Though we don't know for certain if the Big Ten will stop at 12 or add two to four more teams to the fold, we can be fairly confident that a championship game will be in place by 2011 when Nebraska begins league play. When Jim Delany publicly admits to presuming something, that something is on its way. This is the first in at least a one-part series examining the considerations and consequences of creating a football championship game in the Big Ten.
When the Big Ten moves to implement a conference championship game for football, choosing a host will be at the top of the list of things to do. Not only must the league find a venue that meets geography, capacity and climate requirements, but it needs to immediately begin formulating a strategy on whether the event should rotate locations or bunker down in one spot, like the SEC has done with Atlanta. If you are going to rotate between several cities, you don't necessarily have to hit a home run with the first pick. It just has to be one of the top three or four natural candidates.
The Big 12 used five different stadiums during the first seven years of their championship, but recently announced Jerryworld would remain the host through 2013. At the time of the extension, conference commissioner Dan Beebe went on record saying the anchoring of the SEC Championship game to Atlanta had created a situation in which 30,000 to 40,000 fans would show up for the game regardless of who was playing. Beebe, the Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf of the Great Plains, might have been exaggerating just a bit, but I do think there's some truth in that statement.
If the Big Ten wants to anchor the game to a particular city and stadium, they won't repeat the SEC's Legion Field experiment and the first host will reflect that. Weather conditions will also be a factor. Early December in the Midwest can get chilly, but by no means is it too cold for football. Heavy snow, however, could be a problem. The crying will be fierce once the first unbeaten and top-ranked team is upset by an 8-4 opponent due to 15" of snow. The conference will want to be authentic, but won't let that need drive the process. So, who are the top candidates? Let's take a look.
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis
Though not the region's largest city, Indianapolis is a powerhouse when it comes to hosting major sporting events. The Final Four just passed through Conseco Fieldhouse Lucas Oil Stadium, the Super Bowl is on the way and every February, the NFL Combine comes to town. The city has already thrown its hat into the ring. We Like It
- Finished in 2008, the stadium is brand spankin' new and is packed with amenities like outdoor plazas, 137 luxury suites, escalators, 160 concession stands and 1,400 toilet fixtures.
- The retractable roof -- the only one amongst venues under consideration -- means the league can have the best of both worlds. If temperature (must be 40° or warmer for NFL games) and precipitation levels cooperate, the game can be played in the elements. Otherwise, the roof is closed and the game takes place in a dry and heated environment.
- Outside of Chicago, Indy is the best fit from a geography angle. For Buckeye fans in Columbus, it's a quick three-hour road trip.
- There are plenty of hotel rooms and activities to keep fans busy in downtown Indianapolis.
- Indy has experience handling large sporting events and if Notre Dame hitches up to the Big Ten, AD Jack Swarbrick's ties to the Indiana Sports Corp. (chairman from 1992-2001) could help the city land the event.
Eh... Not So Much
- The baseline seating capacity for Lucas Oil Stadium is only 63,000. 7,000 seats are to be added for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, and that will likely be a requirement for the Big Ten Championship.
- In 2009, the stadium's restaurants and concession stands were hit with health code violations for mouse droppings, live mice, contaminated food and other scary shit.
- The realization that you're in Indiana after the game has finished.
Soldier Field - Chicago
If the conference wants to anchor the game to a regional capital, like the SEC, and also play up the "football weather" angle, Soldier Field is a no-brainer. It's Chicago and December, so anything can happen, but highs typically hover in the low thirties to low forties -- by no means too cold. Just in case, there are 30,000 bars in town to help you warm up if needed. We Like It
- With the addition of Nebraska, the geographic center of the league now sits just south of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, 30 miles southeast of Soldier Field.
- The travel options are among the best of any American city: O'Hare and Midway airports, Amtrak, regional rail and subways all help to get people in, out and around the city.
- 85,000 hotel rooms help service over 25 million annual visitors. There are plenty of places to stay and plenty of things to do before and after the football game. Did I mention the 30,000 bars?
- Beyond fielding eight NFL games every year, Soldier Field has handled more than its share of hyped events, most notably the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
- The stadium has a college football history. The 1926 Army/Navy game was held in front of 100,000 fans at Soldier Field and up until 1976 the College All-Star Game was held there.
Eh... Not So Much
- Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL, seating just 61,000. Expanding likely wouldn't even be an option as the Park District-controlled venue is always a political hot potato in town.
- The game would be played outdoors on Lake Michigan. While this would satisfy the die-hards, the first juggernaut to go down to a double-digit underdog because of ice or snow will invariably lead to an outcry to move the game indoors.
- Delays at O'Hare will eat at your soul.
- Should Northwestern ever earn a berth, all of the wealthy alumni that wouldn't be caught dead at Ryan Field will gobble up tickets, driving up prices.
Ford Field - Detroit
Detroit's Ford Field has hosted a Super Bowl, Final Four and Frozen Four in its brief existence and is a logical choice for consideration to hold a Big Ten Championship. Like the folks in Indianapolis, they are also already interested in hosting the event in 2011. We Like It
- Built in 2000, Ford Field features sky boxes and other niceties found in similar new stadiums. Skylights and large windows allow large amounts of natural light to flow in.
- The stadium roof means weather will not be a factor.
- Venue and staff has experience hosting large events: Super Bowl XL, Wrestlemania 23, the Final Four, etc.
- City might earn sympathy from the Big Ten.
- You can walk to casinos after the game.
Eh... Not So Much
- Chance that stench of Matt Millen may not be completely free of building.
- Won't satisfy fans' desire to see the game held outdoors.
- Ford Field is in Detroit.
- With Ann Arbor just 43 miles away, fans of opposing teams will be subjected to keys being rattled in their face should the Wolverines earn a berth.
Wildcards
- Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland): Like Indianapolis and Detroit, Cleveland wants to host the game. With only one Big Ten team in Ohio, it may be a hard sell, but the location would suit Buckeye fans the best.
- Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis): Provides a controlled environment, taking weather out of the equation, but might be a little too far west for the league to consider. If Missouri miracles its way into the Big Ten, its chances improve.
- Metrodome (Minneapolis): The final domed stadium within the conference footprint would have to be a consideration. However, it should earn automatic disqualification for handing over naming rights to the Mall of America.
- Heinz Field (Pittsburgh): The Steelers have proven cold weather football viewing can be fun and it's a newish venue, but it likely won't be considered unless/until Pittsburgh is admitted to the Big Ten.
Longshots
- Lambeau Field (Green Bay): For the fun-factor, Lambeau can't be topped and with a capacity of over 79,000 the size requirement is easily met. However, travel to Green Bay can be a chore and while it might fulfill the need to have a cold weather game, this might be pushing it.
- Wrigley Field (Chicago): The Friendly Confines will host Northwestern-Illinois this fall and the venue would be another 10.0 in the fun/nostalgia department. The football capacity (46,000) and old-school amenities raise some concerns, though.
As you can see, there are many good options for stadiums to host the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. Whether the conference goes long-term with one of them or spreads the love around will be worth watching over the next few months.
Comments
i think it comes down to lucas oil vs ford field, with indy getting the nod eventually for the permanent home.
also, fuck michigan.
Woo, linked! My life is complete.
Are we sure capacity will be a problem? I know we (the conference) like football more and travel better than the ACC, but those games have been totally deserted.
Let's say in a strange year we end up with an Iowa-MSU championship game. Iowa fans, are you going to make the trek from Iowa City to Indy? Even if it's just for a BCS berth (not a MNC)?
Thinking about it more I feel like any two teams would fill the stadiums. I say switch every 2 years between Indy and Chicago.
Chicago for the outdoor atmosphere.
When are the updated schedules going to come out with Nebraska? Is that going to mean OSU is going to have to give up playing a MAC team?
tOSU gets 95k to a spring game...
Getting people to a Big North Championship shouldn't be a problem...
Seeing how we will be there majority of the time!
I hope it means that we play one less cupcake, but all i've read seems to indicate that we will still have 4 non-conference games, meaning the MAC will be on our schedule in bulk for a while.
As for my selfish preference - Indy only because it is 1.5 hours from Dayton. Chicago is the most logical city, but not the most logical venue. Like the rest of college football, nothing seems right in all respects. No Detroit please. I'm sure the stadium is fine, I'm sure, but it doesn't have the cache of a Chicago or vibrant city (in know Indy hardly is a destination place, but it is not on its death-bed, either)
I am in favor of rotating the game. All teams that would consistently play in the game travel well and I don't think you'll see an attendance problem any of the following teams: OSU, NE, Mich, Wis, IA, Penn st. Its a mini bowl game and all of the teams mentioned travel much further for bowl games ... and they do so consistently
1 - lucas oil
2 - soldier field
3 - abd, anything but detroit. if you want to make the bigten an even bigger laughing stock than it currently is, host the championship game in a declining economic sh|thole.
This will never be outdoors, so really only 2 sites. Unless you throw in the HHH Metrodome, which nobody wants to play in.
Soldier Field. Chicago, and all there is to do there, could easily prove to be the tipping point for anyone on the fence about attending. The other venues, not so much.
"Ford Field is in Detroit."
kind of says it all, doesn't it?
i'm thinking lucas oil is going to be the most likely pick, indiana in general is pretty depressing, but indianapolis itself is a great city. although for selfish reasons i'd be happy with paul brown stadium (not that that'll ever happen)
If outdoor stadiums are in play, then what about Yankee stadium? certainly a great city, lots of attention, get conference exposure into the NY market, and no colder than Chicago would be ... there is no reason we have to host it in a state that has a member institution.
Not that it makes a difference but the Final Four was played at Lucas, not Conseco
I'd like to see it at Soldier Field, but I think it'll be a Lucas Oil. Too bad--Soldier field is a great venue in a pretty cool city. Indianapolis: *yawn*. Ford Field is so laughable I won't even address it further.
No mention of the Indy 500? There's still a good 300,000 that show up that day.
It's definitely going to be Lucas Oil Field. They won't put this game outdoors guys. Look at the other conference championships. They have a carnival atmosphere where events take place for a couple of days. They won't have all this hoopla take place in december, outside, in Chicago. Indy and Lucas Oil will land this event.
Thanks. I've updated the post.
Lucas Oil Field. Brand new stadium, retractable roof, easy choice for the Big 10. As a fan, Chicago would be appealing, but the benefits of Indy can't be ignored.
I just want to point out how awesome it is that we're having this discussion. Two weeks ago all we were wondering is if the Rose Bowl was a fluke, who's starting at tailback, and whether or not we out-of-town alumni are going to get screwed when we see that we drew Thursday night Marshall tickets.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!! NOT IF, BUT WHERE!!!
I dont see how after the B10/12 banned evening games in November, they would turn around and play the conf championship outdoors, in what would most likely be an 8:00 kickoff. Indianapolis is the ideal place. Its closest to Purdue and IU so there wont be any chance of a "home game' lol. And its a nice central location for the B10 teams that matterm besides State penn.
Big Ten championships gotta be held outdoors. No question about it cold weather is our conferences identity why would we ever want to follow in the SECs footsteps and have it indoor.
Haha. I remember that pic of those Iowa fans from when I was a kid. They were in an old edition of the Guiness Book of World Records as the heaviest twins alive. Of course, I think Morganna broke their record in the early 90s.
Full disclosure: They're actually.... drumbroll... Southern.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...
When you're contemplating a move to the NYC market and reaping - at least - a $20 million harvest, there - it's hard to hit the pause button on that type of thinking and turn your back on a colossus, a world-class city, like Chicago.
I think the B10 would be hard-pressed NOT to inaugurate its championship game in the Windy City.
And if NYC and DC/MD become destinations on the map, they'll become venues for this event, as well.
Don't under-estimate the the fierceness of the B10 fan's pride and individuality. After all, how many B10 barns are domed?
If any NC is mythical, it's Florida's in the 2000's. That school refuses to play non-conference opponents on the road. How many of us wouldn't love to see the Gators play in Wisconsin or Minnesota, in late November?
weather is an essential component of the B10's character.
I would love it to be at Lambeau just once. I think that would be awesome. The atmosphere of playing a championship game at Lambeau would be pretty cool. I know its not a popular pick. Just once though is all. I would say have it INdy or Chicago. Nice venues. Indy seems more of a middle of the rode travel for many of the teams.
I think that these venues could change, depending on future additions to the conference. Think about M&T Bank stadium in Baltimore or Giants Stadium. While I agree that Lucas Oil Field is the logical choice now, we may have to wait and how many more teams are added and where they are located.
I was surprised to see so many Iowa fans in the Shoe last season, so I think they'll travel. I think, especially because it's new, that all teams will travel if they earn a berth.
Shocking.
OT (yet again) but JJ's son to Wisky SUCKS. I had a conversation with him via twitter a few months ago, and when I brought up his son not going to tOSU he wasn't too happy with me.
ABD all the way!
I'm looking at the Big 10 as it is now or 2011 and saying there will be/are 12 teams. New York and DC are not part of the big 10 footprint yet. If the Final Four can be scheduled in Indy, I certainly don't see how it would be such a disappointment for the Big 10 Championship, an event where the majority of the fans live 5 hours or less away from the city would be too classy for Indy.
My biggest complaint about that is, why cater to the possible 2 new teams. The whole point is to get their market for the BTN, you get that just by adding the teams. Why put the championship game there, when probably neither of the teams has a shot at the game on an annual basis and remove it from an area where the overwhelming majority of your team's fans live? Also, it's not going to help big 10 rankings to play it in New York or Baltimore. Y ou captue the market or at least force the BTN on cable providers just by adding the teams. There's no need to put the championship game in New York.
I'm not big on Geography being an important part of the conference identity, however I'm constantly reminded of a Midwestern mentality and values that the Big 10 hold. So why chapmion for a game in a part of the country where you only have 1 team, and take a game away from the Midwest? I just don't get it. It's not going to improe the Big 10 image any,and quite frankly putting it in New York or Baltimore may end up in the game not selling out.
What is the deal with Alumni tickets? I haven't heard back yet.
Lucas or Soliders field are both solid choices. Never need to worry about home field advantage as the Hoosiers and Wildcats will never sniff this game.
I've all but given up on alumni tickets. First they send that sketchy email where I barely saw the link about tickets and then they take forever to get back to you. I'm done giving my money, I'll just buy tickets for the game I want to go to rather than playing this retarded roulette game they have set up. Next time I get a phone call that's what I'ma tell em too.
Each venue has its own list of negatives except for...Lucas Oil Stadium. Plus the Big Ten basketball tourney is already there.
Capacity should be fine. You aren't going to pack 100,000 people into a venue where:
a) matchup may not be decided until the week before
b) occurs after the last regular game of the season (Michigan)
c) occurs between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Doesn't matter if they do. They'd still have to find fans to bring with them.
If Northwestern ever made it, all of a sudden all the guys who are too good to pack Ryan Field will suddenly drive the price of tickets to the championship game sky-high. There's plenty of NU alums who would fill up the stadium if they made it. They're just too good for tiny little Ryan Field
I think we should rotate it every year. Indy, Detroit, and St. Louis.
I have no problem having it in St. Louis to accomodate Nebraska and possibly Mizzou.
I like rotating, Indy, Chicago, Detroit. Give the local revenue back to the home states. Hell, even a European style each member institution gets to pick a venue once would be kind of cool, which would put Lambeau and a few other stadiums into play.
The scheduling of the game will be interesting - the ACC is relegated to Friday night of the 1st Dec weekend, the Big 12 gets the afternoon slot, and the SEC has the evening game. Would the Big 10 naturally slide into the afternoon slot, or would some other accommodation have to be made? And how does the Pac-16 fit in?
F the Yankees and their stadium
ABD
their student tickets are a freaking crapshoot too. i got 100% screwed out of a miami ticket b/c of the system that the ticket office uses yet they refuse to admit that it was their mistake. i'm a rank 3 [junior status] and was admitted to the main campus my first try out off hs... yet i find out that incoming freshman @ the branch campuses are still getting miami tickets and i'm stuck w/o one because of the ticket office's incompetency. granted, i've already scalped one and will be in attendance, but thanks to the office i paid twice the face value. i'm right there w ya... you won't be seeing my wallet open up for donations once i graduate after being treated like this.
exactly. well said, iball. no way this is outdoors. is it the right decision? who's to say... but it won't happen. not on delaney's watch at least. i feel that lucas oil will do just fine. [if only we could put it on a truck to chi-city... we'd have ourselves a real gem.]
I can't imagine he was particularly happy that his kid didn't get an offer, especially since if Wisky offered him he must have some talent.
Yea as soon I asked I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Does the ACC hate football that much or does Jacksonville suck that much?
anytime someone mentions wanting to do anything in detroit the first thing that comes to mind is that series on the discovery channel or history, Life After People. They highlight Detroit blight in almost every episode it seems.
but then there's Jeff Daniels and those pathetic come to m*ch*g*n commercials. Hey Jeff, where are you living these days? Don't tell me you're dumb enough to still hang out there. We ain't buyin it.
Time to join the Buckeye Club guys. Pony up!
how many thousands does that cost?
I'm done with alumni networking events to. they basically get turned in to a game of "pass the hat".
Probably a combo of the two.
Probably wouldn't be an 8:00 kickoff if it were outdoors. A lot of Conf Championship games aren't at night.
Just wrote this on my blog.
http://www.thesnookreport.com/...
Oh, and I'd vote for Soldier Field.
ABD
F5
I say play a conf champ game in the best conditions possible to prepare the winner for the inevitable warm weather matchup with a warm weather school. Playing a 7-6 mudfest in the freezing rain is not the way to do it.
Screw identity, its about being the best no matter what, forward thinking. Thats why its a good idea to follow in the SEC's footsteps, because they're kicking everyone's ass!
He may not want to be held to his Dad's standards at OSU, which would inevitably happen. Thats alot of pressure.
As a Husker fan and not quite yet Big Ten member. I really hope the championship game will rotate cities. It soaks when a certain area always gets the adnantage. (as aka Texas) On a side note I read the husker were ranked last in the Big Ten basketball rankings. Thats an insult! Im pretty sure some of the Big 10 womans teams are offended to be ranked below them.
Question is, with no apparent PAC-16 coming to fruition, does that mean the B10 and SEC are done with this arms race? I bet not.
How about in Ohio Stadium?
I was just saying that if I happen to be drawn for the Marshall game, it's on a Thursday night, thereby making it impossible to get back for it, because of, well, you know...WORK.
Don't know when we hear back, though.
I think our Championship game should be on Sunday :D
@nick:
that would be awful.
I'm pretty sure he didn't get offer'd. JJ was really pissed when I brought up him possibly not playing at tOSU; I made a comment about it sucked he didn't get offered, he responded "WHO SAID HE DIDN'T?"... It had to hurt him.But I will pull for his son to be great.
Well said. It's all about winning, not about the weather. If weather is to be used as a crutch then you're not that good. A championship game not only prepares a team for the NC, it could propel a team into the NC game if it is a good enough showing. Guess what, low scoring, boring games don't do that.
The Big Ten is going to 14 or 16. Whether it takes 2, 4, or 10 years to do it...they are not stopping with Nebraska.
I wish they'd stop.
I concur with your sentiments entirely ... believe me, I have no love for the Yankees.
Then what about D.C? the conference could play its championship in the nation's capital ... gets exposure for the schools in the tidewater region. Of course, Indy or Chicago are the most logical choices, but again, nothing says the game must be played in in a big ten state, might as well look for as much exposure as possible and that certainly is not in Indy or Detroit.
hey if we are brainstorming on a Buckeye blog ... might as well consider every possibility
I am with you on rotating it. I like that idea better than any. No reason to have the game anywhere in particular. The game is completely unnecessary to begin with - remember the Big ten and pac ten have done fine without it and the big 12 is about to lose it. If the game is really nothing more than a pony-show crescendo to a season, then make it a spectacle and move it around the midwest and eastern parts of the state ... make cities bid like the olympics (just kidding, or maybe not, I dunno)
where it should be.
correction: 97,ooo.
Wait a minute...didn't the NFL recently host the Super Bowl in Detroit? Geez.
I would love to see Ohio State fans taking over the city of Detroit, playing Nebraska, Wisconsin, whoever, for the BigTen champioinship! Right in their face!
But, it should be rotated between Indy(the most logical choice) and Chicago and Detroit.
I'll go anywhere in the midwest to watch the Buckeyes play in a BigTen championship game. But I won't go to NYC or DC. Ever.
Excellent point. I concur. Get them ready for the warm weather, and turn up the heat to 90* in Lucas Oil Field.
He didn't freaking receive an offer from T. Matta! Didn't Archie's son just get an offer to play football?
Really, picking the venue for a championship game is the easy part. Dividing these teams up into two divisions is going to be tough.
It's going to be tough to divide them evenly so one division isn't stacked with too much power.
Chicago please.. Lucas is a 2nd. Nothing else makes sense