Well I guess it depends on what happens with the NCAA, but don’t we currently only sponsor the minimum amount of sports to remain D1?Want to save money Pollard, there’s 4M per year of Cross Country that we can cut by eliminating both programs. There’s a start.
They do have a great annuity in the Big10/CFP monies.That Iowa baseball thing is kinda nuts to me. You can’t tell me the Iowa athletic department isn’t rolling in big-time TV money that they have locked in for the next X number of years … they already don’t share any of that with the academic side, it all stays with the AD, but now they’re telling us they can’t even share any of that outside the football program? It’s all got to go into grander football facilities and football coaches’ salaries and things that might support NIL, it can’t possibly be doled out to any non-revenue sports?
They already do. The Big10/SEC draws big viewership already, and more are coming with the additions of high profile teams: Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Oregon, etc. The fans are already built in. That's what makes the venture much less risky.Gonna push back a little on this one, why would people choose to watch and spend money on a worse NFL? College sports are so dominant because of the connections people have to a school, whether it’s attending, a family member attending, or growing up near a college. If you want to see the power of that, Iowa State women’s basketball averages more fans than the average WNBA game.
LOL. Why then does just about every other school do it? They all have the equivalent of Sukup and Johnny’s. And still sell those places out.According to Pollard we make more not selling alcohol to the general public by increased donations for access to Sukup and Johnny’s.
I agree with you on this but there are two other things that could stop the P2 consolidation train:They already do. The Big10/SEC draws big viewership already, and more are coming with the additions of high profile teams: Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Oregon, etc. The fans are already built in. That's what makes the venture much less risky.
Startup leagues like the XFL and USFL have to build a following. The Big 2 bring theirs with them. How many Alabama fans are going to say "Well, I like Alabama football, but now that they're in this super league with all of the best college teams in the country, I'm not going to watch."?
Very very few, if any. Those eyeballs aren't going anywhere.
And you attract new viewers by marketing the hell out of the league as the best and brightest version of college sports on the biggest stage. Will you grab every fan of one of the left behind schools? Nope, but you will definitely attract some. Maybe it's similar to a lot of UNI fans, where you support your alma mater, but also cheer for a power conference school. And don't underestimate the gambling crowd. That draws viewers to games that they normally wouldn't follow if they weren't wagering on it.
They do sell them out? Iowa made what, a mill in profit on alcohol sales? I assume the reason to sell has more to do with attendance than financial gain.LOL. Why then does just about every other school do it? They all have the equivalent of Sukup and Johnny’s. And still sell those places out.
I don't really think that's how it works for college sports though. People don't follow college sports to see the best teams/athletes out of a pure love of the game. At least not the main revenue sports - those who avidly follow Track or Gymnastics may follow them for that reason. People follow these sports because they are a fan of a team and they have a tie to that team. I definitely don't just watch random teams in random leagues just because they're on, or some ESPN talking head (who I don't watch or listen to) has told me they are the best team to watch. Most fans don't regularly listen to sports radio or tune into ESPN sports talk shows. The NFL already has vastly more fans and TV viewers than college football. If we want to talk about "the best" both in terms of talent and brand, it's the NFL. If people concentrate to the best, that's where they will concentrate.It'll be plenty national for solid and reliable viewership for a very very long time. Remember that the B1G and SEC will have teams (almost always the flagship, too) in these states starting this year:
California
Oregon
Washington
Oklahoma
Texas
Iowa
Nebraska
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Maryland
Kentucky
Tennessee
Arkansas
Missouri
Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama
Georgia
Florida
South Carolina
And will likely be able to add North Carolina & Virginia soon enough.
That's a much larger footprint than any of the national pro leagues and will capture plenty of eyeballs without the need to pay the "dead weight" programs.
Contrary to a lot of posters here, I strongly believe a ton of people would watch these games simply because they'll get a ton of coverage, and every talking head will preach about these teams being easily the best out there. And with the revenue/visibility discrepancy, they'll be right.
I was just illustrating the point that the P2 is already a national product, covering virtually all of the most valuable CFB territory.I don't really think that's how it works for college sports though. People don't follow college sports to see the best teams/athletes out of a pure love of the game. At least not the main revenue sports - those who avidly follow Track or Gymnastics may follow them for that reason. People follow these sports because they are a fan of a team and they have a tie to that team. I definitely don't just watch random teams in random leagues just because they're on, or some ESPN talking head (who I don't watch or listen to) has told me they are the best team to watch. Most fans don't regularly listen to sports radio or tune into ESPN sports talk shows. The NFL already has vastly more fans and TV viewers than college football. If we want to talk about "the best" both in terms of talent and brand, it's the NFL. If people concentrate to the best, that's where they will concentrate.
Most people are not going to watch the P2 unless they already had an interest in watching the P2. That's not going to be nobody - but if the P2 happens and takes the top ~30% of college football brands, I suspect you're looking at that league getting ~40% fewer viewers than the current FBS. That 40% will stay with the non-P2 FBS schools or will just stop watching college football altogether.
Something else I think we should be thinking about - right now we're seeing this as "top brands get rich at the expense of small brands." I think if you look 10-15 years down the road in the next TV contracts I think you start to see even the biggest brands getting smaller TV deals. Not only do we have (what I see as likely) decrease in the total number of college football fans/viewers, but you also have clear signs that the major TV networks who pay the most can't afford to pay this much anymore. I think that trend is only going to increase - especially if Disney spins off ESPN. Where will the money come from? Streamers might have money to match or beat today's deals but why would they overpay in 10 years when ESPN is broke?
Well I guess it depends on what happens with the NCAA, but don’t we currently only sponsor the minimum amount of sports to remain D1?
They both offer 7:The minimum number of men's sports to be D1 is six. ISU has 6. UNI has the same 6 as ISU. Alabama has the third largest athletic budget in the country. They offer 8 men's sports. If this continues you will see more schools like ISU offering close to the bare minimum.
You guys are acting like this will be a NCAA requirement in the future. Maybe but I wouldn’t count on it.They both offer 7:
Football
Basketball
Wrestling
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Cross Country
Golf
Still room to cut one...
It probably won't be when the NCAA isn't running the show.You guys are acting like this will be a NCAA requirement in the future. Maybe but I wouldn’t count on it.
They both offer 7:
Football
Basketball
Wrestling
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Cross Country
Golf
Still room to cut one...
Indoor and Outdoor track are separate sports simply so that low majors can count the same sport twice.Indoor/Outdoor track is considered one sport. The majority of track athletes compete in both. It's just in indoor track races are run at different distances and certain field events don't work indoors.
Because he could never admit being wrong. He’s done so much for Iowa State, but by golly, what a bill to die on. Sure it’s not a ton of $$ relatively speaking, but maybe it pays for your wrestling program??LOL. Why then does just about every other school do it? They all have the equivalent of Sukup and Johnny’s. And still sell those places out.
Only sell Ames Lager in the stadiumBecause he could never admit being wrong. He’s done so much for Iowa State, but by golly, what a bill to die on. Sure it’s not a ton of $$ relatively speaking, but maybe it pays for your wrestling program??
Indoor/Outdoor track is considered one sport.