Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

This is an interesting debate that was started on PantherNation that I thought would be perfect for here. I get Montana and ASU don't have worry about this really, but oh well.


With the playoffs expanding and the economy hitting schools the way it is do some schools start scheduling a second money game, or even a first money game if they haven't in the past? The talk that UNI runs about $400K in the hole. We play one money game per year, typically Iowa State or Iowa. UNI typically doesn't get any help from the selection committee in terms of at large bids so the talk of getting $600K or more from a school, even if we have to travel, it would put us in the black. The fact that Iowa will pay 750k for another FCS school but only 400K for UNI is also an issue.

With that all being said, what are your thoughts on adding a second, or even a first money game? I know schools like Montana and App State and their fans don't need money games to run in the black but the vast majority of the FCS does...unless you have a basketball team that draws millions in revenue every year like Nova or Georgetown. With the expansion would it help or hurt teams that added another game?

Second money game, while painful, helped NAU balance the books. I'd rather be able to have a team than not...

You gotta do what you gotta do. If money is tight, and it can be fixed by plaing another money game, the answer is simple. Do it. As Jon said, its better to have a team, than to not have one at all.

With another money game at UNI, we would easily balance the budget, if not turn a profit.

btw, clenz, your avatar has been a red X for about two weeks now.

DJH wrote:btw, clenz, your avatar has been a red X for about two weeks now.

I know, however, I haven't found a replacement yet so I'm just going to leave it be for now.

DJH wrote:btw, clenz, your avatar has been a red X for about two weeks now.

Kind of goes hand in hand with how about we feel about him though, doesn't it?

I'd rather not play em, but the money doesn't hurt. It just sucks having your team start 0-1. (I know that might not apply for some teams) If my school does have to play one, I'd rather it be against the ULLs and ULMs of the world.

clenz wrote:The fact that Iowa will pay 750k for another FCS school but only 400K for UNI is also an issue.

What is your cost savings for travel and what is your recuiting benefit for playing the big in-state school?

clenz wrote:This is an interesting debate that was started on PantherNation that I thought would be perfect for here. I get Montana and ASU don't have worry about this really, but oh well.

I know schools like Montana and App State and their fans don't need money games to run in the black but the vast majority of the FCS does...unless you have a basketball team that draws millions in revenue every year like Nova or Georgetown. With the expansion would it help or hurt teams that added another game?

Point of clarification: Most Griz fans (at least those who aren't fortunate enough to have season tickets) would MUCH rather see the Griz play a regional FBS team (Boise, Idaho, Utah St,. Wyoming, etc) than Western State of Colorado, Fort Lewis, or Central Washington. But I understand WHY they don't.

clenz wrote: The fact that Iowa will pay 750k for another FCS school but only 400K for UNI is also an issue.

Don't know much about Iowa and their 'pay scale', but I believe one large factor as to why Montana got 750K was because Iowa was left in the lurch without a home opener for their newly renovated stadium and Montana was one of the few that were available.

I can only imagine that Iowa would have tried to pay Montana 400K if they weren't between a rock and a hard place that year.

89Hen wrote:

clenz wrote:The fact that Iowa will pay 750k for another FCS school but only 400K for UNI is also an issue.

What is your cost savings for travel and what is your recuiting benefit for playing the big in-state school?

We made more going to BYU in 2008 than we did going 90 miles to Iowa City in 2009.

SeattleGriz wrote:

clenz wrote: The fact that Iowa will pay 750k for another FCS school but only 400K for UNI is also an issue.

Don't know much about Iowa and their 'pay scale', but I believe one large factor as to why Montana got 750K was because Iowa was left in the lurch without a home opener for their newly renovated stadium and Montana was one of the few that were available.

I can only imagine that Iowa would have tried to pay Montana 400K if they weren't between a rock and a hard place that year.

I believe Iowa payed Arkansas State about 600K last year to play at Iowa....


UNI "gets" and for some reason takes the "little brother discount" that Iowa offers us. We should just be lucky to play on the same field as Iowa...or at least that is how they want us to feel.

AZGrizFan wrote:

clenz wrote:This is an interesting debate that was started on PantherNation that I thought would be perfect for here. I get Montana and ASU don't have worry about this really, but oh well.

I know schools like Montana and App State and their fans don't need money games to run in the black but the vast majority of the FCS does...unless you have a basketball team that draws millions in revenue every year like Nova or Georgetown. With the expansion would it help or hurt teams that added another game?

Point of clarification: Most Griz fans (at least those who aren't fortunate enough to have season tickets) would MUCH rather see the Griz play a regional FBS team (Boise, Idaho, Utah St,. Wyoming, etc) than Western State of Colorado, Fort Lewis, or Central Washington. But I understand WHY they don't.

I understand why they don't as well. They make money with those kind of home games. UNI runs about 300-500K in the red during any given year in football. We NEED the money games, I just wish we would stop playing nice with the in-state schools and giving them the "little brother" discount.


I don't remember what Iowa State is paying us this year, but if (hypothetically speaking) we replaced SFA with another regional money game, say Minnesota or someone like that, the football program would be in the black instead of the red. However, since UNI has never gotten any help/love from the selection committee Coach Farley has rightfully stayed away from 2 pay games. However, with the expansion of the playoffs I think it is something that needs to be discussed at UNI.

clenz wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Point of clarification: Most Griz fans (at least those who aren't fortunate enough to have season tickets) would MUCH rather see the Griz play a regional FBS team (Boise, Idaho, Utah St,. Wyoming, etc) than Western State of Colorado, Fort Lewis, or Central Washington. But I understand WHY they don't.

I understand why they don't as well. They make money with those kind of home games. UNI runs about 300-500K in the red during any given year in football. We NEED the money games, I just wish we would stop playing nice with the in-state schools and giving them the "little brother" discount.


I don't remember what Iowa State is paying us this year, but if (hypothetically speaking) we replaced SFA with another regional money game, say Minnesota or someone like that, the football program would be in the black instead of the red. However, since UNI has never gotten any help/love from the selection committee Coach Farley has rightfully stayed away from 2 pay games. However, with the expansion of the playoffs I think it is something that needs to be discussed at UNI.

What's UNI's average attendance?

AZGrizFan wrote:

clenz wrote: I understand why they don't as well. They make money with those kind of home games. UNI runs about 300-500K in the red during any given year in football. We NEED the money games, I just wish we would stop playing nice with the in-state schools and giving them the "little brother" discount.


I don't remember what Iowa State is paying us this year, but if (hypothetically speaking) we replaced SFA with another regional money game, say Minnesota or someone like that, the football program would be in the black instead of the red. However, since UNI has never gotten any help/love from the selection committee Coach Farley has rightfully stayed away from 2 pay games. However, with the expansion of the playoffs I think it is something that needs to be discussed at UNI.

What's UNI's average attendance?

About 13500...roughly.

clenz wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
What's UNI's average attendance?

About 13500...roughly.

And they can't net $400,000 for a home game? Does Iowa pay travel costs?

its near 14K when we are good. But if we are mediocre it will be around 10-12K, with a few games with attendance around 9K.

In '07 when we were undefeated and ranked #1, we sold out nearly every game and averaged over 15K. Last year, when we were 7-4, we probably averaged 12-13 K.

AZGrizFan wrote:

clenz wrote: About 13500...roughly.

And they can't net $400,000 for a home game? Does Iowa pay travel costs?

tickets were $20 last year for adults and $10 for youth. Season tickets were discounted if bought early, and with a Panther Scholarship Club membership. Students get in free.

We average about 3K students, so that leaves about 10500 paid. Let's just say that all 10,500 paid the full $20 price and that is only about $210,000 a game.


Long story short, no we don't pull $400k per home game.


Our attendance takes a HUGE hit when Iowa is good as well. Like DJH said, when we finished the regular season undefeted in 2007 we probably only averaged 15K or so. The only reason it was that high is because Iowa was pretty bad that year. Last year, even if we finished 9-2 we only draw about 14K, if lucky. 95% of our fans are Iowa fans first, second, and third...then if Iowa is really that bad and UNI is really that good we get attention.


Hell this basketball season is a perfect example of it. We couldn't sell a basketball game out until Iowa was about 12 games under .500, and we still rarley made front page news or sports lead on the news. It was about Iowa's loss. It wasn't until the last two games of the season that the media jumped on the bandwagon. That lasted until we lost. Then, Iowa hired a new basketball coach two days after we lost in the S16 and I haven't heard a peep about UNI since. It has been 3 days of non-stop Iowa basketball who was 10-22 last year, and hasn't had a winning season in 4 years

clenz wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
And they can't net $400,000 for a home game? Does Iowa pay travel costs?

tickets were $20 last year for adults and $10 for youth. Season tickets were discounted if bought early, and with a Panther Scholarship Club membership. Students get in free.

We average about 3K students, so that leaves about 10500 paid. Let's just say that all 10,500 paid the full $20 price and that is only about $210,000 a game.


Long story short, no we don't pull $400k per home game.

so, is the $400k NET? Or are all expenses paid out of that?

AZGrizFan wrote:

clenz wrote: tickets were $20 last year for adults and $10 for youth. Season tickets were discounted if bought early, and with a Panther Scholarship Club membership. Students get in free.

We average about 3K students, so that leaves about 10500 paid. Let's just say that all 10,500 paid the full $20 price and that is only about $210,000 a game.


Long story short, no we don't pull $400k per home game.

so, is the $400k NET? Or are all expenses paid out of that?

In my example it would be $210,000 in ticket revenue, not including anything else in terms of expense or revenue (programs, parking (I don't think we charge for parking), concessions, etc...)

Here are the prices for this year...we will be in the red again, as we won't average more than 12K unless we start the season 5-0

UNI football season tickets are available for purchase. Panther Scholarship Club members can save $10 off their adult season ticket orders by purchasing them before July 1 for $89. Non-PSC members can purchase their season tickets with adult prices at $99 and youth (18-and-under) at $49.

UNI will offer a red zone special this year. For $120, a fan can purchase two season tickets in the "Red Zone" seats located in sections A, J, K, S.

Single-game tickets will go on sale July 1 with adult tickets at $24 and youth tickets at $12.

I think we have about 5 or 6k season ticket holders...I may be wrong.

clenz wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
And they can't net $400,000 for a home game? Does Iowa pay travel costs?

tickets were $20 last year for adults and $10 for youth. Season tickets were discounted if bought early, and with a Panther Scholarship Club membership. Students get in free.

We average about 3K students, so that leaves about 10500 paid. Let's just say that all 10,500 paid the full $20 price and that is only about $210,000 a game.


Long story short, no we don't pull $400k per home game.


Our attendance takes a HUGE hit when Iowa is good as well. Like DJH said, when we finished the regular season undefeted in 2007 we probably only averaged 15K or so. The only reason it was that high is because Iowa was pretty bad that year. Last year, even if we finished 9-2 we only draw about 14K, if lucky. 95% of our fans are Iowa fans first, second, and third...then if Iowa is really that bad and UNI is really that good we get attention.


Hell this basketball season is a perfect example of it. We couldn't sell a basketball game out until Iowa was about 12 games under .500, and we still rarley made front page news or sports lead on the news. It was about Iowa's loss. It wasn't until the last two games of the season that the media jumped on the bandwagon. That lasted until we lost. Then, Iowa hired a new basketball coach two days after we lost in the S16 and I haven't heard a peep about UNI since. It has been 3 days of non-stop Iowa basketball who was 10-22 last year, and hasn't had a winning season in 4 years

Same shit, just replace UNI with EWU, and Iowa with WSU. It's sickening.

I think it depends on a couple of factors. First part is the schedule. Montana State scheduled two FBS teams in one year but it was during the 12 game season and we had a bye week between contests. Big Ten and Big Twelve pay very well.

In the Big Sky several teams have scheduled two FBS schools in one season to help ends meet. Weber scheduled Wyoming and Colorado State but I don't know if they cleared more than when MSU played Michigan State.

Trying to find a willing partner is pretty tough. Idaho State lost a ton of players when they played Oklahoma and I think Oklahoma State in one year. Your bye week probably plays the biggest factor when even attempting to schedule a second game

Another thing to consider would be that going to 2 "money games" each season would mean that we'd never have more than 5 home games, and wouldn't even be able to set up home-and-home arrangements with non-conference opponents, without ending up with years where we would only have 4 home games (the 4 conference home games).