so much for that
In Soviet Big Ten, Title Game Pays You
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![acc_championship_game_crowd_view_2007_empty_stadium_jacksonville_altel_acc_sucks_sux[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/acc_championship_game_crowd_view_2007_empty_stadium_jacksonville_altel_acc_sucks_sux1.jpg "acc_championship_game_crowd_view_2007_empty_stadium_jacksonville_altel_acc_sucks_sux[1]")
Probably not this bad, but not good either.
This popped up on Craigslist last night:
Event Seat-Filler (Indianapolis / Downtown)
Date: 2011-11-29, 9:24PM EST
Reply to: gigs-utzft-2727703432@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Saturday night event in downtown Indianapolis needs seat-fillers. Total number of seat-fillers needed will vary based on crowd.
Must tolerate loud noise and crowds. Must have red or dark green casual clothing to wear. Event will last all evening on Saturday night. All ages, sexes, races, etc.
Please use contact e-mail. Event planner will follow-up with exact details on location for staging of seat-fillers (additional information and instruction provided there).
- Location: Indianapolis / Downtown
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
- Compensation: 75 dollars, parking validation and access to event
I saw one of The Only Colors guys complain that ticket prices were collapsing on StubHub and he should have waited to pick tickets up; he had no idea. If you paid more than negative 75 dollars you've been had.
Stubhub is currently showing a whopping 38 pages of tickets totaling 9000(!) seats starting at ten bucks. Almost 15% of the stadium is currently being hawked on a single website. This is "sold out" in an extremely technical sense.
"As you look at these games all around the country, all of them are going to be under face value,'' said Franksmann, whose site was listing $89 tickets for $29 on Tuesday. "You hate to say this, but people don't really care to go to a meaningless game.''
Needs moar "Build Me Up, Buttercup," I think.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:57 AM | 
HUGE
HUGE
November 30th, 2011 at 11:58 AM |
It's not the ACC's fault the
It's not the ACC's fault the
It's not the ACC's fault the Blue Man Group (not the self-help group) happened to have their convention in the same stadium at the same time as the championchip game.
We do what we must because we can.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:59 AM |
So is this championship game
So is this championship game
So is this championship game still going to make the elventy trillion dollars that it was supposed to make?
November 30th, 2011 at 12:03 PM |
TV Money.....
TV Money.....
Not seat sales revenue...
November 30th, 2011 at 2:25 PM |
these seats are on stubhub,
these seats are on stubhub,
these seats are on stubhub, which means it's the 2nd hand market. The game has already sold their tickets at face, it's brokers who are taking a bath.
wolverineliberationarmy.com/blog
November 30th, 2011 at 5:39 PM |
Or the fans
Or the fans
of B1G teams who bought the tickets in case their team was in the game, and now are trying to sell them.
Aside from the Husker fans, the rest of the B1G didn't think though advanced ticket sales, and the downstream value. I bet the advanced sales are lower next year. (Somewhere, ACC fans are laughing at us.)
November 30th, 2011 at 12:01 PM |
The B1G should have gone PAC 12 style
The B1G should have gone PAC 12 style
Home field for the higher ranked team. This is a bad week for travel as students have finals starting, everyone traveled last week, and Indy is in the middle of no where. Other fanbases would travel probably better then the two schools in the title game, but it would still have a hard time 'selling out.'
That said, lol
I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge
November 30th, 2011 at 12:10 PM |
In addition
In addition
Wisky and MSU fans might be thinking I'll save my money for the Rose Bowl or Florida - make a vacation out of it and go somewhere warm in the middle of winter.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:56 PM |
posted from iPhone
posted from iPhone
Tell him not to hold his breath.
November 30th, 2011 at 2:21 PM |
I don't get this.
I don't get this.
With ticket prices that cheap, if Michigan were in that game I would be there (currently live in Chicago). No airfare or hotel expense required.
Also, the game is not meaningless. The winner goes to the Rose Bowl and the loser drops out of the BCS.
Harmon40 "When the 'ol season is over, you and I know: it'll be Michigan again...MICHIGAN!"
November 30th, 2011 at 2:26 PM |
Agreed. That's driving
Agreed. That's driving
Agreed. That's driving distance for both schools (esp. MSU)
go blue
November 30th, 2011 at 2:26 PM |
Too weird
Too weird
my step brother, msu grad, just emailed me that exact thing not an hour ago...and I told him precisely what Michael said...essentiall, don't hold your breath. And I should also mention that he lives in Chicago...
The Team, The Team, The Team
November 30th, 2011 at 12:14 PM |
Agreed
Agreed
This should be a home game for someone. Students are taking finals and some are on their way home.
Delany is such a tool. No one cares about Moo U.
From the Red Cedar Message Board: "God hates us." Yes He does Lil Bro, yes he does. Everyone hates you.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:09 PM |
Chicago!
Chicago!
Yes! Chicago! A place people want to go...
Also a city with 10 million people within 2 hours and such a large and eclectic mix of Big Ten alumni and fans that most wouldn't have to 'go' anywhere.
The Big Ten arm-punted this one.
Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.
November 30th, 2011 at 6:55 PM |
Or perhaps
Or perhaps
Or perhaps more fitting,
The B1G "TP'd" this one
November 30th, 2011 at 1:10 PM |
Exacto
Exacto
I was going to say this exact thing. It is so blindingly obvious to have this game in Chicago, even if you have to do it at the Rosemont Horizon on an arenaball field. OK, not quite, but why not have the Midwest's major conference host its crowning event at the Mecca of the Midwest? These aren't the teams with the biggest fan bases in the conference, but they've gotta be #s 5 an 7 at worst. This is pathetic.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:01 PM |
YES. I can't wait until
YES. I can't wait until
YES. I can't wait until Michigan is playing in that game next year. It will practically be like a home game for us.
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
November 30th, 2011 at 2:24 PM |
PAC 12
PAC 12
The PAC 12 is scheduled to move to a neutral field next year, location still TBD, but I believe it will be in southern California. The home field for the division winner with the best record is for this season because they did not have enough time to figure out the local for the championship game, once the league went to 12 teams.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:02 PM |
What's interesting is
What's interesting is
What's interesting is supposedly Wisky is the culript for failing to sell out. You think they'd be pumped to get revenge over State and go to the Rose Bowl.
This is also why the game needs to be in Chicago. You'd have enough B1G fans to fill the place up if you sold tickets for 25 or so. That's better than paying people 75 a head to fill the place up.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:10 PM |
Chicago
Chicago
Totally agree the game should be in Chicago. There is a ridiculous number of Big Ten grads here. Even as a Michigan fan I would pay $25 bucks to catch the game in Soldier Field, and I know the UW-NIU game attracted a lot of people who weren't affiliated with either school.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:18 PM |
Exactly. I'm in Ann Arbor,
Exactly. I'm in Ann Arbor,
Exactly. I'm in Ann Arbor, but if my wife and I could see the game for 50 or so we'd come down. Game on Saturday, a trip to China Town, holiday shopping on Miracle Mile on Sunday and we're both happy. Also lots of B1G grads have a friend or two that works in Chicago and can couch crash. So overall it is a cheaper and attractive trip than a 6 hour drive through Indiana. Chicago has stuff to do beside watching the game. People are more likely to buy into "weekend in Chicago, which includes the game". Whereas Indy is fly in, see the game, fly out. Basically I can't justify 200 in airfare or 120 in gas just to see a game in Indy. I can justify it for Chicago. Honestly if we made the championship game I'd have to debate between spending money to go to Indy or saving it for a trip to the bowl game.
(Although if you are in Indy, drop by Long's Donuts. Amazing, although it is right on the edge of the bad section, so lingering is not ideal.)
November 30th, 2011 at 12:29 PM |
I agree that Chicago is WAY
I agree that Chicago is WAY
I agree that Chicago is WAY more attractive, especially during holiday time.
That said, Indy has a lot going for it (no, really!) and I wonder how hard they are marketing that aspect. Family-wise, It's got one of the best Childrens Museums in the country. It's got a cool hotel downtown that lets you sleep in old Pullman cars. Awesome art museum. A well-known NY style deli/cafeteria in town (whose name escapes me). Just down the road you have Columbus, IN which is an architecture fan's dream. Connor's Prairie does a thing for the holidays not unlike Greenfield Village's Holiday Nights. Surely they could package this thing to be a great place to spend the weekend and see the game. Of course, maybe they are doing just that, and we are not seeing it because U-M's not in the game.
Candace: No... That why they make smart word box for tell monkey hard brain-hurty things.
Phineas: Removing prepositions makes it more condescending.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:35 PM |
The other thing
The other thing
Indy may have going for it, but seems to be lost on the most casual observer, is that the stadium itself is a lot more accessible than Chicago. I know I'm somewhat intimidated with the cost and pain of driving and parking in Chicago, and having driven by Lucas Oil field many times, its right off the highway and somewhat near the airport. Admittedly, I've never been to Soldier field, but if its anything like Wrigley, which I have been to, its kind of a pain unless you really know your way around.
The Team, The Team, The Team
November 30th, 2011 at 12:50 PM |
Soldier is a lot easier to get to
Soldier is a lot easier to get to
It's on Lake Shore Drive, with tons of parking right there.
As a side note, Wrigley is really easy to get to, but not to drive to. A Concierge and/or local could get you there very easily if you don't mind taking public transportation.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
November 30th, 2011 at 7:38 PM |
Yes, agreed. It's the Big Ten
Yes, agreed. It's the Big Ten
Yes, agreed. It's the Big Ten over-thinking it. Soldier Field only has about 65k seats, also, which may be a consideration. .. but, uhh, given the fact that they can't fill the seats in Indy with fans, wouldn't smaller capacity be beneficial at this point?
November 30th, 2011 at 1:35 PM |
My only issue with what you
My only issue with what you
My only issue with what you said is I'm not sure if family friendly puts butts in seats for college ball. The people who feel the strongest connection to their college and have disposable income are students or recent graduates who don't have kids or a lot of obligations to tie them down. Once you get kids you end up budgeting for a trip to Disney World so Mickey Mouse can mug you for all your money, having to stay in town because Timmy is in the holiday play and stuff like that. It's completely ancedotal but it seems like only 10 or 20 percent of our stadium is kids on any given day. Every bowl I've been to also seems to be 85+% childless couples walking around. No on wants to be on kid monitoring duty while getting smashed at the tailgate.
I agree Indy has a lot going for it from the family angle (the Children's Museum is awesome) but I just struggle to see packaging that with football as a good fit. The Indy 500 and childrens stuff is a good fit, but that's because you can basically camp out in the stands there with your kids for cheap. Not so much at a football game where you get a 18 inch square piece of aluminum to stick your ass on for 3.5 hours and nothing else.
Edit: Actually a better way to think of it might be how often PSU or Neb fans bring kids to Ann Arbor. It's one thing to bring your kid to see your alma mater and brainwash them, but I don't think many college fans take their kids on the road. I'm struggling to recall ever seeing more than a handful of kids wearing PSU colors in AA.
November 30th, 2011 at 3:56 PM |
Yeah, fair point, I'm
Yeah, fair point, I'm
Yeah, fair point, I'm thinking about this as a parent often looking for cool places to spend a weekend with the family, not as an average fan. Indy is probably a hard sell to a lot of people, and it certainly pales compares to certain other options.
Still, once the game was set there (ill-advised as that may have been), I hope the Indy convention and visitor's bureau went balls out on trying to make people realize they COULD make a weekend of it. Indy may never beat out Chicago as a true "destination," but they could certainly market the game as more than a drive in-drive out event--and not even have to lie very much. I'm speaking as someone who gets mailings from the Great Sioux City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Now THERE are some people who understand poetic license.
As to your other point....I have been to the Indy 500. I think I would sooner take my child to Mardi Gras than THAT event. Holy jeebus I saw a lot of drunk rednecks screaming at women to show their tits. And an awful lot of cheerful compliance. I've got nothing against tits, of course, but the atmosphere did not strike me as wholesome.
P.S. I assume the fact that my earlier post got four upvotes is rocksolid evidence that there are at least 4 indianapolis natives on the boards.
Candace: No... That why they make smart word box for tell monkey hard brain-hurty things.
Phineas: Removing prepositions makes it more condescending.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:49 PM |
Shapiro's is the name of the Deli
Shapiro's is the name of the Deli
If you want Breakfast on Saturday, go to City Cafe. Best Eggs Benny on the planet.
Hoosier by birth, Wolverine by choice
November 30th, 2011 at 3:16 PM |
Shapiro's
Shapiro's
That's the deli, which is excellent.
There's lots of stuff to do in Indy, but you either have to live there or do research to know about it. (Bars in Broad Ripple, for example.) Chicago, you know about already. You can buy overpriced shit anywhere, trust me.
I'm thinking the attendance problem is the answer to the question, "Why would the Sugar Bowl pick Michigan over MSU?" though.
Think what we'll have to pay for a UM/OSU top ten rematch in a few years.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:32 PM |
So, you're more willing to
So, you're more willing to
So, you're more willing to drop a grand on a weekend in Chicago, including lodging, dining and shopping, than somewhere around two bills to watch U-M play for a conference championship in Indy?
November 30th, 2011 at 12:38 PM |
ummm
ummm
He's talking about the actual game that is happening this weekend, not a hypothetical championship game featuring Michigan.
Also, who's paying for lodging in Chicago? He did mention crashing on friends' couches...
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
November 30th, 2011 at 12:44 PM |
Plus, his larger point is
Plus, his larger point is
Plus, his larger point is it's a lot easier to sell "let's go to Chicago" than "let's go to Indianapolis" to a significant other who probably won't go to the game (even if she is a UM fan). Indianapolis just doesn't conjure up lots of ideas of things to do in the minds of most Midwesterners the way Chicago does.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:54 PM |
Exactly
Exactly
Everyone who grew up in the Midwest has likely said "Hey lets go to Chicago for the weekend" at least once in their lives. It's a nice city and you can survive there without a rental car (something you can't do in Indy, their bus service is subpar).
Also Chicago is a cheaper trip for a lot of fanbases in terms of gas. As others mentioned it punishes Columbus based tOSU fans a bit, but not severely. PSU and Neb were likely flying anyways. It improves things for MSU, Iowa, and Wisconsin fans and those are the schools who are the likely schools to squirt in when Neb, Michigan, and tOSU have down years.
Indiana fans of course are severely punished, but meh.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:16 PM |
bus service?
bus service?
Most people are going to have their own car or a rental. We're not gd hippies
All of this said, the lack of attendance is stunning to me. There's absolutely no question I'd drive down to Indy if Michigan made the B1G championship, and I'm not a student or alum. Indy's an OK city, but it's not about that - it's about getting an opportunity to see your team play for a championship. I'd go to Gary, IN
Maybe saving up for a bowl is the issue, but these things aren't going to happen every year.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:28 PM |
Re: Car
Re: Car
I always take the Amtrak to Chicago and take the elevated rail everywhere. So much easier than finding parking for your car in Chicago. It's actually a nice feature on weekend trips. Alternatively you can drive to Chicago, park on the outer end of the red line for cheap and go from there. As for PSU and Neb fans it lowers the cost of attendance (since I assume a lot of them fly anyway) and makes them more likely to make the trip.
For a weekend trip, not needing a car or a rental is actually really nice. City parking is either a pain or pricey (or both).
November 30th, 2011 at 12:53 PM |
Indy or Chicago? Indy or
Indy or Chicago? Indy or
Indy or Chicago? Indy or Chicago?
Yeah, ChiTown wins that one every damn time. Having tons of time in both. Indy is the most boring city I know.
That grand in ChiTown gets me a lot more than those two bills in Indy.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:12 PM |
1st. LOL
1st. LOL
2nd, totally agree with you on Chicago. As a Chicagoan (native, and currently), wasn't the only knock on Chicago that "Soldier Field doesn't have enough seats"? Well apparently the B1G can't sell all the seats. Do you think that a city and suburbs with about 10 MILLION people would fail to sell this game out? Forget the fact that there are literally thousands of B1G alumni in the city... Now they're paying $75 to fill the stadium?
This was just dumb. Chicago > Indy. Way to go Big Ten. Also, football should be played outside.
/Get off my lawn but I live in a condo...
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
November 30th, 2011 at 12:37 PM |
I thought there was a line of thinking
I thought there was a line of thinking
that basically said "December game in midwest, we must not play this outdoors!"
November 30th, 2011 at 12:52 PM |
True, but...
True, but...
All 12 B1G teams play outside a week before the event. The NFL plays outside into January. What's the big deal? (Not trying to argue with you, just arguing that the B1G is dumb)
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
November 30th, 2011 at 12:35 PM |
Yep, this and your point
Yep, this and your point
Yep, this and your point below nail it. The Big Ten blew it. Chicago is the most central possible location. By moving it from Indy to Chicago, you would arguably only turn one fan base's trip from very drivable to merely doable, and that is Ohio State, I don't think they'd have trouble selling out. Everyone else would either still not really be easily drivable, actually greatly improved (Iowa, Wisconsin) or still within easy driving distance.
in addition to the legions of alumni/fans in the Chicagoland area, one other huge advantage is airports. I don't know how easy it is to fly into Indy, but it certainly can't be easier than Chicago. That's a huge advantage for out of town alumni who could afford and and are willing to fly for the game. One final advantage is that Soldier field is a bit smaller. 61K v. 63K, and Lucas Oil Stadium expands to 70K, which I wouldn't be surprised to find out they did for this game.
I also second your point below. I think the Big Ten made a huge mistake setting aside so few tickets for fan bases. I mean, only 15K were given to each side. That's less than half the stadium being sold directly to the fan bases. That doesn't make sense.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:03 PM |
Not Accurate
Not Accurate
General admission tickets sold out day they were put on sale, only luxury suite packages still available.
"Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football" -- John Heisman
November 30th, 2011 at 12:08 PM |
So there are 9000 luxury
So there are 9000 luxury
So there are 9000 luxury packages (using the stub hub number)?
I think the issue is that the tickets sold out to fans of the fanbases that travel well. They make a speculative purchase and now they're dumping the tickets when they didn't make it (PSU, Neb, and Mich fans are likely the culripts. Plus some delusional tOSU fans). To the B1G got its money, but the place isn't going to fill up for MSU vs Wisky. The secondary market is tanking because Sparty and Badger fans aren't buying them off the fans who speculated (and the scalpers).
November 30th, 2011 at 12:28 PM |
THIS
THIS
Of course the tickets sold out the first day they were available. Husker fans expected to come in and romp all over the Big Ten and probably bought their fair share. Don't know how many Michigan fans did the same, but I could see it for PSU, osu, and even some crazy Iowa and Northwestern fans. And, of course, you have the scalper-bots snapping up a good number of tickets.
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
November 30th, 2011 at 12:59 PM |
You're correct about Nebraska
You're correct about Nebraska
You're correct about Nebraska fans. See http://www.indystar.com/article/20111130/SPORTS/111300368/Big-Ten-football-championship-game-Game-lacks-buzz-sellers?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com%7Cs
"Part of the reason is fans like Greg Labens.
Labens has lived in Indianapolis for 25 years, but he grew up in Nebraska and is among the passionate fan base of the Cornhuskers. When tickets for the Big Ten title game at Lucas Oil Stadium went on sale last summer, Labens bought three for $70 each. He expected to see Nebraska.
But the Cornhuskers didn't win their division and aren't headed to Indianapolis. So Labens, and many other Nebraska fans, flooded the secondary market with tickets."
November 30th, 2011 at 12:08 PM |
Scalpers
Scalpers
Considering the amount of tickets for sale on secondary markets, I'm guessing a lot of those tickets might have been bought by scalpers and/or fans of schools who were thinking their teams would make the game but didn't.
There's probably going to be a lot of empty seats in there.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:07 PM |
Is Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears available?
Is Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears available?
I hear they're quite effective at filling half the seats at a venue... teamed up with Mark Dantonio and Bret Beilema, you're looking at a standing room only event! WIINNN!!!
November 30th, 2011 at 1:20 PM |
The Situation
The Situation
will be there, holding a charm bracelet from Izzo close to his hairless chest
November 30th, 2011 at 12:08 PM |
Indianapolis FAIL.
And
Indianapolis FAIL.
And
Indianapolis FAIL.
And we're stuck there through 2015.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:34 PM |
Indy
Indy
If they are not going to have the title game in Chicago, then the B1G should allow the team with the better record to host the game on campus (like the Pac-12) is doing.
"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion
November 30th, 2011 at 12:10 PM |
To quote Hoke, the Excellent;
To quote Hoke, the Excellent;
"We would have walked to Michigan('s first Big Ten Championship Appearance)."
"I give credit to God, first and foremost" - Denard Robinson #16
LOL