http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Football...o-BMS.html

Quote:Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith and Bristol Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell confirmed Monday plans for another football game to come to BMS.

No dates have been set and talks are ongoing with multiple college athletic programs for a future game.

“We’re working on it,” Smith said Monday at the NASCAR Media Tour. “Jerry Caldwell is working hard on it. I would say that another game will be coming at some point and you need to call the ticket office and get on the list.”

Caldwell added: “We will have another football game, absolutely. Right now, there aren’t any details to be released, but we are continuing to have more good conversations and we are going to play football.”

Tennessee defeated Virginia Tech 45-24 in the first installment of the Battle at Bristol on Sept. 10, 2016 in front of 156,990, the largest crowd ever to see a football game live. It shattered the previous NCAA attendance record for a game between Michigan and Notre Dame by over 40,000.

Quote:Caldwell didn’t rule out the possibility of an NFL game at the speedway, which hosted the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in 1961. Most of the interest and talks at this point, however, have been with college programs.

“We’re open to any of that and have had conversations, but we’re more focused on college (football) right now.” Caldwell said.

The 2016 game was part of a video package to highlight the different events at Speedway Motorsports facilities. Besides the game itself, BMS hosted the largest ESPN College Gameday in the history of the show.

It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Exactly.

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Obviously one or both of those teams, plus a few others:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. West Virginia

I think a matchup of UT/VT against any of these 4 schools, or any two of the 4 schools listed against each other could draw the crowd. The first three in my list have fans everywhere, and have the fan base that would travel to the game (I remember an OSU game at Cal a few years ago where there was as much Scarlet and Gray in the stadium as blue and yellow). WVU would bring a lot of fans to the event, and if you paired them against Tech or UT, the entire state might travel down for that one.

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

I've heard TN vs. Michigan as an option thrown out. You could also do TN-West VA, Maybe West VA-KY, UNC-TN, UNC-West Virginia, VT-West Virginia, etc. Lot's of good regional matchups, and lot's of schools within driving distance (Ohio State vs. Clemson could get huge ratings, for example, and both are close-ish, maybe even Georgia-Penn State, etc). Might not get 160,000 but you could get 120,000 or so. Turn it into a kickoff game or make it an annual bowl game.

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Clemson vs Georgia would sell it out easy.

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Clemson is only 50 miles further away than VT

(01-23-2018 01:35 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Clemson is only 50 miles further away than VT

With a larger fanbase.

(01-23-2018 01:45 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 01:35 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Clemson is only 50 miles further away than VT

With a larger fanbase.

Good point - I didn't realize Clemson was so close (IF you go back roads the first half of the way). That said, the only P5 schools within 200 miles of BMS are:

Bristol (distance by road)
U of Tenn to BMS: 109.7 miles
Va Tech to BMS: 131.4 miles
Clemson U to BMS: 164.0 miles
Wake Forest to BMS: 170.2 miles

That's it. Kentucky is 225.8 miles, Georgia is 237 miles, and UNC is 245 miles. Alabama? 420 miles! and we aren't talking about taking the usual 15,000 fans to an away game or a bowl game here... to fill up BMS you need to bring your entire home game crowd (half of 160,000 is 80,000 fans!)

I agree that Clemson would work, along with Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Maybe some national brand has enough fans living in Eastern Tennessee and/or Western NC and/or Western VA. Maybe, but it would be a big risk being so far away and needing to sell so many tickets...

I know folks that went.
They wouldn't do it again....too far ..couldn't see a darn thing
If people won't come to see racin' anymore, they have to pay the mortgage somehow.

I'm not even sure Va Tech and Tennessee could sell that many tickets a second time.

(01-23-2018 01:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Obviously one or both of those teams, plus a few others:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. West Virginia

I think a matchup of UT/VT against any of these 4 schools, or any two of the 4 schools listed against each other could draw the crowd. The first three in my list have fans everywhere, and have the fan base that would travel to the game (I remember an OSU game at Cal a few years ago where there was as much Scarlet and Gray in the stadium as blue and yellow). WVU would bring a lot of fans to the event, and if you paired them against Tech or UT, the entire state might travel down for that one.

I have a second home about an hour and a half from Bristol in Grayson County, VA.

If they would get ND for that game, I will be there. Otherwise? Nah, not me.

(01-23-2018 01:59 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 01:45 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 01:35 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Clemson is only 50 miles further away than VT

With a larger fanbase.

Good point - I didn't realize Clemson was so close (IF you go back roads the first half of the way). That said, the only P5 schools within 200 miles of BMS are:

Bristol (distance by road)
U of Tenn to BMS: 109.7 miles
Va Tech to BMS: 131.4 miles
Clemson U to BMS: 164.0 miles
Wake Forest to BMS: 170.2 miles

That's it. Kentucky is 225.8 miles, Georgia is 237 miles, and UNC is 245 miles. Alabama? 420 miles! and we aren't talking about taking the usual 15,000 fans to an away game or a bowl game here... to fill up BMS you need to bring your entire home game crowd (half of 160,000 is 80,000 fans!)

I agree that Clemson would work, along with Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Maybe some national brand has enough fans living in Eastern Tennessee and/or Western NC and/or Western VA. Maybe, but it would be a big risk being so far away and needing to sell so many tickets...

Yes, it sounds appealing, but truth is, there are really only 3-4 schools close enough to bring the massive crowds needed, and two of those, UT and VT, have already did it.

I'd say Clemson vs Tennessee would be the best draw.

I can't imagine an NFL game drawing, no matter what teams they come up with.

(01-23-2018 02:05 PM)XLance Wrote:  I know folks that went.
They wouldn't do it again....too far ..couldn't see a darn thing
If people won't come to see racin' anymore, they have to pay the mortgage somehow.

You don't have to worry about it. UNC can't even sell out their little stadium or be bothered to take the short drive to Charlotte for a football game.

(01-23-2018 01:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 12:49 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  It's a convenient location for UT and VT, but who else would bring the 60 thousand plus fans needed to fill that huge place?

Obviously one or both of those teams, plus a few others:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. West Virginia

I think a matchup of UT/VT against any of these 4 schools, or any two of the 4 schools listed against each other could draw the crowd. The first three in my list have fans everywhere, and have the fan base that would travel to the game (I remember an OSU game at Cal a few years ago where there was as much Scarlet and Gray in the stadium as blue and yellow). WVU would bring a lot of fans to the event, and if you paired them against Tech or UT, the entire state might travel down for that one.

I'd be absolutely shocked if Bama agreed to a game in that facility.

Right now, we're getting the opportunity to be featured in neutral sites games in Atlanta, Dallas, and this coming season in Orlando. Those are easier to get to and can handle large numbers of tourists at any given time. Not to mention, there is more to do in those cities.

If we're not in a major kickoff game then we'll probably be doing home and home with someone.

There was some talk about doing a game at Talladega, but I would be pretty surprised even by that.

I would think Ohio State and Notre Dame would be in the same boat.

(01-23-2018 04:06 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 02:05 PM)XLance Wrote:  I know folks that went.
They wouldn't do it again....too far ..couldn't see a darn thing
If people won't come to see racin' anymore, they have to pay the mortgage somehow.

You don't have to worry about it. UNC can't even sell out their little stadium or be bothered to take the short drive to Charlotte for a football game.

There are only three schools, and two pairings, that would work:



VS.



OR



VS.

(01-23-2018 04:37 PM)CarlSmithCenter Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 04:06 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 02:05 PM)XLance Wrote:  I know folks that went.
They wouldn't do it again....too far ..couldn't see a darn thing
If people won't come to see racin' anymore, they have to pay the mortgage somehow.

You don't have to worry about it. UNC can't even sell out their little stadium or be bothered to take the short drive to Charlotte for a football game.

There are only three schools, and two pairings, that would work:



VS.



OR



VS.

Nah. As was pointed out earlier Clemson vs Tennessee would be the biggest draw.

And I have no doubt whatsoever that Clemson vs Georgia would sellout.

There's probably a decent overlap between areas that have sent a good number of fans to Bristol for the races and ones that would likely send a good number of people to the local/state school's game there. In addition to the schools already mentioned, perhaps N.C. State from the ACC and Auburn or South Carolina from the SEC? And if worse comes to worse, Liberty can probably buy up as many of the 160,000 seats as necessary to play there.

(01-23-2018 05:39 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  There's probably a decent overlap between areas that have sent a good number of fans to Bristol for the races and ones that would likely send a good number of people to the local/state school's game there. In addition to the schools already mentioned, perhaps N.C. State from the ACC and Auburn or South Carolina from the SEC? And if worse comes to worse, Liberty can probably buy up as many of the 160,000 seats as necessary to play there.

They wouldn't travel to Charlotte to open last season.