2013 Preseason and regular polls

[jlb1705]

If they will travel across the country to Louisana, then they'll travel across the country to Chicago. I understand that many fan bases don't travel well, but those that will take the time and expense to travel will go just about anywhere, regardless of weather, as long as it's a city that has things to do and sights to see. For another bowl game, even a BCS bowl you can't make that assumption. But when it is for a national title, it changes everything. You might need sunshine to bring Oregon to a regular Cotton Bowl. If a national title is on the line, you don't need that.

...and if they won't travel from the south, funk'em. More room for Buckeye fans.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

You don't know that, because we haven't seen anything like it before. All we have to go off of is the bowl games we currently have - and many of them are poorly attended.

The bowl games that already exist don't mean anything. The only one I can think of, first of all is in Detroit (better wear a bullet proof vest), and it's the worst Big Ten team against a MAC team (tiny fan base). That's not even a remote comparison to a national title game. National title game gets around a 16-19 rating the last few years. Crappy bowls like that don't even get a 1. Heck, other than the Rose Bowl, rarely will a BCS bowl get better than a 10. A closer comparison would be the super bowl which sells out (at 3x the price) in northern climates all the time (lately has brought in close to a 40 rating). Or the World Series which averaged a 9 sold out every game in Boston. I few up there the day after the winning game game and half of my flight from Tampa was going because of it. They weren't even going for the game, just the after party. It was a great after party. Given that's a big fan base, but they don't travel for normal games, they travel for the big games. It's like saying why won't anyone hire my livery service when I'm driving a 1980 Ford Fiesta. Buy a new Cadillac and people will hire the service. Right now there is no real comparison, somewhere between the Little Caesars Bowl and the Super Bowl, and I guarantee the appeal is closer to one than the other.

 

[kujirakira]

I don't think they could give it to him, because of his antics. It would devalue the award. Character is supposed to be a part of the criteria, and you can't completely fail one of the criteria and still win. ESPN will just keep hailing him as the second coming because he's flashy and plays in the SEC. For 10 weeks they claimed Mariota as the front runner, but Manziel still got 5x the airtime. I believe one the agendas they push consistently is to show high school athletes that if you play for the SEC you get more airtime on TV.

Cam Newton ?

 

[maximumblitz]

Fewer for who? thats still more tourists than those northern cities would have gotten otherwise, i am sure theyd gladly take it. why do we feel so inclined to prop up the economies of tropical locals?

Our infamous AD just launched into a soliloquy about how the taxi cab drivers and restaurants need a certain number of home games, even at he expense of strength of schedule:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/89096/several-forces-hurting-buckeyes-schedule

So sure, I am good: bring a few non-wimps north and let them spend their money here. The rest of the stadium will be filled up with Ohio residents, many of whom spend the night anyway.

 

[Mike80]

The bowl games that already exist don't mean anything. The only one I can think of, first of all is in Detroit (better wear a bullet proof vest), and it's the worst Big Ten team against a MAC team (tiny fan base). That's not even a remote comparison to a national title game. National title game gets around a 16-19 rating the last few years. Crappy bowls like that don't even get a 1. Heck, other than the Rose Bowl, rarely will a BCS bowl get better than a 10. A closer comparison would be the super bowl which sells out (at 3x the price) in northern climates all the time (lately has brought in close to a 40 rating). Or the World Series which averaged a 9 sold out every game in Boston. I few up there the day after the winning game game and half of my flight from Tampa was going because of it. They weren't even going for the game, just the after party. It was a great after party. Given that's a big fan base, but they don't travel for normal games, they travel for the big games. It's like saying why won't anyone hire my livery service when I'm driving a 1980 Ford Fiesta. Buy a new Cadillac and people will hire the service. Right now there is no real comparison, somewhere between the Little Caesars Bowl and the Super Bowl, and I guarantee the appeal is closer to one than the other.

You are aware that TV dollars are what is behind the BCS and this push for the playoff system right?

There could be 10 people in the crowd and the powers that be wouldn't care because they're getting umpteen billions from the TV networks.

 

[kujirakira]

Is there a difference between the ratings an NCG would get based on location ?? I'm not seeing the connection there.
To take his example of the Super Bowl -- can you demonstrate that Super Bowls held above the Mason-Dixon have had lower ratings?

 

[WyoBuck]

Top five highest rated Superbowls:

1. 1982, CBS, 49.1% viewership, 49ers/Cincinatti, Detroit.
2. 1983, NBC, 48.6% viewership, Redskins/Dolphins, Los Angeles.
3. 1986, NBC, 48.3% viewership, Bears/Patriots, New Orleans.
4. 1978, CBS, 47.2% viewership, Cowboys/Broncos, New Orleans.
5. 1979, NBC, 47.1% viewership, Cowboys/Steelers, Miami.

Keep in mind that there are only 4 metropolitan areas that have ever hosted a Superbowl north of the Mason-Dixon line: S.F., Detroit, Indy and Minneapolis, for a total of 6. Just Miami, N.O. and L.A. have hosted a combined 27. However, there doesn't appear to be a correlation to ratings and the location of where the game is being played, as evidenced by the Superbowl argument.

*As an aside, there is a difference between ratings and total viewers.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

Is there a difference between the ratings an NCG would get based on location ?? I'm not seeing the connection there.
To take his example of the Super Bowl -- can you demonstrate that Super Bowls held above the Mason-Dixon have had lower ratings?

This is where I guess I lost you guys. I am not saying at all that ratings or viewership change based on location.

I'm just using TV ratings to show the popularity and how the current bowls that exist in the north can't be used to approximate the attendance/travel of a national championship game, as they get only about 1/15th the ratings. The super bowl would be the closest approximation we have as it's ratings are only about 2.5x the ratings of a NCG. Fans travel to the super bowl regardless of location, and there is severely more demand for tickets than what is available, as evidence by the ridiculously high prices. Therefore I would venture that a NCG would sell out the stadium and bring in a lot of fans regardless of location. At the same time I wouldn't risk having it in Detroit or in a smaller city like Green Bay. Needs to be in a bigger city with an NFL stadium, like Chicago, maybe New England as they are close to Boston, etc. Though a dome would be nice.
Heck, this year's Super Bowl is in New York and the nose bleed seats are over 3 grand a pop.

 

[kujirakira]

I was responding to Mike stating that attendance doesn't matter, only ratings do.
If ratings aren't tied to the event's location, then it seems like a moot point to me.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Our infamous AD just launched into a soliloquy about how the taxi cab drivers and restaurants need a certain number of home games, even at he expense of strength of schedule:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/89096/several-forces-hurting-buckeyes-schedule

So sure, I am good: bring a few non-wimps north and let them spend their money here. The rest of the stadium will be filled up with Ohio residents, many of whom spend the night anyway.

$70 x 105,000 = $7,350,000
Split with whomever is getting their cut
Add in concessions

Home games are excellent days. Gene really is that stupid.. or that arrogant. I'm not so sure which is worse.

If we can't add anymore home games to our schedule, or if quality OOC opponents won't come here I would think we should be scheduling games elsewhere. With the coming B1G TV deal, especially if the B1G can add a big name or two, I would think we could afford losing 1 home game?

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Texas series and I think the teams who won't come are pussies too, but if we miss out on a national title game because we can't (or worse, won't) schedule these games at neutral sites, what is the cost of that? The university likely saves a little on Urban's bonus, but I wonder if a teams merchandise sales before and after MNC appearances/win has been measured? Future enrollment?

I guess after this year, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Steve19]

You think the game won't sell out because it's in a cold climate? I think you'd be surprised how many people will come north to a game. I have news, football fans are nuts and will follow a game anywhere. It just has to be in a city where people want to go (so you can't force college cities, some are small and horrible). It would really need to be in an NFL stadium. I guarantee just as many people will come to Chicago as Miami. Southern people do like to visit places and see snow, we just don't want to live in it, but we love it for a week.

They might come for the game, but they won't stay for a week or two spending money. There's no beach, no Disneyland, etc. That means less sponsorship dosh and a less economically viable game. It sucks, and I'm not saying that it should stop playoffs in the North, but it is how it is. Give your spouse the option of location for the same game...you'll see.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

They might come for the game, but they won't stay for a week or two spending money. There's no beach, no Disneyland, etc. That means less sponsorship dosh and a less economically viable game. It sucks, and I'm not saying that it should stop playoffs in the North, but it is how it is. Give your spouse the option of location for the same game...you'll see.

Who can afford tickets to a bowl game plus a weeks vacation?

 

[BUCKYLE]

Who can afford tickets to a bowl game plus a weeks vacation?

Yeah I'd say the majority of people are arriving the day before and leaving the day after. Three days at best.

 

[cincibuck]

$70 x 105,000 = $7,350,000
Split with whomever is getting their cut
Add in concessions

Home games are excellent days. Gene really is that stupid.. or that arrogant. I'm not so sure which is worse.

If we can't add anymore home games to our schedule, or if quality OOC opponents won't come here I would think we should be scheduling games elsewhere. With the coming B1G TV deal, especially if the B1G can add a big name or two, I would think we could afford losing 1 home game?

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Texas series and I think the teams who won't come are pussies too, but if we miss out on a national title game because we can't (or worse, won't) schedule these games at neutral sites, what is the cost of that? The university likely saves a little on Urban's bonus, but I wonder if a teams merchandise sales before and after MNC appearances/win has been measured? Future enrollment?

I guess after this year, it doesn't really matter.

It's time for Gene, Delaney and the Big Ten to grow a pair. for reasons historical, political, economic and geographical, games in Texas are not "neutral" to teams from the north. Further there is no need to put more money into Jerry Jones' pockets.

It's time to even the playing field with regard to where bowl games are played. If Billy Jo Bob has to buy a ski jacket and some earmuffs to watch Bubba play in Chicago, it's as it should be.

If Duke fans can find their way to Seattle in March to watch Coach K's boys, Bama fans can figure out how to survive in Chicago and New Jersey in January. USC can figure out how to play for a National championship east of the Rockies and north of the Ohio instead of their home stadium.

The games that are being planned for January of 2015 are no longer exhibition games to create the myth of a national champ and a holiday vacation. These are games that should have the same validity as the basketball tournament, ergo regional locations NEED to be a part of the mix.

 

[TampaBuckeyes]

I will be at the rose bowl this year. Flying in Saturday, leaving Thursday. Burning 3 vacation days. Could go either way. No one is bringing the kids or wives, its not a family trip. Its a Football trip with some golfing. If it were new york or chicago i might just fly in for the game.