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NO BOWL BONANZA FOR UCONN:
Football team's trip to Arizona brings prestige, but could cost school a bundle

STORRS — A common misconception with college football bowl games is that simply qualifying is akin to winning the jackpot. Payouts from the big games are roughly $17 million, so the teams that get there must be rolling in cash.

Not quite.

The University of Connecticut football team’s trip to the Fiesta Bowl to play Oklahoma on Jan. 1, while historic for the program, likely will not result in a significant profit to the school. In fact, it could cost UConn a bundle.

And then there’s the little matter of ticket allocation. The Fiesta Bowl distributed 17,500 tickets to UConn, and the school is responsible to sell them all....Whether UConn maximizes its revenue opportunity will depend on the amount of tickets it can sell. The school will almost certainly take a bath. As of Monday night, only 4,000 tickets had been sold, meaning UConn was still holding roughly $2.5 million in unsold tickets.

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010 ... =fullstory

After having been to the Big East Basketball Championships in MSG numerous times, I'm surprised there's not more interest from UConn fans to go to AZ to see the Sooners game in January...

So we're determining profitability now a mere 8 days after the bowls were set?

Talk to me again in January.

bluehenbillk wrote:After having been to the Big East Basketball Championships in MSG numerous times, I'm surprised there's not more interest from UConn fans to go to AZ to see the Sooners game in January...

Even they recognize a bad game when they see one.

But yeah, I was shocked that they could lose money on a BCS game. Wonder if stuff like this would scare nova off from moving. Although there is something to be said for being in a BCS conference and never qualifying for the actual bowl games. Just sit back and accept the money, even if it is tiered and your share is smaller than everyone else's.

AZGrizFan wrote:So we're determining profitability now a mere 8 days after the bowls were set?

Talk to me again in January.

The game is a mere 15 days away. Considering few if any UConn fans are roatripping from Storrs to Phoenix, it is notable that so few have purchase tickets, considering air fare's not going to get cheaper in the next week or two.

Stupid of the Orange Bowl to take Stanford. They should have taken UConn, and Stanford to Fiesta Bowl.


Shows how fucked up the BCS is.

GannonFan wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:So we're determining profitability now a mere 8 days after the bowls were set?

Talk to me again in January.

The game is a mere 15 days away. Considering few if any UConn fans are roatripping from Storrs to Phoenix, it is notable that so few have purchase tickets, considering air fare's not going to get cheaper in the next week or two.

This may hurt the Big East too. Should hurt em. If this is the case, they are not a BCS conference.

The BCS is fucked up. Michigan State (11-1) would have sold their tickets in 30 minutes.

Garsh darn it, I'm proud of them huskies with a chance to stay within 3 scores of the 11th best team in the country in a meaningless bowl game that 1/10th of their fanbase will attend while losing money.

kalm wrote:Garsh darn it, I'm proud of them huskies with a chance to stay within 3 scores of the 11th best team in the country in a meaningless bowl game that 1/10th of their fanbase will attend while losing money.

A statement worthy of the president of the National Sarcasm Society!

3 scores sounds about right.

D1B wrote:

GannonFan wrote:
The game is a mere 15 days away. Considering few if any UConn fans are roatripping from Storrs to Phoenix, it is notable that so few have purchase tickets, considering air fare's not going to get cheaper in the next week or two.

This may hurt the Big East too. Should hurt em. If this is the case, they are not a BCS conference.

The BCS is **** up. Michigan State (11-1) would have sold their tickets in 30 minutes.

I think they are still BCS, but it shows that there are schools (like Mich St) that certainly have far more support as BCS schools than others. Just calling yourself BCS doesn't make you the same as others who do.

It must royally suck to be in a BC$ bowl and lose money while all your fans care more about your women's hoop team than you.

Very few schools make money on bowls - that's the biggest myth of the Bowl Cartel.

the CONFERENCES make money - the bowls themselves turn MASSIVE profits for themselves... but the schools, with insane ticket guarantees, travel and hotel costs almost always struggle to just break even...

a 16 team, played at home playoff like we have in FCS is the solution c'mon, you can't tell me fans wouldn't piss themselves at the thought of Bryant-Denny, Autzen Stadium and the Big House hosting PLAYOFF games - the revenue, even if split with their conference compatriots, would be equal to, and eventually greater than the entire shit mess that is the bowl system.

I would urge you guys to read "Death to the BCS" by Dan Wetzel http://www.deathtothebcs.com/site/about_the_book/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty interesting. We all know it's dolla dolla dolla bills that control everything, but there are numerous examples of how the schools take a bath 95% of the time.

The year Florida won the NC, they made $47K off the bowl...

The lower tier bowls consistently cost schools $1mm + You're actually best off not making a bowl and just raking in the BCS conference $$.

GoneTribal wrote:I would urge you guys to read "Death to the BCS" by Dan Wetzel http://www.deathtothebcs.com/site/about_the_book/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty interesting. We all know it's dolla dolla dolla bills that control everything, but there are numerous examples of how the schools take a bath 95% of the time.

The year Florida won the NC, they made $47K off the bowl...

The lower tier bowls consistently cost schools $1mm + You're actually best off not making a bowl and just raking in the BCS conference $$.

exactly the same book I read - really opened my eyes to the whole sordid thing.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
exactly the same book I read - really opened my eyes to the whole sordid thing.

I could tell by your post you had already read it

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Very few schools make money on bowls - that's the biggest myth of the Bowl Cartel.

Yep and the money they lose doesn't matter to them at all! I'm by no means a UConn apologist, but they haven't and won't make a profit on any bowl game they've been too (probably ever).

For the school, the State, and the athletic department it is all about the NATIONAL RECOGNITION and NATIONAL TV EXPOSURE that makes the FBS/BCS worth it. UConn has gone from a small rural school in New England, a peer of New Hampshire, Delaware, and UMass, to a top-tier National Program in M&W basketball and now football. It now regarded athletically alongside such programs as Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, Florida, etc.

There is no way to value what that has done to the university and the State in the past 20 years. Certainly, the financial losses on Bowl games are TOTALLY INSIGNIFICANT in the big picture for the UConn President, AD, alumni, students, staff, and the legislature, etc.

The losses on the bowl games are mearly "the cost of doing business," no different than insurance payments or a kickback to the Mafia.

No worries, Cuban's gonna take care of it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-2 ... 91697.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(btw, Mark Cuban is kinda what I imagine we'd get if lakes won the lottery)

aceinthehole wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Very few schools make money on bowls - that's the biggest myth of the Bowl Cartel.

Yep and the money they lose doesn't matter to them at all! I'm by no means a UConn apologist, but they haven't and won't make a profit on any bowl game they've been too (probably ever).

For the school, the State, and the athletic department it is all about the NATIONAL RECOGNITION and NATIONAL TV EXPOSURE that makes the FBS/BCS worth it. UConn has gone from a small rural school in New England, a peer of New Hampshire, Delaware, and UMass, to a top-tier National Program in M&W basketball and now football. It now regarded athletically alongside such programs as Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, Florida, etc.

There is no way to value what that has done to the university and the State in the past 20 years. Certainly, the financial losses on Bowl games are TOTALLY INSIGNIFICANT in the big picture for the UConn President, AD, alumni, students, staff, and the legislature, etc.

The losses on the bowl games are mearly "the cost of doing business," no different than insurance payments or a kickback to the Mafia.

Yes and no. The only football pub I am hearing on UConn is that it is a travesty that they are at a BCS bowl.

It is in no way regarded alongside Texas, OK, USC, Michigan, etc.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Very few schools make money on bowls - that's the biggest myth of the Bowl Cartel.

the CONFERENCES make money - the bowls themselves turn MASSIVE profits for themselves... but the schools, with insane ticket guarantees, travel and hotel costs almost always struggle to just break even...

a 16 team, played at home playoff like we have in FCS is the solution c'mon, you can't tell me fans wouldn't piss themselves at the thought of Bryant-Denny, Autzen Stadium and the Big House hosting PLAYOFF games - the revenue, even if split with their conference compatriots, would be equal to, and eventually greater than the entire shit mess that is the bowl system.

Still think a smaller playoff could be incorporated into the current bowl system (a la Phil Steele). The BCS, as determining tool, is flawed, but I see merit in bowls. As a fan of MAC teams and lower tier Big 10, I enjoy seeing them rewarded for good seasons. It's fun for fans and good promo for schools.

D1B wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Very few schools make money on bowls - that's the biggest myth of the Bowl Cartel.

the CONFERENCES make money - the bowls themselves turn MASSIVE profits for themselves... but the schools, with insane ticket guarantees, travel and hotel costs almost always struggle to just break even...

a 16 team, played at home playoff like we have in FCS is the solution c'mon, you can't tell me fans wouldn't piss themselves at the thought of Bryant-Denny, Autzen Stadium and the Big House hosting PLAYOFF games - the revenue, even if split with their conference compatriots, would be equal to, and eventually greater than the entire shit mess that is the bowl system.

Still think a smaller playoff could be incorporated into the current bowl system (a la Phil Steele). The BCS, as determining tool, is flawed, but I see merit in bowls. As a fan of MAC teams and lower tier Big 10, I enjoy seeing them rewarded for good seasons. It's fun for fans and good promo for schools.

I just don't regard the bowls as anything special or great anymore like I used to. I used to think Jan. 1st was one of the best days of the year and have parties and shit but I just don't have the "give a fuck" any longer. I'm a minority though when it comes to that.

I think the idea of incorporating a playoff with the bowls is a strange animal because it's tough to tell if the bowls would lose their identity even further. In 10 yrs. people may not give a shit at all that it's the Rose Bowl because it is a playoff game that is a step in the NC direction and therefore the games will probably become more known for being that rounds site location and the name and pageantry of each bowl will just be the side show and basically become fairly useless over a period of time.

I could be wrong though.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:

D1B wrote:
Still think a smaller playoff could be incorporated into the current bowl system (a la Phil Steele). The BCS, as determining tool, is flawed, but I see merit in bowls. As a fan of MAC teams and lower tier Big 10, I enjoy seeing them rewarded for good seasons. It's fun for fans and good promo for schools.

I just don't regard the bowls as anything special or great anymore like I used to. I used to think Jan. 1st was one of the best days of the year and have parties and shit but I just don't have the "give a fuck" any longer. I'm a minority though when it comes to that.

I think the idea of incorporating a playoff with the bowls is a strange animal because it's tough to tell if the bowls would lose their identity even further. In 10 yrs. people may not give a shit at all that it's the Rose Bowl because it is a playoff game that is a step in the NC direction and therefore the games will probably become more known for being that rounds site location and the name and pageantry of each bowl will just be the side show and basically become fairly useless over a period of time.

I could be wrong though.

the "playoffs within the bowls" is doomed to fail - you can't get fans to travel to neutral sites for 4-5 weeks in a row... I like the plan that calls for each conference winner to get in and 5 at-large teams. and like the fcs playoffs with the high seeds (by bcs ranking) host each week... the ratings would be HUGE. then the teams that don't make it can go to bowl games - venerable ones like the rose, orange, cotton and fiesta will stay... the turkeysausage.com bowl will probably die - but that's a mercy killing.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote: I just don't regard the bowls as anything special or great anymore like I used to. I used to think Jan. 1st was one of the best days of the year and have parties and shit but I just don't have the "give a fuck" any longer. I'm a minority though when it comes to that.

I think the idea of incorporating a playoff with the bowls is a strange animal because it's tough to tell if the bowls would lose their identity even further. In 10 yrs. people may not give a shit at all that it's the Rose Bowl because it is a playoff game that is a step in the NC direction and therefore the games will probably become more known for being that rounds site location and the name and pageantry of each bowl will just be the side show and basically become fairly useless over a period of time.

I could be wrong though.

the "playoffs within the bowls" is doomed to fail - you can't get fans to travel to neutral sites for 4-5 weeks in a row... I like the plan that calls for each conference winner to get in and 5 at-large teams. and like the fcs playoffs with the high seeds (by bcs ranking) host each week... the ratings would be HUGE. then the teams that don't make it can go to bowl games - venerable ones like the rose, orange, cotton and fiesta will stay... the turkeysausage.com bowl will probably die - but that's a mercy killing.

Totally agree.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote: I just don't regard the bowls as anything special or great anymore like I used to. I used to think Jan. 1st was one of the best days of the year and have parties and shit but I just don't have the "give a fuck" any longer. I'm a minority though when it comes to that.

I think the idea of incorporating a playoff with the bowls is a strange animal because it's tough to tell if the bowls would lose their identity even further. In 10 yrs. people may not give a shit at all that it's the Rose Bowl because it is a playoff game that is a step in the NC direction and therefore the games will probably become more known for being that rounds site location and the name and pageantry of each bowl will just be the side show and basically become fairly useless over a period of time.

I could be wrong though.

the "playoffs within the bowls" is doomed to fail - you can't get fans to travel to neutral sites for 4-5 weeks in a row... I like the plan that calls for each conference winner to get in and 5 at-large teams. and like the fcs playoffs with the high seeds (by bcs ranking) host each week... the ratings would be HUGE. then the teams that don't make it can go to bowl games - venerable ones like the rose, orange, cotton and fiesta will stay... the turkeysausage.com bowl will probably die - but that's a mercy killing.

Have you ever played college football?

dbackjon wrote:Stupid of the Orange Bowl to take Stanford. They should have taken UConn, and Stanford to Fiesta Bowl.


Shows how fucked up the BCS is.

This.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:I just don't regard the bowls as anything special or great anymore like I used to. I used to think Jan. 1st was one of the best days of the year and have parties and shit but I just don't have the "give a fuck" any longer. I'm a minority though when it comes to that.

I agree. When all the big bowls were played on 1/1, it was like a national holiday. Now they're all spread out like a mad woman's shit and it's hard to watch bowl games on weeknights when you work all day.