Big Ten Championship Game is selling like preseason NFL on StubHub

[kgilbert78]

Get rid of playing it in Indianapolis. Who wants to go there.

Have you ever been there?? It's a pretty nice city.

Let's be real, though. There are a number of reasons for the game being in Indy other than the NCAA link. The biggest is, of course, that the game can be played indoors. The second is that Indy is relatively easy to get to and is centrally located for the conference. However, I'd expect Minneapolis and Detroit to make strong bids in the future, given that they also have roofed stadia.

 

[rudedude]

Do you think it easy to put on an event the size of the B1G Ten Championship in a week notice? Do you know the logistics of hosting an event with 100,000 plus people especially in a small town like state college. You have thousands of people mobilized to work the event. For example they have police officers work a Penn State game from all over the state. Are they to pay for all those police offers to be on call just incase Penn State needs them? It not like they can just call them a week before and say we made the game we need you to provide 10 officers to work overtime next Saturday. I also guarantee people would be complain on here if Penn State had to go to Madison for this game and how it should be at a neutral site. Can you imagine if Penn State was undefeated and ranked #2 in the country but had to play at an 8-4 Iowa who is ranked #24 because it was the west turn to host.

The reason why it in Indianapolis is it is a central location who put in a bid to host the games. Several other venues also bid for the game. Indianapolis has hosted many large events and most people say they do a great job. One thing I have heard is that people love that the convention center is next door so they can have a lot of activities in there.

Gee how does an NFL stadium get ready to host a playoff game in one week if it's the last day of the season and you don't know if you are in or out or will will host a game? They have it all figured out and I think a big time College Football program could figure it out too. $$ talks and B.S. Walks so if there is a will there would be a way.
I think you would get better attendance at the game then also.

 

[kgilbert78]

Gee how does an NFL stadium get ready to host a playoff game in one week if it's the last day of the season and you don't know if you are in or out or will will host a game? They have it all figured out and I think a big time College Football program could figure it out too. $$ talks and B.S. Walks so if there is a will there would be a way.
I think you would get better attendance at the game then also.

Most NFL teams are in big cities--with depth in terms of police, etc. Most college football team are not.

 

[rudedude]

Most NFL teams are in big cities--with depth in terms of police, etc. Most college football team are not.

Still not a reason that it cannot be done.

 

[NedFromYork]

Like to see it in NYC once and see how it goes.

 

[walleye38]

I'm honestly shocked. Penn State is one convincing win away from getting to the playoff, they have never played in this game before, and this game isn't going to come close to selling out?

Everyone gets on me about attendance at our games, but the following is not there like past years. I'm at every home game , and it's sad. We have a great team and not anywhere the following we shoud have.

 

[walleye38]

These games rarely sell well - not for any conference - I could walk through the reasons, but they should be obvious

I expect this one will be one of the better moving tickets of the last 5 years or so of "conference championship" games (most of which have trouble drawing flies) - - - largely because of the PSU interest (since this is like the 4th time in 6 years that UWisky has gone)

Funny, but Ohio State State sells out every year.

 

[AdvanSix]

These games rarely sell well - not for any conference - I could walk through the reasons, but they should be obvious

I expect this one will be one of the better moving tickets of the last 5 years or so of "conference championship" games (most of which have trouble drawing flies) - - - largely because of the PSU interest (since this is like the 4th time in 6 years that UWisky has gone)

I attended the MSU v OSU game a few years ago and it was extremely well attended.

 

[pandaczar12]

Funny, but Ohio State State sells out every year.

OSU is a city school, which is a huge advantage. All schools located in cities should be selling out every game with even a mediocre product.

Everyone gets on me about attendance at our games, but the following is not there like past years. I'm at every home game , and it's sad. We have a great team and not anywhere the following we shoud have.

Where you at the MSU game last weekend?

 

[bdgan]

Everyone gets on me about attendance at our games, but the following is not there like past years. I'm at every home game , and it's sad. We have a great team and not anywhere the following we shoud have.

A lot of fans frustrated at the BOT for throwing Joe under the bus. Then they raised ticket prices to watch a sanction hampered team. It's going to take some time.

 

[john4psu]

Like to see it in NYC once and see how it goes.

That's the closest Rutgers will ever get to the Big 10 Championship game.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Gee how does an NFL stadium get ready to host a playoff game in one week if it's the last day of the season and you don't know if you are in or out or will will host a game? They have it all figured out and I think a big time College Football program could figure it out too. $$ talks and B.S. Walks so if there is a will there would be a way.
I think you would get better attendance at the game then also.

NLF venues are professionally managed facilities in large cities. If you are intelligent enough to understand the difference between hosting an event with 60,000 people in a city of 2 million compared to hosting an event with 100,000 people in a town with of 40,000. Here an example. State College had 65 officers while Pittsburgh has 1,235 officers. When the Steelers host a game it all handled internally. They don't have to pull officers from 100 miles away. They don't need to bring additional ems to cover. In the B1G there are a few schools like Ohio state, Maryland and Minnesota who could easily pull it off. However most schools can't.

Let put it this way. The PAC 12 tried it and it was an epic disaster.

 

[PSU_Nut]

A lot of fans frustrated at the BOT for throwing Joe under the bus. Then they raised ticket prices to watch a sanction hampered team. It's going to take some time.

What are you talking about? Season ticket prices have not been raised since STEP started. They have started to reduce donation requirements. STEP had the bigges impact on attendance.

 

[mn78psu83]

Have you ever been there?? It's a pretty nice city.

Let's be real, though. There are a number of reasons for the game being in Indy other than the NCAA link. The biggest is, of course, that the game can be played indoors. The second is that Indy is relatively easy to get to and is centrally located for the conference. However, I'd expect Minneapolis and Detroit to make strong bids in the future, given that they also have roofed stadia.

True. There are a number of reasons, two important ones you cite. I was being a little too cynical. Nevertheless, I assure you that there are strong ties between the NCAA, B1G and Indiana Sports Inc.

 

[kgilbert78]

Funny, but Ohio State State sells out every year.

And they are in a large city with over two million in the metro area. Makes it just a bit easier. State College?? About 150K.

 

[walleye38]

OSU is a city school, which is a huge advantage. All schools located in cities should be selling out every game with even a mediocre product.

Where you at the MSU game last weekend?

I am at every home game.

 

[walleye38]

OSU is a city school, which is a huge advantage. All schools located in cities should be selling out every game with even a mediocre product.

Where you at the MSU game last weekend?

You don't read do you. At every home game. Season ticket holder.

 

[pandaczar12]

I am at every home game.

Every Penn State football home game? I notice you like to be vague in your responses.

There were some questions in a thread you've neglected to answer for few days. I've linked it for your convenience:

https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threa...-even-fill-the-stadium-not-even.157764/page-1

 

[pandaczar12]

You don't read do you. At every home game. Season ticket holder.

Oh I can read, and I have read the questions in that other thread that you seem afraid to answer. I can also not respond to the same post twice with two varied answers in a matter of minutes.

 

[Columbus_Lion]

Funny, but Ohio State State sells out every year.

Its costs me $1,500 to see a PSU game in State College...between hotel, tickets, food, drinks, fuel. I am driving to Indy on Saturday and will see the game for less than $500 total cost.

 

[jjsocrates]

I'm honestly shocked. Penn State is one convincing win away from getting to the playoff, they have never played in this game before, and this game isn't going to come close to selling out?

Well - its in Indianapolis. If I'm going to plunk down money for tix, hotels and planes - I might want to do something other than just fly in/out for the game.

And - its in Indianapolis.

My GOD - you'd think the Big Ten would hold their Championship game in Chicago or someplace people WANT to visit.

 

[step.eng69]

Funny, but Ohio State State sells out every year.

walleye, give it up already with the concern of comparing stadium vacancies. Columbus's metro area is 12.5 larger than state College.

Link: http://www.gopsusports.com/blog/2011/11/a-town-and-university-growing-with-penn-state-football.html

Gamedays as we know them today would not be the same without some of the best fans in college football. Football Saturdays throughout the fall transform State College into a different place than it is during the remaining 358 days (357 when Penn State plays eight home games) of the year.

On home football Saturdays, State College becomes the third largest city in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia (1,526,006) and Pittsburgh (305,704). It tops Allentown (118,032) and Erie (101,786), which rank third and fourth. Additionally, State College becomes one of the top 240 cities in the United States when Penn State plays a football game in Beaver Stadium.

State college is 42,000 plus in population, metropolitan statistical area is 158,742 (US: 257th)
Population of Columbus is 850,106 +/-; the metropolitan area is 2 million plus. (US: 32nd)
state

State college has 8% of the metro area that Columbus has to draw fans to the stadium. Another words, Columbus has a 12.5 larger core area in comparison to State college. Makes it easy to roll out of bed on a Saturday morning, drive ¾ hour to the stadium.

 

[heckmans]

This is all too tied into big $$$, but the real logical response would be for the game to rotate between the West champ and East Champ as a home game. Why is the Big interested in helping the finances of Indianapolis? Does Delany have partial,ownership in Lucas Oil Stadium?

Terrible idea.
1. Should be neutral field
2. The B1G would never want their 2nd most important game to be played in a blizzard or have the elements be a factor.

Would love to see it rotate, but Indy is somewhat centrally located. Would doubt it will ever be in NY/DC. Would almost guarantee poor ticket sales, especially for the West Division as noone could reasonably drive.

 

[heckmans]

Well - its in Indianapolis. If I'm going to plunk down money for tix, hotels and planes - I might want to do something other than just fly in/out for the game.

And - its in Indianapolis.

My GOD - you'd think the Big Ten would hold their Championship game in Chicago or someplace people WANT to visit.

Soldier field the week after Thanksgiving? No sure people WANT to visit Chicago in December

 

[mn78psu83]

Soldier field the week after Thanksgiving? No sure people WANT to visit Chicago in December

Agree. Soldier Field isn't a viable option in December.

 

[bdgan]

What are you talking about? Season ticket prices have not been raised since STEP started. They have started to reduce donation requirements. STEP had the bigges impact on attendance.

Didn't STEP start in 2011, the same time the JS crap hit the fan? Also, how much were MSU single game tickets (20 yard line, mid stadium)?

 

[psu00]

Soldier field the week after Thanksgiving? No sure people WANT to visit Chicago in December

I'm not sure people want to visit Indianapolis....well.....ever.

 

[psugisher]

There will be a nice number of PSU fans there. The 10k plus allotment was sold out pretty easily. Just hope those that didn't get tickets through PSU don't decide not to go. There are tons of cheap tickets. Great opportunity to white out Indy. To take over the stadium, you have to be willing to buy seats in opposing territory. I'll be in 113 behind the Wisconsin bench. Hope to see some Penn Staters close by.

Indy is a fantastic city. Clean and easy to get around. Great restaurants and bars. This will be an awesome trip for those that are willing to make it.

 

[CJBauer]

anyone still looking for tickets?
I've got 6 (2 and 4) for face value

 

[dwiz]

anyone still looking for tickets?
I've got 6 (2 and 4) for face value

6 tickets for $100 total is the going rate.

 

[walleye38]

walleye, give it up already with the concern of comparing stadium vacancies. Columbus's metro area is 12.5 larger than state College.

Link: http://www.gopsusports.com/blog/2011/11/a-town-and-university-growing-with-penn-state-football.html

Gamedays as we know them today would not be the same without some of the best fans in college football. Football Saturdays throughout the fall transform State College into a different place than it is during the remaining 358 days (357 when Penn State plays eight home games) of the year.

On home football Saturdays, State College becomes the third largest city in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia (1,526,006) and Pittsburgh (305,704). It tops Allentown (118,032) and Erie (101,786), which rank third and fourth. Additionally, State College becomes one of the top 240 cities in the United States when Penn State plays a football game in Beaver Stadium.

State college is 42,000 plus in population, metropolitan statistical area is 158,742 (US: 257th)
Population of Columbus is 850,106 +/-; the metropolitan area is 2 million plus. (US: 32nd)
state

State college has 8% of the metro area that Columbus has to draw fans to the stadium. Another words, Columbus has a 12.5 larger core area in comparison to State college. Makes it easy to roll out of bed on a Saturday morning, drive ¾ hour to the stadium.

Never had a problem filling up in the 80's and 90's.

 

[NC2017]

I think the game should be played at Rutger's High Point Solutions Stadium. The end zones are like new.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Didn't STEP start in 2011, the same time the JS crap hit the fan? Also, how much were MSU single game tickets (20 yard line, mid stadium)?

It was announced in November of 2009. The imcopentent admin had no clue what they were doing and alienated a lot of fans. Instead of following the trend and slowly phased it in they implemented in one big chunk. Tickets prices for MSU game ranged from $60 to $90. On the 20 they were $65 upper level and $75 lower level.


Penn State Athletics announced the Nittany Lion Club Seat Transfer & Equity Plan (STEP) in November 2009. The Nittany Lion Club STEP will be implemented for the 2011 season, and some key season ticket holder deadlines and instruction are rapidly approaching. Current and new Nittany Lion Club members who purchase football season tickets are offered the opportunity to transfer, retain, upgrade or relocate their current seats through the new seating plan.

 

[nits74]

Like to see it in NYC once and see how it goes.

I'm thinking it would do well, and if Penn State were in the game the hype in that area, as well as nationally, would be off the charts.

 

[pandaczar12]

6 tickets for $100 total is the going rate.

Plus fees. It's a bit misleading though. If you don't want to sit in the end zone on the Wisconsin half, and you don't want to sit by yourself, the tickets cost more.

Anyone know which side will be on TV the entire time? It could be UGLY if it is not Penn State.

 

[kgilbert78]

Well - its in Indianapolis. If I'm going to plunk down money for tix, hotels and planes - I might want to do something other than just fly in/out for the game.

And - its in Indianapolis.

My GOD - you'd think the Big Ten would hold their Championship game in Chicago or someplace people WANT to visit.

Ever been to Indy? It's actually quite nice.

 

[Cletus11]

Just googled some airfares.

Philly to Indy.....$600 (no direct)
Pitt to Indy....$531 (no direct)
Philly to Atlanta....$231 (direct)

There is one decent reason why SEC could fill up more. Save $300-$400 on airfare alone and don't have to connect and waste all day Friday and Monday. And not like Indianapolis is a bad city, but Atlanta is much nicer this time of year. No easy way for the Big Ten to manage this any better. Cannot really have an outside game as you don't want weather to play a huge role. Detroit has indoor but not like a whole lot better.

 

[NedFromYork]

They need to DRASTICALLY reduce ticket prices for the endzone upper decks at the Beav going forward until we get more distance from 2011 and the 7 win seasons. They also need to do something about the student section. Not sure what the solution is there. I'm thinking something like keep it the way it is for the big games, half the allotment any time falls on a Thanksgiving weekend, rope the student section off at end of 1Q at the last filled row, allow walk ups 2Q+ to anybody at a significantly reduced rate.

They need to make some changes this offseason, I would think this has Franklin's attention and he will turn to it after the season is completely over.

 

[step.eng69]

Never had a problem filling up in the 80's and
90's.

Step program hindered the attendance, then came HR-large screen, ticket cost increased from $36 in 2000 to $55 in 2010. Too costly for the distant travelers. Of course you know this.

For 20 years from 1980 to 2000 the stadium capacity 83k to 93k. that's essentially the attendance today.

Timeline of Beaver Stadium Expansion
1959: Beaver Field capacity 30,000. Stadium was dismantled and moved to the east end of campus, reassembled and expanded, and dubbed Beaver Stadium.

1960: Capacity 46,284

1969: Addition of over 2000 seats

1974: Addition of over 9000 seats, extending capacity to 57,536

1976: South end zone bleachers expanded, extending capacity to 60,203

1978: More than 16000 seats added, extending capacity to 76,639; press box expanded, the track is eliminated, steel beams are added,

1980: 7000 seats added, extending capacity to 83,600; electronic scoreboard is added

1984: Permanent lights are added

1985: Permanent seats added to north end zone; home team locker room added; media room added; concrete ramps added

1991: Upper deck added to north end zone; 10,000 seats added

2002: Upper deck added to south end zone; skyboxes added above east side of stadium, increasing capacity to 106, 537

 

[interrobang]

Penn State will have 15-20k fans there. Probably more than just about any other team has sent