JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Someone emailed this to me with regards to overcoming the problem with nine-game conference schedule...as there would be years when some teams have home games and some teams have away games..its interesting, but I doubt the coaches would want to see this:
In reading about the 5/4 dilemma you mention with a nine game schedule, I got to scheming and came up with a solution that would be a cash cow for the conference.
B1G Opening Weekend
Every year conference play opens up with each division playing their first conference game at a neutral/professional field. Legends at one field Leaders at another. Each field, three games in one day with staggered starts (1030, 1200, 300, 430, 730, 900.), all aired on BTN.
Logistics would need to be figured out but it would definitely be doable. Revenue from games gets divided amongst the conference.
Imagine how pumped you would be for that weekend every year and the atmosphere at the locations and camaraderie between fan bases. It would be spectacular.
I agree that would be quite the day...could have games hosted at Ford Field, Soldier Field, Lucas Oil, Cleveland, Three Rivers, possibly Arrowhead and St Louis Dome....BUT...you'd still need to team those sites up to bring a lot of fans..you wouldn't want OSU vs NW at Ford Field. Hard to get away from overly 'home' environment.
Follow up: the person emailed me back and said that he didnt mean first game of the year, he meant first non-conference game....which throws this out then, IMO...it would have to be the first game of the year, in order to align with the NFL schedule.
In reading about the 5/4 dilemma you mention with a nine game schedule, I got to scheming and came up with a solution that would be a cash cow for the conference.
B1G Opening Weekend
Every year conference play opens up with each division playing their first conference game at a neutral/professional field. Legends at one field Leaders at another. Each field, three games in one day with staggered starts (1030, 1200, 300, 430, 730, 900.), all aired on BTN.
Logistics would need to be figured out but it would definitely be doable. Revenue from games gets divided amongst the conference.
Imagine how pumped you would be for that weekend every year and the atmosphere at the locations and camaraderie between fan bases. It would be spectacular.
I agree that would be quite the day...could have games hosted at Ford Field, Soldier Field, Lucas Oil, Cleveland, Three Rivers, possibly Arrowhead and St Louis Dome....BUT...you'd still need to team those sites up to bring a lot of fans..you wouldn't want OSU vs NW at Ford Field. Hard to get away from overly 'home' environment.
Follow up: the person emailed me back and said that he didnt mean first game of the year, he meant first non-conference game....which throws this out then, IMO...it would have to be the first game of the year, in order to align with the NFL schedule.