Spokane/EWU submits bid to host NC game

[89Hen]

You CAA fans are full of it. Maybe Poly, Davis & Southern Utah should join the Sky, then The Big Sky could split the conf & throw 4 teams (EWU, Weber, UM, & Cal Poly) in the playoffs every year... I guarantee one of them would make it to the NC game. CAA fans seem to think bc their conf mates have success in any given season, then they can collect some of the praise. GTFOH

I like your enthusiasm. But what makes you think one of them would make it? Four Gateway teams made the playoffs in 2003 and none of them even made the Semis.

[EWURanger]

UNLV would be a good place, its not that big.


what about Idaho State's dome lol.

The Spokane area has over 500K people. What do you consider a "big" city?

[89Hen]

You can assume as much as I can on te attendance but it would have a ton of Griz fans there and I can assure you of that. When we lost out early and EWU had a game there at Joe Albi the next week in the playoffs for the second round there was a couple thousand Griz fans there to cheer on EWU for a second round game. I was there and it was loaded with Griz fans. Your expectation of 8K is way off because I think there was over 10k for tthe week after thanksgiving.

How many time has a team (at least one of them) not had to fly to the game? I didn't go look.

A couple thousand Griz fans aren't going to cut it (if that's true to begin with). The 10k after Thanksgiving was for EWU playing. 8k without them or Montana is what I think a generous esitmate.

I really don't know who flys and who doesn't as far as teams go. I just go by fans. There were quite a few Hen fans who flew, but there was a great number that drove.

[89Hen]

what about Idaho State's dome lol.

It's been there twice I believe.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

You can assume as much as I can on te attendance but it would have a ton of Griz fans there and I can assure you of that. When we lost out early and EWU had a game there at Joe Albi the next week in the playoffs for the second round there was a couple thousand Griz fans there to cheer on EWU for a second round game. I was there and it was loaded with Griz fans. Your expectation of 8K is way off because I think there was over 10k for tthe week after thanksgiving.

How many time has a team (at least one of them) not had to fly to the game? I didn't go look.

A couple thousand Griz fans aren't going to cut it (if that's true to begin with). The 10k after Thanksgiving was for EWU playing. 8k without them or Montana is what I think a generous esitmate.

I really don't know who flys and who doesn't as far as teams go. I just go by fans. There were quite a few Hen fans who flew, but there was a great number that drove.

You're not getting the point that there would be a ton of fans that don't have anything to do with either team playing in the game if EWU/Montana don't make it. I could give a fuck less if you believe the number.

Since we're just throwing out what we think then I guess I think there would be 25,000 at the game and another 200,000 outside the game waiting to get in if they get the chance. They both are rooted in bullshit.

[DukeJack]

UNLV would be a good place, its not that big.


what about Idaho State's dome lol.

The Spokane area has over 500K people. What do you consider a "big" city?

I'm almost certain he was referring to the stadium size, ~37k for UNLV and ~30k for Nevada.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

More possible to plan, yes. But I think the timing acutally hurts more than helps though. Being the week after the week most people take off is going to make it less appealing to travel IMO. Look at the first round games. They occur the weekend of Thanksgiving at home locations and are always the least attended of games for the hosts... that includes teams like Delaware, Montana, AppSt, GSU, YSU... places that support their teams pretty darn well.

Your argument seems to say that the timing of the game will hurt attendance no matter where it is played.

I still think, given a few weeks notice, that more people may decide to attend a game at an attractive destination (possibly foregoing that Christmas trip to grandma's ) instead of making a potentially long car trek to a "drive to" locale. Which do you think Delaware fans (as an example) would generally find more appealing - a ten hour drive right after the holidays to Chatty followed by a ten hour drive home the day after the game, or a three day weekend in Orlando bookended by a couple of two hour flights? For us married guys, which would be an easier sell to the family?

If you're a fan of team in the championship game outside of driving range, it becomes a no brainer.

[JMU DJ]

The Stadium in Spokane looks nice and well balanced for a championship game...



.... but plenty of people over here on the biased/bloated conference side of the country have nothing to do come NC time too, but sometimes the stadium looks half empty. What makes you think Griz/EWU fans will show up for a game they have no hand if FCS fans won't show up to fill out Chatty when the "epicenter" of the FCS resides around Kentucky and ?

[AZGrizFan]

The Stadium in Spokane looks nice and well balanced for a championship game...



.... but plenty of people over here on the biased/bloated conference side of the country have nothing to do come NC time too, but sometimes the stadium looks half empty. What makes you think Griz/EWU fans will show up for a game they have no hand if FCS fans won't show up to fill out Chatty when the "epicenter" of the FCS resides around Kentucky and ?

I'm here to tell you, if EWU & Weber had played in Wa/Griz last weekend, they'd have drawn 18,000. If JMU played ASU, or UNI played UNH they'd draw 25,000.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

The Stadium in Spokane looks nice and well balanced for a championship game...



.... but plenty of people over here on the biased/bloated conference side of the country have nothing to do come NC time too, but sometimes the stadium looks half empty. What makes you think Griz/EWU fans will show up for a game they have no hand if FCS fans won't show up to fill out Chatty when the "epicenter" of the FCS resides around Kentucky and ?

Because we do and have in the past. You guys don't have fans like us or at least not many. Most of the fans in your area don't have the fortitude to go and support/or even see your own teams if you are slightly inconvenienced let alone another team so I understand why you can't believe that we would.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

The Stadium in Spokane looks nice and well balanced for a championship game...



.... but plenty of people over here on the biased/bloated conference side of the country have nothing to do come NC time too, but sometimes the stadium looks half empty. What makes you think Griz/EWU fans will show up for a game they have no hand if FCS fans won't show up to fill out Chatty when the "epicenter" of the FCS resides around Kentucky and ?

I'm here to tell you, if EWU & Weber had played in Wa/Griz last weekend, they'd have drawn 18,000. If JMU played ASU, or UNI played UNH they'd draw 25,000.

They don't get this AZ but keep trying to get the message out anyway.

I'd give EWU/Weber about 21,000 at least though. There are at least that many that consider themselves scouts in the stands.

[AZGrizFan]

Bring this thing home to Phoenix and ya'll can stay at my house.

[JMU DJ]

I was being serious, I know you guys would get people together anytime a significant game is played in Missoula and I know you guys travel well. How well does the rest of the Big Sky? Great West? Would you guys in Missoula have to charter a flight like you do to chatty? Would people charter a flight to go see a game their team won't be playing in? I believe you guys have one of the strongest, loyalist, die hard fan bases out there... and I agree, fans over here should try to make it to Chatty (I'm thinkin about makin the trip this year... JMU or no JMU... eh, no JMU), but it's the question of whether people will pay to travel to the game, shack up in a hotel, etc to not see their team play... maybe people have something better to spend a couple hundred on? I'm actually being sincere here, no BS. Promise Ursy Wursy.

[AZGrizFan]

I was being serious, I know you guys would get people together anytime a significant game is played in Missoula and I know you guys travel well. How well does the rest of the Big Sky? Great West? Would you guys in Missoula have to charter a flight like you do to chatty? Would people charter a flight to go see a game their team won't be playing in? I believe you guys have one of the strongest, loyalist, die hard fan bases out there... and I agree, fans over here should try to make it to Chatty (I'm thinkin about makin the trip this year... JMU or no JMU... eh, no JMU), but it's the question of whether people will pay to travel to the game, shack up in a hotel, etc to not see their team play... maybe people have something better to spend a couple hundred on? I'm actually being sincere here, no BS. Promise Ursy Wursy.

Who wouldn't want to come to Phoenix in late December? And besides, like I said, ya'll can stay at my house.

[JMU DJ]

My lord, this thread has gone from a quality discussion about football to a goddamn pillow fight with the Jonas Brothers.


What a buncha f@gs.

... and what have you contributed to this quality discussion besides "Sweet, I like this idea" and the shit kicking post above? Back to your Hannah Montana season 3 DVD set.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I was being serious, I know you guys would get people together anytime a significant game is played in Missoula and I know you guys travel well. How well does the rest of the Big Sky? Great West? Would you guys in Missoula have to charter a flight like you do to chatty? Would people charter a flight to go see a game their team won't be playing in? I believe you guys have one of the strongest, loyalist, die hard fan bases out there... and I agree, fans over here should try to make it to Chatty (I'm thinkin about makin the trip this year... JMU or no JMU... eh, no JMU), but it's the question of whether people will pay to travel to the game, shack up in a hotel, etc to not see their team play... maybe people have something better to spend a couple hundred on? I'm actually being sincere here, no BS. Promise Ursy Wursy.

Who wouldn't want to come to Phoenix in late December? And besides, like I said, ya'll can stay at my house.

Everyone, but little boys in particular.

[JMU DJ]

Who wouldn't want to come to Phoenix in late December? And besides, like I said, ya'll can stay at my house.

That's the second kiss you've blown to me today AZ, you are officially on my creeper list:

1. AZ
2. Cleets
3. Col
4. Native
5. DBJ


If I wasn't a poor grad student, I'd be there.... I need to learn the excuses to tell the sig other so I can make these events once I grow up and become a real man.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

My lord, this thread has gone from a quality discussion about football to a goddamn pillow fight with the Jonas Brothers.


What a buncha f@gs.

... and what have you contributed to this quality discussion besides "Sweet, I like this idea" and the shit kicking post above? Back to your Hannah Montana season 3 DVD set.

So you admit to being a f@g?

Didn't say I was contributing to the thread. I'm here to and .

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I was being serious, I know you guys would get people together anytime a significant game is played in Missoula and I know you guys travel well. How well does the rest of the Big Sky? Great West? Would you guys in Missoula have to charter a flight like you do to chatty? Would people charter a flight to go see a game their team won't be playing in? I believe you guys have one of the strongest, loyalist, die hard fan bases out there... and I agree, fans over here should try to make it to Chatty (I'm thinkin about makin the trip this year... JMU or no JMU... eh, no JMU), but it's the question of whether people will pay to travel to the game, shack up in a hotel, etc to not see their team play... maybe people have something better to spend a couple hundred on? I'm actually being sincere here, no BS. Promise Ursy Wursy.

For Griz fans in particular DJ it is a very simple trip. Spokane is as close as us going to Montana State. It's all Interstate and since we don't have a pro team in the state we really are lively about getting to see as much live football as we can. Personally I would be so jacked to go see a Furman/Delaware or an App/JMU game or any other team that I don't have a chance to normally see live. A ton of us would go just to hang out with friends we've never gotten to meet in person on top of the game. The game, no matter who was in it would be well attended by the Griz fans and not as well attended by some of the others but still a strong contingent considering it isn't their team.

I didn't know you weren't joking or I would have given you the straight dope in the first place.

[JMU DJ]

So you admit to being a f@g?

Didn't say I was contributing to the thread. I'm here to and .

Ha, the ol' "you're a fag" routine. Well played. You got me good.

[dbackjon]

So you admit to being a f@g?

Didn't say I was contributing to the thread. I'm here to and .

Ha, the ol' "you're a fag" routine. Well played. You got me good.

Seems to be a trend among EWU fans

[93henfan]

I'd make the trip to Wa-Griz for an FCS NCG with my team in it. I'll never have any other excuse to go to Montana. A nice hunting trip could probably be worked in the same week.

Only drawbacks I see:
1. Cold. But hey, I've lasted through 20 degree/single digit windchill Eagles playoff games.
2. Just doing a quick scan of airfare on Orbitz, tickets start at ~$600+/person and the flight (including stopovers to get to the regional airport) is a loooong one. I know I'm getting no sympathy from UM fans who trekked to Chatty on this one, but families from east of the Mississippi wouldn't make the trip; probably just pockets of menfolk.
3. Hate to see another Marshall Invitational situation. The Griz would hold a tremendously unfair advantage with weather, fan support, field familiarity, not having to travel, sleeping in their own cozy beds, etc. Plus, Griz fans would snap up all the tickets (ala Appy fans the past two/three years) essentially locking out opposition if a school's AD requests a paltry block of tickets.

[89Hen]

You're not getting the point that there would be a ton of fans that don't have anything to do with either team playing in the game if EWU/Montana don't make it. I could give a **** less if you believe the number.

Since we're just throwing out what we think then I guess I think there would be 25,000 at the game and another 200,000 outside the game waiting to get in if they get the chance. They both are rooted in bullshit.

No... just your number is. History has shown time and time again.... when the NC game is played in a place where both teams fans have to fly the numbers are FAR lower than when it's somewhere close to at least one of the teams. You are just being stubborn on that FACT.

Do you think UM and EWU fans are that different than GSU fans? I showed you that when GSU hosted it had half the number of fans when GSU wasn't in it. And that was a year with YSU and Marshall in it... two very rabid fanbases. The 9 lowest attendances in NC game history were Pocatello x2, Wichita Falls TX x2, Tacoma x2, Sacramento, Orlando and Charleston SC. What's interesting to note is that Charleston SC was so low because it featured Montana State and LaTech.... two teams that had to fly.

Keep ignoring the stats and make all kinds of wild claims about Montana fans driving the three hours to see Furman play UNI. Will some come? Sure. Will they come in great numbers. Please. IF (and that's a big if) the NCAA is stupid enough to put the game in Spokane, I'll be here so you can throw it in my face when Griz and Eagle fans pack the stadium to see Richmond play SIU.

[89Hen]

Your argument seems to say that the timing of the game will hurt attendance no matter where it is played.

I still think, given a few weeks notice, that more people may decide to attend a game at an attractive destination (possibly foregoing that Christmas trip to grandma's ) instead of making a potentially long car trek to a "drive to" locale. Which do you think Delaware fans (as an example) would generally find more appealing - a ten hour drive right after the holidays to Chatty followed by a ten hour drive home the day after the game, or a three day weekend in Orlando bookended by a couple of two hour flights? For us married guys, which would be an easier sell to the family?

If you're a fan of team in the championship game outside of driving range, it becomes a no brainer.

I do think the timing of the game will hurt attendance, yes. Schools are back in. People DO take trips to grandma between X-mas and NY. Having the game on Sunday could help, but if it's a night game that will require taking Monday off.

BTW, I'm not taking my family to the NC game so it's actually an easier sell having it someplace that's not attractive to them.

[89Hen]

If JMU played ASU, or UNI played UNH they'd draw 25,000.

That's amazing given the Griz/Wofford game didn't make it to 20k.