(03-01-2013 06:46 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:57 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:35 PM)axeme Wrote:  Didn't someone check out the data on the weeknight vs. Sat. games, and it showed that there was no significant difference in attendance? Anyone else remember that?

I know at KSU, the Sat. avg. and the non-Sat. avg. for home games last season were about the same.

Here's Toledo's Saturday (12) vs. Weeknight (6) average for 2010-2012...
[I counted 2 Friday night games vs. Boise and Arizona, and 1 Thursday night vs. New Hampshire for a season opener, since UT scheduled these]

Saturday: 22,512
Weeknight: 17,017 (1 Wednesday, 1 Friday, 4 Tuesday)
Difference: 5,495

Thats because the weeknight games are in November when its cold and rainy. Do the stay analysis and pick September Saturday home games vs November Saturday home games. The drop in attendance will be the same, its not the weeknight games that drop the attendance, it is the weather. The misunderstanding comes from most of all of the midweek games coming in November.

I personally like the mid-week games and think they are key for the conference. Bring on more, not less.

I wouldn't be surprised if mid week games come to a halt in a couple of years.

The reason is ESPN just signed the oBE to a deal out to 2020. oBE schools are more suited for mid weeks because of weather and local population bases. Most of the oBE schools were formerly in CUSA so that adds another 6-8 schools ESPN has ponied up for.

Its possible the MAC might try a combination of NBC and Fox next time when the rights are up for negotiation in 2015 to land CUSA level money.

I hate black friday games.

Quote:Aresco said the Big East won't be playing football on Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays under the new deal. There could be "a Wednesday or two" to accommodate ESPN, he said, but the bulk of games will be on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...s/1957721/

The BE's new deal doesn't include mid week games so when the MAC's rights are up in 2015 there won't be much counter competition.

BE: Already locked in to ESPN for Saturday, Friday, Thursday

CUSA: Basically same footprint as BE, hence no added value to ESPN

MW: These guys might sub licence a Boise package to ESPN but are very particular about no playing on Saturday's for attendance purposes.

SBC: Locked into a crap ESPN package until 2020.

The MAC then should trade some of the ESPN exposure for cash.....keep the midweek package, MACC and Men's basketball championship with ESPN while adding a second and more lucrative package with NBC.

(03-01-2013 06:46 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:57 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:35 PM)axeme Wrote:  Didn't someone check out the data on the weeknight vs. Sat. games, and it showed that there was no significant difference in attendance? Anyone else remember that?

I know at KSU, the Sat. avg. and the non-Sat. avg. for home games last season were about the same.

Here's Toledo's Saturday (12) vs. Weeknight (6) average for 2010-2012...
[I counted 2 Friday night games vs. Boise and Arizona, and 1 Thursday night vs. New Hampshire for a season opener, since UT scheduled these]

Saturday: 22,512
Weeknight: 17,017 (1 Wednesday, 1 Friday, 4 Tuesday)
Difference: 5,495

Thats because the weeknight games are in November when its cold and rainy. Do the same analysis and pick September Saturday home games vs November Saturday home games. The drop in attendance will be the same, its not the weeknight games that drop the attendance, it is the weather. The misunderstanding comes from most of all of the midweek games coming in November.

I personally like the mid-week games and think they are key for the conference. Bring on more, not less.

At least at Miami, the first two home games of the year always have the best attendance regardless who we play and then level off and drop the rest of the year regardless of its a mid-week or Saturday game. When the weather is nice, it helps our attendance, if cold and rainy, not so much. If we are having a great season, the attendance will hold up better.

I we sell brie at the game, it would probably boost our attendance.

Not exactly, though for the most part the trends hold up. This year we drew decently (for Miami standards) against SIU, a bit less against UMass, then came close to selling out against OU. That's a perfect storm of attendance though, seeing how it was family weekend, the weather was good, OU was ranked, and the Bobcats brought a lot of fans themselves. This upcoming season, we have no home games until September 21st against Cincinnati, so we should draw a good amount for that and the family weekend game two weeks later against CMU. After that, we should see a big drop, unless by some chance we win a bunch and more people are in the mood to see us play Akron.

While the ESPN deal is a b***h, I look at is as a necessary evil. Would I prefer to have ESPNU games on Saturdays instead of weeknights? Sure, why not. But when it's that versus nothing, I'll take it for now. Once we renegotiate, that's when we can make more of a stink and then plead our case to NBC or Fox. For now, it is what it is.

For Ohio It looks like a 10-2 type season. @Louisville and @BGSU would be the two games Ohio would be underdogs. Having a bye week before playing the MAC schedule should let Ohio be healthy before starting MAC play. Seven home games including Marshall, Miami and Kent State should mean big attendance year for the Bobcats. Tettleton, and most of the playmakers on offense return. Bobcats should put up some big numbers on the offensive side of the ball. Defense will be another story, so expect plenty of MaCtion in Athens.

I'm not sure that I have any great insights not already posted.

We ARE a conference which NEEDS mid-week exposure because of the saturation/overcrowding on Saturday.

That said, the calendar seems to open up in November, which as many have easily noted, isn't so good in DeKalb or Mt. Pleasant or Toledo or Buffalo, etc.

That said, apparently the viability of the conference has more to do with exposure than playing a November game on Saturday before a few thousand more fans. As indicated, these crowds aren't going to be big regardless of the day in November. Thirty degree wind chills depress MAC crowds.

As I see it, Septembers are good for the MAC. We get a lot of exposure playing BCS schools. Instead of being crowded OFF the big stage, we actually have a role in it. October is when conference seasons are underway and we take a back seat.

November we get to step up and get our exposure.

And then we reap the benefits in December with the bowl games.

(03-01-2013 06:22 PM)emu steve Wrote:  my biggest issue is that I wish the regular season could end ONE week earlier (and have an off week before the MACC). I'm guessing that this extended season originated when the MAC decided to hold the MACC.

This could be en lieu of one of the two bye weeks.

No one is around our campus the day after T-giving and the weather can be pretty tough in a lot of our cities.

What makes sense for the SEC doesn't make sense for the MAC.

:iagree:

Kent State seems to have addressed this and play their last game in mid-November. They also have only one home game in November which may actually be televised and therefore draw students.

(03-02-2013 07:35 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 06:22 PM)emu steve Wrote:  my biggest issue is that I wish the regular season could end ONE week earlier (and have an off week before the MACC). I'm guessing that this extended season originated when the MAC decided to hold the MACC.

This could be en lieu of one of the two bye weeks.

No one is around our campus the day after T-giving and the weather can be pretty tough in a lot of our cities.

What makes sense for the SEC doesn't make sense for the MAC.

:iagree:

Kent State seems to have addressed this and play their last game in mid-November. They also have only one home game in November which may actually be televised and therefore draw students.

Well, either KSU addressed it or they just got lucky when they handed out the schedules. It seems like every year, though, KSU has played that last Friday in Nov. game, and it is a terrible time for a college football game. The worst was when it actually started in the morning.

(03-01-2013 07:21 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  I hate black friday games.

I do too, but apparently ESPN loves them.

Why?

At the end of the season there is a good chance of a game which is very meaningful.

If so, go with the important one and the others are just filler.

What doesn't make sense is say EMU v. NIU. NIU vs. a top MAC West opponent makes sense as NIU might be going for a MAC West or top 25 ranking.

(03-02-2013 07:50 AM)axeme Wrote:  Well, either KSU addressed it or they just got lucky when they handed out the schedules. It seems like every year, though, KSU has played that last Friday in Nov. game, and it is a terrible time for a college football game. The worst was when it actually started in the morning.

And in doing so they have no bye weeks which may come back to haunt them as the season goes on and injuries mount and the opposition gets their byes.

(03-02-2013 07:55 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 07:21 PM)The Optimist Wrote:  I hate black friday games.

I do too, but apparently ESPN loves them.

Why?

At the end of the season there is a good chance of a game which is very meaningful.

If so, go with the important one and the others are just filler.

What doesn't make sense is say EMU v. NIU. NIU vs. a top MAC West opponent makes sense as NIU might be going for a MAC West or top 25 ranking.

Correct me if I'm wrong but has Eastern Michigan ever appeared on ESPN2?

I don't think they have as part of the MAC package.

(03-01-2013 06:57 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 06:46 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:57 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-01-2013 05:35 PM)axeme Wrote:  Didn't someone check out the data on the weeknight vs. Sat. games, and it showed that there was no significant difference in attendance? Anyone else remember that?

I know at KSU, the Sat. avg. and the non-Sat. avg. for home games last season were about the same.

Here's Toledo's Saturday (12) vs. Weeknight (6) average for 2010-2012...
[I counted 2 Friday night games vs. Boise and Arizona, and 1 Thursday night vs. New Hampshire for a season opener, since UT scheduled these]

Saturday: 22,512
Weeknight: 17,017 (1 Wednesday, 1 Friday, 4 Tuesday)
Difference: 5,495

Thats because the weeknight games are in November when its cold and rainy. Do the stay analysis and pick September Saturday home games vs November Saturday home games. The drop in attendance will be the same, its not the weeknight games that drop the attendance, it is the weather. The misunderstanding comes from most of all of the midweek games coming in November.

I personally like the mid-week games and think they are key for the conference. Bring on more, not less.

I wouldn't be surprised if mid week games come to a halt in a couple of years.

The reason is ESPN just signed the oBE to a deal out to 2020. oBE schools are more suited for mid weeks because of weather and local population bases. Most of the oBE schools were formerly in CUSA so that adds another 6-8 schools ESPN has ponied up for.

Its possible the MAC might try a combination of NBC and Fox next time when the rights are up for negotiation in 2015 to land CUSA level money.

I've really enjoyed alot of the CBSSN games. They do a very good job.