The Austin Bowl is actually gonna happen

Link

I can't wait.

 

It’s unclear where the game would be played and on what date or shown on what network.

Besides DKR, what are the good options?

 

I don't think there are any other options. None I can think of. Capacity wise the largest thing around is either the place in Round Rock or wherever that hockey team plays or the soon to be torn down Erwin Center. Neither is even remotely close to being large enough. No way they build one for this either. Why not let other fans from around the country know what a clusterfuck it is to enjoy the "game day experience" that is DKR and the UT Campus on game day. Rickshaw bike riders should make bank.

 

Might be a better show in a smaller stadium so you don't see tons of empty seats. Possibly one of the nicer high school stadia.

 

Possibly but nothing in Austin would fit that bill. House or the Berger Center? Ick. I can see UT wanting their money grubbers all over this. Charge a bit more for drinks and refreshments, gouge for parking. This is an event made for them if ever there was one.

 

Just what we needed - more bowl games. The three new games (Austin, Tuscon and Orlando) brings the total to 42 bowl games. More sub .500 teams will be going bowling than ever before. Austin gets a thriller match-up between the American conference and the Sun Belt. Late December, outdoors, probably 10,000 (or less) cold fans is not a recipe for bowl success. No mention of a sponsor yet. I predict this is a short-lived bowl.

 

The thought that I could see U of H play Georgia Southern in a minor bowl game right here in my own backyard is just stunning…

 

Bobcat Stadium, http://www.txstatebobcats.com/sports/2010/7/29/FB_0729105705.aspx since Texas State is in one of the affiliated conferences.

I know, it's San Marcos, not Austin, but really, outside of Texas who would know the difference?

Seats 30,000, recently (2012) renovated and looks clean and sharp, would probably push for increasing capacity for hosting a bowl. Close enough to Austin, hell, a football fan from Austin, from key in the ignition at home to planting their butt in Bobcat, could probably do it quicker there than going to a game in DKR. Also kind of splits the difference with San Antonio and could probably get HEB to help in funding and promoting.

 

The economics of some endeavors are just beyond me, I guess that's the reason I'm not a billionaire.

I don't see how these bowl games make enough money to sustain themselves. I guess they sell enough advertising to be profitable, because they sure don't do it from ticket sales.

 

The local hotels and businesses surely make good cash but in comparison to the many larger events that Austin holds, this will be a blip on the radar. Especially if it's an afternoon game with a team from Texas involved. Many of their fans will day trip it and not stay overnight.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer sounding in all of this but it's "meh" all around. I agree with the agony of realizing they are adding yet more bowls when I want fewer.

 

I can't see the teams mentioned drawing crowds anywhere close to the 100K+ that DKR holds.

 

All of these "minor" bowls are for ESPN programing - just like Sports Center and PTI. As long as they can get enough advertising and gate receipts to cover their programing expenses they are happy.

 

What's really great about this will be the TV announcers trying to explain why the HS game the week before drew 45,000 and this bowl drew a whopping 1,500. Yes, House is a viable option for this game. ESPN can put all the fans on one side and make it look like the game is a 60% sellout. House lacks parking but all the fans can be ride a park & ride on both buses provided. Houston has a failing bowl; Dallas has a failing bowl; Fort Worth has a failing bowl; Add Austin, and then Waco & Lubbock need to get involved.

We will now have 42 bowls featuring 84 of the less than 130 teams in D-1. Will the NCAA lower the number of wins to be bowl eligible to 3 or 4?

 

You guys do know that ESPN OWNS most of these minor bowls correct?

They want two games on a night and it is a loss leader for most schools but the exposure is what the schools desire. Or taking their big donors on a cool trip!!!!

 

They better pray that SWT or UTSA makes it every year. That crowd and expense, each school will lose $500,000 after their guarantee. As for exposure, it will great to see the TV ratings for New Mexico Body & Fender versus North Carolina School for Mental Midgets. Instead of sending some bimbo to interview the coaches at the half, they can call each of the seven people watching and interview them. Such a total cluster, I would think that TXDOT is running the show.

 

I see an opportunity for a book called "Bowl game economics for Dummies."

 

"The House Park BBQ Bowl at House Park...where you need no teef, which is great since, looking at the crowd, there aren't many err...well, not many people, but not many teeth either."

 

MC,

That book should by written by the UConn athletic department. No other school ever lost $3 million going to a BCS bowl

 

I don't want this fiasco related in any fashion to my university, thank you. I don't care if they play on the Austin High practice field. I can't remember the name of that high school stadium around 15th and Lamar, but that would probably hold the "crowd" this thing is going to attract. Upside: walking (stumbling) distance to The Tavern, which as we all know, is air conditioned.

 

Dude Patterson is going to give additional Loyalty points if you buy tickets to the bowl game!!!! I think there is talk of a special coin or something.....

 

I was going to complain about parking and traffic, but the game probably won't draw enough people for residents here to even notice the difference.

Basically the Bowl Committee makes a lot of money and nearly everyone else gets the shaft.

 

How did that happen!?

 

The big least guaranteed something like 17.500 tickets for the Fiesta Bowl. along with some huge number of hotel rooms, etc. UConn's fan base is so crappy, they only sold something like 1800 tickets. Had to pay for band, cheerleaders, and then of course there are the suites and first class airfare for administrators, regents, key personnel. Their reported loss from their one and only BCS bowl was a whopping $3 million+.

It wasn't all bad. Their team got to play without having to put up with their ****** fans (worst in NCAA). They also managed to get rid of the president of the Hitler Youth Corp when he took the job at Maryland.

 

You mean a team with a small fanbase in the first place that everyone knew didn't belong in a BCS game anyway (yay autobids) didn't have tons of people want to pay for a cross-country trip to see their team get trounced?

 

Three words: Tony. Burger. Center.

 

Haven't heard news this exciting since the announcement of the new Walmart in Fargo, North Dakota.

 

I'll take a little different spin on this. While I am 100% in agreement with many sentiments listed above, I actually see this bowl doing fairly well after 5-8 years.

Why you ask? Because Austin is now a destination for everything as it has been gaining momentun for the last 25+ years......see every festival, COTA, floods of people moving in, etc. I could see this bowl quickly moving up the food chain if it's managed correctly.

 

It won't be.

 

I just finished reading almost everything I could find on bowl games attendance. Bottom line is the TV appetite is what keeps most bowls alive. The camellia bowl last year drew a handful of fans, however, out rated the opening day of baseball between the Yankees and Red Sox. That just blew my mind. They do not need attendance just viewers. ESPN / Disney owns a large number of bowl games outright. They have their own network to show them on. Viewers = sponsor sales. The biggest issue is how long the colleges, having to pay for unsold tickets and bloated travel expenses, will continue to pay to have their egos stroked by going to a bowl game.
Since bowl games — at least second-tier ones not named Rose, Sugar or Orange — are not exactly financial windfalls for schools. The rewards, according to supporters, are more intrinsic — the coach has more time to hold practices with players and can talk up the bowl appearance to recruits; it’s a reward for players; and fans can mingle with other fans, possibly in a warm, sunny destination.
I guess it is safe to predict great success for the Austin bowl for the administrators and television folks. As long as their pockets are full and the colleges are willing to pay the price. Bring on the University of Phoenix and lets have a bowl game.

 

OleHorn,

I respect your loyalty, but I can't see the Phoenix Pharts prevailing, I'll take the ITT Turds and give you and your Pharts 10 points.