[Mick]

Bowls are not really the solution for our times.  Most of these bowl games will feature crowds much smaller than the two teams would have at their home stadiums.  The cities and towns could find other ways to promote their tourist spots and fill their hotels.  Oh well.

Hopefully someday this will get changed to a more equitable playoff structure.  Today the current bowl system really favors the teams from the South and the teams with fans willing to "vacation" there (see B1G).

For example, I have been to Shreveport in December.  THAT is not a vacation.  My loyalty to Stanford only goes so far.  I would rather donate $5000 to the AD than spend $2000 on a "vacation" to Shreveport.  BTW - Sorry UofA fans enjoy the Shreveport/Bossier City area.

...vacation time and dollars in some pretty egregious spots, all in the name of my kids' volleyball; e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Reno in the summer, Sacramento, Rocklin, Fresno in the winter, Irvine/Anaheim year round.  On the other hand, multiple trips to Santa Barbara and San Deigo.  I used to complain about it (a little bit), until one of my baseball dad friends told me about their schedule (Bakersfield, Taft, etc.) which was enough for me.

But that's why these places have bowls...no one else would be interested in going there...ever.

[Mick]

Bowls are not really the solution for our times.  Most of these bowl games will feature crowds much smaller than the two teams would have at their home stadiums.  The cities and towns could find other ways to promote their tourist spots and fill their hotels.  Oh well.

Hopefully someday this will get changed to a more equitable playoff structure.  Today the current bowl system really favors the teams from the South and the teams with fans willing to "vacation" there (see B1G).

For example, I have been to Shreveport in December.  THAT is not a vacation.  My loyalty to Stanford only goes so far.  I would rather donate $5000 to the AD than spend $2000 on a "vacation" to Shreveport.  BTW - Sorry UofA fans enjoy the Shreveport/Bossier City area.

...vacation time and dollars in some pretty egregious spots, all in the name of my kids' volleyball; e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Reno in the summer, Sacramento, Rocklin, Fresno in the winter, Irvine/Anaheim year round.  On the other hand, multiple trips to Santa Barbara and San Deigo.  I used to complain about it (a little bit), until one of my baseball dad friends told me about their schedule (Bakersfield, Taft, etc.) which was enough for me.

But that's why these places have bowls...no one else would be interested in going there...ever.