Indy to be longterm host of Big Ten Title Game

Submitted by rockydude on

Pretty much what the title says. Indy will host the Big Ten title game for at least the first five years. Chicago would also have made sense to me, but I guess the new stadium in Indy is pretty darn nice. Seems like Chicago has more amenities for visitors, but the decision was made above my pay grade. On the other hand, O' Hare is a royal pain in the rear, and sometimes has to cancel flights at that time of year. No perfect venues out there, I guess.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6628913

aenima0311

June 5th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^

The difference between whatever variet of Field Turf an actually grass is negligible at best, to me.

I'd love to have seen a rotation that brought the game outside once in awhile. Something like Chicago, Indy, Detroit, Cleveland, or soemthing like that. 

In the Big Ten it just seems like everything always has to default to Indiana or Chicago. 

MGoRob

June 5th, 2011 at 6:28 PM ^

Except the game will be held in December and there are typically no Big Ten games in December.  I'd much rather have the game indoors where the players will win the game as opposed to the weather drastically affecting the outcome.

edit for above poster: it's FieldTurf

justingoblue

June 5th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^

I feel the same way, which sucks because I'm from Chicago. I guess I can look at it through the lens of I got half of what I wanted either way.

OTOH I'm surprised the Big Ten didn't name this the MegaBowl and have it take place in Flint in a 7,000 seat stadium charging $1,000 per ticket and giving the winner a twelve foot trophy.

Raoul

June 5th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^

It should also be noted that the Big Ten press release on this (see below) also covers future Big Ten basketball tournaments:  The men's and women's Big Ten basketball tournaments will be held at Conseco Fieldhouse in 2012, 2014, and 2016, but in 2013 and 2015 the men's tourney will be held at Chicago's United Center and the women's tourney will be held in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates at the Sears Centre Arena.

Big Ten Announces Future Sites for Football Championship Games and Basketball Tournaments

June 5, 2011

Park Ridge, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced today that the Council of Presidents/Chancellors approved a recommendation from university administrators for the cities of Chicago, Hoffman Estates and Indianapolis to rotate as the host sites for the Big Ten Football Championship Games and Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments for a four-year period beginning with the 2012-13 academic year.

The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in December, and that facility will also host the title game in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played in prime time on December 3, 2011, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

The Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments have been held jointly in Indianapolis and Conseco Fieldhouse for the last four years and will be back in the Circle City in 2012, 2014 and 2016. The 2013 and 2015 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournaments will return to Chicago and the United Center, which hosted the inaugural men's tournament in 1998 and on seven total occasions, most recently in 2007. The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament will be held in suburban Chicago for the first time when the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., hosts the event in 2013 and 2015.

The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament has been held in only two cities in its first 14 years of existence, including the first four years in Chicago from 1998-2001. Indianapolis first hosted the event in 2002 and the cities rotated as the home of the men's tournament, with the Windy City hosting the event in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and the Circle City holding the tournaments in 2004 and 2006. The 2008 tournament marked the first of a five-year commitment to host both the men's and women's events in Indianapolis through 2012. Indianapolis has been the home of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in 16 of the event's 17 years, including the last 10 events at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Will Vereene

June 5th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^

It looks like having more basketball games in Chicago v. one football championship game was the dealmaker.

Chicago is better equipped for the larger amount of visitors so it makes "economic" sense to have the basketball tournaments in Chicago.

Nonetheless, I would prefer that the football game rotate through the many possible sites and that no preference be given to indoor over outdoor stadiums.

 

CRex

June 5th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^

Indy is boring. However the fact it has no Miracle Mile like Chicago will save my wallet a lot of pain. So I will be bored but at least not broke.

Indiana Blue

June 5th, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^

but have you been to a Final Four in Indy ? or even the B1G BB tourney ?   

It's a great place for the game partying !   and these party spots are ALL within walking distance to either the BB arena (Conseco) and football (Lucas Oil).  Indy is going to host the Super Bowl this year ... so please the city does know about holding large sporting events ... not too mention the world's largest 1 day sporting event The Indianapolis 500.

I totally agree that Chicago is a great city ... but Rush Street isn't remotely close to either the United Center or Soldier Field.  I would rather party and walk, than need to catch a cab / bus anytime.

If you're bored ... it's you own fault !  Plenty of bars and restuarants .... St. Elmo's steakhouse is as good as any (get the 32oz. porterhouse) and their shrimp cocktail sauce will blow the back of your head off ... its great, strong horseradish.

Plenty of downtown hotels, easy access as three interstates all meet in downtown Indy (I-65, I-70 & I-74 plus I-69 ends on the north side of Indy).

Indy will win everyone over after you go ... and excuse me, grass ???  really ?

Go Blue !

Indiana Blue

June 6th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^

have you actually been to either the Final Four in Indy, or the B1G BB tournament ?  I've been to the last 2 Final Fours and 1 B1G BB tourney and the atmosphere for both events was awesome.

If you have, then you are entitled to your opinion.  If not ... then why the blitz on Indy ?

I am not debating where I'd go for a great weekend ... no question Chicago (actually probably NY) but we're talking about the B1G Football Championship game and partying to get ready for the game.  Downtown Indy will focus around this game, whereas most of Chicago wouldn't care one way or the other.

Go Blue !

Erik_in_Dayton

June 5th, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^

Ira said that Indy is very fan-friendly place to have a championship game because it's easy for people stay near the stadiums and then just walk to them. He was basing this on his experiences with the Big Ten basketball championshp being held there.

I realize the logic of having the game indoors but I can't help but wish it was being held in Green Bay or Chicago. Being able to play in the cold is what separates Big Ten teams from the wilting flowers that play football down south. We're descended from vikings, damn it!

Maize97

June 5th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^

Seems like a good choice versus playing outside.  Lets hope Michigan can turn the house that Peyton built into the Big House south.

chris1709

June 5th, 2011 at 6:55 PM ^

very disapointed its not in chicago. Chicago is such a nicer place than Indy. O well, when we win I wont care where it is

loosekanen

June 5th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

Time it takes to drive from campus to Lucas Oil:

Indiana: 1 hour 10 minutes

Purdue: 1 hour 20 minutes

Illinois: 2 hours

OSU: 2 hours 55 minutes

Notre Dame: 3 hours 4 minutes (and the drive on 31 is AWFUL)

Northwestern: 3 hours 45 minutes

Michigan St: 4 hours 40 minutes

Michigan: 4 hours 45 minutes

Iowa: 6 hours

Wisconsin: 6 hours 10 minutes

Penn St: 8 hours 25 minutes

Minnesota: 10 hours 30 minutes

Nebraska: 10 hours 30 minutes

 

Why would the 5th-closest school to Indy affect your opinion on the site?

Ron Swanson

June 5th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^

Didn't realize it was that close to Columbus and I'm not worried about any of the other 3 in terms of making it to the Big Tenwelve Championship game.  But thanks for doing research for the driving distance.  As far as commutors from Columbus, nothing some spike-strips couldn't fix.

jmblue

June 5th, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^

It has to be indoors. realistically.  The last thing the Big Ten wants is for a 12-0 team to have to play (and lose) in a frigid, muddy slopfest outside.  The BTCG is a mini-reward for the two division champions, and the league is not going to require them to brave the elements in December.

tbeindit

June 6th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^

I could care less about indoors/outdoors, but what really does annoy me is the concept that only one city should be allowed to host the event.  Sorry to let the Big Ten know, there are teams in 8 other states!  Plus, it's not as if places like Ford Fields are "dumps."  Indy's stadium might be newer and nicer, but Ford Field is relatively new and it would be great to host the game in Michigan.  I just think a rotating location would be better.  It could be every 2 years, etc. but I mean come on!  A nice stadium shouldn't be the only reason for them to host the game