Montana Upgrade Study Article

[collegesportsinfo]

http://missoulian.com/college/griz/arti ... 002e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



My take:


Pretty vanilla article. The point of it seems to be to focus on the cost of an upgrade. Duh! Thanks! And $4.7 million? That's actually lower than most people thought it would cost. What the article fails to do is stress the potential increased revenue to cover that 4.7 million and perhaps much sooner than later, create new profit.

* TV revenue would be added, something that is hardly existent now via the Big Sky.

* Game payouts would almost double: as an FBS member, Montana on the road to play Oklahoma would be around 1.3 to 2 million payout, bersus the 300k-500k they get now playing FBS teams...and much lower for FCS games. So 3 non WAC games would be $4-$6 million in new revenue.

* Attendance boosts/gate revenue: we're talking FBS football here. For conference games, the play will sellout when Idaho comes to town as the closest rival. And it has the chance to become a nice regional rivalry. Same with Utah St....you'll get road fans at the FBS level, much more than when Weber St. come to Missoula. Sure, SJSU, NMSU, La Tech might not be as strong. But you have to think that as an FBS program, that you'd have more cache and a larger draw than say Sac St., NAU or Cal Poly games in Missoula. And of course there are the HOME OOC games. Montana being an upgrade might be able to get some solid home and homes or 2-1 games with schools like Boise St., Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Washington St., Colorado St., BYU. If Montana can get 1 of those teams to come each year, you're selling out that game. Montana has a stadium capacity of 25k but would likely expand. For those big OOC games, you're talking 30k fans easily, a nice chunk of new revenue.

* Or course you'd keep your annual Montana St. game as 1 of your OOC games...a likely sellout.

* BCS revenue: Montana would get a nice chunk if a WAC school makes it. If not, no worries, the conference still gets something, liek a door prize

* Bowl payouts: WAC tie-ins aren't big money makers now. Could always change though, but $500k for a game isn't the end of the world.


Some quick, rough math, when you factor in the WAC TV money, increased game payouts by being FBS, alone, you come up with well over the $4.7 million needed. Add potential increased ticket sales for home games (even a low estimate of growth), and potential BCS money, and it's pure profit.

[grizzaholic]

I am not brave enough to venture over to Egriz today. I can only imagine the severe shit storm going on over there.

[mtgrizfan4life]

I am not brave enough to venture over to Egriz today. I can only imagine the severe **** storm going on over there.

It is actually pretty tame over there so far. Then again, the GRIZ have their 1st spring scrimmage today. So many egrizzers will not be online until after that.

[Silenoz]

ed toggle said on: March 26, 2011, 3:10 pm
Can someone that knows please tell me where the $4.7 million came from to hire a consulting firm to study this potential move? Why doesn't Royce Engstrom and the other bozos in Main Hall, spend this type of money on academics?



Jesus Christ, that guy should post on eGriz. Probably does

[Mvemjsunpx]

* TV revenue would be added, something that is hardly existent now via the Big Sky.

Yes, a little, but the WAC's TV deal will be reduced substantially thanks to the loss of Boise & impending losses of Nevada, Fresno, & Hawai'i. In terms of football ability, I'm not sure the 2012+ WAC will be any better than the top FCS conferences, and I think ESPN (or whoever) will see that.

* Game payouts would almost double: as an FBS member, Montana on the road to play Oklahoma would be around 1.3 to 2 million payout, bersus the 300k-500k they get now playing FBS teams...and much lower for FCS games. So 3 non WAC games would be $4-$6 million in new revenue.

I'm skeptical on that $1.3-2 million figure. Has there been a BCS payout to a non-BCS that was bigger than $1 million? The Griz are supposedly getting $500k (plus some expenses) from Tennessee, but they got $650k from Iowa in 2006. I also believe Ohio State payed $850k each for 2 in-state bodybag games against Youngstown. I don't think the FCS/FBS payout gap is nearly as big as you're suggesting.

* Attendance boosts/gate revenue: we're talking FBS football here. For conference games, the play will sellout when Idaho comes to town as the closest rival. And it has the chance to become a nice regional rivalry. Same with Utah St....you'll get road fans at the FBS level, much more than when Weber St. come to Missoula. Sure, SJSU, NMSU, La Tech might not be as strong. But you have to think that as an FBS program, that you'd have more cache and a larger draw than say Sac St., NAU or Cal Poly games in Missoula. And of course there are the HOME OOC games. Montana being an upgrade might be able to get some solid home and homes or 2-1 games with schools like Boise St., Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Washington St., Colorado St., BYU. If Montana can get 1 of those teams to come each year, you're selling out that game. Montana has a stadium capacity of 25k but would likely expand. For those big OOC games, you're talking 30k fans easily, a nice chunk of new revenue.

I think you're forgetting that UM already sells out their games. The athletic department could up the ticket price, but I don't know how much more season ticket holders will be willing to pay since Griz fandom is ambivalent about a move-up. If the team has a losing season or something after jumping, that could cut fan support & require a lowering of ticket prices. A stadium expansion could help in the long run (making things more expensive in the short term), but that could also be true if the team stays FCS.

Also consider that Montana gets 6 or 7 regular season home games a year. As an FBS team, that number will often be 5 and never more than 6. In addition, home playoff games don't provide a lot of direct revenue, but they still bring in a lot of money for the local business community. If the team moves up, local businesses would be stuck with 5 or 6 big Saturdays instead of a potential 9 or 10.

(And just one minor correction that isn't revenue related - Montana/Idaho is already a big rivalry. UI is UM's second-biggest rival behind MSU.)

* Or course you'd keep your annual Montana St. game as 1 of your OOC games...a likely sellout.

Yes, but it would have to be in Bozeman every other year. Putting the rivalry in Missoula every year (which current WAC rules demand) would end the series without question. A neutral site wouldn't work because WaGriz & Bobcat Stadium are the two biggest stadiums in Montana—nothing else has the size.

Some quick, rough math, when you factor in the WAC TV money, increased game payouts by being FBS, alone, you come up with well over the $4.7 million needed. Add potential increased ticket sales for home games (even a low estimate of growth), and potential BCS money, and it's pure profit

I think your analysis here is a bit too rosy. The school killed this thing pretty quickly, so I'm sure they saw the plethora of potential pitfalls I'm seeing.

[BearIt]

I think Montana wisely said "no" at this point. I think you have to have the facilities in place at the time you make the move. Judging by the article, there was no chance we could get the necessary improvements in place by the 2012 season.

If you don't start off on the right foot you will spend years playing catch-up. That is a sure recipe for FBS failure.

I bet once we complete our facility improvements over the next few years the move up question will come up again.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

* TV revenue would be added, something that is hardly existent now via the Big Sky.

Yes, a little, but the WAC's TV deal will be reduced substantially thanks to the loss of Boise & impending losses of Nevada, Fresno, & Hawai'i. In terms of football ability, I'm not sure the 2012+ WAC will be any better than the top FCS conferences, and I think ESPN (or whoever) will see that.

* Game payouts would almost double: as an FBS member, Montana on the road to play Oklahoma would be around 1.3 to 2 million payout, bersus the 300k-500k they get now playing FBS teams...and much lower for FCS games. So 3 non WAC games would be $4-$6 million in new revenue.

I'm skeptical on that $1.3-2 million figure. Has there been a BCS payout to a non-BCS that was bigger than $1 million? The Griz are supposedly getting $500k (plus some expenses) from Tennessee, but they got $650k from Iowa in 2006. I also believe Ohio State payed $850k each for 2 in-state bodybag games against Youngstown. I don't think the FCS/FBS payout gap is nearly as big as you're suggesting.

* Attendance boosts/gate revenue: we're talking FBS football here. For conference games, the play will sellout when Idaho comes to town as the closest rival. And it has the chance to become a nice regional rivalry. Same with Utah St....you'll get road fans at the FBS level, much more than when Weber St. come to Missoula. Sure, SJSU, NMSU, La Tech might not be as strong. But you have to think that as an FBS program, that you'd have more cache and a larger draw than say Sac St., NAU or Cal Poly games in Missoula. And of course there are the HOME OOC games. Montana being an upgrade might be able to get some solid home and homes or 2-1 games with schools like Boise St., Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Washington St., Colorado St., BYU. If Montana can get 1 of those teams to come each year, you're selling out that game. Montana has a stadium capacity of 25k but would likely expand. For those big OOC games, you're talking 30k fans easily, a nice chunk of new revenue.

I think you're forgetting that UM already sells out their games. The athletic department could up the ticket price, but I don't know how much more season ticket holders will be willing to pay since Griz fandom is ambivalent about a move-up. If the team has a losing season or something after jumping, that could cut fan support & require a lowering of ticket prices. A stadium expansion could help in the long run (making things more expensive in the short term), but that could also be true if the team stays FCS.

Also consider that Montana gets 6 or 7 regular season home games a year. As an FBS team, that number will often be 5 and never more than 6. In addition, home playoff games don't provide a lot of direct revenue, but they still bring in a lot of money for the local business community. If the team moves up, local businesses would be stuck with 5 or 6 big Saturdays instead of a potential 9 or 10.

(And just one minor correction that isn't revenue related - Montana/Idaho is already a big rivalry. UI is UM's second-biggest rival behind MSU.)

* Or course you'd keep your annual Montana St. game as 1 of your OOC games...a likely sellout.

Yes, but it would have to be in Bozeman every other year. Putting the rivalry in Missoula every year (which current WAC rules demand) would end the series without question. A neutral site wouldn't work because WaGriz & Bobcat Stadium are the two biggest stadiums in Montana—nothing else has the size.

Some quick, rough math, when you factor in the WAC TV money, increased game payouts by being FBS, alone, you come up with well over the $4.7 million needed. Add potential increased ticket sales for home games (even a low estimate of growth), and potential BCS money, and it's pure profit

I think your analysis here is a bit too rosy. The school killed this thing pretty quickly, so I'm sure they saw the plethora of potential pitfalls I'm seeing.

I didn't feel like getting into this one again so thanks for bringing up the errors in thinking on that one and pointing out the truths about what we get paid now in comparison to what we would likely be getting with a move. There is not a significant difference in the paydays. Sure we would be traveling for more of them but those paydays are that high for a reason...they get that much playing at home against a D2 now.

They are not gonna be able to ask and receive a lot more than the just under $250/seat they are getting now for Season tickets by moving to the WAC. Extra ticket revenue for FBS would be as minimal as it could be because there is just not a "giving us added value" thing in place and the tickets are expensive as they can expect fans to keep ponying up for right now.

[JBB]

I feel the same as you do UAH. Quinn has made many of the arguments in favor of a Montana move that I have been making in favor of an NDSU move. Both schools need facilities. To get them NDSU would need a firm commit from a significant conference, ie Big 12 but the WAC might do it. He has also correctly IDd the significance of the OOC home and away games. I think the NDSU market area would even leverage that more than the Montana market.

Others have acknowledged there is not that much upside in home-game revenues for Montana. I feel thats a significant difference in favor of NDSU. We could add the 10,000 seats to a new stadium and realize a lot of new revenue.

Both schools would see new revenue in conference payouts. Both schools would probably disappoint the local business community with the loss of potential home playoff revenues. Here in Fargo that would be offset by significantly bigger home game crowds.

The other big downside is travel expenses. The Big 12 for NDSU wouldn't be much different than we have now but the WAC would be a burden. I know, I know, the Big 12 is ridiculous to think about, something was murmered about credibility by another talking head, but what about the WAC? If there is a BSC conference facing a WAC future it is the Big 12. They may find themselves in a position to embrace the future and give a hand up to an ambitious program or two, who knows for sure?

[Big McLargehuge]

I think Montana wisely said "no" at this point. I think you have to have the facilities in place at the time you make the move. Judging by the article, there was no chance we could get the necessary improvements in place by the 2012 season.

If you don't start off on the right foot you will spend years playing catch-up. That is a sure recipe for FBS failure.

I bet once we complete our facility improvements over the next few years the move up question will come up again.

I basically agree. I've been on the fence ever since I got here about the thought of moving up...but two things cast the move in a different light. The a.) fact that our facilities suck. Wa-Griz is phenomenal and something that no one else in the FCS outside of Boone can offer, but the actual work-out and practice facilities are sub-par at best even for the level we're playing in right now. That needs to be upgraded before we move up. B.) is a pretty solid second...the WAC is, more or less, dead. At best it is the western version of the Sun Belt. The WAC, as we knew it, as a solid mid-major, is gone. This means there is going to be a drop in television revenues and, likely, bowl invitations. You just don't lose what they did in the past year, add Texas State and a start-up, and miss a beat. I mean that with no disrespect to Texas State or UTSA. I hope like hell they succeed so the WAC can become a viable conference in the future. Right now...

I'd rather be competing for a National Championship Game than a berth to the New Orleans Bowl, as is the highest hope of a Sun Belt team. I want Montana to move up eventually, I just want everything to be in-place for a proper move up.



I think there is potential for gate revenue being added in Missoula...but it is limited. Wa-Griz really can't be added onto that much more than it's current situation, but there are locations where seats can be added. Ticket prices would likely go up a bit, and they'd still sell out up to a certain number (guarantees against certain opponents, not so much against others) and keeping the Montana State rivalry would represent a huge loss every-other-year...which would likely wipe that season's ticket price increase out. Boise State has done well enough with a stadium only a few thousand seats bigger than Wa-Griz, that would be the least of my worries. The issue here is that is San Jose State really that much better of a draw than McNeese State or Appalachian State?

[clenz]

I've just skimmed this thread but I have a question - if it has been answered call me a dumbass and tell me to read the thread better....but....

What does Montana's athletic department/fan base/boosters/etc... see as the "max draw" for Montana games. You sell out now at 25-26K, but could you do so at 30K? 35k? 40k?

[CatMom]

My God...it will take money to move to FBS ?
Who'da thunk?

[BearIt]

My God...it will take money to move to FBS ?
Who'da thunk?

I think the issue is not that it would cost money, but the amount of money it would cost and the time frame that it would be needed by. Most of the money that needs to be spent on facility improvement will happen whether Montana moves up or not. It's just not going to be in place by 2012, which is the timeline laid out by the WAC. I don't think raising $20-30 million dollars and completing construction on facility upgrades over a time period of about 14 months was feasible.

Now that the study has been done the administration knows what it needs to do to make the move. They can now make a plan and ensure all the pieces are in place before making the leap. If that is truly what they want to do. That is a better strategy for the long run rather than just doing it because we have the invite. If the WAC still exists in 5 years they will still want Montana. I doubt that door will be closed. I don't see them expanding to the point that there won't be room for us 5 years from now.

[AZGrizFan]

I've just skimmed this thread but I have a question - if it has been answered call me a dumbass and tell me to read the thread better....but....

What does Montana's athletic department/fan base/boosters/etc... see as the "max draw" for Montana games. You sell out now at 25-26K, but could you do so at 30K? 35k? 40k?

Allegedly there's a book of names that are on a waiting list, and they're filling season ticket requests from something like 2008 right now.

[collegesportsinfo]

Yes, a little, but the WAC's TV deal will be reduced substantially thanks to the loss of Boise & impending losses of Nevada, Fresno, & Hawai'i. In terms of football ability, I'm not sure the 2012+ WAC will be any better than the top FCS conferences, and I think ESPN (or whoever) will see that.



I'm skeptical on that $1.3-2 million figure. Has there been a BCS payout to a non-BCS that was bigger than $1 million? The Griz are supposedly getting $500k (plus some expenses) from Tennessee, but they got $650k from Iowa in 2006. I also believe Ohio State payed $850k each for 2 in-state bodybag games against Youngstown. I don't think the FCS/FBS payout gap is nearly as big as you're suggesting.



I think you're forgetting that UM already sells out their games. The athletic department could up the ticket price, but I don't know how much more season ticket holders will be willing to pay since Griz fandom is ambivalent about a move-up. If the team has a losing season or something after jumping, that could cut fan support & require a lowering of ticket prices. A stadium expansion could help in the long run (making things more expensive in the short term), but that could also be true if the team stays FCS.

Also consider that Montana gets 6 or 7 regular season home games a year. As an FBS team, that number will often be 5 and never more than 6. In addition, home playoff games don't provide a lot of direct revenue, but they still bring in a lot of money for the local business community. If the team moves up, local businesses would be stuck with 5 or 6 big Saturdays instead of a potential 9 or 10.

(And just one minor correction that isn't revenue related - Montana/Idaho is already a big rivalry. UI is UM's second-biggest rival behind MSU.)



Yes, but it would have to be in Bozeman every other year. Putting the rivalry in Missoula every year (which current WAC rules demand) would end the series without question. A neutral site wouldn't work because WaGriz & Bobcat Stadium are the two biggest stadiums in Montana—nothing else has the size.





I think your analysis here is a bit too rosy. The school killed this thing pretty quickly, so I'm sure they saw the plethora of potential pitfalls I'm seeing.

I didn't feel like getting into this one again so thanks for bringing up the errors in thinking on that one and pointing out the truths about what we get paid now in comparison to what we would likely be getting with a move. There is not a significant difference in the paydays. Sure we would be traveling for more of them but those paydays are that high for a reason...they get that much playing at home against a D2 now.

They are not gonna be able to ask and receive a lot more than the just under $250/seat they are getting now for Season tickets by moving to the WAC. Extra ticket revenue for FBS would be as minimal as it could be because there is just not a "giving us added value" thing in place and the tickets are expensive as they can expect fans to keep ponying up for right now.

Actually, you're incorrect via the specifics of the payouts for FBS vs FBS games. The figures you've presented are FBS vs FCS schools, which are traditionally up to 1/2 what an FBS school would get...even an FBS program that is worse than said FCS school will make more.

I point this out because it's obviously a big topic we're dealing with in regards to a UMass upgrade. You can look at the UMass vs Michigan game and say "great, UMass got $500k for that game". Meanwhile, Ohio St. paid Navy $1.4 million to come to Columbus for what OSU considered a "pay-per-win" game. so there's no reason to try to justify any "prestige" of Navy as the game was clearly scheduled just for an easy win.

You had Liberty get paid $350k to play at WVU...and that same year, new FBS program WKU doubled that at $700k when scheduled to play Tennessee. Arkansas St. has had two games recently against much higher FBS programs VA Tech and Auburn, getting over $1,000,000 per game. Meanwhile, another Arkansas school, Central Arkansas had an FBS game last season that I'm sure was less than half that as a payout.

Per Ohio St. AD Gene Smith in regards to FBS vs FBS games, "I think $1 million is going to be the market price in the coming years".

Perhaps another UMass fan here will recall the Bowling Green payout versus Michigan last year as well. I believe it was at or over 1 million, the same year FCS UMass made $500k vs Michigan.

I know when it comes to the UMass upgrade, it's the 7 figure FBS payouts that are considered the most significant factor in us making the upgrade. Because right now, UMass is scheduling 1 FBS game a year as a big "pay day" to offset operating costs. But do the math: if an FCS school has a $500k FBs game and 2 other OOC games against FCS schools, they are making what, maybe $900k-$1million total for the year? Meanwhile, it UMass has 2-3 OOC FBS games a year on the road (which is virtually a lock for the early FBS years), the payouts will be between $2 and $3 million, doubling or tripling the current revenues.


If someone wants to argue that the numbers are only applicable for 1 school, not cross different schools, then you can take a look at the Bowling Green payout last year versus Michigan, same year FCS UMass played Michigan. I think it was a closer gap than being doubled what UMass got paid, but I could be wrong.

[collegesportsinfo]

My God...it will take money to move to FBS ?
Who'da thunk?

I think the issue is not that it would cost money, but the amount of money it would cost and the time frame that it would be needed by. Most of the money that needs to be spent on facility improvement will happen whether Montana moves up or not. It's just not going to be in place by 2012, which is the timeline laid out by the WAC. I don't think raising $20-30 million dollars and completing construction on facility upgrades over a time period of about 14 months was feasible.

Now that the study has been done the administration knows what it needs to do to make the move. They can now make a plan and ensure all the pieces are in place before making the leap. If that is truly what they want to do. That is a better strategy for the long run rather than just doing it because we have the invite. If the WAC still exists in 5 years they will still want Montana. I doubt that door will be closed. I don't see them expanding to the point that there won't be room for us 5 years from now.

As the study laid out, they presented the worst case scenario in costs. It's likely that costs would be less. But it comes down to a matter of business model and philosophy. We can kid ourselves all we want, but is there really anyone here that is going to argue that if the MWC offered a spot to Montana today and said they need an answer by, Friday, that Montana would pass? Especially if say it was to bring in Montana and Utah st. for a final 12 members with no future of expansion?

Meanwhile, the business model comes down to two options: 1) you take what you can get from the WAC, accept, upgrade, and use the new revenue to help fund some of the projected upgrades. Or 2) you fund these upgrades on your own and then when at a point of comfort, you upgrade to FBS. I other words, one is a model of sustained growth where on a year by year basis, you invest back into the program to progress through an upgrade. The other is to sit and wait until there is a surplus of money, and then when 100% of the funds needed are in pocket, you spend on facility upgrades (ex/including an FBS upgrade).


But still...$4.7 million might seem like a lot to a casual poster year. But it's such a low figure compared to what it would cost other schools, that I think the hesitant Montana fans here can understand why there are many of us that are surprised that the upgrade isn't moving forward right now.

[SUUTbird]

One thing I feel that should be mentioned is not neccesarily the finances that it will take for Montana to move up but for Montana State. I for one highly doubt that Montana would want to move up by itself and probably would want their in state rivals to move up to the FBS ranks with them. Wasnt that an issue with the latest rounds of offers and such for the Griz?

[cats2506]

One thing I feel that should be mentioned is not neccesarily the finances that it will take for Montana to move up but for Montana State. I for one highly doubt that Montana would want to move up by itself and probably would want their in state rivals to move up to the FBS ranks with them. Wasnt that an issue with the latest rounds of offers and such for the Griz?

MSU already has better internal facilities than UM, the current Bobcat stadium upgrade will bring capacity over 18,000. MSU hasn't shown any real interest in moving to FBS up to this point.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I didn't feel like getting into this one again so thanks for bringing up the errors in thinking on that one and pointing out the truths about what we get paid now in comparison to what we would likely be getting with a move. There is not a significant difference in the paydays. Sure we would be traveling for more of them but those paydays are that high for a reason...they get that much playing at home against a D2 now.

They are not gonna be able to ask and receive a lot more than the just under $250/seat they are getting now for Season tickets by moving to the WAC. Extra ticket revenue for FBS would be as minimal as it could be because there is just not a "giving us added value" thing in place and the tickets are expensive as they can expect fans to keep ponying up for right now.

Actually, you're incorrect via the specifics of the payouts for FBS vs FBS games. The figures you've presented are FBS vs FCS schools, which are traditionally up to 1/2 what an FBS school would get...even an FBS program that is worse than said FCS school will make more.

I point this out because it's obviously a big topic we're dealing with in regards to a UMass upgrade. You can look at the UMass vs Michigan game and say "great, UMass got $500k for that game". Meanwhile, Ohio St. paid Navy $1.4 million to come to Columbus for what OSU considered a "pay-per-win" game. so there's no reason to try to justify any "prestige" of Navy as the game was clearly scheduled just for an easy win.

You had Liberty get paid $350k to play at WVU...and that same year, new FBS program WKU doubled that at $700k when scheduled to play Tennessee. Arkansas St. has had two games recently against much higher FBS programs VA Tech and Auburn, getting over $1,000,000 per game. Meanwhile, another Arkansas school, Central Arkansas had an FBS game last season that I'm sure was less than half that as a payout.

Per Ohio St. AD Gene Smith in regards to FBS vs FBS games, "I think $1 million is going to be the market price in the coming years".

Perhaps another UMass fan here will recall the Bowling Green payout versus Michigan last year as well. I believe it was at or over 1 million, the same year FCS UMass made $500k vs Michigan.

I know when it comes to the UMass upgrade, it's the 7 figure FBS payouts that are considered the most significant factor in us making the upgrade. Because right now, UMass is scheduling 1 FBS game a year as a big "pay day" to offset operating costs. But do the math: if an FCS school has a $500k FBs game and 2 other OOC games against FCS schools, they are making what, maybe $900k-$1million total for the year? Meanwhile, it UMass has 2-3 OOC FBS games a year on the road (which is virtually a lock for the early FBS years), the payouts will be between $2 and $3 million, doubling or tripling the current revenues.


If someone wants to argue that the numbers are only applicable for 1 school, not cross different schools, then you can take a look at the Bowling Green payout last year versus Michigan, same year FCS UMass played Michigan. I think it was a closer gap than being doubled what UMass got paid, but I could be wrong.

The point is that Montana get 650K/FBS game or they don't go. It doesn't matter what the avg. for other FCS teams is to UM. They need to be paid a certain amount to ditch the D2 or other low level FCS game because the home revenue dictates that. Tennessee is covering expenses and giving UM 500K clear.

WKU got 100K better than what we were getting 4 or 5 yrs. ago. If the avg. is gonna be a million then great but that is not nearly the difference in payout per year that you are sticking to with the double. If it brings in an extra 350K for a couple of games each year then that is a bonus of around 700K/yr. in real money to UM. Not a huge upside to cover the costs there.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

BTW, I guarantee you that the tickets for the App St game will be around $55/60 and the same will go for McNeese. WaGriz will bring in about 1.5 million or real close to that on those weekends. As was said earlier you could not get that for an SJSU and the like. Even with a Boise or the like at some point if you are asking $70-80 for an endzone seat you are gonna have people saying "I might just go to the tailgate and watch this on TV".

I'm just spitballing on that but I think it's real possible.

[Wedgebuster]

Looks to me like the issue is dead everywhere except at the office of the WAC commissioner, the article in the Billings paper suggested both UM and MSU are in the sights of the WAC now, with their thinking that they will have better luck offering to both instead of just Montana.

Looks to me like the WAC is becoming desperate, all the more reason to stay away from them.

[89Hen]

Looks to me like the WAC is becoming desperate, all the more reason to stay away from them.

What was it that Groucho Marx said?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Looks to me like the WAC is becoming desperate, all the more reason to stay away from them.

What was it that Groucho Marx said?

Holy shit hen! You look great! You get a haircut or something? Been working out?

Whatever it is keep doing it!

[Wedgebuster]

What was it that Groucho Marx said?

Holy shit hen! You look great! You get a haircut or something? Been working out?

Whatever it is keep doing it!

That does look awesome!

[89Hen]

Holy shit hen! You look great! You get a haircut or something? Been working out?

Whatever it is keep doing it!

Sporting my Griz colors. I love 'em.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Holy shit hen! You look great! You get a haircut or something? Been working out?

Whatever it is keep doing it!

Sporting my Griz colors. I love 'em.

THAT'S IT! Man...you look good. nohomo.