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The MAC is giving CMU $450k to help cover costs of the Bahamas trip

http://www.cm-life.com/article/2014/12/fball-bowl-costs

Good lord this bowl was a terrible idea. I wonder if either school is going to have their band and other support cast there?

Lol, what a joke.

IF I was destined to go to THE bowl WMU would go to no matter what -- I say FVCK THAT. I have a passport, it's a cheaper flight from GR->Bahamas than GR->Boise (although I could make them about equal overall if I rented a car and had a road trip on top; tomato tomatoe) -- but Bahamas is SO Much better than IdaHO.

Since I'm not, I can't blame the conference for doing that when accepting the bowl to give us one. Whoever goes gets a stipend because they probably can't get a charter or whatever, more expensive to fly -- and hotels are more expensive, etc. Can't argue with that.

Now, if CMU was playing a better team in the below-25 rankings -- then I'd be pissed.

The MAC needs to dump this bowl game ASAP. This is seriously embarrassing.

I wonder if the MAC had planned on contributing this amount of money when they signed the contract?

(12-10-2014 11:59 AM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  The MAC is giving CMU $450k to help cover costs of the Bahamas trip

From the article:

Rooms for the teams and staff are provided free to CMU and Western Kentucky...CMU’s group will stay in the Atlantis Paradise Island Hotel. Their rooms have been compensated by the bowl for the time they will spend in the Bahamas (Dec. 20 through Dec. 24.)

“The reality is that these trips cost a lot of money,” Wachler said. “It’s different than going to Detroit. Our rooms are essentially free, so our hard costs are our meals.”

I guess this pretty much eliminates the cost-of-hotel argument against the Bahamas Bowl.

I'm sure CMU will still lose money on the trip, but considering a) free hotel, b) the MAC subsidizing them $450K, and c) the smaller stadium size, therefore requiring the sale of fewer tickets, it's harder to see them ending up taking a total bath on the trip.

Quote:I'm sure CMU will still lose money on the trip, but considering a) free hotel, b) the MAC subsidizing them $450K, and c) the smaller stadium size, therefore requiring the sale of fewer tickets, it's harder to see them ending up taking a total bath on the trip.

Yeah, WTF?!

Also by Wachler: "There is plenty to do there to keep the travel party active and engaged at really no additional cost."

So the MAC is paying them $450k for charter (cheaper than each individual via commercial) flight, and food Dec 20-24 -- while hotels are free by the bowl itself for both teams.

Oh, passports you say? "We also have the opportunity to use our special assistance fund which is in place as money from the NCAA to cover these special initiatives".

So HOW exactly is this a more expensive bowl for them?? (scratching head)

There will be plenty of purses to snatch at the Atlantis, that's for sure.

(12-10-2014 05:10 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  I guess this pretty much eliminates the cost-of-hotel argument against the Bahamas Bowl.

For the teams, yes. But for fans...........

Imagine a great bowl atmosphere with no bands, no cheerleaders and few fans. Nope. Having a hard time with that one.

Perhaps the reason CMU is going to this bowl is because they prepared and got passports for everyone months ago? I didn't think about the need for passports and I doubt every MAC team had their kids get them.

(12-10-2014 09:11 PM)WMU_Flyboy Wrote:  Perhaps the reason CMU is going to this bowl is because they prepared and got passports for everyone months ago? I didn't think about the need for passports and I doubt every MAC team had their kids get them.

well some of them needed to be prepared to leave the country on short notice, so that does make sense. Just Joking.

(12-10-2014 08:41 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  For the teams, yes. But for fans...........Imagine a great bowl atmosphere with no bands, no cheerleaders and few fans. Nope. Having a hard time with that one.

Unfortunately, we probably won't have many more fans in Boise. We will have the band (at least part of it) and the cheerleaders, though, you are correct, MHB - and the Potato Bowl has been fairly well attended in the past, so if nothing else it should be a good football crowd. Far less likely in the Bahamas, for sure.

Quote:Imagine a great bowl atmosphere with no bands, no cheerleaders and few fans. Nope. Having a hard time with that one.

Yeah, but CMU is bringing 240 people... I would assume some cheerleaders are in that boat, right?

Quote:well some of them needed to be prepared to leave the country on short notice, so that does make sense. Just Joking.

You didn't have to add the "Just Joking" part to that. This is the WMU board. :)

(12-11-2014 12:23 AM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 08:41 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  For the teams, yes. But for fans...........Imagine a great bowl atmosphere with no bands, no cheerleaders and few fans. Nope. Having a hard time with that one.

Unfortunately, we probably won't have many more fans in Boise. We will have the band (at least part of it) and the cheerleaders, though, you are correct, MHB - and the Potato Bowl has been fairly well attended in the past, so if nothing else it should be a good football crowd. Far less likely in the Bahamas, for sure.

just to add to this, our whole band will be there. They're flying out the 18th.

(12-11-2014 12:42 AM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  

(12-11-2014 12:23 AM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 08:41 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  For the teams, yes. But for fans...........Imagine a great bowl atmosphere with no bands, no cheerleaders and few fans. Nope. Having a hard time with that one.

Unfortunately, we probably won't have many more fans in Boise. We will have the band (at least part of it) and the cheerleaders, though, you are correct, MHB - and the Potato Bowl has been fairly well attended in the past, so if nothing else it should be a good football crowd. Far less likely in the Bahamas, for sure.

just to add to this, our whole band will be there. They're flying out the 18th.

Good news! Thanks for the update!

(12-11-2014 11:47 AM)Cant make this sh t up Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 07:39 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  There will be plenty of purses to snatch at the Atlantis, that's for sure.

That's what I was thinking...they couldn't have sent a worse team to an island where the the activities include gambling, gambling, gambling, alcohol, and swimming with sharks. What a train wreck waiting to happen!

So it's Mt Pleasant in Island form is what you're saying?

(12-11-2014 12:22 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  

(12-11-2014 11:47 AM)Cant make this sh t up Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 07:39 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  There will be plenty of purses to snatch at the Atlantis, that's for sure.

That's what I was thinking...they couldn't have sent a worse team to an island where the the activities include gambling, gambling, gambling, alcohol, and swimming with sharks. What a train wreck waiting to happen!

So it's Mt Pleasant in Island form is what you're saying?

Except you won't leave the Bahamas questioning your life choices and wondering if you have the herps...

(12-11-2014 11:47 AM)Cant make this sh t up Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 07:39 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  There will be plenty of purses to snatch at the Atlantis, that's for sure.

That's what I was thinking...they couldn't have sent a worse team to an island where the the activities include gambling, gambling, gambling, alcohol, and swimming with sharks. What a train wreck waiting to happen!

Is there any better MAC team to send there? Short of the sharks that sounds like Mt Pleasant.

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The rooms are not that expensive to begin with. Just wait until they see the bill for food. $12 granola bars and $8 OJ's for breakfast. Should be interesting.

I would think getting a passport would be an issue for some. just sayin'