(03-24-2015 12:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 12:01 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 11:50 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 09:33 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Wins are nice, but attendance = money.

TV ratings = money and nothing else is remotely close

Sad but true. It's everywhere.
And I imagine "Donor & Sponsorship" $$ > Attendance $$.

But the more fans who attend the games and get excited about the team, the better the chance for new and increased donor $.

But we need donors & sponsorships first to make the HS improvements so more people will attend games and get excited about the team and increase our donor $...I think...

Chicken or Egg first? I'm so Tough task for SF.

If you build it they will come.... And if they don't, well you're screwed.

Side note, but we may have more fans OUTSIDE the school than we do in. NIU gets a lot of love from other boards as a hot name to bring up when you list power G5 schools, candidates to replace a school if your conference get raided, independent candidates, even P5 scheduling popularity. We are a hot commodity for now boys =)

(03-24-2015 12:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  But the more fans who attend the games and get excited about the team, the better the chance for new and increased donor $.

Well yeah but joining another conference would do that too. There are plenty of incredibly successful alumni out there that have no relationship with NIU athletics. If NIU joined the B12 there would be a huge surge in support from alumni that have been unreachable since graduating.

My point is that TV revenue is much more significant for conference realignment than attendance. Attendance would increase dramatically as a result anyway. The only thing the B12 would be interested in is getting B12 games on the Chicago TV affiliates whenever possible.

(03-24-2015 02:36 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 12:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  But the more fans who attend the games and get excited about the team, the better the chance for new and increased donor $.

Well yeah but joining another conference would do that too. There are plenty of incredibly successful alumni out there that have no relationship with NIU athletics. If NIU joined the B12 there would be a huge surge in support from alumni that have been unreachable since graduating.

My point is that TV revenue is much more significant for conference realignment than attendance. Attendance would increase dramatically as a result anyway. The only thing the B12 would be interested in is getting B12 games on the Chicago TV affiliates whenever possible.

This is true which is why NIU is in a not so bad position for the future

(03-24-2015 11:50 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 09:33 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Wins are nice, but attendance = money.

TV ratings = money and nothing else is remotely close

They both reflect each other. I do not know of any school that gets lots of dedicated TV viewers but few attendees, or vice versa.

(03-24-2015 02:36 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 12:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  But the more fans who attend the games and get excited about the team, the better the chance for new and increased donor $.

Well yeah but joining another conference would do that too. There are plenty of incredibly successful alumni out there that have no relationship with NIU athletics. If NIU joined the B12 there would be a huge surge in support from alumni that have been unreachable since graduating.

My point is that TV revenue is much more significant for conference realignment than attendance. Attendance would increase dramatically as a result anyway. The only thing the B12 would be interested in is getting B12 games on the Chicago TV affiliates whenever possible.

Joining the Big 12 would give the same advantages to any other school, and they know it. If the Huskies lost all their games, but 50K fans were coming out every week to watch them do it, major conferences would be begging the Huskies to join them.

(03-24-2015 03:10 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Joining the Big 12 would give the same advantages to any other school, and they know it. If the Huskies lost all their games, but 50K fans were coming out every week to watch them do it, major conferences would be begging the Huskies to join them.

I can't tell if you're adding on to what I'm saying or if you're countering it. The fact is that TV ratings matter most and attendance is going to follow regardless. NIU has the Chicago market which separates them from pretty much everyone else. The B12 wouldn't care if our attendance was 15k or 50k if the local Chicago TV stations were airing B12 games because of us.

(03-24-2015 03:10 PM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 11:50 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 09:33 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote:  Wins are nice, but attendance = money.

TV ratings = money and nothing else is remotely close

They both reflect each other. I do not know of any school that gets lots of dedicated TV viewers but few attendees, or vice versa.

(03-24-2015 02:36 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 12:31 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  But the more fans who attend the games and get excited about the team, the better the chance for new and increased donor $.

Well yeah but joining another conference would do that too. There are plenty of incredibly successful alumni out there that have no relationship with NIU athletics. If NIU joined the B12 there would be a huge surge in support from alumni that have been unreachable since graduating.

My point is that TV revenue is much more significant for conference realignment than attendance. Attendance would increase dramatically as a result anyway. The only thing the B12 would be interested in is getting B12 games on the Chicago TV affiliates whenever possible.

Joining the Big 12 would give the same advantages to any other school, and they know it. If the Huskies lost all their games, but 50K fans were coming out every week to watch them do it, major conferences would be begging the Huskies to join them.

But TV revnue/market trumps all

(03-24-2015 03:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  NIU has the Chicago market which separates them from pretty much everyone else. The B12 wouldn't care if our attendance was 15k or 50k if the local Chicago TV stations were airing B12 games because of us.

Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"
People on here often complain that we get ignored by the Chicago media -- behind Notre Dame, Illinois and Northwestern per those folks who do not argue that Chicago doesn't even care about college athletics.
So what is the basis for claiming NIU has the Chicago market in order to be able to deliver it for the Big 12.
There is no Big 12 Network producing games, the Big 12 "Network" consists of regionally-syndicated games that are part of the conference's agreements with ESPN Regional Television and FoxSports.
This is a league with four teams in Texas, two in Oklahoma, two in Kansas, one in West Virginia and one in Iowa -- where are the numbers to prove the Chicago area cares or would care about Big 12 games?
I understand why we want in the Big 12 / I understand why it would be great for us / I wish we could get in the Big 12 but I don't understand what the foundation of your arguement is? The only Big 12 games that air in the eastern half of Iowa (i.e. the Quad Cities and Illinois border) are strictly those involving the Cyclones.

(03-24-2015 05:38 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 03:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  NIU has the Chicago market which separates them from pretty much everyone else. The B12 wouldn't care if our attendance was 15k or 50k if the local Chicago TV stations were airing B12 games because of us.

Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"
People on here often complain that we get ignored by the Chicago media -- behind Notre Dame, Illinois and Northwestern per those folks who do not argue that Chicago doesn't even care about college athletics.
So what is the basis for claiming NIU has the Chicago market in order to be able to deliver it for the Big 12.
There is no Big 12 Network producing games, the Big 12 "Network" consists of regionally-syndicated games that are part of the conference's agreements with ESPN Regional Television and FoxSports.
This is a league with four teams in Texas, two in Oklahoma, two in Kansas, one in West Virginia and one in Iowa -- where are the numbers to prove the Chicago area cares or would care about Big 12 games?
I understand why we want in the Big 12 / I understand why it would be great for us / I wish we could get in the Big 12 but I don't understand what the foundation of your arguement is? The only Big 12 games that air in the eastern half of Iowa (i.e. the Quad Cities and Illinois border) are strictly those involving the Cyclones.

Its extra tv sets, that is all that matters, that is what advertisers look at.

(03-24-2015 05:38 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 03:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  NIU has the Chicago market which separates them from pretty much everyone else. The B12 wouldn't care if our attendance was 15k or 50k if the local Chicago TV stations were airing B12 games because of us.

Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"
People on here often complain that we get ignored by the Chicago media -- behind Notre Dame, Illinois and Northwestern per those folks who do not argue that Chicago doesn't even care about college athletics.
So what is the basis for claiming NIU has the Chicago market in order to be able to deliver it for the Big 12.
There is no Big 12 Network producing games, the Big 12 "Network" consists of regionally-syndicated games that are part of the conference's agreements with ESPN Regional Television and FoxSports.
This is a league with four teams in Texas, two in Oklahoma, two in Kansas, one in West Virginia and one in Iowa -- where are the numbers to prove the Chicago area cares or would care about Big 12 games?
I understand why we want in the Big 12 / I understand why it would be great for us / I wish we could get in the Big 12 but I don't understand what the foundation of your arguement is? The only Big 12 games that air in the eastern half of Iowa (i.e. the Quad Cities and Illinois border) are strictly those involving the Cyclones.

You are correct, Sir. If we got into the Big 12, all of a sudden the media flood gates will not open for NIU. Yes, we may be taken more seriously by some, but the media will not immediately become college football proponents, and those that watch college football on TV will not jump to become Big 12 junkies. Chicago - for what it does cover of college football - will always be ND first and Big 10 second and last. Just the way I see it.

Chicago doesn't embrace Northwestern, they wouldn't embrace NIU.

(03-24-2015 05:38 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 03:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  NIU has the Chicago market which separates them from pretty much everyone else. The B12 wouldn't care if our attendance was 15k or 50k if the local Chicago TV stations were airing B12 games because of us.

Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"
People on here often complain that we get ignored by the Chicago media -- behind Notre Dame, Illinois and Northwestern per those folks who do not argue that Chicago doesn't even care about college athletics.
So what is the basis for claiming NIU has the Chicago market in order to be able to deliver it for the Big 12.
There is no Big 12 Network producing games, the Big 12 "Network" consists of regionally-syndicated games that are part of the conference's agreements with ESPN Regional Television and FoxSports.
This is a league with four teams in Texas, two in Oklahoma, two in Kansas, one in West Virginia and one in Iowa -- where are the numbers to prove the Chicago area cares or would care about Big 12 games?
I understand why we want in the Big 12 / I understand why it would be great for us / I wish we could get in the Big 12 but I don't understand what the foundation of your arguement is? The only Big 12 games that air in the eastern half of Iowa (i.e. the Quad Cities and Illinois border) are strictly those involving the Cyclones.

The creation of the network is really the only reason why they'd expand outside of their current region and into the Chicago market. But if they don't want a network - which is hard to believe - then this isn't even a topic to discuss. Everyone just expects them to create their own network. Just like the pac-10 back in the day, they won't create a network with just 10 teams. (Well 9, I have no idea how the longhorn network plays into this).

(03-24-2015 05:38 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"

I wasn't saying that we have any control of or impact the Chicago TV market right now, but rather that we provide access to that TV market. I have no clue what the conferences are considering but NIU does provide a gateway into the Chicago market. Nobody is saying that Chicago and its media members will suddenly fall in love with the B12...but casual fans and the B12 alums in the metro area would provide good enough TV ratings to generate significant advertising revenue.

(03-24-2015 06:08 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  Chicago doesn't embrace Northwestern, they wouldn't embrace NIU.

Fortunately TV ratings really have nothing to do with being embraced

(03-24-2015 06:18 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 05:38 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  Not being difficult, but how do you claim "NIU has the Chicago market?"

I wasn't saying that we have any control or really impact the Chicago TV market right now, but rather that we provide access to that TV market. I have no clue what the conferences are considering but NIU does provide a gateway into the Chicago market. Nobody is saying that Chicago and its media members will suddenly fall in love with the B12...but casual fans and the B12 alums in the city would provide good enough TV ratings to generate significant advertising revenue.

(03-24-2015 06:08 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  Chicago doesn't embrace Northwestern, they wouldn't embrace NIU.

Fortunately TV ratings really have nothing to do with being embraced

Fortunately my post has nothing to do about TV ratings.

(03-24-2015 06:20 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  Fortunately my post has nothing to do about TV ratings.

Yeah I wasn't trying to imply that it did...we're fortunate that NIU's future doesn't really depend on Chicago embracing it

(03-24-2015 06:21 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-24-2015 06:20 PM)PrideinthePack Wrote:  Fortunately my post has nothing to do about TV ratings.

Yeah I wasn't trying to imply that it did...we're fortunate that NIU's future doesn't really depend on Chicago embracing it

NIU's future in a P5 conference mostly depends on expanding their stadium and filling it to attract P5 conferences. I don't think they'll even get the financial backing to expand. The fanbase won't pony up. Chicago not embracing them really is the least of their problems.

The stadium is getting done! There is no question about that. Frazier will get the money for the stadium. The others projects, I doubt it.

(03-24-2015 07:10 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  The stadium is getting done! There is no question about that. Frazier will get the money for the stadium. The others projects, I doubt it.

Build it! In the mid 90's many questioned the building of a full sided east stands. NIU couldn't even fill the paltry seating that existed over there.....thank God it was built.

If you expect the stands to be overflowing and THEN build more seating because of demand you Just don't know how it works.

Read the history of Ohio Stadium.

(03-24-2015 07:38 PM)prairiedawg Wrote:  NIU couldn't even fill the paltry seating that existed over there.....thank God it was built.

Beg to differ with you, the lack of quality seating on the east side and the disintegrating condition of the bleachers that existed --- plus the NCAA seating capacity and average attendance requirements -- necessitated something being done. They came damn close to filling the existing seating and there were games when some fans even occupied the bench-like seating that existed at the south end between the end of field fence and the scoreboard (It's now the berm). It was referred to as "Pembroke's Porch" because it more closely resembled the foundation for a porch, rather than real seats and was the brainchild of a vice-president back then named John Pembroke.