Attendance in the MACC

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:24 pm

I tried to post this earlier but I got an error message.

Did anyone notice the pathetic attendance last night in the MACC?

22,000. Miami U sold their allotted 5000 tix.

That means the MOST UT fans brought was 17,000 and I know several BG fans went to the game and I am sure their were walkups. I think that attendance was pathetic for an indoor game. BG - UT has 10,000 more than the game last night.

What do you all think

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:45 pm

My thoughts?

SO WHAT...we would have not brought any more fans than Toledo.

This is the first year for the MACC at a neutral site...give it a chance. This will only increase in time...look at the MCB attendance...it has gone up steadily every year.

The only thing I would change is to get this game on a weekend.

bacn3 · Post by **bacn3** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:46 pm

i think it was dumb to hold the MACC game at ford field. First the div that is best off is the west hands down closer to Ford field and ford field is NOT a place for a college game, good nfl spot bad college spot. 2nd a team that plays in that game will be back there in a few weeks to play the MCB now how lame is that you get to go to the same place? that sucks? not to mention that the mac has an adv over the other school because that school just played there a few weeks ago. A bad move i say bring back the old way.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:08 pm

I'm torn here.

I love the idea of having homefield advantage as a factor in a title game, but it really doesn't make a bunch of sense. Ford Field is a world-class facility that's pretty centrally located to the MAC's core.

Since the MAC's signed on to the idea, we do need to give it some more time to see if it works.

But it does seem like something of a letdown to win your conference championship game, then come back to the same place a few weeks later for a bowl game. I'm sure Bancroft Correctional Center is happy to be in a bowl, but going back to Detroit probably doesn't have them foaming at the mouth (there are other causes for that, I'm sure).

FalconKing · Post by **FalconKing** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:51 pm

It pained me watching that game because they were trying so hard not to show the empty seats when the camera angle's....it didn't work very well. I don't think they had anyone in the upperdeck at all. I don't think having the game there isn't that bad of an idea, but with the short notice and being on a weeknight? That is tough to swing...esp since you might already be thinking about taking days off for a bowl trip.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:32 pm

I think having the game at Ford Field is a great idea but I have a few thoughts:

1. Move the game to a Sat evening. That way people who live as far away as Northern or even Buffalo could make the game if they wanted to, especially if there team was playing. There are other college football championships this weekend, none on ESPN. College BBALL is on ESPN. This game could have been played on Sat.

2. I agree that the fact that the current winner goes back to Ford Field 3 weeks later for the MCB. This is my solution. Keep the MCB and GMAC bowls. Try and pick the SVC as a 3rd bowl. The winner of the MACC goes to the GMAC, the loser to the SVC and another representative, who did not play at Ford Field goes to the MCB.

Just a few suggestions! Any thoughts

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:33 pm

bgsufan1972 wrote: I think that attendance was pathetic for an indoor game. BG - UT has 10,000 more than the game last night.

What do you all think

I think it was pretty darned good considering it was a first effort and that fans of both teams had to drive out of state to get there.

They came within 2,000 people of what we did at Perry Stadium last fall... and it was a neutral site.

I'm optimistic that with more time to plan, the game could break 30,000 next year. Local support was lacking this year. Perhaps they can do more outreach next year.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:38 pm

bgsufan1972 wrote: 1. Move the game to a Sat evening. That way people who live as far away as Northern or even Buffalo could make the game if they wanted to, especially if there team was playing. There are other college football championships this weekend, none on ESPN. College BBALL is on ESPN. This game could have been played on Sat.

If the game can be shown nationally on a Saturday, that's the preferred day. But those of us who were cut from the BG-UT game to a freakin' college b-ball game, well ...

bgsufan1972 wrote: 2. I agree that the fact that the current winner goes back to Ford Field 3 weeks later for the MCB. This is my solution. Keep the MCB and GMAC bowls. Try and pick the SVC as a 3rd bowl. The winner of the MACC goes to the GMAC, the loser to the SVC and another representative, who did not play at Ford Field goes to the MCB.

This sounds good on paper, but here are two factors to consider ....

1) It hinges on the MAC actually sewing up a third bowl bid. Indy & Toronto are possible new bowls; I think the Silicon Valley Bowl will fold after this year. But Chryst would have to get that third tie-in, which could be tough.

2) The MCB has been good to the MAC. Very good to the MAC. And they were there when no one else wanted MAC teams. As someone said, dance with who brung ya. Not sure the MCB would be happy taking the third MAC team on an annual basis.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:47 pm

1987alum wrote: As someone said, dance with who brung ya. Not sure the MCB would be happy taking the third MAC team on an annual basis.

That was me, and I feel pretty strongly about it.

Supposedly, all these bowl agreements are open for renegotiation this off season.

I think the Motor City Bowl has a decent shot of moving up in the Big Ten's pecking order. The Big Ten-MAC relationship seems pretty strong.

If George Perles can get his bowl up to No. 6 in the Big Ten's pecking order, we would be virtually guaranteed a Big Ten opponent every year -- and we would feel much, much better about the Motor City Bowl.

The Motor City Bowl is already a pretty strong bowl game, a fact that's often lost on people because of its location.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:51 pm

Schadenfreude:

No doubt. If the MCB moves up, the game becomes that much more attractive.

I do agree, however, that having the MACC game at Ford Field with the winner playing there a few weeks later is a little, I don't know, awkward (is that the best word?).

That being said, I think the MAC needs to show some loyalty to the MCB.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:01 pm

1987alum wrote:I do agree, however, that having the MACC game at Ford Field with the winner playing there a few weeks later is a little, I don't know, awkward (is that the best word?).

I agree.

But some of this is mental, and reflects our own sense of inadequacy.

Anyone think Miami (Florida) players are ever less less excited when a big win at the Orange Bowl put them in ... the Orange Bowl?

Do Southern Cal players get any less excited when a big win in the Rose Bowl guarantees they'll play ... in the Rose Bowl?

Until we found out Connecticut would be the opponent, most of us here seemed to prefer a date in Detroit over anything else. It's a solid bowl game in one of the finest stadiums in America. It's worthy of our champion.

Attendance in the MACC

Attendance in the MACC

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