There is a push on to merge LSU-Shreveport, a 4-year 4,500-student university that plays in the NAIA, into LaTech. The result would be that LaTech would have two co-equal urban and rural campuses (students who completed their studies on either campus would receive a LaTech degree) and more "home" LaTech athletic events could be played in Shreveport. A decision could come as early as February 28th.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120...CFRONTPAGE

If this happens, LaTech would offer the Alliance not only a solid football program and respectable athletic heritage but also a meaningful presence (especially over the long run) in a good-sized metro area with over half a million residents.

USM has a Gulf Coast campus in a densely populated area, we do not get to claim this area.

Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

(02-19-2012 01:19 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

Not all of them, but we always play some basketball games there. Every few years we play a football game there. This fall we'll play Texas A&M in Indy Stadium in Shreveport.

(02-19-2012 01:19 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

Open the football season vs Texas A&M @ Independence Stadium

(02-19-2012 01:19 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

I saw some rumors to that effect on the LaTech message board but nothing definitive.

However I find it interesting that:

- Independence Stadium in Shreveport recently completed a $30 million renovation and expansion and can now handle over 60,000 fans.
- New field turf was installed there in 2010.
- The stadium began hosting an annual LaTech-Grambling State game in 2011.
- Shreveport's Arena League football team folded last year.

Maybe I'm seeing connections that don't actually exist, but it sure looks to me like a city that wants to host more FBS football and a university that needs an urban market for its athletic program are finding a way to put the pieces together. It would be interesting to hear more about this from Bulldog fans.

(02-19-2012 01:46 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 01:19 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

I saw some rumors to that effect on the LaTech message board but nothing definitive.

However I find it interesting that:

- Independence Stadium in Shreveport recently completed a $30 million renovation and expansion and can now handle over 60,000 fans.
- New field turf was installed there in 2010.
- The stadium began hosting an annual LaTech-Grambling State game in 2011.
- Shreveport's Arena League football team folded last year.

Maybe I'm seeing connections that don't actually exist, but it sure looks to me like a city that wants to host more FBS football and a university that needs an urban market for its athletic program are finding a way to put the pieces together. It would be interesting to hear more about this from Bulldog fans.

Actually the Bossier Arena team didn't fold they just moved to New Orleans

I remember some talk back in the 90's that CUSA would prefer Tech to play all home games in Shreveport. It was a condition for an invite. It didn't work out back then though. But CUSA was a much stronger conference back then.

so? Troy has campuses all over the world.

(02-19-2012 01:46 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 01:19 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  Are they going to play their sporting events in Shreveport to count that tv market?

I saw some rumors to that effect on the LaTech message board but nothing definitive.

However I find it interesting that:

- Independence Stadium in Shreveport recently completed a $30 million renovation and expansion and can now handle over 60,000 fans.
- New field turf was installed there in 2010.
- The stadium began hosting an annual LaTech-Grambling State game in 2011.
- Shreveport's Arena League football team folded last year.

Maybe I'm seeing connections that don't actually exist, but it sure looks to me like a city that wants to host more FBS football and a university that needs an urban market for its athletic program are finding a way to put the pieces together. It would be interesting to hear more about this from Bulldog fans.

That wouldnt surprise me if LSU plays La Tech in the future in Shreveport or La Tech plays a couple of other big name opponents there instead of Ruston. Think Arkansas or T A&M.