Bowl Game Attendance

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I had an interesting conversation with my Iowa friends on New Years Eve regarding poor bowl game attendance and how to reverse the trend. We all pretty much agreed that the P5 Bowl games outside of the NY6 need to drop their conference affiliations and have a rotating pecking order where they get to choose their match ups. I think this has a ton of potential and could certainly help reduce fan fatigue like Iowa just experienced at the Outback. Thoughts?

 

[Die4Cy]

I've advocated for that for a long time, but it won't happen. The system is decentralized to a degree that this kind of coordination would have no place to spring out of.

 

[BCClone]

I would say, outside of the championship team tie ins. Like us and SEC with the Sugar bowl, leave tie ins but rotate them every 3-4 years.

The reason this will never happen is $$$$$. We won't drop the Alamo for the Bahamas bowl because we would go from 8MM pay to less than a million. If bowl payout was all kinda similar, I think you could see the tie ins change more frequently.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I would say, outside of the championship team tie ins. Like us and SEC with the Sugar bowl, leave tie ins but rotate them every 3-4 years.

The reason this will never happen is $$$$$. We won't drop the Alamo for the Bahamas bowl because we would go from 8MM pay to less than a million. If bowl payout was all kinda similar, I think you could see the tie ins change more frequently.

That's why I suggested that only the P5 tie in bowls would get rid of their conference affiliation.

 

[BCClone]

Today I learned that the liberty bowl started in Philly. I was always confused by name and especially the bell for a trophy.

 

[ISU85]

Something needs to be done about the situation with Army. They went 10-2 but with no bowl affiliations had to play Houston in the Armed Forces bowl. They could have beaten some much better teams in a good bowl game.

 

[Cyclonetrombone]

Something needs to be done about the situation with Army. They went 10-2 but with no bowl affiliations had to play Houston in the Armed Forces bowl. They could have beaten some much better teams in a good bowl game.

The solution is getting rid of independent teams. FBS teams should all belong to a conference to get equitable bowl conversation. not being conference affiliated is trying to have cake and eat it too. Unfortunately, ND got a nice big cake. Army got a bran muffin.

 

[Cycsk]

Outback Bowl fatigue was only one part of the problem with EIU's fan base. Not being committed to their team was a bigger factor.

 

[ArgentCy]

Here is an obvious answer. Don't give fans who actually buy tickets to see the game from the schools (that they "have" to buy) the worst seats in the house.

 

[CyHans]

I'll say this, I went to the Alamo Bowl and had an awesome time but if we were to get selected to go there again next year or even the year after I would think a little harder whether to go again. Bowl trips are expensive but if you're going someplace new it makes it more worthwhile imo.

 

[isufbcurt]

I'll say this, I went to the Alamo Bowl and had an awesome time but if we were to get selected to go there again next year or even the year after I would think a little harder whether to go again. Bowl trips are expensive but if you're going someplace new it makes it more worthwhile imo.

Define expensive.

We probably did it for approx. $1200 excluding my daughters flight from LA to SA (because she would have still flown from LA to DM if there was no bowl).

Fuel- $250ish
Tickets - $270 (3tickets)
Hotel - $500 (5 nights)
Food - $200ish

 

[cyclonedave25]

I'll say this, I went to the Alamo Bowl and had an awesome time but if we were to get selected to go there again next year or even the year after I would think a little harder whether to go again. Bowl trips are expensive but if you're going someplace new it makes it more worthwhile imo.

Bowl trips are expensive if you make it that way, they can also be made affordable.
Drive instead of fly.
Get cheap tickets off stubhub.
Only stay 2 nights at cheaper hotel.
Don’t drop $100/night on food and alcohol.

 

[CyTwins]

Outback Bowl fatigue was only one part of the problem with EIU's fan base. Not being committed to their team was a bigger factor.

I just had an Iowa fan tell me their fan base didn't travel because they are tired of KF so I don't think it matters where they go

 

[BCClone]

Define expensive.

We probably did it for approx. $1200 excluding my daughters flight from LA to SA (because she would have still flown from LA to DM if there was no bowl).

Fuel- $250ish
Tickets - $270 (3tickets)
Hotel - $500 (5 nights)
Food - $200ish

40 bucks a day for 3 three people's food? You guys go from hotel to hotel and hit up the free breakfast and cookies that they serve?

 

[ComCY]

Our trip ended up being about $270 per person, not including food/booze bought there. Really not too bad.

 

[isufbcurt]

40 bucks a day for 3 three people's food? You guys go from hotel to hotel and hit up the free breakfast and cookies that they serve?

My wife and I brought snacks for the drive down (except for when I stopped at Babbs BBQ) so that covered Tuesday/Weds and Sat/Sun. Weds night my wife and daughter each had a big nachos at the Spurs/Nuggets game ( I was still full from babbs). Thursday we ate at the Melting Pot which was expensive but it's our Xmas tradition so I don't attribute the entire cost to the bowl. Friday we ate at Casa Rio on the riverwalk for a late lunch before the game.

We don't drink so we save a lot of money there.

 

[BCClone]

My wife and I brought snacks for the drive down (except for when I stopped at Babbs BBQ) so that covered Tuesday/Weds and Sat/Sun. Weds night my wife and daughter each had a big nachos at the Spurs/Nuggets game ( I was still full from babbs). Thursday we ate at the Melting Pot which was expensive but it's our Xmas tradition so I don't attribute the entire cost to the bowl. Friday we ate at Casa Rio on the riverwalk for a late lunch before the game.

We don't drink so we save a lot of money there.

Wasn't looking for the full run down, was just poking you a bit there. We have five and usually I figure 15-20 bucks a person per day. We were at the Marriott Plaza and no free breakfast with Marriotts. Why I don't stay there very often. I like Hilton properties better, but we booked late and nothing reasonable was available with them.

 

[FinalFourCy]

40 bucks a day for 3 three people's food? You guys go from hotel to hotel and hit up the free breakfast and cookies that they serve?

That’s low, but most would be spending an increased amount of booze and food regardless of traveling to the game imo.

 

[IASTATE07]

For my dad and I we spent about $1500 on gas, food, hotel, tickets, and souvenirs. Could have easily cut off $3-400 off of that just on hotel and game tickets.

 

[DeereClone]

I agree with the OP.

However, one negative of getting away from the conference affiliations is the ability for our AD to build relationships with bowl representatives. I know JP has tweeted about having bowl reps at our home games before - this is pretty easy to do right now as there about 6 affiliated bowl games and of those only about 4 are very realistic outcomes for us. I think the ability for us to build these relationships and "sell" ISU as a good team to select in a bowl over someone with more of a national brand helps ISU.