FCS NC Host Criteria?

[MasonJar]

OK group, time for a "fun" exercise and project...

With the NC host location going up for bids, I feel it would be neat to do an "in-house" study of our own. Where should the NC be?

As I get some spare time, I plan to do a site location analysis for the FCS National Championship game. I will post results.

Abandoning all cups of KoolAid and avoiding homer ism, what do you feel the criteria for a host location for the FCS NC should be? Keep in mind that some logical criteria may be not measurable or attainable. Also keep in mind I may need some help gathering some of the information. To get the ball rolling, here are some samples:

proximity to population concentrations and geographic center of all FCS schools, transportation facilities (air, rail, highway), hotel rooms, public transit, climate, extracurricular entertainment, stadium/facility, etc.

Please post your ideas and comments. This could prove to be interesting, or at least generate a pretty cool map.xrotatehx

[89Hen]

IMO (and pretty much in order)...

1. Should be in a smaller city where it will be one of the biggest events of the year for that city.

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

3. MUST have a stadium suitable for the game. 20-30k capacity.

4. Should be in a location where you have the best chance of having teams close by in the game.

5. Should have good accessibility for fans.

6. Weather needs to be at least average in 40's and where snow would be an exception not an expectation.

[Big Al]

Proximity to major airport (read: reasonable airfare)
15k-20k stadium
Availability of hotels/entertainment
WARM (or at least not cold)

That's all I got.

[Native]

IMO (and pretty much in order)...

1. Should be in a smaller city where it will be one of the biggest events of the year for that city.

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

3. MUST have a stadium suitable for the game. 20-30k capacity.

4. Should be in a location where you have the best chance of having teams close by in the game.

5. Should have good accessibility for fans.

6. Weather needs to be at least average in 40's and where snow would be an exception not an expectation.

Frisco, Texas!

It meets all of your criteria listed above. This includes "best chance of having teams close by" with the exception of a few SOCON, MEAC and OVC teams.

Frisco is considerably closer to the Big Sky, Great West, Missouri Valley, Southland, and yes, even the CAA and Patriot. For most FCS teams, Frisco is cheaper and faster in terms of hours of required travel due to the easy accessibility to Southwest Airlines at Love Field in nearby Dallas.

[89Hen]

Frisco, Texas!

It meets all of your criteria listed above. This includes "best chance of having teams close by" with the exception of a few SOCON, MEAC and OVC teams.

Frisco is considerably closer to the Big Sky, Great West, Missouri Valley, Southland, and yes, even the CAA and Patriot. For most FCS teams, Frisco is cheaper and faster in terms of hours of required travel due to the easy accessibility to Southwest Airlines at Love Field in nearby Dallas.
Could be better than some of the other options that have been thrown out there this week. What I-AA is close to Frisco?

[TCisMYhero]

IMO (and pretty much in order)...

1. Should be in a smaller city where it will be one of the biggest events of the year for that city.

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

3. MUST have a stadium suitable for the game. 20-30k capacity.

4. Should be in a location where you have the best chance of having teams close by in the game.

5. Should have good accessibility for fans.

6. Weather needs to be at least average in 40's and where snow would be an exception not an expectation.

xflaggedx

I don't think that should be a part of the criteria. Teams like Montana, the Dakotas, us, etc. shouldn't be punished with less fan attendance to a location central to the Socon and CAA just because there's more teams out east.

[89Hen]

I don't think that should be a part of the criteria. Teams like Montana, the Dakotas, us, etc. shouldn't be punished with less fan attendance to a location central to the Socon and CAA just because there's more teams out east.
Imagine McNeese vs Furman in Cedar Falls. If you have it near you, Montana is still screwed. If you have it in Spokane, you're still screwed.

Delaware's trip to UNI in 2007 when they got snowed in pretty much seals your fate IMO. Heck, there was talk the NFL is thinking about nixing Detroit from hosting again because of the narrow escape the SB had a few years back.

[danefan]

Could be better than some of the other options that have been thrown out there this week. What I-AA is close to Frisco?

The entire SLC is close to Frisco, including their headquarters, which are in Frisco.

See here for an FCS Map (http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/?disp=fcsmap)

I can count about 15 or so schools in very close range, with many others in short flying range. DFW is about an hour drive and non-stop flights are always super cheap in and out of DFW and Love Field.

[Big Al]

xflaggedx

I don't think that should be a part of the criteria. Teams like Montana, the Dakotas, us, etc. shouldn't be punished with less fan attendance to a location central to the Socon and CAA just because there's more teams out east.

Yeah, central location isn't important so much as travel cost.

If you can fly to a location for the same/less than driving, then it is a non-issue.

The real issue I see is what will the weather be at the time the game is held? With the game moving to early January, Chatty is really getting a bit cold. As it is, I've heard complaints on the weather in mid-December.

[Native]

Yeah, central location isn't important so much as travel cost.

If you can fly to a location for the same/less than driving, then it is a non-issue.

The real issue I see is what will the weather be at the time the game is held? With the game moving to early January, Chatty is really getting a bit cold. As it is, I've heard complaints on the weather in mid-December.

Even for the CAA and Patriot leagues, travel cost will be less going into Frisco, as compared to Chattanooga, not to mention the weather.

In December, Frisco averages about 5 degrees warmer and more than two inches less precipitation than Chatty.

In January, the Frisco advantage is almost 10 degrees warmer and more than three inches less participation.

http://www.srh.weather.gov/fwd/?n=dallasloveclimatology
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/cha/cha01nml.php

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

I agree with 89hen that it would be better in a smaller city, which makes me question Frisco a little bit. If its only 25 miles from Dallas i think a big part of the title game atmosphere could be lost. One of the things that I enjoyed about being in Chatty last year was that everywhere we went we ran into Griz fans getting ready for the game, it felt like a big party. Whereas, if the title game were in, or near, a major metropolitan area I could see fans being dispersed through a larger area which may lose some of that part/ national championship game atmosphere that makes a smaller city nice.xtwocentsx

[henfan]

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

Test #1 that a city doesn't have the basic understanding of our level of play: continuing to refer to the subdivision using anacronistic terms like I-AA or College Division.:p

[Native]

Imagine McNeese vs Furman in Cedar Falls. If you have it near you, Montana is still screwed. If you have it in Spokane, you're still screwed.

Delaware's trip to UNI in 2007 when they got snowed in pretty much seals your fate IMO. Heck, there was talk the NFL is thinking about nixing Detroit from hosting again because of the narrow escape the SB had a few years back.

Good point! Nobody is screwed going into Frisco. Admittedly, most will have to fly, but Frisco is 100 miles closer to two major airports than Chatty is to Atlanta.

[TCisMYhero]

Imagine McNeese vs Furman in Cedar Falls. If you have it near you, Montana is still screwed. If you have it in Spokane, you're still screwed.

Delaware's trip to UNI in 2007 when they got snowed in pretty much seals your fate IMO. Heck, there was talk the NFL is thinking about nixing Detroit from hosting again because of the narrow escape the SB had a few years back.

I'm not saying it should be in Cedar Falls. But I think putting it somewhere like Newark or near Boone would be a very unfair advantage, and put teams like us and Montana at a distinct disadvantage. If you're going to do that, we might as well go to a rotating schedule or even home team hosts.

[citdog]

we know that it cannot be within the limits of any State that chooses to honor it's PATRIOT DEAD from the War Against the States by flying the Flag that so many made the supreme sacrifice under at the monument to their bravery on the grounds of their Statehouse.

[jmu_duke07]

ODU's stadium would be a great location. Norfolk, Va average high and low in Jan is 47.8 and 32.3 respectively, and the CAA headquarters is only 2 hours up the road in Richmond... But really, I'd like to see it in Charleston cause Hagood is a great stadium, too bad of SC's situation with the NAACP.

[DOME]

Bangor, Maine

[Skjellyfetti]

Wasilla, Alaska

[89Hen]

But I think putting it somewhere like Newark or near Boone...
I'm not for either. xpeacex

[89Hen]

Wasilla, Alaska
You kidding me? You can see Russia from there. xwhistlex

[TTUEagles]

I look at two other division's nat'l championship games: D-II and NAIA. I used to go to the NAIA game in Savannah, TN, because it was a 2-3 hour drive, my Dad has always been intrigued more about small college football, etc. It was in a renovated stadium in a God-awful (sorry, IMO) small, small town. The only thing for the players/fans to do was go to a crappy state park on the river...Also, NAIA fans are not the largest of fan bases - so the stadium may not have mattered too much. But, it was always a good crowd in a high school stadium and they did a decent job putting it on (it's now in Rome, GA). Teams from Montana, Oklahoma, and Indiana made it - just at a smaller scale than, say FCS. But, they came. My rather lengthy point is that if a school makes the title game, I wouldn't think it would matter that much about travel requirements. I know if the apocalypse was upon us and TTU made the game, I'm going - can't stop me, economy and time of travel be damned. The D-II is fairly close to the same thing being at UNA in Florence, Ala (been to that game a few times, too.). I guess my point is not to make a big deal about travel ease, closeness to schools, etc. I'm personally not going to go to anywhere outside a 2-3 hour drive to see the nat'l champ game unless my team is in it...And, you can't plan the venue around what schools might get to the final game...I'd say criteria is short: group with enough $$ to support the players/teams to make it a fun/rewarding experience. And, like the Super Bowl, in a area where you are more than likely not to have extreme weather that could have an effect on the outcome. Like Dennis Miller, this is just my opinion, and I could be wrong.

[FCS Go!]

Good point! Nobody is screwed going into Frisco. Admittedly, most will have to fly, but Frisco is 100 miles closer to two major airports than Chatty is to Atlanta.


Most people drive to the game in Chattanooga and that will always be cheaper than flying (unless you're driving an Abrams Tank). I would love to know where you are getting airline tickets for well under $100 to fly into Frisco from the east coast.

Six students cramming themselves into a sub-compact and driving for 6-8 hours is the key to a well attended NC game. Those same six students will not be shelling out $250 to $400 each to fly in to Dallas. Frisco has a lot going for it as a location but ease of travel is not one of them, at least for the majority of FCS fans.

[Buzzcut]

Sioux City, Iowa. The two NAIA schools there would be happy to accommodate.

[Native]

Most people drive to the game in Chattanooga and that will always be cheaper than flying (unless you're driving an Abrams Tank). I would love to know where you are getting airline tickets for well under $100 to fly into Frisco from the east coast.

Six students cramming themselves into a sub-compact and driving for 6-8 hours is the key to a well attended NC game. Those same six students will not be shelling out $250 to $400 each to fly in to Dallas. Frisco has a lot going for it as a location but ease of travel is not one of them, at least for the majority of FCS fans.

Your point about six students cramming into a car is well taken. Then again, I made plenty of 20-hour road tips when I was that age.

[Big Al]

Yeah, my brother's road trips to watch Iowa play in the Rose Bowl back in the 80s were the stuff of legend.

I'm not convinced about the need for a "car friendly" location. Yes, when the NC game is being held only days after the end of the semester with little to no time to get tickets, cars become the #1 option -- but with the move to early January means travel options open up considerably. Kids can hit up their parents for X-mas and families can even take advantage of the winter break to do a family trip to the game.

[Native]

Yeah, my brother's road trips to watch Iowa play in the Rose Bowl back in the 80s were the stuff of legend.

I'm not convinced about the need for a "car friendly" location. Yes, when the NC game is being held only days after the end of the semester with little to no time to get tickets, cars become the #1 option -- but with the move to early January means travel options open up considerably. Kids can hit up their parents for X-mas and families can even take advantage of the winter break to do a family trip to the game.

Hell, I even made a 20-hour road trip with my twenty-something son last month!

Fun stuff! xsmiley_wix

[MasonJar]

What about student body #s, Alumni base? I have access to numbers for ASU nation-wide, but what about other schools?

http://www.alumni.appstate.edu/AlumniMap/framemap.htm

The premise... the more students/alumni you have in a given area, the bigger/stronger the pull to locate there, assuming these folks would actually attend/support the event.

[crusader11]

Princeton.

[henfan]

But really, I'd like to see it in Charleston cause Hagood is a great stadium, too bad of SC's situation with the NAACP.

You mean NCAA, whose only political focus should be serving the best interests of student-athletes and member institutions of higher learning. They seem to lose sight of that every now and again, when they overstep their bounds.xsmhx

[89Hen]

Princeton.
Great stadium, close to Philly airport, but too iffy on weather and I don't think it would be promoted or supported.

[Native]

What about student body #s, Alumni base? I have access to numbers for ASU nation-wide, but what about other schools?

http://www.alumni.appstate.edu/AlumniMap/framemap.htm

The premise... the more students/alumni you have in a given area, the bigger/stronger the pull to locate there, assuming these folks would actually attend/support the event.

I suspect that TTUEagles is right. At that time of year, plenty of students and alumni will make it to the game, no matter who makes the finals.

For those who would choose not to attend because the game is no longer next door, I say they should go down to Division III or the NAIA.

The excitement, publicity for the entire FCS, and increased revenue generated by filling a larger stadium and probably getting a better TV contract every year will more than make up for the lack of homers.

[UNI Pike]

I would still vote for Memphis -
+ decent weather
+ airport hub
+ nightlife with hotels, food & music
+ elvis
+ OVC area so no home field advantage for championship game

- Liberty bowl is 63,000 seats

[TTUEagles]

I would still vote for Memphis -
+ decent weather
+ airport hub
+ nightlife with hotels, food & music
+ elvis
+ OVC area so no home field advantage for championship game

- Liberty bowl is 63,000 seats


You also have Tunica MS (i.e., several casinos/hotels) within 30 min...However, I disagree about the weather. It can get nasty cold around Dec/Jan.

And, that was an insult against the OVC, right?
Not wrong, but, and insult. xsmiley_wix

[UNI Pike]

Not an insult, but a fact. Once the OVC breaks the playoff game hex, then I will relent. Until then, lie in the bed you have made. xpeacex

Cold is a relative thing. Anyone traveling South to Memphis is going to say it is relatively warm. There are the freak cold snaps, but generally, Memphis in Dec/Jan is in the mid 40 - low 50s during the day.

[Redbird Ray]

How many fans of schools typically travel to the NC game? I know, it's likely dependent on the school. I'm sure App and Montana fans have brought several thousand each year they were in the game, but what about other schools?

Just guessing here, but if Montana or App brings 5K and the other school brings 2-3K, that means that the rest of the crowd has to come from the site market.

While Frisco may not be the best FCS market, there are a lot of football crazed fans in the Metroplex. If it's promoted well, I bet you see crowds near 20K for each game. Frisco seems to fit most of the qualifications that people want out of a site. Memphis seems like it would be a good spot also.

I also like the idea of scrapping all considerable items such as location, transportation and FCS prominence, for somewhere warm and fun like Vegas or Orlando.

[jmu_duke07]

the NC game must stay in the south due to weather and fan support. Not a knock on Montana, but that would probably be the worse place to put it. From pictures I've seen, its a beautiful place and the stadium looks great but the weather and logistics would most likely deter fans from going.

[WUTNDITWAA]

How many fans of schools typically travel to the NC game? I know, it's likely dependent on the school. I'm sure App and Montana fans have brought several thousand each year they were in the game, but what about other schools?

Just guessing here, but if Montana or App brings 5K and the other school brings 2-3K, that means that the rest of the crowd has to come from the site market.

While Frisco may not be the best FCS market, there are a lot of football crazed fans in the Metroplex. If it's promoted well, I bet you see crowds near 20K for each game. Frisco seems to fit most of the qualifications that people want out of a site. Memphis seems like it would be a good spot also.

I also like the idea of scrapping all considerable items such as location, transportation and FCS prominence, for somewhere warm and fun like Vegas or Orlando.


App's crowds were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 -- especially for the 2007 title game.

[89Hen]

I also like the idea of scrapping all considerable items such as location, transportation and FCS prominence, for somewhere warm and fun like Vegas or Orlando.
xoopsx xoopsx xoopsx xnonox

[89Hen]

App's crowds were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 -- especially for the 2007 title game.
Because of proximity to Chatty. Send App to Spokane and you'd bring 3k. So would UD, so don't take offense to it.

[WUTNDITWAA]

No offense taken, and you're right. Montana would fill the stadium if it were to move to Spokane. But if it doesn't who takes its place as a team that could fill a venue? If App doesn't make it, there's a strong possibility that Delaware, Georgia Southern, JMU, McNeese or some other team along the Eastern Seaboard is there to buy those seats.

[Redbird Ray]

App's crowds were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 -- especially for the 2007 title game.

I'm sure proximity to Chatty made that possible. But is it safe to assume most schools would bring 7-10K then? I don't know, sadly, ISU Red has never made it to the promised land. But, if 7-10K for each team is reasonable, then a 30K stadium might be more fitting, which could make Pizza Hut Park too small. I don't know, just speculating.

[TTUEagles]

How many fans of schools typically travel to the NC game? I know, it's likely dependent on the school. I'm sure App and Montana fans have brought several thousand each year they were in the game, but what about other schools?

Just guessing here, but if Montana or App brings 5K and the other school brings 2-3K, that means that the rest of the crowd has to come from the site market.

While Frisco may not be the best FCS market, there are a lot of football crazed fans in the Metroplex. If it's promoted well, I bet you see crowds near 20K for each game. Frisco seems to fit most of the qualifications that people want out of a site. Memphis seems like it would be a good spot also.

I also like the idea of scrapping all considerable items such as location, transportation and FCS prominence, for somewhere warm and fun like Vegas or Orlando.

I've been to and have seen horrible local turnouts for Liberty Bowl games, and if the Louisvilles, Mich. St., etc., don't draw well, I doubt even a nat'l champ. game will get much local turnout...Horrible sports town, in my opinion. I don't think Memphis is a good idea - except it means that I'd probably go no matter who played.

[GannonFan]

I'm sure proximity to Chatty made that possible. But is it safe to assume most schools would bring 7-10K then? I don't know, sadly, ISU Red has never made it to the promised land. But, if 7-10K for each team is reasonable, then a 30K stadium might be more fitting, which could make Pizza Hut Park too small. I don't know, just speculating.

Most schools don't bring anywhere close to 7-10k. Heck, for at least half the FCS grouping 7-10k would be a good crowd just at home for a regular season game. I'd assume about 3k per team so 6k in total from the two teams. If you have a high attendance team in very close proximity (i.e. Appy St at Chatty) then that number can balloon. But there are only a small handful of high attendance teams and most of them aren't anywhere close to Frisco. I doubt Appy would get much more than your 7k number if it was in Texas - still much higher than most, but far below the 12k-15k they may get at Chatty.

[BEAR]

Criteria:

+ Provide NCAA with big fat check.
+ Provide NCAA with big fat check.
+ Suitable hosting site.
+Provide NCAA with big fat check.

xnodx

[Pard94]

If not for the weather I'd suggest either Lafayette or Lehigh. Both have very nice facilities. Philly International Airport is about an hour and a half away. NYC is 2 hours away. Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton Airport is 15 minutes away. Within 10 miles you have 2 FCS schools (Lafayette, Lehigh). Within 100 miles you have 8 FCS schools (Lafayette, Lehigh, Villanova, Penn, Delaware, Fordham, Columbia, Princeton) spanning 3 different leagues. Both communities are small yet rabid in their support of local football. The area supports college football's most played rivalry in Lafayette vs. Lehigh AND the oldest rivalry in HS football with Easton vs. Phillipsburgh. Numerous places to eat, drink and sleep within 15 miles of either stadium. The Lehigh Valley baby! Make it happen!xlolx

[Big Al]

But, if 7-10K for each team is reasonable, then a 30K stadium might be more fitting, which could make Pizza Hut Park too small.

xeekx

How many teams play in the football games you watch?!

[89Hen]

The Lehigh Valley baby! Make it happen!xlolx
And I could get my fill of Pirogies and Halupkis! xthumbsupx

[Big Al]

I think everyone is missing the fact that the NC game is moving to early January, rather than mid-December. This means the fans go from having 5-6 days to prepare and get to the game to 3+ weeks. This all happens over Christmas break, also. I don't know about the rest of you but I tend to take extra time off during the holidays. If UNI or Weber State were in the NC game, I'd find a way to finagle a couple more days off and make a trip of it. Students, who typically don't have much going on during spring break (unless they work f/t), would have all sorts of time after X-mas to go on a 5-6 day road trip to the NC game with their friends. Certainly easier than trying to arrange something right in the middle of finals, like it is now. People would have time to get good airfare lined up without spending a mint. The options for people to attend open up considerably.

I don't think much of DFW, but I have to say the Frisco, TX proposal is the most intriguing on the surface. Texas is generally much nicer than Iowa in early January and there's no question I'd try to go.

[DG Cowboy]

NCAA FCS NC Requirements:
1. $$$$$ bid
2. Grassy-looking field -real or synthetic
3. $$$$$ bid
4. Goal posts
5. $$$$$ bid
6. Some bleachers
7. $$$$$ bid

Sorry UCA Bear. Did not read yours before posting this.

[BEAR]

NCAA FCS NC Requirements:
1. $$$$$ bid
2. Grassy-looking field -real or synthetic
3. $$$$$ bid
4. Goal posts
5. $$$$$ bid
6. Some bleachers
7. $$$$$ bid
8. A band
9. $$$$$ bid
10. some blind refs


Fixed it for ya!

[DG Cowboy]

Fixed it for ya!

The finishing touch!!

[BEAR]

The finishing touch!!


xlolxxlolxxlolxxlolxxthumbsupx

[EmeryZach]

1. Warm
2. 15K + Stadium (No Bigger Than 26 K)
3. Large Airport
4. East of the Mississippi
5. Lots of Hotels
6. Relaxed Tailgating Rules (People don't realize how important this is!)
7. Lots of bathrooms

[WestCoastAggie]

IMO (and pretty much in order)...

1. Should be in a smaller city where it will be one of the biggest events of the year for that city.

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

3. MUST have a stadium suitable for the game. 20-30k capacity.

4. Should be in a location where you have the best chance of having teams close by in the game.

5. Should have good accessibility for fans.

6. Weather needs to be at least average in 40's and where snow would be an exception not an expectation.

Locations that fit this:
Chattanoga, TN
Greensboro, NC
Frisco, TX
Little Rock, AR
Birmingham, AL
Jackson, MS

[crusader11]

Really think Princeton, NJ could be a good fit.

[spdram]

Any place they may have to shovel snow off of the field to play the game should be out.

[BDKJMU]

Proximity to major airport (read: reasonable airfare)
15k-20k stadium
Availability of hotels/entertainment
WARM (or at least not cold)

That's all I got.

Too small. Needs to be at least 20k capacity. I'm in agreement with 89', 20-30k.

[BDKJMU]

If not for the weather I'd suggest either Lafayette or Lehigh. Both have very nice facilities. Philly International Airport is about an hour and a half away. NYC is 2 hours away. Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton Airport is 15 minutes away. Within 10 miles you have 2 FCS schools (Lafayette, Lehigh). Within 100 miles you have 8 FCS schools (Lafayette, Lehigh, Villanova, Penn, Delaware, Fordham, Columbia, Princeton) spanning 3 different leagues. Both communities are small yet rabid in their support of local football. The area supports college football's most played rivalry in Lafayette vs. Lehigh AND the oldest rivalry in HS football with Easton vs. Phillipsburgh. Numerous places to eat, drink and sleep within 15 miles of either stadium. The Lehigh Valley baby! Make it happen!xlolx

In early Jan? Nuts! xlolxxlolxxlolx

[UNH Fanboi]

What about somewhere near Atlanta, GA? It's warm, its airport is a major hub with a lot of cheap flights, it has plenty of hotel capacity, etc. Not really withing driving distance to schools likely to be playing in the NC game, but I think the early January date pretty much leaves no choice on that front. Georgia Tech's stadium has a capacity of 55K, which obvi too much, but I don't see anything wrong with just closing off the upper decks.

[BDKJMU]

I think everyone is missing the fact that the NC game is moving to early January, rather than mid-December. This means the fans go from having 5-6 days to prepare and get to the game to 3+ weeks. This all happens over Christmas break, also. I don't know about the rest of you but I tend to take extra time off during the holidays. If UNI or Weber State were in the NC game, I'd find a way to finagle a couple more days off and make a trip of it. Students, who typically don't have much going on during spring break (unless they work f/t), would have all sorts of time after X-mas to go on a 5-6 day road trip to the NC game with their friends. Certainly easier than trying to arrange something right in the middle of finals, like it is now. People would have time to get good airfare lined up without spending a mint. The options for people to attend open up considerably.

I don't think much of DFW, but I have to say the Frisco, TX proposal is the most intriguing on the surface. Texas is generally much nicer than Iowa in early January and there's no question I'd try to go.

Not 3+ weeks. Next year the semis will be on the same weekend as the NC game is currently held. For next year that will be Fri, Dec 17th and Sat, the 18th.

Dates for the BCS title game:
2007 Mon, Jan 8th
2008 Mon, Jan 7th
2009 Thur, Jan 8th
2010 Thur Jan 7th
2011 Thur, Jan 6?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCS_National_Championship_Game

As I've stated before, it looks like the I-AA NC game will most likely be on Wed, Jan 5, 2011. That is 18 and 19 days after the semis, not the 3+ weeks you state Big Al.

[GannonFan]

Not 3+ weeks. Next year the semis will be on the same weekend as the NC game is currently held. For next year that will be Fri, Dec 17th and Sat, the 18th.

Dates for the BCS title game:
2007 Mon, Jan 8th
2008 Mon, Jan 7th
2009 Thur, Jan 8th
2010 Thur Jan 7th
2011 Thur, Jan 6?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCS_National_Championship_Game
So it looks like the I-AA NC game will most likely be on Wed, Jan 5, 2011. That is 18 and 19 days, not the 3+ weeks you state Big Al.

Man, that's terrific. The FCS title game on a Wednesday on the first major week of everybody heading back to work and school after the Christmas and New Year break. Should pack them in for that one! xrolleyesx

[Big Al]

*shrugs*

3 weeks +/-

Same diff.

[UNH Fanboi]

Not 3+ weeks. Next year the semis will be on the same weekend as the NC game is currently held. For next year that will be Fri, Dec 17th and Sat, the 18th.

Dates for the BCS title game:
2007 Mon, Jan 8th
2008 Mon, Jan 7th
2009 Thur, Jan 8th
2010 Thur Jan 7th
2011 Thur, Jan 6?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCS_National_Championship_Game
So it looks like the I-AA NC game will most likely be on Wed, Jan 5, 2011. That is 18 and 19 days, not the 3+ weeks you state Big Al.

I don't like this later schedule. Teams with poor indoor practice facilities (cough, UNH, cough) are gonna be at a disadvantage. This also increases the chances of some really nasty weather in the later rounds.

[BDKJMU]

1. Warm
2. 15K + Stadium (No Bigger Than 26 K)
3. Large Airport
4. East of the Mississippi
5. Lots of Hotels
6. Relaxed Tailgating Rules (People don't realize how important this is!)
7. Lots of bathrooms

I agree but would say 20-30k.

[UNH Fanboi]

Man, that's terrific. The FCS title game on a Wednesday on the first major week of everybody heading back to work and school after the Christmas and New Year break. Should pack them in for that one! xrolleyesx

A lot of schools don't even go back into session until mid-January., so all the students will be dispersed at their parents houses.

Also, since people tend to use a lot of vacation time around the holdiays, some alums will probably be hesitant to take more time off from work, especially when it's on a Thursday.

[BDKJMU]

Man, that's terrific. The FCS title game on a Wednesday on the first major week of everybody heading back to work and school after the Christmas and New Year break. Should pack them in for that one! xrolleyesx

Yep, that will be a big negative. Hopefully the 18-19 days for the fans to plan will make up for that, or at least somewhat

Couldn't hold it on Fri, NY eve or Sat, 1st because of the bowl games. Would make more sense to hold it on Fri, Jan 7th, the day after the BCS NC game.

[BDKJMU]

Man, that's terrific. The FCS title game on a Wednesday on the first major week of everybody heading back to work and school after the Christmas and New Year break. Should pack them in for that one! xrolleyesx

Nevermind. I looked it up. The 2011 BCS NC game will be Mon, Jan 10th . That will be later than they have ever played it before. I wonder why they are playing it so late? As they have been playing it on a Mon or Thur the last 4 years, why not on Thur, Jan 6th (as I had thought they would) or Mon, Jan 3rd?

The dates of the last I-A 10 NC games and the next 4:
99' Mon, Jan 4
00' Tues, Jan 4
01' Wed, Jan 3
02' Thur, Jan 3
03' Fri, Jan 3
04' Sun, Jan 4
05' Tues, Jan 4
06' Wed, Jan 8
07' Mon, Jan 8
08' Mon, Jan 7
09' Thur, Jan 8
10' Thur Jan 7
11' Mon, Jan 10. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 9.
12' Mon, Jan 9. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 8.
13' Mon, Jan 7. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 6 (must be a leap year).
14' Tues, Jan 7. I-AA NC game on Mon, Jan 6.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCS_National_Championship_Game
http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/future

[BDKJMU]

*shrugs*

3 weeks +/-

Same diff.

Turns out you were right. The semis will be played on the same weekend that the NC would have been under the current format. For the 2010 season again that's Fri, Dec 17th and Sat, Dec 18th. If the eve of the BCS title game isn't until the 9th, (later than it has ever been before) that will be 22-23 days between the semis and NC game.

[ur2k]

Nevermind. I looked it up. The 2011 BCS NC game will be Mon, Jan 10th . That will be later than they have ever played it before. I wonder why they are playing it so late? As they have been playing it on a Mon or Thur the last 4 years, why not on Thur, Jan 6th (as I had thought they would) or Mon, Jan 3rd?

The dates of the last I-A 10 NC games and the next 4:
99' Mon, Jan 4
00' Tues, Jan 4
01' Wed, Jan 3
02' Thur, Jan 3
03' Fri, Jan 3
04' Sun, Jan 4
05' Tues, Jan 4
06' Wed, Jan 8
07' Mon, Jan 8
08' Mon, Jan 7
09' Thur, Jan 8
10' Thur Jan 7
11' Mon, Jan 10. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 9.
12' Mon, Jan 9. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 8.
13' Mon, Jan 7. I-AA NC game on Sun, Jan 6 (must be a leap year).
14' Tues, Jan 7. I-AA NC game on Mon, Jan 6.

If the FCS NC game is the eve of the FBS NC game, wouldn't those dates put the FCS NC game against the NFL playoffs in '11, '12 & 13. If so, that would be Dumb.

[GannonFan]

If the FCS NC game is the eve of the FBS NC game, wouldn't those dates put the FCS NC game against the NFL playoffs in '11, '12 & 13. If so, that would be Dumb.

Yeah, that's brutal. I agree, it's lunacy to compete against the NFL playoffs. That's why the BCS game is on Monday so that they don't have to compete against the playoffs.

[Redbird Ray]

xeekx

How many teams play in the football games you watch?!

I was assuming 7K per team and a walkup (local) crowd of 10-15K. But Gannon tells me 3K per team is more likely, which, if that's the case, 20-30K is probably fine.

[GannonFan]

I was assuming 7K per team and a walkup (local) crowd of 10-15K. But Gannon tells me 3K per team is more likely, which, if that's the case, 20-30K is probably fine.

A walkup of 10k-15k is optimistic as well. Chattanooga has been hard at it trying to attract a local walk-up crowd for each year and I doubt they've ever come close to 10k local attendees.

But you're right, there's absolutely no reason to go any bigger than a 20k-30k stadium, hence why places like Frisco and Chatty make so much sense. Most of the time, there'll be plenty of seats available in a stadium that size. xpeacex

[Pant8her]

Originally Posted by EmeryZach
1. Warm
2. 15K + Stadium (No Bigger Than 26 K)
3. Large Airport
4. East of the Mississippi
5. Lots of Hotels
6. Relaxed Tailgating Rules (People don't realize how important this is!)
7. Lots of bathrooms




Using this criteria you could elininate several good areas.
St. Louis has the Edward Jones Dome and we know the Rams will not likely be playing in January.

Other sites would have to be south, that do not host a BCS (Bowl Consolation Series) game.
Maybe even locate the NC game at a FBS school, which would likely have football fans.

Houson or San Antonio TX, would be good locations, with the exception of #4 above.
Birmingham Al, Atlanta GA, Jacksonville Fl, or even San Diego CA.
Maybe it could be made into a two or three year rotation between a couple of sites. This might get the FCS more exposure and interest.

Since they probability of having a larger stadium is higher. NCAA could require that the schools participating in the playoffs could be required to purchase 3K tickets to the NC game. The universities could keep the tickets to see where they finish their season or sell them to fans after the playoff teams are announced.
Therefore with 20 teams at 3K tickets the NC game could have as many as 60K seats/fans at the game, which would be real fun IMO.

What do you all think?

Peace

[UNH Fanboi]

Using this criteria you could elininate several good areas.
St. Louis has the Edward Jones Dome and we know the Rams will not likely be playing in January.

Other sites would have to be south, that do not host a BCS (Bowl Consolation Series) game.
Maybe even locate the NC game at a FBS school, which would likely have football fans.

Houson or San Antonio TX, would be good locations, with the exception of #4 above.
Birmingham Al, Atlanta GA, Jacksonville Fl, or even San Diego CA.
Maybe it could be made into a two or three year rotation between a couple of sites. This might get the FCS more exposure and interest.

Since they probability of having a larger stadium is higher. NCAA could require that the schools participating in the playoffs could be required to purchase 3K tickets to the NC game. The universities could keep the tickets to see where they finish their season or sell them to fans after the playoff teams are announced.
Therefore with 20 teams at 3K tickets the NC game could have as many as 60K seats/fans at the game, which would be real fun IMO.

What do you all think?

Peace

99% of fans of teams that were eliminated earlier in the playoffs would not spend hundreds of dollars on air and hotel to watch two other teams play.

[Engy0]

I think St. Louis makes sense in all aspects except, I personally think it makes FCS football look bad when they play the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP game and only half of the venue is full. If there was another dome or open stadium in that general area I think it would make a lot of sense.
(Even though I am a UNI fan I could care less where the game was being played, if it was closer all that means is that I have to leave later. REAL fans wouldn't care where it was they would get there if it was at all possible!)

[UNHFan99]

It costs UNH roughly 60,000 to go to camp every summer.. I would expect another bill like that if you delay the game another month instead of mid to early December

[danefan]

It costs UNH roughly 60,000 to go to camp every summer.. I would expect another bill like that if you delay the game another month instead of mid to early December

Its already done. Officially moved to the night before the BCS bowl starting with the 2010 Championship (January 6th 2011 I believe).

[89Hen]

6. Relaxed Tailgating Rules (People don't realize how important this is!)
xnodx Chatty suspends their drinking in public laws the day of the game. xnodx

[GannonFan]

xnodx Chatty suspends their drinking in public laws the day of the game. xnodx

Agreed. Geez, if Chatty needs to do anything, trying to rein in the drinking would be a good step. With little to do around the stadium area, and the game at 8PM, you have students and fans doing nothing but drinking for upwards of 10-12 hours. Couple that with lax security getting into the stadium, and there are loads of severly drunk people actually in the stadium. I don't know how they could relax the rules anymore unless they mandated that everybody drink more than they are already. xrotatehx

[89Hen]

Man, that's terrific. The FCS title game on a Wednesday on the first major week of everybody heading back to work and school after the Christmas and New Year break. Should pack them in for that one! xrolleyesx
NOT the dates I found. I had posted to you earlier that the BCS CG is a Monday the next several years...

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/future

2011 - January 10 - National Championship Game (Glendale, Ariz.)
2012 - January 9 - National Championship Game (New Orleans)
2013 - January 7 - National Championship Game (Miami)
2014 - January 7 - National Championship Game (Pasadena)

edit... I now see it was corrected.

[bostonspider]

I am not sure we really need to worry about having it in a "warm" weather site. If Missoula can attempt to get it, I think we should take it to the big time. NYC, well Harrison New Jersey to be exact. A brand new 25,000 seat spectactular stadium, in the shadow of Manhattan (long shadows, I know). Red Bull Arena looks incredible. Have Monmouth be the official host. Maybe we can get the Ivy's to reconsider the playoffs if it was in their backyard..

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/RedBull-Aerial-People_copyright_SM.jpg

[UNH Fanboi]

I am not sure we really need to worry about having it in a "warm" weather site. If Missoula can attempt to get it, I think we should take it to the big time. NYC, well Harrison New Jersey to be exact. A brand new 25,000 seat spectactular stadium, in the shadow of Manhattan (long shadows, I know). Red Bull Arena looks incredible. Have Monmouth be the official host. Maybe we can get the Ivy's to reconsider the playoffs if it was in their backyard..

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/RedBull-Aerial-People_copyright_SM.jpg

I'm sure it's a nice stadium, but January in NJ is miserable. Montana has no shot either. It has to be in warm weather or a dome.

[ngineer]

The comments about a site be 'driveable' are good. A lot of people will opt to drive to the NC game if at all possible due to cost factors. Chatty meets that criteria with it's central location to a huge majority of FCS teams. I agree that the Great West and BSC teams are effected by that, so maybe every third year have it a more US central site, like Omaha or one of the Texas sites. Can get cold and nasty almost anywhere except real deep South in late December. When Lehigh won the national D-II championship it was in Witchita Falls, TX and it was below freezing.

[89Hen]

The comments about a site be 'driveable' are good. A lot of people will opt to drive to the NC game if at all possible due to cost factors.
It's actually even beyond that. Even if you could show people it would cost the same to drive and fly, they will not fly. xpeacex

[UNH Fanboi]

The comments about a site be 'driveable' are good. A lot of people will opt to drive to the NC game if at all possible due to cost factors. Chatty meets that criteria with it's central location to a huge majority of FCS teams. I agree that the Great West and BSC teams are effected by that, so maybe every third year have it a more US central site, like Omaha or one of the Texas sites. Can get cold and nasty almost anywhere except real deep South in late December. When Lehigh won the national D-II championship it was in Witchita Falls, TX and it was below freezing.

Given the January date, I don't think drivability should be given that much priority. A stadium somewhere in Virginia would probably be ideal for ensuring a high probability that at least one team would be within driving distance, but Virginia just isn't far south enough for January. And any stadium far enough south isn't really within driving distance to most team likely to play in the NC game. It worked out well that App. St. played in Chatty 3 times and a lot of their fans were able to drive to the game, but that was just good luck. With teams like Montana, UNI, UNH, etc. in the mix, there's a good chance that in any given year no one will be within driving distance to even a seemingly central location. Therefore, proximity to a major, cheap airport should take priority over drivability.

[igo4uni]

Sioux City, Iowa. The two NAIA schools there would be happy to accommodate.

Sure, and just for fun the airport code there is..........SUX. I am not kidding.

[Proud Griz Man]

IMO (and pretty much in order)...

1. Should be in a smaller city where it will be one of the biggest events of the year for that city.

2. Should be in a city or location that has or at least knows I-AA football.

3. MUST have a stadium suitable for the game. 20-30k capacity.

4. Should be in a location where you have the best chance of having teams close by in the game.

5. Should have good accessibility for fans.

6. Weather needs to be at least average in 40's and where snow would be an exception not an expectation.

Nice post Cliff Clavin.

http://blstb.msn.com/i/D4/8DCF6AFFCC7D7C4D87BFFD17357598.jpg
Can you just succinctly state that you like in in the East? Can you just say "put it close to Hen89's house?"

[BearsCountry]

If we could expand Plaster alittle bigger, Springfield wouldn't be a bad choice. We have Branson close (30 minutes away) which with that adds a ton of hotels and things to do. Not to mention we have two airports with 40 miles of each other. The weather in Springfield is about the same as Chattanooga, Frisco, and Little Rock. UNI could actually win a national championship that way, since they always seem to win in Springfield.