Big Ten Title Game to Indianapolis

[JonDMiller]

The city of Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium has been selected to host the first four Big Ten title games, according to Conference Commissioner Jim Delany.

Delany said he is not married to the event remaining in that city, but that it established a safe base from which to launch the product for the first several years.

I know there are a lot of folks out there that wanted to see the game played outdoors, but I think in the end this is going to prove to be the best option for fan comfort and to make the game be one of the marquee football dates on the annual calendar.

The SEC title game has been held in Atlanta every year of its existence at an indoor stadium, and the southeast certainly has the weather to hold outdoor title games during the first week of December. In fact, it can be downright pleasant weather that time of year in the south...yet they choose to have the game indoors, where the weather is predictable and fan comfort is a given and the field conditions are always the same.

I like this move and felt it was guaranteed to happen...we'll see what happens in four years, but my guess is Indianapolis is going to put on a great event and the fans and universities will like the experience and it will become the permanent home for the game.

Chicago was award the 2013 and 2015 Big Ten basketball tournaments, with Indianapolis getting those events in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

What are your thoughts? Share them below.

 

[DuffMan]

No big shock as it was the only logical option. I wish bball would always be in Chicago.

 

[DwayneTwill]

Should be outdoors.

 

[Jedi1234]

If Chicago can get a good turf then it will move there.

 

[JonDMiller]

If Chicago can get a good turf then it will move there.

You look around most fields at that latitude in December, and you are gonna find less than ideal playing conditions. If they looked at making it the fake stuff, perhaps.

But Indianapolis is going to have a huge head start and a chance to set the bar and people will get comfortable with it.

 

[dfresh689]

Terrible. I love the SEC chasing theory. I guess we should model ourselves after the SEC...OK Ohio State is trying, but let's be unique and sell recruits that we play our biggest game in the elements just like the NFL playoffs. Haters-Insert Super Bowl comment here.

 

[busabus114]

Terrible. I love the SEC chasing theory. I guess we should model ourselves after the SEC...OK Ohio State is trying, but let's be unique and sell recruits that we play our biggest game in the elements just like the NFL playoffs. Haters-Insert Super Bowl comment here.

You think recruits really care whether the title game is indoor or outdoor?

 

[ICHawk24]

Jon, the first two SEC games were in Birmingham. One of the two games was in terrible weather, which helped get it moved to Atlanta (that and Legion Field being a very old stadium).

SEC Football Championship Game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm happy to see the B10 game in Indy. It will be a good showcase for a nighttime championship game.

 

[819iowa]

It is unfortunate that we are settling for a dull, second-tier city to host the conference's biggest event. The game is just one part of the equation and to select one of America's most boring places is a mistake. Chicago has so much more to offer and is a much larger stage. It is a shame that we will be relegated to this.

 

[bandgrocks]

It is unfortunate that we are settling for a dull, second-tier city to host the conference's biggest event. The game is just one part of the equation and to select one of America's most boring places is a mistake. Chicago has so much more to offer and is a much larger stage. It is a shame that we will be relegated to this.

Notre Dame is the only college team people in Chicago care about.

 

[DuffMan]

It is unfortunate that we are settling for a dull, second-tier city to host the conference's biggest event. The game is just one part of the equation and to select one of America's most boring places is a mistake. Chicago has so much more to offer and is a much larger stage. It is a shame that we will be relegated to this.

What you don't seem to understand is the TV product is much more important that the live product. They could hold this event in Kalona Iowa and as along as it looked good on TV it would be an huge success.

 

[Churlish79]

Chicago should have the basketball tournament every year.

I don't see a reason for them not to.

 

[racerhawk]

Notre Dame is the only college team people in Chicago care about.

The Chicago metro area has over 10 million people. There are MANY big ten alums in Chicago.

I get the whole idea that Indianapolis is comfy with it's indoor stadium, and that makes sense. However, the city itself...is...okay...I guess.

It's too bad Chicago can't provide the cushy indoor feel that the Oil Stadium provides.

 

[JHHawk]

Not happy with this decision. Basically, by the beginning of 2013,Indy will have been the location for the last 7 Big Ten postseason events over the prior 6 years. Indy is the 8th biggest city in the Big Ten footprint,while Atlanta is the #1 city in the SEC footprint.
Exactly what concessions did Indy give to warrant the annual 20 million boost to their economy that the Big Ten title game will be? Did they offer cheap hotels for fans? Or give the Big Ten a million dollars or free use of the Lucas Center?

They should have gone to a rotation for the football game between Detroit,Minny,Chicago,Cleveland and Indy...only fair that other cities in the league get the benefit of this event. As for the outdoors factor...Army-Navy game is outdoors in Philly/Balt. every year and I watch that game,and weather is rarely a big deal. This hurts Iowa's chances in this game. Iowa does not flourish vs the OSU/PSU/Mich type teams in perfect conditions...they get higher rated,faster recruits. Iowa is a good mudder program. I have disliked our new turf for the same reason,and Iowa has not been near as good at home since the new turf has homogenized conditions for visiting teams. Soldier Field is an Iowa type of turf,in December. Not the nintendo-type blazers from the highly touted programs like OSU,Mich,PSU,and Neb. But then, I get the feeling that the Big Ten is all about those ''winningest programs in college football history'' (Mich,OSU,PSU,Neb) since the expansion anyway....they want to make everything as conducive for those teams to represent the Big Ten as humanly possible...the other 8 teams? Go squat,you peons!

 

[ICHawk24]

Minneapolis? Cleveland? Cities so far on the edge of the footprint won't even be considered.

 

[DuffMan]

Again put the football game permanantely in Indy and the bball tourney in Chicago.

I know they latter would **** off a bunch of people in Hoosierland but **** them, they haven't been relevent in a decade anyway.

 

[JHHawk]

Minneapolis? Cleveland? Cities so far on the edge of the footprint won't even be considered.

Atlanta is on the eastern edge of the SEC footprint.
Making the Big Ten title game will probably be a huge deal for most fanbases,and they will travel anywhere,willingly,to attend the game to see their team vy for the Big Ten title. Putting in permanantly in the ''Leaders'' division locale is not fair. At least Chicago is a neutral site,with NW and Ill,the ''local'' schools. But then, it is nice and close for OSU,who the league wants to designate the permanant participant anyway,so I guess I can see their point. Just rotate it between the ''Big 4'' annually...afterall,they drive the whole divisional setup anyway. Must split them equally so that Neb,Mich,OSU or PSU are always in this game.

 

[JHHawk]

I think they should just rotate both events between Indy and Chicago. Every other year playing football in the elements just adds to the event,imo. We are the conference of Bronco Nagurski and Dick Butkus....a little chill in the air is not that scary. A snow game on the lakefront would be a huge ratings winner,just as NFL games in the snow always attract big TV audiences.

 

[DuffMan]

Atlanta is on the eastern edge of the SEC footprint.
Making the Big Ten title game will probably be a huge deal for most fanbases,and they will travel anywhere,willingly,to attend the game to see their team vy for the Big Ten title. Putting in permanantly in the ''Leaders'' division locale is not fair. At least Chicago is a neutral site,with NW and Ill,the ''local'' schools. But then, it is nice and close for OSU,who the league wants to designate the permanant participant anyway,so I guess I can see their point. Just rotate it between the ''Big 4'' annually...afterall,they drive the whole divisional setup anyway. Must split them equally so that Neb,Mich,OSU or PSU are always in this game.

Are you actually suggesting the location of the game favors one divisions teams over the other? Common man, Indy is a 2 hour flight from anywhere in the conferenece. It's a neutral site and fans from both sides will get equal shot at tickets. Placing the game in Indy will NOT result in a competetive advantage for anyone.

 

[JHHawk]

I will admit that is stretching the point,but mainly,I think they should put it in the most central locale,which is clearly Chicago. Which also happens to be the biggest city,with the biggest media impact,conference headquarters,ect...and a truly neutral location,with over 200k Big Ten alums living there.
Just rotate it between the two locations...like the bb tourny. Each locale gets an event each year,that way. Indy is on the south edge of the Big Ten footprint. Just seems out of balance to have everything happening down there.