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http://www.collegesportingnews.com/entr ... Ch-Changes

Ralph put together a good article here with quotes and info directly from Damani Leech, the NCAA Director of Football and chair of the selection committee.

Looks like some of the rumors we heard may have been off a little even though the results weren't.

"Both finalist bids were very high in quality," he noted. "Chattanooga had a strong track record in providing an excellent experience for the student-athletes, coaches, institutions, and fans. It was all good."

"The Frisco bid was very good too," he continued. "They made a strong case to be chosen and in the end it was a tough decision."

Many onlookers wondered if the corporate sponsors of the stadium in Frisco, Pizza Hut Park, and the Dr. Pepper Arena also in Frisco had any part in the bid. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines was also mentioned frequently.

Hats off to Ralph for digging this out.

For Montana fans it'll probably be a net positive, as Dallas is probably easier to get to than Chatty.

For Socon and CAA folks though it'll be a tougher proposition...

Not all CAA folks.... Flying from New England/New York to Chattanooga is generally a two stops each way proposition. One at most for Dallas. With the Southwest factor (available out of Manchester, NH, Boston and Providence,RI), cheaper too.

"A higher level"??? The stadium seats 20K, if they really wanted to take it to a higher level have it at a 40K seat stadium. Just tell the truth... corporate $$$.

Saint3333 wrote:"A higher level"??? The stadium seats 20K, if they really wanted to take it to a higher level have it at a 40K seat stadium. Just tell the truth... corporate $$$.

21+k, about the same as Chatty.

Thanks Nova for an anemic turnout - that probably helped send it to Frisco.

ccd494 wrote:Not all CAA folks.... Flying from New England/New York to Chattanooga is generally a two stops each way proposition. One at most for Dallas. With the Southwest factor (available out of Manchester, NH, Boston and Providence,RI), cheaper too.

This is only really a travel negative for the Socon and some CAA South teams.

Other than that, getting to Dallas is the same as, or easier than, getting to Chatty.

BDKJMU wrote:

Saint3333 wrote:"A higher level"??? The stadium seats 20K, if they really wanted to take it to a higher level have it at a 40K seat stadium. Just tell the truth... corporate $$$.

21+k, about the same as Chatty.

Same point, though.

Frisco is hardly a "higher level"

Skjellyfetti wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:
21+k, about the same as Chatty.

Same point, though.

Frisco is hardly a "higher level"

I don't think he's talking about stadium size. I think he's talking about taking the game to the "experience" level rather than just another game. Making it more like a bowl-like experience. Bowls might not mean crap as far as competitiveness but they do offer a tourist experience. That's where I think Frisco is going with it and where the NCAA wants to take it.

danefan wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:
Same point, though.

Frisco is hardly a "higher level"

I don't think he's talking about stadium size. I think he's talking about taking the game to the "experience" level rather than just another game. Making it more like a bowl-like experience. Bowls might not mean crap as far as competitiveness but they do offer a tourist experience. That's where I think Frisco is going with it and where the NCAA wants to take it.

We'll just have to see.

I don't think Frisco has crap to offer as far as tourism. To play tourist you have to fight ridiculous traffic to get to Dallas or Fort Worth.

Chatty's stadium was downtown with hotels, tailgating, restaurants, bars, tourist crap like the aquarium, all within walking distance. Is there anything within walking distance to Frisco's stadium besides a Wal Mart and a McDonald's?

It's somewhat sour grapes... and I hope App makes the championship game so I can experience what Frisco has to offer... but, I don't imagine it has much.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

danefan wrote:
I don't think he's talking about stadium size. I think he's talking about taking the game to the "experience" level rather than just another game. Making it more like a bowl-like experience. Bowls might not mean crap as far as competitiveness but they do offer a tourist experience. That's where I think Frisco is going with it and where the NCAA wants to take it.

We'll just have to see.

I don't think Frisco has crap to offer as far as tourism. To play tourist you have to fight ridiculous traffic to get to Dallas or Fort Worth.

Chatty's stadium was downtown with hotels, tailgating, restaurants, bars, tourist crap like the aquarium, all within walking distance. Is there anything within walking distance to Frisco's stadium besides a Wal Mart and a McDonald's?

It's somewhat sour grapes... and I hope App makes the championship game so I can experience what Frisco has to offer... but, I don't imagine it will have much to offer.

Right across from the stadium
http://www.lochranns.com/

And I bet I know where people would meet up the night before:
http://www.thirdbase-sportsbar.com/
ti**ies and beer....

Ok, my hopes for Frisco have greatly approved with one simple post. Thanks, BDK

I like this mainly because its more centralized and gives schools out west that get to the championship game a less time to travel and more of a fan base. Texas is also football crazy so i can expect this place to be packed every game

I go to Dallas all the time (or did till my brother passed) and have not had to fight "ridiculous traffic" all the time. That would be Houston - which I absolutely refuse to drive in. Hell, I find Austin's traffic a nightmare compared to Dallas. It's a lot of freeways with 60 - 70 mph traffic. Just don't go traveling around rush hour. Every major city has that. This will also be over holidays and school breaks. Traffic won't be as bad.

I'm not sayin' it will be like driving I40 across TN or 81 up the west side of Virginia but it is better than Washington, or Philly and the like.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

danefan wrote:
I don't think he's talking about stadium size. I think he's talking about taking the game to the "experience" level rather than just another game. Making it more like a bowl-like experience. Bowls might not mean crap as far as competitiveness but they do offer a tourist experience. That's where I think Frisco is going with it and where the NCAA wants to take it.

We'll just have to see.

I don't think Frisco has crap to offer as far as tourism. To play tourist you have to fight ridiculous traffic to get to Dallas or Fort Worth.

Chatty's stadium was downtown with hotels, tailgating, restaurants, bars, tourist crap like the aquarium, all within walking distance. Is there anything within walking distance to Frisco's stadium besides a Wal Mart and a McDonald's?

It's somewhat sour grapes... and I hope App makes the championship game so I can experience what Frisco has to offer... but, I don't imagine it has much.

For selfish reasons I wish it had stayed in Chatty just so if JMU made it again I could still drive my truck loaded with all my tailgate ensemble (even though its about an 11 hr drive not including stops for me. Roundtrip including rendevouing with people in VA I'd spend about 25 hrs on the road.

But Chatty's stadium actually is in a pretty crappy area. Frisco sounds alot nicer. I'm sure there's just as much hotels, restaurants, bars within walking distance (1-2 miles). There's a lot more hotel availability. You're just pissed off because you don't have a 1/2 day drive or whatever it is for you to Chatty anymore if ASU makes it again.

BDKJMU wrote:And I bet I know where people would meet up the night before:
http://www.thirdbase-sportsbar.com/
ti**ies and beer....

No, I think I'll pass.

Finley Stadium is technically downtown, but it was "other side of the tracks" downtown. All the downtown hotels were a dozen blocks away. I stayed at the Econo Lodge near the TN/GA border off the Interstate every year I went which was a 7-8 mile drive.

I'll always remember the fat UD fan with a hotel luggage cart with a few coolers on it running down the street to the stadium parking lot at 10 am. I don't think we'll get any of that in Frisco.

CatMom wrote:I go to Dallas all the time (or did till my brother passed) and have not had to fight "ridiculous traffic" all the time. That would be Houston - which I absolutely refuse to drive in. Hell, I find Austin's traffic a nightmare compared to Dallas. It's a lot of freeways with 60 - 70 mph traffic. Just don't go traveling around rush hour. Every major city has that. This will also be over holidays and school breaks. Traffic won't be as bad.

I'm not sayin' it will be like driving I40 across TN or 81 up the west side of Virginia but it is better than Washington, or Philly and the like.

I went to school in Fort Worth my freshman year of college. I consider DFW traffic pretty damn shitty. I guess it is all relative though.

T-Dog wrote:Finley Stadium is technically downtown, but it was "other side of the tracks" downtown. All the downtown hotels were a dozen blocks away. I stayed at the Econo Lodge near the TN/GA border off the Interstate every year I went which was a 7-8 mile drive.

I'll always remember the fat UD fan with a hotel luggage cart with a few coolers on it running down the street to the stadium parking lot at 10 am. I don't think we'll get any of that in Frisco.

Agreed. Like I said, from what I remember in 04', Finley is in a bad area. I remember after tailgating for about 8 hrs before the game, then not drinking from about a half hr before the game 3+ hr game to about an hr after, about a 5 hr period, I still wasn't totally sober. Even though I probably shouldn't have driven, I told the guys I was with though I sure as heck wasn't leaving my truck parked all night in this sh*tty area.

T-Dog wrote:Finley Stadium is technically downtown, but it was "other side of the tracks" downtown. All the downtown hotels were a dozen blocks away. I stayed at the Econo Lodge near the TN/GA border off the Interstate every year I went which was a 7-8 mile drive.

I'll always remember the fat UD fan with a hotel luggage cart with a few coolers on it running down the street to the stadium parking lot at 10 am. I don't think we'll get any of that in Frisco.

Your memory about distances to hotels is not corrrect. The Marriott in Chattanooga, as well as several other hotels, are about 5 or 6 blocks from the stadium. The Marriott has the convention center, and is the location of the big Griz pep rally. One team, the ESPN crew, and the Payton/Buchanan award candidates stay there. It's probably about a dozen blocks from the stadium to downtown.

BDKJMU wrote:[But Chatty's stadium actually is in a pretty crappy area. Frisco sounds alot nicer. I'm sure there's just as much hotels, restaurants, bars within walking distance (1-2 miles). There's a lot more hotel availability. You're just pissed off because you don't have a 1/2 day drive or whatever it is for you to Chatty anymore if ASU makes it again.

This statement is not accurate. According to the website for Pizza Hut Park, there is one hotel with a mile of the stadium (Comfort Suites. .79 miles) and 11 other hotels ranging from 4.5 to 13 miles away. The hotels appear to be located at intersections of freeways and major highways.

Under Local Amenities, the site lists one mall and 4 restauarants, including Del's Frozen Lemonade. It sounds like the mall is fairly nice.

http://www.pizzahutpark.com/Home/GuestS ... fault.aspx

CatMom wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:And I bet I know where people would meet up the night before:
http://www.thirdbase-sportsbar.com/
ti**ies and beer....

No, I think I'll pass.

But it could help pay for the trip...

SUUTbird wrote:I like this mainly because its more centralized and gives schools out west that get to the championship game a less time to travel and more of a fan base. Texas is also football crazy so i can expect this place to be packed every game

The great football fans of Texas left more than 28,000* seats sit empty at Cowboy Stadium for the 2010 Cotton Bowl. And that includes big Alumni bases in Dallas for both OSU and Ole Miss. Now why would you think local fans would swoop to buy up tickets for two FCS teams with less local interest on the same night as the 2011 Cotton Bowl? There will be 3 local buyers of Frisco tickets; Southwest Airlines, Pizza Hut and Dr Pepper. The 3 companies and the NCAA are likely praying their employees use all the free tickets they will be giving away.

*Opening Cowboy game 2010 attendance 105,000 .... 2010 Cotton Bowl 77,000

Attendance for the 2010 Cotton Bowl 77,928
Big 12 championship on Dec 5, 2009 76,211
Stadium capacity for football listed as 80,000

It can be made to accommodate 28,000 more but usually only needed for major NFL rivalries (Giants) and did so for the NBA Allstar game.

You're also assuming no FCS fans in the SLC will venture to an NC game. Which I think is a bad assumption.

CatMom wrote:Attendance for the 2010 Cotton Bowl 77,928
Big 12 championship on Dec 5, 2009 76,211
Stadium capacity for football listed as 80,000

It can be made to accommodate 28,000 more but usually only needed for major NFL rivalries (Giants) and did so for the NBA Allstar game.

You're also assuming no FCS fans in the SLC will venture to an NC game. Which I think is a bad assumption.

I NEVER assumed NO FCS would travel. You assume 15,000-20,000 will.