Little Rock seems to be set at CUSA vs Sun Belt...well that stinks.

Miami baseball bowl seems to be AAC vs X but I doubt its the MAC.

HuskieJohn: Where did you see that about Little Rock Bowl? Last I heard the MAC was still in the running for a spot there.

(06-11-2013 10:33 AM)exCincy Kid Wrote:  HuskieJohn: Where did you see that about Little Rock Bowl? Last I heard the MAC was still in the running for a spot there.

McMurphy stated that the proposed little rock bowl seems to be locked up between the SBC and CUSA, which is just his prognostication.

(06-11-2013 10:33 AM)exCincy Kid Wrote:  HuskieJohn: Where did you see that about Little Rock Bowl? Last I heard the MAC was still in the running for a spot there.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...es-sources

"A potential bowl at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock is expected to pit C-USA versus the Sun Belt, a source said."

(06-11-2013 09:25 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Tweeted by McMurphy per source at ESPN (guessing himself)...that GO5 conferences are looking at 9 cities to start new bowl games in 2014.

Boca, Little Rock and a game played outside US have been mentioned this AM by real sports people.

NEW: Dubai, Bahamas, Miami, @UCF, @FAU & Ireland are all being mentioned by McMurphy.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...es-sources

Ken Hoffman, chairman and executive director of the Little Caesars Bowl, told ESPN he has been in contact with officials from each of the "Group of Five" conferences about starting future bowl games in Ireland, Dubai and either Toronto or Nassau.

Also two campus sites are being considered: UCF in Orlando (MAC, Sun Belt, C-USA and American) and Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton (C-USA or MAC vs. Sun Belt).

I don't see how a bowl outside the US could be a good business move by a non-power 5 conference...we were worried about the finances for NIU in the BCS, which had a lot of money involved the bowl...the cost of airfare alone would probably put us in the red...

HuskieJohn wrote: "A potential bowl at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock is expected to pit C-USA versus the Sun Belt, a source said."

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ecK: I heard from a knowledgeable SunBelt guy that this isn't "set in stone" yet, and the MAC may yet still get a shot at this bowl. Time will tell but I really like these smaller city bowl games (e.g. Mobile, Boise) as the locals support it and it works well for smaller conferences like the MAC which struggle to fill seats with our smallish fan bases.

(06-11-2013 11:21 AM)wleakr Wrote:  I don't see how a bowl outside the US could be a good business move by a non-power 5 conference...we were worried about the finances for NIU in the BCS, which had a lot of money involved the bowl...the cost of airfare alone would probably put us in the red...

I'd think that travel to the Bahamas on a cruise ship out of Orlando at a promotional rate (Orlando given that its ESPN putting it together and ESPN is owned by the Mouse) wouldn't break the bank.

(06-11-2013 12:59 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 11:21 AM)wleakr Wrote:  I don't see how a bowl outside the US could be a good business move by a non-power 5 conference...we were worried about the finances for NIU in the BCS, which had a lot of money involved the bowl...the cost of airfare alone would probably put us in the red...

I'd think that travel to the Bahamas on a cruise ship out of Orlando at a promotional rate (Orlando given that its ESPN putting it together and ESPN is owned by the Mouse) wouldn't break the bank.

...Um you mean something other than Orlando right? (Its in the middle of the state with no port)

The port at Canaveral, FTL, Jacksonville or Charleston SC would work.

(06-11-2013 11:05 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 10:33 AM)exCincy Kid Wrote:  HuskieJohn: Where did you see that about Little Rock Bowl? Last I heard the MAC was still in the running for a spot there.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...es-sources

"A potential bowl at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock is expected to pit C-USA versus the Sun Belt, a source said."

Old SBC vs New SBC.

And I hear Shatner v Stewart in a UFC match will be the halftime show.

(06-11-2013 01:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  ...Um you mean something other than Orlando right? (Its in the middle of the state with no port)

The port at Canaveral ...

And "in the middle of the state" in Florida doesn't actually mean all that far from the Ocean. Canaveral is 45 minutes away from Orlando airport, so it would be pretty obvious which port the cruise ship company means when they list an Orlando departure. However, for the benefit of those with tunnel vision, they do list it as "Orlando - Canavaral".

Hey maybe since ESPN is owned by Disney, they'll make a special bowl cruise ship the Mickey Mouse Jamboree its a small world splash mountain cruise bowl!

No MAC school has the money for a big time destination bowl, as said above we barely had enough for the Orange Bowl. Lets just hope after all of this is over we end up with some bowls down south that could help everyone in recruiting.

(06-12-2013 08:52 PM)GjlNIU Wrote:  No MAC school has the money for a big time destination bowl, as said above we barely had enough for the Orange Bowl. ...

Like I said, the critical thing is the terms. If the schools are given a big block of tickets to sell and are on the hook for people who don't go or people who get their tickets through other channels, then forget it.

If its an honest payout bowl with a block of tickets to sell by a deadline and then the unsold tickets go back to the bowl without penalty to put onto the market, then its worth considering.

I'd rather have an honest payout bowl in the Bahamas than lots of different possible pay to play bowls, including a pay to play bowl in Florida. So for me its a matter of going beyond the ESPN running various programmming ideas up the flagpole and getting to the "show me the money" part.

(06-13-2013 12:21 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 08:52 PM)GjlNIU Wrote:  No MAC school has the money for a big time destination bowl, as said above we barely had enough for the Orange Bowl. ...

Like I said, the critical thing is the terms. If the schools are given a big block of tickets to sell and are on the hook for people who don't go or people who get their tickets through other channels, then forget it.

If its an honest payout bowl with a block of tickets to sell by a deadline and then the unsold tickets go back to the bowl without penalty to put onto the market, then its worth considering.

I'd rather have an honest payout bowl in the Bahamas than lots of different possible pay to play bowls, including a pay to play bowl in Florida. So for me its a matter of going beyond the ESPN running various programmming ideas up the flagpole and getting to the "show me the money" part.

Well lets hope the other Cable sports networks gets some more traction in college football so ESPN will no longer run the show. I think that might be one of the biggest problems right now for us. I really wish we would've done what MWC did and ditch ESPN for NBCSN.

You would think with there being so many damn cable channels someone would want the MAC....

From what I had heard prior to going on vacation the last week, Little Rock wants/wanted the AAC because of the proximity to Memphis, Tulsa, SMU and Houston. Arkansas Tourism invests fairly heavily in those markets.

If they couldn't get AAC (and I think it is unlikely, odds are one bowl vs. Sun Belt is all they will do and that is likely New Orleans) the second choice was CUSA. DFW, San Antonio, Houston, Ruston, Hattiesburg, Birmingham, Bowling Green, and Murfreesboro are all a reasonable drive. But the rumor was a significant number of CUSA schools didn't want Little Rock because they figure most years they are either playing Arkansas State or Louisiana-Monroe (remember La.Tech botched their bowl situation trying to avoid ULM).

Unless CUSA has run out of options, I still think the MAC is probable.

(06-13-2013 11:18 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  From what I had heard prior to going on vacation the last week, Little Rock wants/wanted the AAC because of the proximity to Memphis, Tulsa, SMU and Houston. Arkansas Tourism invests fairly heavily in those markets.

If they couldn't get AAC (and I think it is unlikely, odds are one bowl vs. Sun Belt is all they will do and that is likely New Orleans) the second choice was CUSA. DFW, San Antonio, Houston, Ruston, Hattiesburg, Birmingham, Bowling Green, and Murfreesboro are all a reasonable drive. But the rumor was a significant number of CUSA schools didn't want Little Rock because they figure most years they are either playing Arkansas State or Louisiana-Monroe (remember La.Tech botched their bowl situation trying to avoid ULM).

Unless CUSA has run out of options, I still think the MAC is probable.

And what happens if the MAC balks at a bowl in Little Rock. If AAC and CUSA are out, seems like either MAC or bust for the game. And based on other articles floating around, Hoffman who runs the Little Caesar has not mentioned anything about moving that game to Little Rock. He named a number of destinations but Little Rock was not one of them. Personally I have zero interest in a bowl game in Little Rock and if it does come together I hope the MAC is not involved.

(06-13-2013 11:26 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 11:18 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  From what I had heard prior to going on vacation the last week, Little Rock wants/wanted the AAC because of the proximity to Memphis, Tulsa, SMU and Houston. Arkansas Tourism invests fairly heavily in those markets.

If they couldn't get AAC (and I think it is unlikely, odds are one bowl vs. Sun Belt is all they will do and that is likely New Orleans) the second choice was CUSA. DFW, San Antonio, Houston, Ruston, Hattiesburg, Birmingham, Bowling Green, and Murfreesboro are all a reasonable drive. But the rumor was a significant number of CUSA schools didn't want Little Rock because they figure most years they are either playing Arkansas State or Louisiana-Monroe (remember La.Tech botched their bowl situation trying to avoid ULM).

Unless CUSA has run out of options, I still think the MAC is probable.

And what happens if the MAC balks at a bowl in Little Rock. If AAC and CUSA are out, seems like either MAC or bust for the game. And based on other articles floating around, Hoffman who runs the Little Caesar has not mentioned anything about moving that game to Little Rock. He named a number of destinations but Little Rock was not one of them. Personally I have zero interest in a bowl game in Little Rock and if it does come together I hope the MAC is not involved.

Based on the ESPN report, you will get your wish. I've not had a chance to talk to my contacts. Early on Little Rock was talking to Hoffman but they've got a local guy with great contacts and probably came to the conclusion they didn't need him.

With the bowl apparently having a sponsor lined up. I'd say the odds favor the game having their teams lined up as well.

I think a MAC bowl slot vs SunBelt in Little Rock would be great!

(06-13-2013 11:38 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 11:26 AM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 11:18 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

And what happens if the MAC balks at a bowl in Little Rock. If AAC and CUSA are out, seems like either MAC or bust for the game. And based on other articles floating around, Hoffman who runs the Little Caesar has not mentioned anything about moving that game to Little Rock. He named a number of destinations but Little Rock was not one of them. Personally I have zero interest in a bowl game in Little Rock and if it does come together I hope the MAC is not involved.

Based on the ESPN report, you will get your wish. I've not had a chance to talk to my contacts. Early on Little Rock was talking to Hoffman but they've got a local guy with great contacts and probably came to the conclusion they didn't need him.

With the bowl apparently having a sponsor lined up. I'd say the odds favor the game having their teams lined up as well.

I guess to clarify my comment a bit I don't want to see the Little Caesars go to Little Rock. I would rather that land somewhere else. However if it meant Little Rock meant a fourth tie in for the MAC then I would be cool with it. Thinking about it more though this one really makes the most sense for CUSA and the Sun Belt with so many teams in proximity to the game.

The geography certainly works. That's just an issue the MAC has to deal with and its why I've hoped MAC could get something going in St. Louis or Indianapolis.

Before WKU left, I can tell you Arkansas State and WKU both would have lobbied HARD to get tied with the MAC in St. Louis. Too easy of a trip.

I don't know diddly about Detroit personally other than it's a helluva long way from A68 to A17 in the airport. But I know the negative press and Detroit was always a hard sell with that magnified by a lousy date assignment. The Sun Belt folks who went all seemed to have a good time.

(06-13-2013 11:48 AM)exCincy Kid Wrote:  I think a MAC bowl slot vs SunBelt in Little Rock would be great!

+1 It would be a bowl I could drive to. Same with Ball St, WMU and Miami fans.

Other than a once...or twice in a lifetime BCS bowl that is all I can afford now.