(08-19-2019 04:41 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 04:28 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 03:10 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 01:27 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  With the exception of Annapolis and Birmingham, every city is one that you would pretty much think could easily tap into several million in sponsor money.

FWIW, Annapolis is a wealthy area itself, the capitol of Maryland, and located on the edges of both the Washington DC and Baltimore areas, it effectively is in both their areas. There aren't many places in the USA with more money within a 50 mile radius.

But your general point, and JB's, is well taken - the Independence Bowl used to compete against a smaller number of bowls. Competition has heated up, and its inability to raise payout money has it falling behind, perhaps fatally so.

My observation is ESPN can pretty much gin up some money for any bowl but regardless of whether you are ESPN run or independent unless you are one the mega bowls with a near guaranteed large audience, you need some local tie. AutoZone is based in Memphis. I think Franklin American Mortgage was based in Nashville until bought out they were also sponsored by Nashville's Gaylord Hotels. Holiday and Poinsettia had a cycle of local affiliations. Outback is based in Tampa, Alamo was sponsored by Builders Square when they were based in San Antonio. Houston based Meineke was big sponsor of the Texas Bowl. Belk is based in Charlotte.

It's not an always thing but it certainly seems that many these newer bowls that have passed Shreveport mostly had at least a period where they were getting local money that pushed them up the pecking order opening up even bigger deals.

Sort of makes me wonder what would have happened if MAC had cast their lot with Little Rock instead of Montgomery.

TV became the stick point. Montgomery had handed their effort over to ESPN Events and a pre-Christmas ESPN slot was guaranteed. Little Rock balked because they wanted to be post-Christmas and that meant CBSSN was their only option BUT they already had Riceland Foods signed on as title sponsor (Riceland Foods Rice Bowl). The guy who was heading up the effort was very surprised that MAC bailed out for Montgomery because Montgomery was offering what he says was significantly less money. Well it would have to be a crap ton of money before most commissioners pick being on CBSSN over ESPN.

Still there are those who have done OK sticking to their guns. Tucson is doing OK with their bowl because they were adamant that they wanted to be post-Christmas. They turned down a reportedly nice offer from ESPN to take the Poinsettia's slot but their committee is committed to the idea that they can grow organically and eventually get the money up so they grow it into a post-Christmas game that involves the Pac-12. Still a good way from accomplishing that but they are solvent and seem to be growing.

That was one of the many errors made by the AAC with their Miami Beach Bowl. They didnt fund it well and they allowed ESPN to cram it into the ugliest of all ugly broadcast windows. A weekday afternoon at 2pm about 4 days prior to Christmas.

Great example. It's one thing to play a day game on a week day between Christmas and New Years when so many people take that week off. Pre-Christmas weekday games suck and then during work hours is even worse.