The city of Dallas has agreed to kick in some money after all to save the bowl game in the Cotton Bowl. It will be sponsored by Serve Pro. That is $150,000 per year for two years. The official name The Serve Pro First Responders Bowl. Dallas had previously donated $400,000 per year. This may just be a band aid approach.

Made my day seeing this. 2nd most historic venue of the sport.

As long as the Bowl game is in an early afternoon slot on 26-December ------ it won't be successful.

NO chance in that slot. None.

(09-12-2018 10:33 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Made my day seeing this. 2nd most historic venue of the sport.

Yes, the Cotton Bowl is iconic.

Unfortunately, as others have said, this looks like a Band-Aid approach and the problem will still be there two years from now.

(09-12-2018 10:33 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Made my day seeing this. 2nd most historic venue of the sport.

Historic venue won't save the game. The Texas League could hold its championship at Wrigley and the Florida State League at Fenway and not end up being financially viable.

That's the likely fate of this game. Non-power 5 on one or both sides and likely one or both teams from outside the immediate region.

The game is going to have more empty seats than filled seats 9 or 10 years out of 10 unless someone is forking out the money to get high P5 picks.

In that time slot you need two fairly local teams, and a bigger payout. Most logical would be B12 vs best available AAC west team not in Access bowl.

Need to keep travel to a minimum, The Tx or Ok schools from both conf would work there.

(09-13-2018 09:17 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  In that time slot you need two fairly local teams, and a bigger payout. Most logical would be B12 vs best available AAC west team not in Access bowl.

Need to keep travel to a minimum, The Tx or Ok schools from both conf would work there.

Agree that this bowl needs an upgrade in opponents. Maybe a full time B12 team. Also may need an AAC west or CUSA west (UNT) team every year.

(09-13-2018 09:57 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 09:17 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  In that time slot you need two fairly local teams, and a bigger payout. Most logical would be B12 vs best available AAC west team not in Access bowl.

Need to keep travel to a minimum, The Tx or Ok schools from both conf would work there.

Agree that this bowl needs an upgrade in opponents. Maybe a full time B12 team. Also may need an AAC west or CUSA west (UNT) team every year.

I think a full-time local Big 12 team is what's needed. Iowa State or Kansas State wouldn't do the trick either, they need a Texas team in their every year.

But that's not happening with the lousy payout, which of course won't improve without a better team selection.

It's a vicious circle.

(09-13-2018 09:07 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(09-12-2018 10:33 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Made my day seeing this. 2nd most historic venue of the sport.

Historic venue won't save the game. The Texas League could hold its championship at Wrigley and the Florida State League at Fenway and not end up being financially viable.

That's the likely fate of this game. Non-power 5 on one or both sides and likely one or both teams from outside the immediate region.

The game is going to have more empty seats than filled seats 9 or 10 years out of 10 unless someone is forking out the money to get high P5 picks.

Just way too many seats for a G5 vs G5 Bowl—-especially for two out of area G5’s.

December 26th at 1:30.

Bad day plus bad time plus teams and fans must travel over Christmas for a low payout equals lack of fan interest and a lot of empty seats. Only good news is that I can watch it on TV at home recuperating from Christmas Day.

The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

The former HOD would not have the issues they have if they could just get the teams they are supposed to have every season. More times then not, the Big 12 or Big 10 do not fill their spot in the bowl. And when they do, they don't get matched with an optimal opponent from C-USA.

North Texas went to two of the last five HOD's and was matched with UNLV and Army. Too bad we have yet to play a team from either conference the bowl is supposedly tied to.

The First Responder Bowl doesn't have to be terrible.

(09-13-2018 07:57 PM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

You have to go back to 1/1/1979 for the last time attendance dipped below 56k. Ironically, a top 10 thriller between Notre Dame/Houston at 32k (was there a storm?).

(09-13-2018 09:18 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 07:57 PM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

You have to go back to 1/1/1979 for the last time attendance dipped below 56k. Ironically, a top 10 thriller between Notre Dame/Houston at 32k (was there a storm?).

Yeah. It was the worst ice storm in 30 years. They say as few 7K were still there by the games end.

(09-14-2018 12:12 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 09:18 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 07:57 PM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

You have to go back to 1/1/1979 for the last time attendance dipped below 56k. Ironically, a top 10 thriller between Notre Dame/Houston at 32k (was there a storm?).

Yeah. It was the worst ice storm in 30 years. They say as few 7K were still there by the games end.

The 35-34 Montana Chicken Soup comeback in a rain and ice storm.

(09-14-2018 12:12 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 09:18 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 07:57 PM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

You have to go back to 1/1/1979 for the last time attendance dipped below 56k. Ironically, a top 10 thriller between Notre Dame/Houston at 32k (was there a storm?).

Yeah. It was the worst ice storm in 30 years. They say as few 7K were still there by the games end.

I am still amazed at how many did show up. It was a horrible ice storm in the DFW area. Many areas without electricity.

(09-13-2018 09:18 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(09-13-2018 07:57 PM)SMUmustangs Wrote:  The Cotton bowl game in Dallas had attendance problems, even in the Southwest Conference days. Bad stadium, bad location, bad weather, bad destination for fans. IMO it is a lost cause.

You have to go back to 1/1/1979 for the last time attendance dipped below 56k. Ironically, a top 10 thriller between Notre Dame/Houston at 32k (was there a storm?).

Announced figures. We all know what that means. The visiting teams preferred the Orange or Sugar Bowl over the Cotton Bowl.

(09-13-2018 08:37 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  The former HOD would not have the issues they have if they could just get the teams they are supposed to have every season. More times then not, the Big 12 or Big 10 do not fill their spot in the bowl. And when they do, they don't get matched with an optimal opponent from C-USA.

North Texas went to two of the last five HOD's and was matched with UNLV and Army. Too bad we have yet to play a team from either conference the bowl is supposedly tied to.

The First Responder Bowl doesn't have to be terrible.

Old stadium in a crummy area of the city
Decent chance of cold weather
Bad date and so so teams

Yeah, you can't put lipstick on that pig

It is what it is...a 3rd tier bowl game

This game with be better off at SMU, UNT, Baylor or Allen.

(09-13-2018 08:37 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  The First Responder Bowl doesn't have to be terrible.

Actually, I think it kind of does...

The Cotton Bowl is too big to be hosting a low tier bowl. They really need to move the game to UNT and turn it into one of the top bowls for C-USA West playing host to a MWC or SBC West school.