(10-06-2016 06:56 PM)falconplucker Wrote:  LOL, Let's Compare

Louisville, Kentucky: Gross Metro Product value of $63.3 Billion vs Toledo's $
31.9 Billion
Population of Louisville metro area is 1.2 million vs Toledo's 607,000
Median Household income of Louisville is $53,000 vs $44,000 in Toledo
Number of major colleges in Kentucky to compete with is 1?.
Number of major colleges near Toledo is 2, which happen to be 2 of the largest and most popular collegiate sports programs in the nation.
Number or Major Professional Sports Teams in Kentucky is 0.
Ohio has 2 NFL Teams, 1 NBA Team, and 2 MLB teams. Not to mention Detroit's sports teams

Those are the main reasons that Louisville can have a $55 million dollar expansion and Toledo cannot. Toledo does not have the money, population base, or area interest to produce that kind of money and support.

I would also add money from Conference USA (as it was originally founded), Big East, and ACC dwarf money from the MAC. Without ACC support, this massive expansion could not happen as quickly as it has.

Also, aside from corporate money, Louisville and Kentucky both have a lot of donors in the horse racing industry. That's a unique niche with big time cash. Both Pitino and Calipari are very active with horse racing to keep the cash flow coming in.