I think this would actually work better for schools like Wisconsin and Colorado that have more resources than ISU although maybe having a later season would bring enough fans and TV revenue to make it less costly for ISU.
Why do people want ISU Baseball back so much?
- Thread starter cyhiphopp
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I think this would actually work better for schools like Wisconsin and Colorado that have more resources than ISU although maybe having a later season would bring enough fans and TV revenue to make it less costly for ISU.
NCHC would be a good fit but not sure they would take a new team as it would make it a 9 team conference. If ASU finally gets a new rink built there is a chance they could be added and the conference could be looking for #10.
Denver
Colorado College
Omaha
NoDak
Duluth
St. Cloud St.
Miami
Western Michigan
Focus on bringing back VEISHEA first.
Hypothetically, let's say a major donor paid for this to work, (because, let's be honest, this isn't happening unless someone that is loaded pays for this to happen) some suggestions:
Or, do nothing. It is a sport that drains money in the athletic department. Just ask KU and KSU. Colorado still doesn't have a team either.
Hypothetically, let's say a major donor paid for this to work, (because, let's be honest, this isn't happening unless someone that is loaded pays for this to happen) some suggestions:
- Play all the home games at Principal Park in Des Moines (Beer sales, a ton of ISU Alumni in the area - *largest in the state, lots of money to be made in the months of April/May). Just bus the team to DSM. Again, besides ISU having to pay the I-Cubs to rent the park for events, this would be a way better option than building a new stadium up in Ames that wouldn't garner a lot of attendance anyway - *it never did in the spring. Go big and play in Des Moines as it would be the better option than building a new stadium in Ames.
- Attempt to get the Big 12 Tournament to play in Des Moines. (Usually end of May - May 25th-30th). Again, if this really happened, why not show the Big 12 that we are actually serious about playing Baseball?
- The Athletics Department would have to add a women's sport for title 9 purposes (field hockey would probably be on the docket.)
Or, do nothing. It is a sport that drains money in the athletic department. Just ask KU and KSU. Colorado still doesn't have a team either.
This would be a good fit, but I like the Big 10 option better. I figure Iowa would immediately follow suit.
Playing at Principal Park seems like it might work, but having say 2000 seats of bleachers at Cap Timm Field would be good to have as a second site also. The land is already there at Cap Timm so adding bleachers there would seem to be a cost effective way to have an alternative site.
FWIW, this same discussion happens on the Colorado boards about as often as it does here. I think they cut baseball in about 1983ish.
But I believe the turnout for baseball would continue to be fairly low. After a quick look at box scores I think the top attendance for softball was 560. I know for a fact baseball got WAY less than that back in the 90s and early 2000s.
The demand is not there.
I think it's just cause the rest of the league and Iowa have it.
I might watch a couple games every year, and at least follow along. It seems like with increased need for TV content that college baseball has gotten a bigger audience and more exposure in the last decade.
But I really don't give a **** about the sport of baseball in the first place, and the only attention I paid to ISU baseball when it existed was to follow the standings in the Register.
I might watch a couple games every year, and at least follow along. It seems like with increased need for TV content that college baseball has gotten a bigger audience and more exposure in the last decade.
But I really don't give a **** about the sport of baseball in the first place, and the only attention I paid to ISU baseball when it existed was to follow the standings in the Register.
I think the reason people have an interest in hockey is because it's something that fits into our existing facilities, and provides extra entertainment during a ****** part of the year weather-wise.
When ISU basketball was down, ISU hockey would have a decent amount of interest. When ISU basketball is good, it would have less interest than wrestling. Iowa isn't a hockey state, period, and I say that as someone who very much enjoys the game.
When ISU basketball was down, ISU hockey would have a decent amount of interest. When ISU basketball is good, it would have less interest than wrestling. Iowa isn't a hockey state, period, and I say that as someone who very much enjoys the game.
ISU baseball has been more successful cancelled than they ever were on the field and Im glad there are people around to tell of the crowds that actually attended. Sure It would be nice to field a team buts it not realistic.
This convo has come back from the dead more times than Jason Voorhees
This convo has come back from the dead more times than Jason Voorhees
Going up to Ames to attend a game would be less likely for me, but if they televised games I'd probably tune in.
If we somehow made it to the CWS I'd go in a heartbeat.
But I don't have any interest in spending the money bringing it back when we would get a low return in terms of success. If you think being the northernmost school in the Big 12 is a problem for FB, it's even worse for baseball.
If we somehow made it to the CWS I'd go in a heartbeat.
But I don't have any interest in spending the money bringing it back when we would get a low return in terms of success. If you think being the northernmost school in the Big 12 is a problem for FB, it's even worse for baseball.
I agree. From a numbers/interest and competitive aspect, Iowa is not a hockey state that produces much in-state talent. What makes ISU D1 hockey an appealing topic is the top junior league in the US has a huge presence in Iowa. Five teams in the state. An additional three teams outside of the state that are within three hours of DSM. Having a D1 team instate has the potential to draw interest from the USHL base (although ISU's season would be competing with the USHL).
Big 10 hockey has been mentioned as a possible fit for ISU in this thread (purely hypothetical obviously). No argument there. On the other hand, I think NCHC would be a better fit; two Minnesota schools (MN HS hockey recruiting given proximity to Ames) and an Omaha school already in the conference.
I went to a few UNO games when I lived out there after college. If they can make the Frozen Four, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for us.
They also had the advantage of playing in the CLink downtown and could bill themselves as another entertainment option. Maybe we could work out a few games at WFA?
I mentioned this before, but with the amount of MN kids we get to Ames for school, I don't think recruiting would be much of an obstacle.
Facilities are a major hurdle. Would love to watch hockey in Hilton, but it would be a scheduling nightmare with MBB, WBB, wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball (slight overlap). I imagine a new facility is needed to make it work.
WFA could work. As could the new Buc's arena.
If they served free beer, I would absolutely go to games.
I think I went to two games the four years I was in school. I think both of the games were free.
To answer the question of the title, because people always want what they can't have. I was at ISU in the early 90s, my group of friends went to a few games, but people get nostalgic for baseball and don't realize the reality of the situation. Going to an ISU baseball game wasn't just something you decided to do on a lazy summer afternoon when you had nothing else to do. Most of the time, you had to dress for it and be prepared to sit in borderline freezing temps and watch your team get destroyed by others in the league. For the most part, it was a miserable experience. Yes, you would get the occasional good day and those days it was fun, but there just wasn't enough of them to make the over-all cost worth it.
The growth of lacrosse is affecting baseball participation too. At least in Minnesota it is.Awesome data. Thanks for compiling it.
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Baseball is hurting nationwide. The MLB can't figure out how to get more fans in the stands or watching on TV and they are stupid enough to black out many Iowans who DO want to watch baseball without paying for a premium network. They even black out on MLB TV I believe.
Little League baseball is hurting as well. I know this personally as an umpire. Some parks are close to closing down or only have a handful of teams at each age group. Travel Ball has gutted Little League and makes it so talented kids without money can't really play at a high level. It may be a talent filled product but it's elitist and it's killing baseball in my opinion.
The NCHC might be a good fit but that conference, in general, cares more about hockey than the Big 10.
I think a new facility for wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball, depending on the size of the arena would be a cheaper option than a new facility for ice hockey. Similar to Wisconsin with the Kohl Center and the Field House.
