if some new bowls are created from this attendance backlash.

Comparatively, the two MAC bowl are in good shape attendance-wise. The GMAC sold out last year and I think year before that too at 40,646. The MCB has had even better attendance figures, but its also a much larger stadium. MAC bowls seem to be safe.

Motor City Bowl Attendance Figures
2003 51,286
2002 45,761
2001 44,164
2000 44,911
1999 44,449
1998 38,016
1997 43,340
[/i]

[Hail Peden]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... -cap_x.htm

Props to the Miami fan that noted the article on their board.

The upshot is that the bowls must average 25,000 fans over three years, and three games are below that, including the SVB, New Orleans Bowl, and the former Tangerine Bowl.

If the New Orleans bowl folds, that burns the Sun Belt's bowl, and one of CUSA precious five bids.

The Sun Belt pretty much has a wavier from the 25,000 attendance requirement because they must have a bowl game. Plus, CUSA is thinking ahead by sending Southern Miss and its season ticket base of 25,000 down to the New Orleans Bowl. The NO bowl needs a crowd of 31,000 to maintain certification.

The SVB is in big trouble though because they're so far below the 25,000 average. They must have nearly 60,000 in attendance this year to make the 25,000 average. If this bowl folds, it would be a big blow to the WAC leaving the conference with two bowls, and two sucky ones at that (Hawaii and MPC).

The MAC has a decent shot at landing the Toronto or Indy Bowl for 2005 if their working with another conference like the Big East. And I don't see how the NCAA could justify another bowl for the power conferences with all the unfulfilled contracts this year. The MAC placing 5 in bowl games this year would be a factor in the league's favor. Marshall would be the 6th but their moving to CUSA.

It would be nice, and more sensible for the rest of the college football world for the MAC to just have 4 tie-ins instead of all this eleventh hour negotiations. This league has come light years since Chryst has taken over. I would rank the MAC's above the WAC now in the bowl situation, and just below CUSA. The only thing CUSA has over the MAC is the Liberty Bowl pitting two conference champions together. CUSA will be down to four tie-ins next year when the Ft.Worth Bowl moves with TCU to the Mountain West. The MWC is trying to push its way into the BCS, and is talking to the Insight.com bowl. If the MAC could somehow become involved with the Liberty Bowl it would make the league equal to CUSA.

[1987alum]

Hail Peden:

A little surprised to see you around here again!

[NWLB]

I agree that four bids would be ample for a 12 team league. It is a number that can be sustained, the games would all be mostly local. The GMAC bowl is something of an oddball, but the MAC is having success with it.

I'm really curious where the $2,000,000 the Indy group needs will come from. I haven't heard any new information on how well their work is going.

Toronto I figure will get the money. I think the MCB people setting it up know enough companies to make it happen.

I don't see the NCAA being able to fully cap bowl games though. They will OK a 12 game season, and that will push the door back open. The most they can hope to do is stall things a big longer.

What I hate is that they are talking of it right when the MAC has a chance to gain some more ground.