Detroit, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today a four-year contract extension with both Ford Field as host and Marathon as the title sponsor for the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game through the 2015 college football season.

This special announcement was made by MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher and Detroit Lions President, Tom Lewand this morning at Ford Field. The announcement also celebrates the official kickoff to the 2012 college football season and began the MAC Football Media Day with each program's head coach and two student-athletes also in attendance.

"Our relationship with Ford Field, the Detroit Lions and Marathon provides this conference, its fans and our member institutions -- coaches and most importantly our student-athletes -- the opportunity to showcase their talents in a superb facility to a national television audience," said MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. "This extension secures the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game will continue its proud legacy of great college football excitement from Ford Field in Detroit."

This year's Marathon MAC Football Championship Game will be Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN2. The Marathon MAC Football Championship Game is the second-longest running college football conference championship game in the nation. In addition, with Ford Field as the host, this also makes the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game from Ford Field the second-longest consecutive venue outside of the SEC's title game from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

"Having hosted numerous NCAA sporting events over the past decade, Ford Field is proud to have been home to the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game since 2004," said Tom Lewand, President of Ford Field and the Detroit Lions. "We're thrilled to continue this tremendous partnership with the MAC, its teams and their fans."

Marathon began as title sponsor of the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in 2003 when No. 14 ranked Miami, led by Ben Roethlisberger, defeated No. 20 ranked Bowling Green, 49-27. This season's 2012 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game will be the tenth year for Marathon as title sponsor and this four-year contract extension will ensure the continuation of this relationship with the MAC through the 2015 college football season.

The MAC began staging a conference football championship game in 1997 and originally the game was played on campus sites through 2003. The game moved to Detroit in 2004 and this year's 2012 Marathon MAC Football Championship will mark the ninth season for the game at Ford Field.

Since moving to Detroit, eight of the 12 MAC full members have appeared at least once in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in Detroit, led by Central Michigan, Northern Illinois and Ohio with three appearances each.

Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

I was hoping an alternative to Ford Field might be discussed, but its awesome that Marathon has signed on for four years. I'm buying their gas starting now...

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

(07-24-2012 11:25 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

I put EMU in there out of respect but yes I agree that until their fans show up at home it wouldn't matter if they made it to the MAC as far as attendance goes.

I would guess that only CMU may have less people at their home field than in Detroit since they are the furthest one out of that group. Everyone elses stadium would look better attendance wise than Ford Field and would look great on a Friday night on ESPN2. It would actually give some focus on our campus and maybe a reason to make our stadiums nicer and larger.

Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

Home games would be awesome. For a midwest league with a game that ESPN may put on a weekday you may be right though.

(07-24-2012 12:30 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Home games would be awesome. For a midwest league with a game that ESPN may put on a weekday you may be right though.

Agreed, CUSA uses home sites. Last year Houston had a packed house! How cool would it have been to have hosted the game last year at a packed Huskie Stadium?

(07-24-2012 02:57 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 12:30 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Home games would be awesome. For a midwest league with a game that ESPN may put on a weekday you may be right though.

Agreed, CUSA uses home sites. Last year Houston had a packed house! How cool would it have been to have hosted the game last year at a packed Huskie Stadium?

The Big East will also have the highest ranked team hosting the championship game when it starts in 2013.

(07-24-2012 12:23 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

Not according to the actual attendance numbers.

We had a discussion about this on a thread a couple months back. I'll see if I can find it. I researched the attendance for the MACC.

Currently the MACC averages around 15k unless WMU, CMU, Toledo, or BGSU plays in it...then that numbers gets bumped (likely in some cases) to 25k or so.

The MACC had a much better attendance rate when the games were played at home fields. The biggest advantage of Ford Field is the weather not being a factor...assuming the television revenue would be approximately the same.

(07-24-2012 03:32 PM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 12:23 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

Not according to the actual attendance numbers.

We had a discussion about this on a thread a couple months back. I'll see if I can find it. I researched the attendance for the MACC.

Currently the MACC averages around 15k unless WMU, CMU, Toledo, or BGSU plays in it...then that numbers gets bumped (likely in some cases) to 25k or so.

The MACC had a much better attendance rate when the games were played at home fields. The biggest advantage of Ford Field is the weather not being a factor...assuming the television revenue would be approximately the same.

Good point, do you think that when the MAC first started playing in Detroit they hoped that the city would of been more likely to of supported the game by going?

(07-24-2012 03:32 PM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 12:23 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

Not according to the actual attendance numbers.

We had a discussion about this on a thread a couple months back. I'll see if I can find it. I researched the attendance for the MACC.

Currently the MACC averages around 15k unless WMU, CMU, Toledo, or BGSU plays in it...then that numbers gets bumped (likely in some cases) to 25k or so.

The MACC had a much better attendance rate when the games were played at home fields. The biggest advantage of Ford Field is the weather not being a factor...assuming the television revenue would be approximately the same.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_Championship_Game
2011 Ohio - NIU 13,052
2010 NIU - Miami 12,031
2009 CMU - Ohio 23,714
2008 Buffalo - Ball St 12,871
2007 Miami - CMU 25,013
2006 CMU - Ohio 25,483
2005 Akron - NIU 12,051
2004 Toledo - Miami 22,138

The lowest attended MAC at a home stadium was over 20k and I think all but one had an attendance over 24k.

(07-24-2012 12:23 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

At what school is the first of week of December winter break?

As the numbers show, unless you get a Michigan school or Toledo/BG you're looking at a terrible attendance number in Detroit.

(07-24-2012 04:41 PM)7 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 12:23 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  Attendance on a weeknight in a MAC stadium isn't good in the fall. Over winter break it would be awful. Having it in an NFL stadium is preferable all things considered.

At what school is the first of week of December winter break?

As the numbers show, unless you get a Michigan school or Toledo/BG you're looking at a terrible attendance number in Detroit.

+1

Also, the MACC is played on a Friday night. No reason the attendance numbers for games played at campus sites wouldn't be good on that night. You can call it a "weeknight," but for attendance purposes it isn't.

Best case scenario for attendance for a MACC played at campus sites is a Saturday afternoon of course.

(07-24-2012 11:25 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

I have NO idea how many EMU fans would show.

EMU does have a large base of students and alums within a one hour drive of Ford Field.

(07-24-2012 05:01 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:25 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

I have NO idea how many EMU fans would show.

EMU does have a large base of students and alums within a one hour drive of Ford Field.

I like to think EMU fans will show up if they win.

In response to ohiofan23's question...yeah, I think the MAC as a whole thought they had a decent shot of getting Detroit fans in general to show up. It hasn't happened. More importantly, I think they wanted to take the weather element out of the equation and provide a c-ship atmosphere off campus.

I know we just signed a four year extension at Ford Field...so as a whole, we must think the indoor venue trumps the home stadiums and/or the atmosphere is worth it. I don't think the money would be any different in regards to having it televised, but I could be wrong.

(07-24-2012 07:08 PM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 05:01 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:25 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:05 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Good for the MAC and their value to the sponsors!

Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

I have NO idea how many EMU fans would show.

EMU does have a large base of students and alums within a one hour drive of Ford Field.

I like to think EMU fans will show up if they win.

In response to ohiofan23's question...yeah, I think the MAC as a whole thought they had a decent shot of getting Detroit fans in general to show up. It hasn't happened. More importantly, I think they wanted to take the weather element out of the equation and provide a c-ship atmosphere off campus.

I know we just signed a four year extension at Ford Field...so as a whole, we must think the indoor venue trumps the home stadiums and/or the atmosphere is worth it. I don't think the money would be any different in regards to having it televised, but I could be wrong.

It can't be the atmosphere at Ford Field for the MACC because there isn't any. At least not when there isn't a nearby school. I have to think that any NIU fans that would travel to Detroit would also travel to another MAC school for a MACC game as most of the schools aren't that much farther and a few are closer. And you'd have a ton of home team fans. I just cringe every time I see highlights of a MACC game and it looks like all the seats are empty. The games are in early December and it isn't THAT cold. Most of the teams just played a game the week before. And Detroit has shown that they don't support the game AT ALL.

If you look at those attendance numbers, the three biggest numbers were, I believe, the three years that the game was held on a Saturday. If better atttendance is important, then the game has to be played on a Saturday allowing people a chance to get there without taking off work/school. If national tv coverage is more important, then stick with the Friday night slot. Miami at BG was the last championship game played on campus, it was on a week night, both teams were rated in the top 25, and it was a big crowd, but not packed, so maybe 24,000 (without looking it up). It snowed a little and BG's field was in such terrible shape that they painted the mud green. I have also attended 5 other championship games in Detroit and personally I really enjoyed the pleasant, warm atmosphere and the NFL stadium far better than freezing at BG.

(07-24-2012 09:03 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 07:08 PM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 05:01 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:25 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 11:13 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Its only good for CMU, WMU, EMU, Toledo or BGSU. For everyone else it would be better for attendance to have it at our home field.

It's only good for the conference if CMU, WMU, Toledo or BGSU make it to the MACC. EMU can't be counted on to bring numbers to Ford Field until they do it at Rynerson.

It's better for all schools if we had it at our respective home fields.

I have NO idea how many EMU fans would show.

EMU does have a large base of students and alums within a one hour drive of Ford Field.

I like to think EMU fans will show up if they win.

In response to ohiofan23's question...yeah, I think the MAC as a whole thought they had a decent shot of getting Detroit fans in general to show up. It hasn't happened. More importantly, I think they wanted to take the weather element out of the equation and provide a c-ship atmosphere off campus.

I know we just signed a four year extension at Ford Field...so as a whole, we must think the indoor venue trumps the home stadiums and/or the atmosphere is worth it. I don't think the money would be any different in regards to having it televised, but I could be wrong.

It can't be the atmosphere at Ford Field for the MACC because there isn't any. At least not when there isn't a nearby school. I have to think that any NIU fans that would travel to Detroit would also travel to another MAC school for a MACC game as most of the schools aren't that much farther and a few are closer. And you'd have a ton of home team fans. I just cringe every time I see highlights of a MACC game and it looks like all the seats are empty. The games are in early December and it isn't THAT cold. Most of the teams just played a game the week before. And Detroit has shown that they don't support the game AT ALL.

I should have clarified. Not the actual game atmosphere. Rather, the atmosphere and excitement players feel when they travel.