Why Birmingham?

[AAMU Alum]

Houston and New Orleans are both cities that black people love to go to. Both cities also have a higher concentration of SWAC alumni. Both also have domed stadiums. I understand the logic in staying somewhere thats free but if Houston or New Orleans make a comparable offer then the SCG will be better off leaving Birmingham.

Leave and go where, Storm? The game was pitched to these cities when the concept for it first came up, and they said NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Y'all conveniently forget that everytime this subject comes up. I will say for the millionth time, I don't care where the game goes, but right now, B'ham is offering facilities and headquarters office space for FREE! And while some of you may say that free ain't always best, then my question to you is like Capital One....'WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?"

 

[Da_Sperm]

Leave and go where, Storm? The game was pitched to these cities when the concept for it first came up, and they said NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Y'all conveniently forget that everytime this subject comes up. I will say for the millionth time, I don't care where the game goes, but right now, B'ham is offering facilities and headquarters office space for FREE! And while some of you may say that free ain't always best, then my reply to you is like Capital One....'WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?"

Bruh,
Free is Free. But Free looks to be costing the SWAC money because the game is being played in weather unfit for SWAC fans. A drop in almost 20,000 fans (50%) in less than 5 years. They need to look at moving the game to the dome since it will be played in December.

 

[Storm96]

Leave and go where, Storm? The game was pitched to these cities when the concept for it first came up, and they said NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Y'all conveniently forget that everytime this subject comes up. I will say for the millionth time, I don't care where the game goes, but right now, B'ham is offering facilities and headquarters office space for FREE! And while some of you may say that free ain't always best, then my question to you is like Capital One....'WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?"

I said IF houston or N.O. makes a comparable offer..an offer similar to what Birmingham has offered. Even the most loyal Bama people will agree that the SWAC can do better than Birmingham.

 

[mighty hornet]

I said IF

operative word, IF


Until that IF becomes WHEN, then this topic is useless.

And it is sooooooo easy to sit and think that the grass is greener on the other side.

oh well

 

[AAMU Alum]

I said IF houston or N.O. makes a comparable offer..an offer similar to what Birmingham has offered. Even the most loyal Bama people will agree that the SWAC can do better than Birmingham.

They didn't make a similar offer when the game was first pitched to them. Houston and New Orleans were two of the first places the game was peddled to. Birmingham was the LAST resort...kinda like Ty Willingham when they hired him at ND, and like this current coach after all the others turned them down. What makes you think either of these cities will do any differently now? If the SWAC was so attractive to these other cities, don't you think that one of them might have made a pitch to the conference to move the game there by now? Hell, this was the game's 6th year, and ain't nobody come 'a callin' yet!

The SWAC HQ was in New Orleans for years. When that lease was up in 1999, did they offer any incentives for the conference to remain? NO! I said before that I don't care where the game is. But I'll bet you a dime a doughnut that if that game moves, many of these same folks on this forum who have whined about it in B'ham will continue to whine. Would it be nice to play in a dome...sure! But I believe people survived at football games BEFORE anyone ever laid the first brick for a domed stadium.

 

[SU Jag 79]

It just seems like some of you Alabama guys are stuck in this same rut that the SWAC Office ..... this is good enough for us, no need to change.

Well, open your eyes. I have frozen the last two years in B'Ham watching my team go after the SWAC Title. I don't have a thing against the city of Birmingham, except for its location at this point, but of course, you can't change that.

Take SCG1 out of the equation, mainly because of the bands, the newness of the game, etc. Since 2000, attendance has hoovered around 25,000 to 30,000, right? Of course, you might want to take this year's game out of the equation because of the situations affecting it, i.e. a week before not knowing who's going and in my school's case, losing two weeks' before.

I hear a lot of people saying what would have been different if it had been in Texas all this time ..... same thing as being in Alabama. Too far away from your center. We compare to the SEC a lot for some reason, but the SWAC forgets, we don't have South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia in our league. B'Ham was the SEC center. It made sense to start there. the SWAC Center is Jackson or Mobile.

Now, as you guys stated, no one bid on the game before 1999 besides B'Ham. Well, think about it. B'Ham had just lost the SEC title game to Atlanta, the XFL hadn't jumped up there yet, and UAB definitely was not getting it done. Would you jump at a fledgling championship game for a HBCU conference? Look at Legion Field .... Alabama and Auburn stopped playing there for a reason. The state playoffs probably stay there for nostalgia and that's cool. But for a game at the magnitude that we all want the SWAC title game to be, Legion Field ain't it.

Now, fast forward six years later, the game has moderately succeeded with limited help from the conference in planning other events around the game, limited help from the B'Ham community in attendance, and limited help from conference member fans with the worse being the two Alabama schools because YOU ARE RIGHT THERE.

Another city might take a chance on this game NOW, seeing the issues it has had to deal with and the potential it has. We will see, but it has to happen because when a state school and the biggest group, attendance wise, from the conference, can't get 35 to 40,000 people for a title game, with weather constraints or entertainment constraints, SOMETHING IS WRONG.


SWAC and Alabama peeps, open your eyes!

 

[Killer Bees]

SWAC and Alabama peeps, open your eyes!

I don't think anyone including us Bama's is saying keep the game in Birmingham no matter what. I think the real issue is everyone else needs to take a reality check and realize that no other city gives a damn about the SWAC, but Birmingham.

If a city like Memphis, Houston, etc is willing to offer something, I am all for it. Like someone else has mention, I don't see other cities going out of their way to lure the SWAC.

 

[Lewis]

The bottom line is this, any city worth going to is not going to offer us everything for free. and the reason Birmingham offered everything for free is because it ain't worth going to.

 

[Bartram]

Why N.O.?

GET OVER IT!!!!

:idea:

 

[Bartram]

I don't think anyone including us Bama's is saying keep the game in Birmingham no matter what. I think the real issue is everyone else needs to take a reality check and realize that no other city gives a damn about the SWAC, but Birmingham.

If a city like Memphis, Houston, etc is willing to offer something, I am all for it. Like someone else has mention, I don't see other cities going out of their way to lure the SWAC.

A-the fnck-men. Why don't these other cities under-bid Birmingham? The bottom line is the "old south" excuse me, the Old SWAC just can't deal with the SWAC not remaining the same and the SWAC Championship not being in N.O.

 

[AAMU Alum]

I don't think anyone including us Bama's is saying keep the game in Birmingham no matter what. I think the real issue is everyone else needs to take a reality check and realize that no other city gives a damn about the SWAC, but Birmingham.

If a city like Memphis, Houston, etc is willing to offer something, I am all for it. Like someone else has mention, I don't see other cities going out of their way to lure the SWAC.

KB,

Don't waste your time, bruh. It's like talking to a brick wall. Some of these folks seem to think that the SWAC is the SEC or ACC or Pac-10, where cities all over the country are just dying to get us in their venues to play a championship game. The Lucy-Anna folks are still pi$$ed because the executive offices are no longer in their kitchen, so they're mad at Birmingham and the whole state of Alabama. Let them keep barkin' back and forth, and when it's all said and done, that d@mned SCG will be right where it's been since its inception!

For those of you that don't like B'ham and don't want to come....KEEP YOUR ARSES AT HOME, but whatever you do, puuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllleeeeeeeeezzzzze stay off this forum whining about this game every year!! :smh:

 

[AAMU Alum]

SWAC and Alabama peeps, open your eyes!

You should take your own advice. You and all the others on here complaining about the game's location, get this one thing through your heads.....DON'T NOBODY ELSE WANT YOU BUT BIRMINGHAM!! Please believe that!

 

[AAMU Alum]

The bottom line is this, any city worth going to is not going to offer us everything for free. and the reason Birmingham offered everything for free is because it ain't worth going to.

Then why didn't you stay home this past Saturday?

 

[AAMU Alum]

EXACTLY!!! :bowdown:

I have BEEN trying to tell folks that no one is going to want to drive to Birmingham to play against a Bama school. No smack but just being real.
...Carry On..

I can see why you would say that, seeing as how your team ain't been since the first one, and from the looks of things, won't be going back anytime soon.

 

[northern tiger]

KB,

For those of you that don't like B'ham and don't want to come....KEEP YOUR ARSES AT HOME, but whatever you do, puuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllleeeeeeeeezzzzze stay off this forum whining about this game every year!! :smh:

And evidently, everyone else is keeping theirs azzes at home as well.

 

[AAMU Alum]

And evidently, everyone else is keeping theirs azzes at home as well.

That's fine! If it will keep their @sses from whining about it 50 times a year, they should stay at home! :tup:

 

[SU Jag 79]

You should take your own advice. You and all the others on here complaining about the game's location, get this one thing through your heads.....DON'T NOBODY ELSE WANT YOU BUT BIRMINGHAM!! Please believe that!

Y'all just don't get it. If the SWAC Offices had been in Houston and the game was at the Astrodome, I would be saying the same thing. If in New orleans, and the game was at Tad Gormley in City Park, I would be saying the same thing.

You want somebody to take notice of you game, play it at a venue that matters. Legion Field is legendary to who? Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn fans. I'm sure it's important to ASU and AAMU too, but outside of that state, who really cares about Legion Field.

Y'all keep on saying, if you gotta complain, stay at HOME ...... obviously that won't work because we have already seen with four Bama teams in the SCG, we can't rely on just Bama to populate this game. You can't tell me that if this game had been in Texas for the first five years, y'all wouldn't be complaining right now!

Think of it like this: B'Ham is that okay looking girl with the nasty hair and shotty clothing. She likes you, mainly because you show an interest in her, and she thinks you are the only one for her now. Meanwhile, these other girls, some nicer looking, some smarter, some overall better, are out there for you to talk to. Do you settle, as the SWAC and youguys obviously want everyone to do or do you try and see what's out there?

B'Ham may be the only one that wants us because they know no one else will have them.

For the sake of this game, it has to be at least tried somewhere else. That's why I believe a rotating site (4 sites) would be best for the game. The SWAC gets noticed in it's four predominant markets (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas)

For Bama: Pick B'ham or Mobile
For Mississippi: Only Jackson will do.
For Louisiana: New Orleans or Shreveport (closer to MVSU and UAPB)
For Texas: Houston

The conference loses nothing there because the member schools could assist in putting on the games in their states and the Texas fan who has never been to one now has a chance as well as the Bama fan getting to travel a bit for once.

The BIG point is, outside of all of this, no matter what city, if the conference can't promote this game MORE and get other events connected to it, it's definitely gonna die in B'ham and has great chance to die anywhere else.

 

[SU Jag 79]

Why do you think Louisiana people are mad about New Orleans moving the SWAC out? At the time, the SWAC was spinning its wheels and staying the same ... no change, no improvements. Personally, it don't have to be New Orleans for me.

But, how is it fair to ask a team in the west to continue to have to return to Alabama (paying more to get there and possibly losing money), get their fans to come back to Alabama for the second, or in SU's case, a third time this year, when Alabama State and A&M fans can just get in the car and drive down or up for an hour and a half.

If the west reps fans' were to stay at home, B'Ham would lose tremendously. Y'all not staying in the hotels in B'Ham. The West's fans are. Y'all can drive home right after the game if you want.

Name a conference with a championship game and you will see that the game is played as close to the center of that conference as possible.
Big 12 ----> Kansas City, Mo.
SEC ----> Atlanta, Ga.
MAC -----> Detroit. Mi.

I know the SWAC doesn't have the attendance factor that they do, but our attendance is now stagnant. While other factors definitely have to improve, the first and easiest one to try is look at other venues. Many mention that no one else wants the SWAC. Doesn't the SWAC have a contract with B'ham until 2006? Why would anyone else try to jump in there at this time only to risk litigation? Think people. Atlanta waited until two things happened in B'Ham for the SEC
(1) People constantly complained about B'Ham's weather.
(2) B'Ham's contract with the SEC ran out.

This ain't about wanting New Orleans or any other city or a dome. It's about wanting to see the potential in this game and frankly, B'Ham ain't it.

 

[Bartram]

KB,

Don't waste your time, bruh. It's like talking to a brick wall. Some of these folks seem to think that the SWAC is the SEC or ACC or Pac-10, where cities all over the country are just dying to get us in their venues to play a championship game. The Lucy-Anna folks are still pi$$ed because the executive offices are no longer in their kitchen, so they're mad at Birmingham and the whole state of Alabama. Let them keep barkin' back and forth, and when it's all said and done, that d@mned SCG will be right where it's been since its inception!

For those of you that don't like B'ham and don't want to come....KEEP YOUR ARSES AT HOME, but whatever you do, puuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllleeeeeeeeezzzzze stay off this forum whining about this game every year!! :smh:

das what i been saying all along.

 

[Storm96]

Well besides providing free facilities (which can be deemed sub-par by the way) has Alabama really supported the SWAC in Birmingham? If the SWAC schools in Alabama do not support the events in Birmingham can you really expect others to? I hate to drag it into this conversation but the last SWAC basketball championship featured a seemingly ideal matchup of 2 alabama schools in their own home state playing for the trophy. Attendance was pathetic. Birmingham is not the answer and when the contract is up, the SWAC should explore its options.

 

[Nonchalant]

I can see why you would say that, seeing as how your team ain't been since the first one, and from the looks of things, won't be going back anytime soon.

Don't get upset because I'm being real, yo. Look at the attendance of the '03 Detroit Classic and then look at the following year. Do you think 59,000 folks came to see Alabama State or FAMU? Just being real, bruh but there is no Alabama school that is really going to be a "must see" draw. That's how its always been from the looks of things that's the way its going to be.

...Carry On..

 

[DAHILL]

Well besides providing free facilities (which can be deemed sub-par by the way) has Alabama really supported the SWAC in Birmingham? If the SWAC schools in Alabama do not support the events in Birmingham can you really expect others to? I hate to drag it into this conversation but the last SWAC basketball championship featured a seemingly ideal matchup of 2 alabama schools in their own home state playing for the trophy. Attendance was pathetic. Birmingham is not the answer and when the contract is up, the SWAC should explore its options.

What has your beloved Houston done for the SWAC?

 

[AAMU Alum]

Don't get upset because I'm being real, yo. Look at the attendance of the '03 Detroit Classic and then look at the following year. Do you think 59,000 folks came to see Alabama State or FAMU? Just being real, bruh but there is no Alabama school that is really going to be a "must see" draw. That's how its always been from the looks of things that's the way its going to be.

...Carry On..

If we were talking about Alabama schools, your post might have some merit. But since this is about the SCG and its location, it's really quite meaningless.

RIF.

P.S.

I can see why you would say that, seeing as how your team ain't been since the first one, and from the looks of things, won't be going back anytime soon.

 

[AAMU Alum]

I hate to drag it into this conversation but the last SWAC basketball championship featured a seemingly ideal matchup of 2 alabama schools in their own home state playing for the trophy. Attendance was pathetic.

According to whom?

 

[AAMU Alum]

Birmingham is not the answer and when the contract is up, the SWAC should explore its options.

Obviously it was the answer when all those other cities (including Houston) told the SWAC to gotohell!! I have no problem with the SWAC exploring its options. That's what those of you who are mad at Birmingham can't seem to grasp for whatever reason. Now, when they explore their options, and get the same responses they got when they explored them before, we can rotate the SCG between you and all the others who come on here and whine about it every year, and play the d@mned game in your backyards. How 'bout that?