Where should the SWAC Championship football be played?
- Thread starter Dr. Tripp
- Start date
northern tiger
Active Member
Even though it would be home field for SU and GSU, its centrally located.
I think this game has served its purpose and gone about as far as it can. If the game is moved to the NO then I really don't think the GSU fans would make the trip. Too many $$$ are already spent by the Gram and SU families alike while in there for the bayou.
Once the heritage bowl went away, the real need for this game was lost.
And not to be too pretentious, but with GSU and SU dominating the game each year, it makes it that much less appealing.
I say bring back the Heritage Bowl and have the #1 and #2 BCF teams square off to see who really is the National Champion.
I don't think I could recognize ASU as the conf champion with a four loss year and having got drove by GSU and SU all year and they come up with a fluke win in the rain. That's not fair to the legit Champ--SU.
Get the top two teams and lets play for something that really means something.
Once the heritage bowl went away, the real need for this game was lost.
And not to be too pretentious, but with GSU and SU dominating the game each year, it makes it that much less appealing.
I say bring back the Heritage Bowl and have the #1 and #2 BCF teams square off to see who really is the National Champion.
I don't think I could recognize ASU as the conf champion with a four loss year and having got drove by GSU and SU all year and they come up with a fluke win in the rain. That's not fair to the legit Champ--SU.
Get the top two teams and lets play for something that really means something.
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
Don't talk to me about playing for something dat really mean something,,,
unless we are talking a full-blown HBCU Div I-AA in the NCAA playoffs.
that said, yeah, bring back the Heritage Bowl in some form or fashion even if it is the second or below best of the MEAC verses the best the SWAC has to offer. at least that would be a distant second in the "something dat really mean something" "BCS" that is Div I-AA HBCUs(err, the SWACs) continued resistance of getting involved in the playoff system. With the MEAC opting for the playoffs and the Heritage Bowl effectively relegated to the #2 or below team from the MEAC verses the #1 team from the SWAC, the SWAC may as well go NCAA playoffs and stop living in this "closed society" waiting on the re-birth of the Heritage Bowl.
unless we are talking a full-blown HBCU Div I-AA in the NCAA playoffs.
that said, yeah, bring back the Heritage Bowl in some form or fashion even if it is the second or below best of the MEAC verses the best the SWAC has to offer. at least that would be a distant second in the "something dat really mean something" "BCS" that is Div I-AA HBCUs(err, the SWACs) continued resistance of getting involved in the playoff system. With the MEAC opting for the playoffs and the Heritage Bowl effectively relegated to the #2 or below team from the MEAC verses the #1 team from the SWAC, the SWAC may as well go NCAA playoffs and stop living in this "closed society" waiting on the re-birth of the Heritage Bowl.
We need to Move it somewhere else in my opinion. Bartram, the SWAC is straight the way it is. People are starting to realize that the SCG is not growing in Bham. I guess they were feeling around, and trying to give Bham a chance to shine, but its not working. Move the game to N.O. or Houston, I think the attendance will pick up.....
bluedog
"Leader of Kings"
Feeling around had nothing to do with it Goodfella, Obviously you don't realize they (SWAC) don't pay for anything the city of birmingham foots the entire tab.
Another thing are you guys missing the fact that 31,000 fans game there in the freezing rain? What they need to do is move it to a dome arena but I doubt very seriously if they'll get the pkg they have now.....FREE!
Jag Voice
Well-Known Member
I have to agree. The weather in December is just too unpredictable to play this game outside. It has to be indoors, bar none.
I still think this game can reach 50K if it indoors. This game is dying in Birminggham.
Bluedog:
The SWAC needs to spend some money and get off this free crap. It's obvious free because that's the only way Birmingham can attract a football game.
Attack Dog
Well-Known Member
What we're talking about here is no different than the 1 AA playoffs. It's all about business and having a business mindset. If I'm not mistaken, this game was presented to several cities including the ones mentioned here, but B'ham really wanted it.
As far as the issue of playing inside goes, plans are in the works for a dome in B'ham by 2005 or 2006. B'ham wants to not only keep the SCG, but attract other big events as well.
As far as the issue of playing inside goes, plans are in the works for a dome in B'ham by 2005 or 2006. B'ham wants to not only keep the SCG, but attract other big events as well.
Robber
Consigliere
This thing ain't working for 2 reasons. One, our schools simply don't have the TRUE fan support needed to make this the game the success it should be. Two, we don't have any great sponsorship. Everybody knows the championship game was an SEC brainchild. The game started outside for them, too. But they still had sellout crowds attending in the cold and rain on the very same field we are now playing on. Their fans simply care more about their teams than they do the weather, so they will be at the game rain, sleet or snow. And then they got the sweetheart partnership deal. The game is a financial boon for them. Y'all don't really think it's about determining who the SEC champ is, do y'all. Same with the Big 12. Game in Kansas City, cold as hell, but every seat taken. Sweetheart sponsorship. The SEC got tired of the cold and wet game and moved it to the ATL indoors. The Big 12 did the exact opposite and moved the game from indoors (dome in St. Louis) to Arrowhead Stadium in K.C.
In the SWAC, we ain't making no money on this game. The way I see it, the game is moreso to determine the conference champ than anything else. If the SEC and Big 12 was making as little on their championship game as we are, they'd scrap the game totally.
In the SWAC, we ain't making no money on this game. The way I see it, the game is moreso to determine the conference champ than anything else. If the SEC and Big 12 was making as little on their championship game as we are, they'd scrap the game totally.
Jag Voice
Well-Known Member
Once BHam gets a Dome, they should be back in the running. Until then, we need to explore our other options.
Robber.. I see your point but we are dealing with Black folks, not White folks. A lot of our people will not sit in frigid conditions when you can watch the game on TV.
Robber
Consigliere
But we are doing this because they are making a lot of money off of this format. Until we change our mindset about game day weather vs. TV, no decent sponsor is gonna give us much of anything to make real money. We have to fill that stadium up consistently before someone thinks about giving us any meaningful money. And that's no guarantee. Because 90% or so of the revenue from the Big 12 and SEC championships come from the huge TV deals they got.
IMO, we're just spinning our wheels. Getting nowhere. The SEC proudly announces how much it makes and how much each school is getting from the championship game. When are we gonna hear what's coming from the SCG???
cat daddy
Active Member
Robber you are making some good points. Even if this game is played in the Dome, (Super or Reliant) I don't see the game drawing the crowds we need for it to generate some income. We aren't making big money on the game and right now we pay no rent. How will we make money playing it somewhere else where we will have to pay rent?
Jag Voice
Well-Known Member
We are basically talking the same thing. My point is this game will never have a great attendance as long as it's in Birmingham. So that goes the sponsor possibilites.
IMO, to have great attendance you need a great social environment, predictable weather and close proximity to most of the target audience.
N.O has all three and Houston's only problem is distance is a little far for the Alabama schools.
Birmingham lacks in location and weather.
mighty hornet
The HMIC!!
hol up.......
I think we have to be real with ourselves. We just had a SCG in miserable weather that had 31K and we're complaining????
Heck, 31K in a league where the avg. regular season attendance is probably around 10K. Where's the crime there? Do yall think any 1AA playoff game will approach that 31K figure?
We need to face facts. The SCG aint gonna sell out. You can put it wherever you want, in a Dome, on the moon, this game aint gonna sell out. We'll get the big, big #s for the in-state classics, but a late season championship game aint selling out. Our fanbase don't work like that.
I REALLY wish the weather had been sunny and warm yesterday. I believe 50K+ would have been there, easily. And this wouldn't even be a topic for discussion again
I think we have to be real with ourselves. We just had a SCG in miserable weather that had 31K and we're complaining????
Heck, 31K in a league where the avg. regular season attendance is probably around 10K. Where's the crime there? Do yall think any 1AA playoff game will approach that 31K figure?
We need to face facts. The SCG aint gonna sell out. You can put it wherever you want, in a Dome, on the moon, this game aint gonna sell out. We'll get the big, big #s for the in-state classics, but a late season championship game aint selling out. Our fanbase don't work like that.
I REALLY wish the weather had been sunny and warm yesterday. I believe 50K+ would have been there, easily. And this wouldn't even be a topic for discussion again
Taylor-Made'90
I'm 'Citrix SSO' batch!!!
I didn't vote in the poll, but I'm with Mighty Bee, the SCG drew 31K yesterday in the rain. We certainly can't complain about that.....
As far as moving the game, I dunno. I don't see SU and Gram supporting moving the SCG to the Superdome. Why? Because it'll compete with the Bayou. And if SU and Gram keep winning the SWAC, then it'll certainly compete head to head with the Bayou.
And there are issues that come with playing the SCG in a large stadium, and then we don't fill it. Like, what's the use of playing in Reliant (or the Astrodome) if we're only gunna draw 30-35K????
This might sound crazy but maybe the SCG could be played in Mobile or maybe Jackson? Both cities are more 'centrally located' than Birmingham is??? But the weather could be just as unpredictable as in B'ham.
But if we're going to go to a 9-game SWAC schedule, then what's the point of playing a SCG anyway?????
:smh:
As far as moving the game, I dunno. I don't see SU and Gram supporting moving the SCG to the Superdome. Why? Because it'll compete with the Bayou. And if SU and Gram keep winning the SWAC, then it'll certainly compete head to head with the Bayou.
And there are issues that come with playing the SCG in a large stadium, and then we don't fill it. Like, what's the use of playing in Reliant (or the Astrodome) if we're only gunna draw 30-35K????
This might sound crazy but maybe the SCG could be played in Mobile or maybe Jackson? Both cities are more 'centrally located' than Birmingham is??? But the weather could be just as unpredictable as in B'ham.
But if we're going to go to a 9-game SWAC schedule, then what's the point of playing a SCG anyway?????
:smh:
bluedog
"Leader of Kings"
First of all you got that so far wrong until it's not even funny, nothing and I repeat nothing that we can do in the SWAC will ever compete against the BC.
Now what you don't seem to understand is that is the mission (hopefully) to make the attendance as large as the BC, if not than what's the point of playing it, we could just go back to the old format.
As I remember, there were similar attendance numbers for the now defunct Heritage Bowl. My memory may not be exact. Nevertheless, I am cosigning what Robber is saying.
This is a good question. I asked a similar one before the first SCG. Remember in 1-A a conference needs 12-teams for a conference championship game. Note that the ACC could not get one with 11-teams.
This is a good question. I asked a similar one before the first SCG. Remember in 1-A a conference needs 12-teams for a conference championship game. Note that the ACC could not get one with 11-teams.
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
Robber does make good points.
I only read Robber's comments because EB said he agreed and I was ready to disagree,,, but I can't. Robber does make SOME good points.
The only reason I think this even comes up is because the SWAC/New Orleans is historically the perview/domain of Grambling and Southern who are overwhelmingly the largest and most active contingent on this forum (with Jackson State a significant force) so clearly the sentiment on this forum, TSPN, is going to be in favor of a New Orleans venue as the sight to determine the conference championship. Also, I think it still doesn't sit well psychologically with the "old" SWAC that the game/HQ was moved to, of all places, Birmingham Alabama. That really has to suck for old hardline SWACers,,, but das just my purely economic development oriented take on the matter (after all, I'm from the SIAC/MEAC, so I really "don't have a dog in this hunt".).
That said, I can see interest in it being in N.O. what with all the entertainment, indoors, blah, blah, blah. To that I would say, Birmingham is about to build a domed stadium to neutralize the "unpredictable weather" argument. So what then? It just boils down to who screams the loudest or who steps up with a better deal than "you can have it here free".
The prevailing bottom line is like somebody said,, other conferences support their teams no matter what, rain, sleet, snow, hail. This is what REALLY separates HBCU championship game attendance, support, sponsorship and so forth from PWCs and their success. Just like somebody said, the big 12 moved FROM a controlled environment to the elements, so how would you explain that??????????
I only read Robber's comments because EB said he agreed and I was ready to disagree,,, but I can't. Robber does make SOME good points.
The only reason I think this even comes up is because the SWAC/New Orleans is historically the perview/domain of Grambling and Southern who are overwhelmingly the largest and most active contingent on this forum (with Jackson State a significant force) so clearly the sentiment on this forum, TSPN, is going to be in favor of a New Orleans venue as the sight to determine the conference championship. Also, I think it still doesn't sit well psychologically with the "old" SWAC that the game/HQ was moved to, of all places, Birmingham Alabama. That really has to suck for old hardline SWACers,,, but das just my purely economic development oriented take on the matter (after all, I'm from the SIAC/MEAC, so I really "don't have a dog in this hunt".).
That said, I can see interest in it being in N.O. what with all the entertainment, indoors, blah, blah, blah. To that I would say, Birmingham is about to build a domed stadium to neutralize the "unpredictable weather" argument. So what then? It just boils down to who screams the loudest or who steps up with a better deal than "you can have it here free".
The prevailing bottom line is like somebody said,, other conferences support their teams no matter what, rain, sleet, snow, hail. This is what REALLY separates HBCU championship game attendance, support, sponsorship and so forth from PWCs and their success. Just like somebody said, the big 12 moved FROM a controlled environment to the elements, so how would you explain that??????????