B1G Title Game

[JHHawk]

I just think that Chicago is geographically located smack dab in the middle of the conference,and makes it more fan friendly than Indy for travel.
I wish the Bears had built that retractable dome that I wanted,so that is a drawback.
But to just deem Indy as THE Big Ten destination for all major postseason events seems wrong to me.
The Big Ten headquarters are in Chicago. The BTN is located in Chicago. There are 5 Big Ten schools clustered around Chicago....Wis,NW,Iowa,Ill,Purdue....sure, the turf is not perfect,but usually by then the Park District has put in its 2nd or 3rd new turf,and it is not frozen due to pipes under the field. It is not a macho thing for me,but I admit to not minding watching a game in normal late fall midwest conditions.
The Bears-Vikings game last year on Monday nite was played in the Gopher stadium not designed to play cold weather games,just like the Iowa-gopher game. Soldier Field turf is not frozen like that stadium. Still, that Bears Vikings game played in a snowstorm drew big TV numbers as fans do watch snow games.

As for the complaints about references to shopping...hey,it is Christmas time,and it is the biggest shopping period of the year,so naturally, a trip to the city might include a Sunday shopping session,as men watch NFL games at the bar or whatever. Is it a drawback? I do not think so,for many men who have wives who do partake in that kind of endeavor. Helps sell the trip for some.

 

[olddude]

As for the complaints about references to shopping...hey,it is Christmas time,and it is the biggest shopping period of the year,so naturally, a trip to the city might include a Sunday shopping session,as men watch NFL games at the bar or whatever. Is it a drawback? I do not think so,for many men who have wives who do partake in that kind of endeavor. Helps sell the trip for some.

Point well taken. I stand corrected. Mine likes watching the games and lord how sometimes I wish she was shopping.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

Not mad at all, just wondering why someone is defending Jacksonville and Tampa. We're talking about Jacksonville. Your main argument is that Jacksonville is better than Indy because they have beaches, well we're talking about a football game in December, what the **** do beaches have to do with that?

Once again you fail to use any sort of basic logic in any of your arguments. Give me any legit reason why Tampa or Jacksonville are better suited to host a title game than Indy.

Because there is nothing to do in Indy. That's been my point the whole time. There is no "Indy experience". No one talks about Indy nightlife. No one talks about Indy shopping. No one raves about Indy restaurants. No one talks about outdoor activities in Indy.

Indy is like a huge suburb that was built for no reason. It has no life, it has no soul, it has no appeal.

Hold the game in Chicago. If they ever rebuild the metrodome, hold it in Minneapolis (which is an amazing town), but don't hold it in Indy.

 

[tm3308]

Because there is nothing to do in Indy. That's been my point the whole time. There is no "Indy experience". No one talks about Indy nightlife. No one talks about Indy shopping. No one raves about Indy restaurants. No one talks about outdoor activities in Indy.

Indy is like a huge suburb that was built for no reason. It has no life, it has no soul, it has no appeal.

Hold the game in Chicago. If they ever rebuild the metrodome, hold it in Minneapolis (which is an amazing town), but don't hold it in Indy.

And they do that in Chicago, in December?

It's going to be indoors to ensure that they get as many people to come as possible. Chicago can't offer that, and it's probably the most important thing the conference is looking for.

And for those concerned about having both the basketball tourney and conference title game in Indy: move basketball to the United Center and call it good.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Because there is nothing to do in Indy. That's been my point the whole time. There is no "Indy experience". No one talks about Indy nightlife. No one talks about Indy shopping. No one raves about Indy restaurants. No one talks about outdoor activities in Indy.

Indy is like a huge suburb that was built for no reason. It has no life, it has no soul, it has no appeal.

Hold the game in Chicago. If they ever rebuild the metrodome, hold it in Minneapolis (which is an amazing town), but don't hold it in Indy.

It's like you think we need to hold it somewhere where people can have a cultural experience, it's a ******* football game. Indy has a great facility, much better than Chi or Minneapolis. It has an extremely convenient location with plenty of bars and hotels all within walking distance, the area around Lucas Oil Stadium is much better than the area around the Metrodome.

And there's no Jacksonville or Tampa "experience" either besides better weather.

But I get you just like to argue for the sake of arguing, so go on continue to talk up the cultural meccas of Jacksonville and Tampa.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

It's like you think we need to hold it somewhere where people can have a cultural experience, it's a ******* football game. Indy has a great facility, much better than Chi or Minneapolis. It has an extremely convenient location with plenty of bars and hotels all within walking distance, the area around Lucas Oil Stadium is much better than the area around the Metrodome.

And there's no Jacksonville or Tampa "experience" either besides better weather.

But I get you just like to argue for the sake of arguing, so go on continue to talk up the cultural meccas of Jacksonville and Tampa.

It sounds like you're the one arguing for the sake of arguing, since you're the one hyping up Indianapolis over Tampa. Look, I've lived in both, and there is no comparison.

If the only thing Indy has going for it is bars within walking distance, that is the WORST plus for an event site I have ever heard. When people spend a weekend in a town for an event, they don't want to sit in hotels and bars, they want to shop, they want to hit museums, they want to soak up some local culture.

Of course, Indy has none of that stuff, so they seemingly inhibit people from exploring the town. A day spent as a tourist in Indy is: Go to the Speedway museum, go to Applebees, drink in the Holliday Inn lobby.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

It sounds like you're the one arguing for the sake of arguing, since you're the one hyping up Indianapolis over Tampa. Look, I've lived in both, and there is no comparison.

If the only thing Indy has going for it is bars within walking distance, that is the WORST plus for an event site I have ever heard. When people spend a weekend in a town for an event, they don't want to sit in hotels and bars, they want to shop, they want to hit museums, they want to soak up some local culture.

Of course, Indy has none of that stuff, so they seemingly inhibit people from exploring the town. A day spent as a tourist in Indy is: Go to the Speedway museum, go to Applebees, drink in the Holliday Inn lobby.

This isn't a week long trip, people are going there to watch a football game. SEC fans aren't going to Atlanta to enjoy all the culture there, they go there to wear their jorts drink some beer and watch some SEC footbaw. Most of the SEC fans have probably never been to a museum of any kind in their life.

And bars within walking distance is only of many pluses I gave. Brand new stadium, much better than any in Chicago, Minneapolis, Jacksonville or Tampa. One of the better and the newest airport in the country, easily navigable city, and plenty of hotels within walking distance are all better points that I mentioned.

 

[tm3308]

It sounds like you're the one arguing for the sake of arguing, since you're the one hyping up Indianapolis over Tampa. Look, I've lived in both, and there is no comparison.

If the only thing Indy has going for it is bars within walking distance, that is the WORST plus for an event site I have ever heard. When people spend a weekend in a town for an event, they don't want to sit in hotels and bars, they want to shop, they want to hit museums, they want to soak up some local culture.

Of course, Indy has none of that stuff, so they seemingly inhibit people from exploring the town. A day spent as a tourist in Indy is: Go to the Speedway museum, go to Applebees, drink in the Holliday Inn lobby.

Again I ask: why are we comparing Indy and Tampa? The Big Ten, or any conference for that matter, isn't going to hold their conference title game outside of their region. Because that would be incredibly stupid. Why doesn't the SEC play their game in NYC? I mean there's plenty to do in the Big Apple, so it's a perfect fit, right?

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

Again I ask: why are we comparing Indy and Tampa? The Big Ten, or any conference for that matter, isn't going to hold their conference title game outside of their region. Because that would be incredibly stupid. Why doesn't the SEC play their game in NYC? I mean there's plenty to do in the Big Apple, so it's a perfect fit, right?

Why do you seem to think that I am advocating the Big 10 hold their game outside of their region? You keep saying this, and I kept ignoring it because it's such a stupid thought, but you keep mysteriously inferring it out of what I'm writing. I have never once implied that the Big 10 should hold the game anywhere but the midwest.

The reason I compared Indy to Tampa (and Jacksonville and Atlanta) is because I was comparing the relative championship sites of different conferences. I hold that Indy would be the worst city to ever host a game like this (followed closely by Jax). This is not because I am anti-midwest or anti-Big 10. I just hate Indianapolis. I think Chicago would be the best location, and Minneapolis would be good too, if you have to play it indoors (although the arena makes that an unlikely event). There are a ton of great cities in the Midwest, but unfortunately, some people feel like going to bat for the worst.

 

[tm3308]

Why do you seem to think that I am advocating the Big 10 hold their game outside of their region? You keep saying this, and I kept ignoring it because it's such a stupid thought, but you keep mysteriously inferring it out of what I'm writing. I have never once implied that the Big 10 should hold the game anywhere but the midwest.

The reason I compared Indy to Tampa (and Jacksonville and Atlanta) is because I was comparing the relative championship sites of different conferences. I hold that Indy would be the worst city to ever host a game like this (followed closely by Jax). This is not because I am anti-midwest or anti-Big 10. I just hate Indianapolis. I think Chicago would be the best location, and Minneapolis would be good too, if you have to play it indoors (although the arena makes that an unlikely event). There are a ton of great cities in the Midwest, but unfortunately, some people feel like going to bat for the worst.

The football game comes first. And Indianapolis is the best fit for that. It's indoors, it's pretty close to the center of the conference. Fans go to the game for the GAME. The shopping and all that are just a bonus. I know I sure as hell didn't go to Ann Arbor for the great food and shopping. I went to watch a football game.

For an indoor title game (which it was inevitably going to be), Indianapolis is BY FAR the best fit. Minneapolis is quite a ways out of the way for the fans on the east side of the conference, and it currently doesn't even have an indoor stadium. Chicago has no indoor stadium, so it's clearly not a great fit for what the conference is looking for.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

The football game comes first. And Indianapolis is the best fit for that. It's indoors, it's pretty close to the center of the conference. Fans go to the game for the GAME. The shopping and all that are just a bonus. I know I sure as hell didn't go to Ann Arbor for the great food and shopping. I went to watch a football game.

For an indoor title game (which it was inevitably going to be), Indianapolis is BY FAR the best fit. Minneapolis is quite a ways out of the way for the fans on the east side of the conference, and it currently doesn't even have an indoor stadium. Chicago has no indoor stadium, so it's clearly not a great fit for what the conference is looking for.

There's really no point in even arguing with him. He thinks the quality of a city's museums are a more important qualification for hosting a BCS conference title game than the quality of the actual stadium. Because if there's one thing SEC football fans know, it's museums. Well museums and obesity, diabetes and illiteracy.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

There's really no point in even arguing with him. He thinks the quality of a city's museums are a more important qualification for hosting a BCS conference title game than the quality of the actual stadium. Because if there's one thing SEC football fans know, it's museums. Well museums and obesity, diabetes and illiteracy.

Here's the thing. I have gone to quite a few sporting events out of town. I have never gone for one night, watched the game, and then left immediately. Most fans don't. I know Iowa is a perennial bowl team. For those of you who go to Iowa bowl games, do you stay one night and watch the game, or do you stay 3-6 days and soak up the town a little bit? To me it seems like a no brainer. There is literally nothing for a person to do in Indianapolis for the 2 to 5 days you are not at the game. I visit Indy for around a week every year (my mother in law lives there), and outside of day trips to South bend or Muncie, the only thing to do there is go to Meijer and eat at chain restaurants.

So this isn't about museums, that was just an example. It is about what the city has to offer for thousands of visitors celebrating a long weekend. So far, the only thing I have heard in Indy's favor is sports bars near the stadium.

 

[tm3308]

Here's the thing. I have gone to quite a few sporting events out of town. I have never gone for one night, watched the game, and then left immediately. Most fans don't. I know Iowa is a perennial bowl team. For those of you who go to Iowa bowl games, do you stay one night and watch the game, or do you stay 3-6 days and soak up the town a little bit? To me it seems like a no brainer. There is literally nothing for a person to do in Indianapolis for the 2 to 5 days you are not at the game. I visit Indy for around a week every year (my mother in law lives there), and outside of day trips to South bend or Muncie, the only thing to do there is go to Meijer and eat at chain restaurants.

So this isn't about museums, that was just an example. It is about what the city has to offer for thousands of visitors celebrating a long weekend. So far, the only thing I have heard in Indy's favor is sports bars near the stadium.

And to pretend that all those restaurants, museums, etc. are what attract those people to town is ludicrous. All of that stuff is gravy for the fans. They are in town for the game. Period.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Here's the thing. I have gone to quite a few sporting events out of town. I have never gone for one night, watched the game, and then left immediately. Most fans don't. I know Iowa is a perennial bowl team. For those of you who go to Iowa bowl games, do you stay one night and watch the game, or do you stay 3-6 days and soak up the town a little bit? To me it seems like a no brainer. I visit Indy for around a week every year (my mother in law lives there), and outside of day trips to South bend or Muncie, the only thing to do there is go to Meijer and eat at chain restaurants.

So this isn't about museums, that was just an example. It is about what the city has to offer for thousands of visitors celebrating a long weekend. So far, the only thing I have heard in Indy's favor is sports bars near the stadium.

Who is going to plan a six day trip to Indy to watch the B10 title game? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. People do this for the bowls because most bowls fall between Christmas and New Years when a lot of people have vacation. People aren't going to pull their kids out of school for several days right before Christmas so they can go hang out in Indianapolis. Come in on friday, watch the game on saturday, go home on Sunday. That's what people are going to do.

 

[MultipleDundieAwardWinner]

Who is going to plan a six day trip to Indy to watch the B10 title game? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. People do this for the bowls because most bowls fall between Christmas and New Years when a lot of people have vacation. People aren't going to pull their kids out of school for several days right before Christmas so they can go hang out in Indianapolis. Come in on friday, watch the game on saturday, go home on Sunday. That's what people are going to do.

This acctually makes quite a bit of sense.

 

[dchawk75]

For a quick turn around weekend, Chicago is far from ideal. There is very limited parking around Soldier Field, the hotels will cost a fortune because it will be prime Christmas shopping time and it will be colder than hell. Give me a downtown Indianapolis hotel, with the bars and restaurants nearby and the stadium an easy walk from the hotels. I will catch my culture in Chicago some other time when I am not pre-occupied with winning a Big 10 championship. The primary focal point should be show casing our two best teams in conditions that befit a championship game, not slopping around on the sorry a*** turf, that is Soldier Field.

 

[SDK46]

The football game comes first. And Indianapolis is the best fit for that. It's indoors, it's pretty close to the center of the conference. Fans go to the game for the GAME. The shopping and all that are just a bonus. I know I sure as hell didn't go to Ann Arbor for the great food and shopping. I went to watch a football game.

Thank you, thank you kind sir. 100% spot-on.

Who here has spent a weekend traveling to some of the "glamor" road destinations the Hawks go to....West Lafayette, Champaign, Bloomington, East Lansing....and did you go there because of the city? NO! You went for the game first and foremost.

 

[okeefe4prez]

For all of the over-compensating tough guys out there who think that the title game should be played outdoors in Chicago because football is an outdoor sport and the B1G is a tough, hard-nosed conference - get over yourselves.

Why would we want our teams to be intentionally subjected to poor field conditions? Earning a trip to the title game should be a reward, not a punishment. Can you imagine what Soldier Field looks like by early December? The freezing cold temps. and torn up turf opens our players up to nothing but senseless, avoidable injuries.

I have seen so many tweets and comments about this that it makes me sick. There, I'm done. I will step down from my soap-box now.

46 in Chicago today. Perfect football weather. Let's play in a dome where Iowa has no chance. Haven't lost out in the cold, but yeah, let's move the game to a dome.

 

[Skeets77]

Can't read past 2 lines at this point. No surprise here. We played our balls off. Lucky the game was as close as it was. That turnover down by the end zone cost us the game.