[tomh78]

I, personally, would not want anything to do with something called the "Cheez-it Bowl."

And our success has become part of the problem - we don't travel well to begin with, and now we're at the point where anything short of a Rose Bowl and many of our fans stay home. At the margins, the bowls that have a say in the matter don't want a team that can't come close to selling out their seats.

But I totally agree- same bowls over and over only perpetuates the problem. And if the conference wants to maximize overall conference bowl attendance, it should stick the travels-poorly teams (e.g., us) closer to home (e.g., San Diego or Santa Clara).

Yeah, the name sucks.  But it's no worse than the "Fight Hunger" Bowl a few years ago.  And, frankly, once the sponsors started emblazoning their name over the bowl, I stopped caring about the official name.  I just want a venue that's a fun place to go and will have a lot of Stanford fans.

[tomh78]

I, personally, would not want anything to do with something called the "Cheez-it Bowl."

And our success has become part of the problem - we don't travel well to begin with, and now we're at the point where anything short of a Rose Bowl and many of our fans stay home. At the margins, the bowls that have a say in the matter don't want a team that can't come close to selling out their seats.

But I totally agree- same bowls over and over only perpetuates the problem. And if the conference wants to maximize overall conference bowl attendance, it should stick the travels-poorly teams (e.g., us) closer to home (e.g., San Diego or Santa Clara).

Yeah, the name sucks.  But it's no worse than the "Fight Hunger" Bowl a few years ago.  And, frankly, once the sponsors started emblazoning their name over the bowl, I stopped caring about the official name.  I just want a venue that's a fun place to go and will have a lot of Stanford fans.

[Phogge]

Your wish may be granted in a couple of years.

[Phogge]

Your wish may be granted in a couple of years.

[BostonCard]

Could be granted next year.  We should never take going to a bowl for granted.

BC

[BostonCard]

Could be granted next year.  We should never take going to a bowl for granted.

BC

[Embo]

I thought the Sun Bowl was the older and more prestigious game than the Cheez-It Bowl.

 Sorry I am late to this party.  But JohnR is correct.  There is no way we should be making a comparison.  Let Calfan enjoy his or her time in Phoenix.  Do you think we're going to see "Cheez-it Bowl" sweatshirts and hats at next year's Big Game?  (I suppose that's an improvement over the previous name, the "Motel 6 Cactus Bowl".  What were the players given in their swag bags then, a can of Lysol?)

Not only is the name crappy, their venue is also.  It used to be played at the original Sun Devil Stadium, not a bad location.  But it's now in Chase Field.  The aesthetics of a football game in a baseball-only stadium are horrible - see Seattle Bowl 2001, that Bowl Game in Wrigley, and the Harvard-Yale game in Fenway.  Both teams are squeezed along one sideline, separated by the 50 yard line. 

The Cheez-It bowl is on ESPN.  The Sun Bowl puts us on CBS.  The Sun Bowl has been around since 1935

[Embo]

I thought the Sun Bowl was the older and more prestigious game than the Cheez-It Bowl.

 Sorry I am late to this party.  But JohnR is correct.  There is no way we should be making a comparison.  Let Calfan enjoy his or her time in Phoenix.  Do you think we're going to see "Cheez-it Bowl" sweatshirts and hats at next year's Big Game?  (I suppose that's an improvement over the previous name, the "Motel 6 Cactus Bowl".  What were the players given in their swag bags then, a can of Lysol?)

Not only is the name crappy, their venue is also.  It used to be played at the original Sun Devil Stadium, not a bad location.  But it's now in Chase Field.  The aesthetics of a football game in a baseball-only stadium are horrible - see Seattle Bowl 2001, that Bowl Game in Wrigley, and the Harvard-Yale game in Fenway.  Both teams are squeezed along one sideline, separated by the 50 yard line. 

The Cheez-It bowl is on ESPN.  The Sun Bowl puts us on CBS.  The Sun Bowl has been around since 1935

[Austroturf]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

[Austroturf]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

[82lsju]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

[82lsju]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

[Mick]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

2018 Cheez-It Bowl payout is $1,037,500.  Also from Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Cheez-It_Bowl

2018 Sun Bowl payout is $3,448,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Sun_Bowl

[Mick]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

2018 Cheez-It Bowl payout is $1,037,500.  Also from Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Cheez-It_Bowl

2018 Sun Bowl payout is $3,448,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Sun_Bowl

[Austroturf]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

2018 Cheez-It Bowl payout is $1,037,500.  Also from Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Cheez-It_Bowl

2018 Sun Bowl payout is $3,448,000.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Sun_Bowl

OK, then they seem to have reduced, not increased their pay-out.  Bad Wikipedia management by the Cheez-it (Cactus) Bowl.  No sense in having two pages to confuse the public.  The one I cited is the "generic" Cheez-it Bowl article.  The one cited by Mick is specific to 2018.  And that's the one that matters this year.

[Austroturf]

For heaven's sake, Cal is going to Phoenix with a crappier record, and the payout for the Cheez-It Bowl is nearly $1 million higher than the Sun Bowl!  

Others have noted that the pay out for the particular bowl a Pac 12 team goes to doesn't really matter.
I cannot find confirmation of the $1+ million higher number.
There is a note in this thread that the Cheez-It bowl increased its payout to $3+ million. That was reported with some confidence so I suspect it's correct. What I can find in a quick web search is a lower number.
Cheez-it $1,037,118
Sun       $3,447,568
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2018/

I pulled the US$ 3.35M figure for the Cheez it Bowl straight out of Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It_Bowl

the footnote for the $3.35m is from 2015 so might not be current.

2018 Cheez-It Bowl payout is $1,037,500.  Also from Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Cheez-It_Bowl

2018 Sun Bowl payout is $3,448,000.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Sun_Bowl

OK, then they seem to have reduced, not increased their pay-out.  Bad Wikipedia management by the Cheez-it (Cactus) Bowl.  No sense in having two pages to confuse the public.  The one I cited is the "generic" Cheez-it Bowl article.  The one cited by Mick is specific to 2018.  And that's the one that matters this year.

[ADPinWDC]

Sun Bowl = Recruting Pipeline 
SHAW LIKES TEXAS -- BOWLING FOR BALLERS
Alamo taking WAST at 10-2 with Minshew Mania was an easy choice. Holiday wanted higher-ranked UTAH, and figures sun-seeking Utes will travel to Diego (hotel bookings, cha-ching). Then RedBox likes flashier Oregon (head to head win by Stanford doesn't matter; both finished 8-4), and matchup with MIST gives RedBox a nice storyline. So we got Sun Bowl, and both the bowl and Stanford team are happier for that. Shaw likes the Sun Bowl hospitality, and a spot in the TEXAS recruitment landscape: QB Andrew Luck, DT Solly Thomas, TE Kaden Smith, OT Walker Little, CB Paulson Adebo, RB Trevor Speights, DL Michael Williams -- plenty of 4stars+ come from Texas. Not much else going on in El Paso; we get a lot of attention and can get some elite H.S. recruits ("Ballers") to the game.  

://www.mercurynews.com/.../bowl-selection-aftermath-wsu.../ 

[ADPinWDC]

Sun Bowl = Recruting Pipeline 
SHAW LIKES TEXAS -- BOWLING FOR BALLERS
Alamo taking WAST at 10-2 with Minshew Mania was an easy choice. Holiday wanted higher-ranked UTAH, and figures sun-seeking Utes will travel to Diego (hotel bookings, cha-ching). Then RedBox likes flashier Oregon (head to head win by Stanford doesn't matter; both finished 8-4), and matchup with MIST gives RedBox a nice storyline. So we got Sun Bowl, and both the bowl and Stanford team are happier for that. Shaw likes the Sun Bowl hospitality, and a spot in the TEXAS recruitment landscape: QB Andrew Luck, DT Solly Thomas, TE Kaden Smith, OT Walker Little, CB Paulson Adebo, RB Trevor Speights, DL Michael Williams -- plenty of 4stars+ come from Texas. Not much else going on in El Paso; we get a lot of attention and can get some elite H.S. recruits ("Ballers") to the game.  

://www.mercurynews.com/.../bowl-selection-aftermath-wsu.../ 

[JJJ]

FWLIW (not much), our game is ranked #24 among the 40 bowl games based on "watchability and intrigue" as determined by the dude who wrote it at USA Today.

Forty bowl games in little more than three weeks, beginning on Dec. 15 and continuing through the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 7, and then quiet, lonely solitude for eight months. Welcome to the postseason.

USA TODAY Sports will help you make the most of the embers of this season by compiling a helpful list: Each bowl game ranked in order of intrigue, culminating with the to-be-determined matchup in the championship game.

24. Sun Bowl (Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS): Stanford (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (7-6)

Wild things tend to happen in El Paso and in football games involving the Panthers, so the Sun Bowl may very well exceed expectations.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...269393002/

[JJJ]

FWLIW (not much), our game is ranked #24 among the 40 bowl games based on "watchability and intrigue" as determined by the dude who wrote it at USA Today.

Forty bowl games in little more than three weeks, beginning on Dec. 15 and continuing through the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 7, and then quiet, lonely solitude for eight months. Welcome to the postseason.

USA TODAY Sports will help you make the most of the embers of this season by compiling a helpful list: Each bowl game ranked in order of intrigue, culminating with the to-be-determined matchup in the championship game.

24. Sun Bowl (Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS): Stanford (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (7-6)

Wild things tend to happen in El Paso and in football games involving the Panthers, so the Sun Bowl may very well exceed expectations.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...269393002/

[82lsju]

more bowl games coming

In 1996-97, there were 18 bowl games. Five seasons later, there were 25. This season there are 40 postseason games, starting Saturday, including 10 teams with the minimum record necessary to qualify at 6-6.


For 2020 and beyond, the NCAA recently approved a possible expansion to as many as 86 teams in 44 postseason games, including the national championship. That means nearly two-thirds of all major-college football teams could earn a participation trophy in the form of a bowl berth.

And that’s great for business, according to the key market forces driving demand: sponsors, schools, cities, television viewers and ESPN. It doesn’t even matter that average, per-game bowl attendance has declined for 10 straight years to about 40,000, according to NCAA records, or that participating schools and conferences last year were required to pay for a record $25 million in unsold tickets. The appetite for this bowl bonanza persists, because they’re all getting what they want:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/20...286401002/

[82lsju]

more bowl games coming

In 1996-97, there were 18 bowl games. Five seasons later, there were 25. This season there are 40 postseason games, starting Saturday, including 10 teams with the minimum record necessary to qualify at 6-6.


For 2020 and beyond, the NCAA recently approved a possible expansion to as many as 86 teams in 44 postseason games, including the national championship. That means nearly two-thirds of all major-college football teams could earn a participation trophy in the form of a bowl berth.

And that’s great for business, according to the key market forces driving demand: sponsors, schools, cities, television viewers and ESPN. It doesn’t even matter that average, per-game bowl attendance has declined for 10 straight years to about 40,000, according to NCAA records, or that participating schools and conferences last year were required to pay for a record $25 million in unsold tickets. The appetite for this bowl bonanza persists, because they’re all getting what they want:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/20...286401002/

[qwerty49]

more bowl games coming

In 1996-97, there were 18 bowl games. Five seasons later, there were 25. This season there are 40 postseason games, starting Saturday, including 10 teams with the minimum record necessary to qualify at 6-6.


For 2020 and beyond, the NCAA recently approved a possible expansion to as many as 86 teams in 44 postseason games, including the national championship. That means nearly two-thirds of all major-college football teams could earn a participation trophy in the form of a bowl berth.

And that’s great for business, according to the key market forces driving demand: sponsors, schools, cities, television viewers and ESPN. It doesn’t even matter that average, per-game bowl attendance has declined for 10 straight years to about 40,000, according to NCAA records, or that participating schools and conferences last year were required to pay for a record $25 million in unsold tickets. The appetite for this bowl bonanza persists, because they’re all getting what they want:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/20...286401002/

Count me as one of the curmudgeons who bemoans the fact that there's most likely no going back on this trend.  Sure, it's great for the die-hard fans, but I just think it really cheapens the whole experience.

DeNiro:  "I didn't know they made 9th place ribbons."
Hoffman:  "Oh, Jack, they got 'em all the way up to 10th place."

[qwerty49]

more bowl games coming

In 1996-97, there were 18 bowl games. Five seasons later, there were 25. This season there are 40 postseason games, starting Saturday, including 10 teams with the minimum record necessary to qualify at 6-6.


For 2020 and beyond, the NCAA recently approved a possible expansion to as many as 86 teams in 44 postseason games, including the national championship. That means nearly two-thirds of all major-college football teams could earn a participation trophy in the form of a bowl berth.

And that’s great for business, according to the key market forces driving demand: sponsors, schools, cities, television viewers and ESPN. It doesn’t even matter that average, per-game bowl attendance has declined for 10 straight years to about 40,000, according to NCAA records, or that participating schools and conferences last year were required to pay for a record $25 million in unsold tickets. The appetite for this bowl bonanza persists, because they’re all getting what they want:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/20...286401002/

Count me as one of the curmudgeons who bemoans the fact that there's most likely no going back on this trend.  Sure, it's great for the die-hard fans, but I just think it really cheapens the whole experience.

DeNiro:  "I didn't know they made 9th place ribbons."
Hoffman:  "Oh, Jack, they got 'em all the way up to 10th place."

[French Rage]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

[French Rage]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

[winflop]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

I agree but I think about free market principles. If these awful bowls didn't make money, they wouldn't exist. Somehow there are some really creative people who can turn a profit by putting on a game between two teams who probably have 3-6 records in their conference and played 3 OOC creampuffs.

Will be interesting to see how their financial/business models evolve with anticipated declines in TV rights revenues. They may not get the same amount of money from the networks in the future, which could in turn drive some consolidation.

Would be a really interesting business school case...

[winflop]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

I agree but I think about free market principles. If these awful bowls didn't make money, they wouldn't exist. Somehow there are some really creative people who can turn a profit by putting on a game between two teams who probably have 3-6 records in their conference and played 3 OOC creampuffs.

Will be interesting to see how their financial/business models evolve with anticipated declines in TV rights revenues. They may not get the same amount of money from the networks in the future, which could in turn drive some consolidation.

Would be a really interesting business school case...

[Farm93]

Allow any program that does not attend a bowl game the opportunity to hold 10-15 practices (potentially including travel) and watch the interest in minor bowls fall away.

Most of the coaches really just want the extra practices, especially for the younger players.

If the real concern is for those poor charities than simply require that the programs visit a few charities during their visit.

If volleyball and basketball teams can fly around Asia and Europe every other summer, I am sure the NCAA can find a way to make something work for football teams.

[Farm93]

Allow any program that does not attend a bowl game the opportunity to hold 10-15 practices (potentially including travel) and watch the interest in minor bowls fall away.

Most of the coaches really just want the extra practices, especially for the younger players.

If the real concern is for those poor charities than simply require that the programs visit a few charities during their visit.

If volleyball and basketball teams can fly around Asia and Europe every other summer, I am sure the NCAA can find a way to make something work for football teams.

[winflop]

Allow any program that does not attend a bowl game the opportunity to hold 10-15 practices (potentially including travel) and watch the interest in minor bowls fall away.

An interesting idea for "equality" but I doubt any team without an upcoming game will want to practice after the season ends. But if those teams got 10 extra spring practices, then maybe you have something.

[winflop]

Allow any program that does not attend a bowl game the opportunity to hold 10-15 practices (potentially including travel) and watch the interest in minor bowls fall away.

An interesting idea for "equality" but I doubt any team without an upcoming game will want to practice after the season ends. But if those teams got 10 extra spring practices, then maybe you have something.

[oldalum]

If volleyball and basketball teams can fly around Asia and Europe every other summer, I am sure the NCAA can find a way to make something work for football teams.

I was under the impression it was every fourth summer?

[oldalum]

If volleyball and basketball teams can fly around Asia and Europe every other summer, I am sure the NCAA can find a way to make something work for football teams.

I was under the impression it was every fourth summer?

[d4cohn]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

I agree but I think about free market principles. If these awful bowls didn't make money, they wouldn't exist. Somehow there are some really creative people who can turn a profit by putting on a game between two teams who probably have 3-6 records in their conference and played 3 OOC creampuffs.

Will be interesting to see how their financial/business models evolve with anticipated declines in TV rights revenues. They may not get the same amount of money from the networks in the future, which could in turn drive some consolidation.

Would be a really interesting business school case...

TV networks need Christmas and New Year's week content (when sports fans are generally off work for at least a sizable portion of time), and have been willing to pay premium dollar for it. Only way any of the non-major bowls make any money, if they do make money, is TV and TV alone. Watching the New Mexico Bowl right now, there are maybe 15,000 people there (for a 38,000 seat stadium). No way they are selling enough tickets, hotels and restaurant meals etc. for these type of games to turn a profit.

However, according to last year's stats, all but one bowl game (so 37 out of 38 games) drew at least 1 million viewers, and the last place game still drew 880K viewers. When the NFL is not playing on non-Sundays and Mondays, are regular season nondescript college basketball, NBA games etc. going to draw 1M+ viewers? No.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/01/...-increase/

[d4cohn]

It seems odd that so many awful bowls would still be good for business.  But I guess if you already have the stadium built, it doesn't hurt to turn the lights on for a night and hope enough people visit the local hotels and restaurants.

I agree but I think about free market principles. If these awful bowls didn't make money, they wouldn't exist. Somehow there are some really creative people who can turn a profit by putting on a game between two teams who probably have 3-6 records in their conference and played 3 OOC creampuffs.

Will be interesting to see how their financial/business models evolve with anticipated declines in TV rights revenues. They may not get the same amount of money from the networks in the future, which could in turn drive some consolidation.

Would be a really interesting business school case...

TV networks need Christmas and New Year's week content (when sports fans are generally off work for at least a sizable portion of time), and have been willing to pay premium dollar for it. Only way any of the non-major bowls make any money, if they do make money, is TV and TV alone. Watching the New Mexico Bowl right now, there are maybe 15,000 people there (for a 38,000 seat stadium). No way they are selling enough tickets, hotels and restaurant meals etc. for these type of games to turn a profit.

However, according to last year's stats, all but one bowl game (so 37 out of 38 games) drew at least 1 million viewers, and the last place game still drew 880K viewers. When the NFL is not playing on non-Sundays and Mondays, are regular season nondescript college basketball, NBA games etc. going to draw 1M+ viewers? No.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/01/...-increase/

[terry]

I think d4cohn is absolutely right. There are 40 bowl games because the TV networks want them and are willing to pay for them. The TV networks don't care about attendance (fans in the stands are just props for the show) nor about hotel/restaurant spending in the community. As long as the TV networks pay, we're stuck with a ridiculous number of bowl games.

[terry]

I think d4cohn is absolutely right. There are 40 bowl games because the TV networks want them and are willing to pay for them. The TV networks don't care about attendance (fans in the stands are just props for the show) nor about hotel/restaurant spending in the community. As long as the TV networks pay, we're stuck with a ridiculous number of bowl games.

[BostonCard]

“Stuck” is a bit harsh.  It’s not like we are being strapped to a chair and forced to watch.

BC

[BostonCard]

“Stuck” is a bit harsh.  It’s not like we are being strapped to a chair and forced to watch.

BC