We're about to lose the attendance record
https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/status/388054891848941568
#VaTech to play #Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016, per source. Expected to draw a record 150,000-160k fans.
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) October 9, 2013
October 9th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^
They may have 150k in the stands, but they aren't really "attending the game"
October 9th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^
Couldn't one argue that seeing the football at Bristol = seeing the hockey puck at the big house?
October 9th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
Not even close to the same magnitude.
Look how small the cars look. Now imagine trying to find a football down there.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
Pictures always, but always, make things look further away than they are, especially in a stadium.
October 9th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^
True, and the photo got squished a bit when it went into the thread.
Even then, the numbers posted below help put the distances in perspective. But maybe the front row seats being so elevated above the field will help sight lines a bit? I don't know, I just don't forsee it working super well.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:42 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
The only reason they have so many seats at Bristol is that the grandstands are a mile long.
You're probably doing a little exaggeration on purpose, but Bristol's a 1/2 mile oval, and of course the straights are not a full quarter-mile each. Using Google Earth it's about 360 yards from the far edge of one semi-circle turn (on the track) to the other.
Can you see pretty well from one end-zone seat to the other end zone at the Big House? I mean, not awesome, but people seem to fill those seats up regardless. Then you should be able to see alright at the (much more grandly sloped) Bristol. Most people would be seated on the sides anyway. Don't get the idea that Bristol is anything like a typical racetrack. It's a racetrack inside a large stadium, not one with grandstands scattered around the edges. As others have said, hockey : Big House :: football : Bristol. Very logical comparison.
And people will come. These are two of the yee-hawinest fanbases in the country, you think they'll pass up the chance to see a spectacle like that? Michigan's record could be safe not because of the venue, but because there's a better-than-fair chance that those two teams will be horrible by then. Tennessee has been spinning its wheels for years and VT is gradually crumbling at the seams (seen their offense lately?) By 2016 it's not inconceivable these could be two pissed-off fanbases coming off non-bowl seasons.
October 9th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
Yeah, not the same. The Big Chill is Michigan's hockey team playing at another Michigan sport venue. It's still a college game played on a college campus just in the stadium instead of the ice rink. No different than the lacrosse team playing at the Big House.
This, OTOH, is just ridiculous. I'm not trying the claim the record won't "count" or anything, just that it's a stupid idea. The Big Chill is an event that has happened multiple times, and has been copied by NHL teams every year. They do it because there are that many people that want to go watch an outdoor hockey game, not just to break a record. I can't imagine VT or UT fans really want to watch their teams like this.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
The game takes place in a wall-less field dubed "Open Earth Stadium." Stephen Ross purchases all the admissions for a penny a each and "donates" them to the global population population.
Boom!
Offical attendance over 7 billion, the game makes 70 million plus at the "gate," and the band still isn't invited as a cost-savings measure.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
General Admission or no?
October 9th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
You raise a good point. I'd been thinking GA but I'm sure they'll figure out some way to sock the richer European countries with liscensing fees.
A few other points:
We can't play Michigan State because a Spartan riot would have global ramifications.
All living recruits from all classes will be on unofficial visits (so we better win).
If we lose it will be the students' fault.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:09 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^
Used to be the E3W with Brian...sigh...oh yes...the glory days.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
Ah, technically they'll be on official visits since Ross paid for their attendance. Which may be tricky in the legal department.
October 9th, 2013 at 8:11 PM ^
Great either violations come out of this or they look at all the money and try to annex us to the SEC. I blame the students.
October 9th, 2013 at 8:21 PM ^
Easy solution: use censuses and some UN data to find out how many high school age kids are in the world and pay for that out of the AD's pocket. Then at the end of the year turn in to the NCAA any school that thought it was paying for someone's fifth official visit.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
Michigan and ND play their next game in the Grand Canyon.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:24 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:21 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
They better hope both teams are any good by then or there's no way they'll sell out.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
Not to nit pick, but I think the title is a little misleading. We're still 3 years from losing the record....title makes it seem like its gonna happen this weekend.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^
Good. I also hope someone builds a bigger stadium than ours.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
Uh, why?
October 9th, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
Hell with it. We need to go play here now.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
As someone of Czech heritage I would love to visit my ancestral homeland and watch some Michigan football at the same time.
Since I know Dave Brandon is reading this comment; make it happen.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:41 PM ^
They'll have to tear down the video board in the center
October 9th, 2013 at 8:03 PM ^
I've never been to a motor speedway (I'd like to actually, despite all the hate car racing gets) but I've seen pictures and have seen races from there on TV. Man, Bristol really is a short track and this picture really emphasizes how small a track it really is. I'm trying to picture 40 cars driving at the same time on that and I'm struggling.
Edit: I think I look a bit dumb with the above. I think my perception of that track was way off. It's definitely a small track but I was off especially with how small the cars would actually be/seem in that picture,
October 9th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
Yeah....occasionally this happens:
October 9th, 2013 at 7:04 PM ^
What is this? A football game for ants?
October 9th, 2013 at 7:34 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
It will be a nice footnote to their 3-9 seasons.
October 9th, 2013 at 6:57 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
"End zone" seating would obviously be worse. Bristol is 1150ft wide at its widest. 360ft long field. Front row seats would be 395 ft from the back of the endzone. It's like watching a Tiger's game from the outfield but instead of batters hitting the ball towards you, they'll be swinging the opposite way.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:12 PM ^
Wow - so that would mean that the front row would be exactly 100 yards from the center of the field - the part that is right in front of you. So for the best seats in the house, the closest the play ever is to you is still nearly the length of a football field away.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^
And just for some more perspective, the top row at the Big House is roughly 215 ft from the nearest sideline. Top row at Bristol would be 500 ft away from the closest sideline.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:47 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^
If they want people to actually see the game, they can put up a wall of massive TV screens all around the oval and set another record.
Also, best obstructed views EVAR.
October 9th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^
October 9th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
They might only fit 90,000 unless they stop serving grits in Knoxville
October 9th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
Michigan State was always rumored to be going hard after a game like this at MIS about 5-10 years ago, if memory serves. Seemed to come up just about every year.
Honestly, this record doesn't mean much. Let 'em do it.
October 9th, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^
I'm surprised they didn't get it done at least with another team. Oregon is known for their ugly/crazy uniform circus they have yearly, and sparty is known for gimmick games. It's become their identity now. And yet, people still don't care.
October 9th, 2013 at 8:03 PM ^