(01-28-2018 10:05 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-28-2018 06:51 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(01-28-2018 06:32 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I just don't see NoVa folks supporting Mason like that.

They're way more likely to be a viable FBS option than 'Town or GW. Maryland would be the school but DC technically isn't in Maryland, even though they're a hop, skip and jump away. Maryland would do way better if it were in or directly near Baltimore.

But Maryland isn't near Baltimore. You can see DC from the stadium at College Park. And no, a newbie program in the Belt or CUSA isn't going to be terribly successful IMHO. Remember that GMU doesn't have a huge on campus population and much of the local population is transitory, which is terrible for campus support. And remember, GMU already loses 20 million a year on athletics even without football. They're going to need to get 15-20k right off the bat. Because the state of Virginia is not going to let them add another 14 million to the deficit unless they find some revenue sources to offset it.

From personal experience, the local sports media ignores GW, American, Howard, and Mason. Basically its G'town, Maryland, and Virginia...

Lets look at Maryland. Maryland is located within a 2 hour drive of 10+ million people, has a credible product, has a huge on campus enrollment, is a state flagship, and has 100 or so years of history in football, and good opponents. They draw around 30k or so. George Mason is would draw flies for CUSA or MAC or Belt football in the DMV. So would GW. There's just not enough interest.

I loathe Georgetown, but they could make a go with it. They'd probably need to burn 300 million minimum to make a go of it (and join the AAC, which would take them). And then, maybe they'd get 25k a game or so.

I say again, Maryland is not really DC's school and while it's close to lots of people, many of those people are spoken for (Virginia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, various Philly schools, Delaware, Rutgers, etc...). So really, their pool is only 5 million or so. It helps nothing that football isn't really popular that way.

Yes, Mason likely wouldn't do much better but they are on the Virginia side, where there's no major college football in that part of the state. Other than budgetary issues, I think it would have been a great idea had they done so right after the Final Four run. Too late now. It's about brand awareness and building a brand, which they could have capitalized on had they chosen.

I know you live up there, so your word is stronger but I think Mason could have carved a niche. Georgetown is taxed out with a basketball program. As you noted 25-30k would be their ceiling, let alone what they'd routinely draw.