PLEASE INFORM THE WSJ THAT THE SEASON IS 12 GAMES NOW

by Orson on Nov 21, 2008 2:12 PM EST

What are the tents in this logo? Where the players will sleep?

In an otherwise article on anxieties surrounding the Bowl Game Economy in the recession age, Darren Everson makes what seems like an odd supposition with two weeks left in the "regular season" of college football:

Even a rule that prevents teams with lousy records from playing in bowls may have to be bent: There are 68 bowl berths available this season, but as of today, only 61 teams have enough wins (typically six) to qualify -- a potentially embarrassing situation that has forced the NCAA to start thinking about contingency plans which, it says, could involve letting in a team with a losing record.

There are, by an extremely scientific count*, 24 teams capable of getting to 6 wins in the Feminine Body Spray division right now. Filling the slots will not likely be a problem. Filling them with quality teams, however, will be a problem, and one with dire consequences for the problem correctly identified in the WSJ article, flagging attendance at bowl games.

How about a local discount to fill the stands? A driver's license showing your local address to fill whatever seats remain on game day. It's demand pricing, and a bunch of drunk townie yahoos will look a lot better than empty seats. We're not suggesting you drop the prices to absurd levels--the Peach Bowl would turn into one festive homeless shelter at that point, and given the cavernous Georgia Dome, some of them could live for years in the nooks and crannies of the place.

A reasonable dip in the price, though, to fill the empty spaces and avoid ACC Championship syndrome? It's not insane, though it does bring up the issue of team fans simply buying tickets off enterprising locals at the last second.

*On our fingers while looking at the computer screen. If you come back and say NUH-UH THERE'S 23, congratulations. The point stands.

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I read that article and thought the same thing, thanks for pointing that out. I was going to write an email to the guy before realizing I really, really should get a life.

Besides, it’s capitalism baby! If your bowl don’t make money, it dies. How many defunct bowls have there been? The bowls aren’t going away, we should just enjoy them. As a UConn fan who made the trek to Charlotte last year…bowls are cool, man. I guarantee you the people writing about bowls going away are either sports writers or NFL fans without a real allegiance to a college team.

by Edsall is God on Nov 21, 2008 2:38 PM EST reply actions

FTA: "Last Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama dealt another blow to the old bowl system when he told “60 Minutes” that college football should hold a three-round playoff, something that would make many of the bowls, if not all of them, sideshows"

Yes, because every non-alumni/non-degenerate gambler cares so much for the Sun Bowl, Independence Bowl, New Orleans Bowl, Champs Sport Bowl, International Bowl, Texas Bowl, etc…

by Chas on Nov 21, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Orson, do you not see the symbolism in the St. Pete bowl logo?

This game is going to be INTENSE!

I’m here all week folks, please tip your waitresses accordingly.

by hlh on Nov 21, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Why isn’t it The St. Petersburg-Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish Bowl?

And what gives with those tents?

by yoyofutbawl on Nov 21, 2008 3:14 PM EST reply actions

The surest way to fill up stands? $1beer nights. It even works for minor league hockey.

by www.southbendblarney.com on Nov 21, 2008 3:19 PM EST reply actions

If you wait too long…it may too late.

Like Orson said, super cheap tickets could be potentially disastrous. In 1974, the Philadelphia Bell (singular, not Bells) of the World Football League got crowds of 50,000 and 64,000 for their first two home games. About 90% of the crowd had gotten in for free and those who had gotten in for free. The few who had paid in advance felt sucked and of course, the Bell lost a ton of money and were never able to build a fan base.

by John on Nov 21, 2008 3:20 PM EST reply actions

Give the tickets away to anyone who will bring x # of cans of food as an exchange to stock the local food bank. Give the tickets away for free to the military (like ECU did in Hawaii). Give the tickets to local charities for raffle. Give the tickets to fire/police agencies. Give the tickets to local youth organizations. There’s a million ways to handle it if someone smarter than I am thinks about it. if I paid for a ticket and sat next to some military guy or some kid from a youth league who got in for free, I don’t know that I would be angry about that.

by hobeg8r on Nov 21, 2008 3:38 PM EST reply actions

I have no idea if the crap-tastic Advertising Agency they got to design their logo knew what they were doing. Or the jack-asses who approved it were aware of the history involve.

If they were, then here’s to you sirs! For bringing the Screw-you back into the “Scrooge Season.”

To educate yourself on St. Pete’s history with Tents and the homeless please read:
http://www.stpeteforpeace.org/tentcity.html

by Scott on Nov 21, 2008 3:43 PM EST reply actions

I believe those tents are from a boat show.

by Brian on Nov 21, 2008 3:52 PM EST reply actions

I believe I was duped.
http://stpetersburgbowl.com/

The real logo has no tents. Only our communities Big Bridge. Cool in its own right (whose history only involves horrible accidental death, suicide, and some morons trying to swing from it).

Sorry, please excuse the pseudo-anger.

GO USF Bulls?

by Scott on Nov 21, 2008 3:52 PM EST reply actions