Not a bad slot at all.

Lots of people will be home and it wont interfere with the people who have evening plans.

(04-24-2014 12:23 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Not a bad slot at all.

Lots of people will be home and it wont interfere with the people who have evening plans.

I've not been paying attention but do need a passport for the Bahama's? If so this is an awful date..

(04-24-2014 02:10 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 12:23 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Not a bad slot at all.

Lots of people will be home and it wont interfere with the people who have evening plans.

I've not been paying attention but do need a passport for the Bahama's? If so this is an awful date..

Yes...but I was thinking more for TV viewers.

If your team gets the invite to this bowl and you would want to go then I would definitely get the passport now.

(04-24-2014 02:38 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 02:10 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 12:23 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Not a bad slot at all.

Lots of people will be home and it wont interfere with the people who have evening plans.

I've not been paying attention but do need a passport for the Bahama's? If so this is an awful date..

Yes...but I was thinking more for TV viewers.

If your team gets the invite to this bowl and you would want to go then I would definitely get the passport now.

yes definitely need a passport. I like the bowl location but christmas eve, meh. I guess santa could always wrap some presents in the basement and put the game on, better than 7pm i guess, when dinners and church usually are happening

Did a quick flight search: around $600 round trip, but there are limited flights in and out. You would have to fly in on the 23rd and there would be no flights out after the game on the 24th. You could fly out Xmas afternoon, but with stops, it would be about 6-8 hours total to get back to the Midwest.

I assume they are banking on getting locals and those already vacationing there over the holidays to buy tickets, though I'm sure the money is in the TV deal, not the gate.

I'm more concerned about the schools getting their players set for international travel... I would love this as a 12/30 or a 1/2 game..

(04-24-2014 03:54 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  I'm more concerned about the schools getting their players set for international travel... I would love this as a 12/30 or a 1/2 game..

Everything worked fine for NIU getting passports for the International Bowl a few years back.

(04-24-2014 04:52 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 03:54 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  I'm more concerned about the schools getting their players set for international travel... I would love this as a 12/30 or a 1/2 game..

Everything worked fine for NIU getting passports for the International Bowl a few years back.

The I bowl was 1/7(ish)... That's two extra weeks..

(04-24-2014 06:09 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 04:52 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 03:54 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  I'm more concerned about the schools getting their players set for international travel... I would love this as a 12/30 or a 1/2 game..

Everything worked fine for NIU getting passports for the International Bowl a few years back.

The I bowl was 1/7(ish)... That's two extra weeks..

If you're willing to pay, you can get expedited passports rather quickly otherwise it takes 6 weeks. The schools involved would pay expedited fee without a doubt. And maybe even the bowl would pay it?

Expedited passports can take up to 3 weeks... This is cutting it very, very close..

(04-24-2014 09:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  Expedited passports can take up to 3 weeks... This is cutting it very, very close..

This is a great bowl reward for the players, coaches & fans that can afford it. I would expect the #1/#2 MAC team alternating with GoDaddy.

They will likely pick a team after those 2 teams play their final regular season game. They will however keep away from any team who has a real shot at an access bowl slot.

That will give them 3 weeks...but just barely if you include being onsite for 5 days for typical bowl stuff.

Heck, have the players apply for their passports at the start of the regular season "because we are playing to go to a bowl, whether that is in the US or in the Bahamas".

I don't see how this bowl will survive. First, its not drivable. The need to fly automatically cuts the universe of fans willing to travel to the game significantly. Add to that the need for a passport, and the universe of fans that are willing to fly and HAVE a passport already in their possession (cuz there isn't time to get one) further slims down the list of potential attendees. Now add in that its day before Christmas---a time when virtually everyone has plans to be with family---and you don't have many folks left to fill the stands and eat up the schools ticket allotment or hotel occupancy requirements. That makes it a big money loser for the school and dud for the bowl, since nobody will be there.

For the bowl to survive----the locals come out in droves, the ticket allotment is low (meaning schools don't get fleeced--and are thus, willing to return), and the ESPN TV rights must be big enough to cover all bowl expenses, staffing, and costs.

(04-26-2014 09:02 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I don't see how this bowl will survive. ...

Oh, I think you sell yourself short here ...

Quote: ... the locals come out in droves, the ticket allotment is low (meaning schools don't get fleeced--and are thus, willing to return), and the ESPN TV rights must be big enough to cover all bowl expenses, staffing, and costs.

I think you nailed it.

(04-24-2014 09:46 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  Expedited passports can take up to 3 weeks... This is cutting it very, very close..

When I got my original passport and subsequent renewals, I received them within 3 weeks without the expedited service. They'll be fine if they pay the extra for the rush.

(04-26-2014 09:02 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I don't see how this bowl will survive. First, its not drivable. The need to fly automatically cuts the universe of fans willing to travel to the game significantly. Add to that the need for a passport, and the universe of fans that are willing to fly and HAVE a passport already in their possession (cuz there isn't time to get one) further slims down the list of potential attendees. Now add in that its day before Christmas---a time when virtually everyone has plans to be with family---and you don't have many folks left to fill the stands and eat up the schools ticket allotment or hotel occupancy requirements. That makes it a big money loser for the school and dud for the bowl, since nobody will be there.

For the bowl to survive----the locals come out in droves, the ticket allotment is low (meaning schools don't get fleeced--and are thus, willing to return), and the ESPN TV rights must be big enough to cover all bowl expenses, staffing, and costs.

This bowl is not about selling tickets. Its about filling a prime College football slot for ESPN that the P5 teams didn't take.

(04-26-2014 09:02 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I don't see how this bowl will survive. First, its not drivable. The need to fly automatically cuts the universe of fans willing to travel to the game significantly. Add to that the need for a passport, and the universe of fans that are willing to fly and HAVE a passport already in their possession (cuz there isn't time to get one) further slims down the list of potential attendees. Now add in that its day before Christmas---a time when virtually everyone has plans to be with family---and you don't have many folks left to fill the stands and eat up the schools ticket allotment or hotel occupancy requirements. That makes it a big money loser for the school and dud for the bowl, since nobody will be there.

For the bowl to survive----the locals come out in droves, the ticket allotment is low (meaning schools don't get fleeced--and are thus, willing to return), and the ESPN TV rights must be big enough to cover all bowl expenses, staffing, and costs.

I agree - I just don't see it surviving.

(04-26-2014 09:02 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I don't see how this bowl will survive. First, its not drivable. The need to fly automatically cuts the universe of fans willing to travel to the game significantly. Add to that the need for a passport, and the universe of fans that are willing to fly and HAVE a passport already in their possession (cuz there isn't time to get one) further slims down the list of potential attendees. Now add in that its day before Christmas---a time when virtually everyone has plans to be with family---and you don't have many folks left to fill the stands and eat up the schools ticket allotment or hotel occupancy requirements. That makes it a big money loser for the school and dud for the bowl, since nobody will be there.

For the bowl to survive----the locals come out in droves, the ticket allotment is low (meaning schools don't get fleeced--and are thus, willing to return), and the ESPN TV rights must be big enough to cover all bowl expenses, staffing, and costs.

Same concerns I had when this was announced months ago, but I was told I'm crazy because it's cheaper and easier to get there than some other bowls. I still think being on the mainland and "drivable" is huge.

This will go the way of the International Bowl.........

(04-27-2014 11:19 AM)utpotts Wrote:  This will go the way of the International Bowl.........

Most bowls will go that way... How much longer will the spud bowl hang on?

They really should have done this Bowl in Puerto Rico...