Randy Inman
Bruce Bostwick
James Rickard
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Robin PottratzWill the Economy End the BCS Mess?
December 16th 2008 20:40
Love it or hate it, the BCS is the way college football crowns its national champion. Heck, it's even crowning conference champions now. Ever since its creation, the BCS has had critics - and every year there has been a controversy. How can a few computers determine who is better than who - if those teams have never met nor played the same opponents? Well, if the economy gets much worse - a college football playoff may be on the horizon.
This year there will be 34 bowl games. 34. Including the mouthful matchups of the "Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl" and the "San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl". To be clear - there are 34 sponsors that fork over a ton of cash - I won't even venture a guess at the amount - to sponsor a bowl, and therefore make sportscasters everywhere stumble over the name of the bowl before diving into the matchup. What happens when those sponsors have to cut their advertising budget? I can bet the exec's at magicJack's might consider cutting budgets to the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl if they keep getting matchups like this year - South Florida vs. Memphis. Or the funding for the Motor City Bowl - you think it continues in this economy with the high national viewership they will pull with the game featuring Florida Atlantic and Central Michigan? The economy is forcing everyone to cut corners - and the NCAA bowl system may just take a hit.
As a result of the souring economy, even professional leagues are cutting personnel. NASCAR teams are merging now more than ever in a sport that relies more heavily on sponsorship than any other. WNBA teams are folding. The Arena Football League - which has been profitable and around for almost 30 years - is 50-50 on taking a year long (maybe more) hiatus. With even President-elect Obama stating he would have his people look into a college football playoff - the time of the BCS may be nearing an end. With America's financial centers fresh off the heels of a bailout how long can they keep shelling out money for naming rights to stadiums (Bank of America Stadium, Edward Jones Dome, Raymond James Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, etc.)? And don't get me started on the auto-makers (Ford Field). And what about the luxury boxes whose normal fair are businesses entertaining VIP's - these luxuries will go away. As advertising goes - so does the money for sports - college of professional.
Though it may not happen right away, and there will always be controversy anyway you try to crown a national champion in the NCAA - the days of 34 bowl games may be on the waning side. Whether or not a playoff, a combined BCS and playoff or keeping with the current system is the answer for crowning a national champion - you can count on one thing - it may be harder to find sponsors for these bowl games in this current economic trend.
This year there will be 34 bowl games. 34. Including the mouthful matchups of the "Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl" and the "San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl". To be clear - there are 34 sponsors that fork over a ton of cash - I won't even venture a guess at the amount - to sponsor a bowl, and therefore make sportscasters everywhere stumble over the name of the bowl before diving into the matchup. What happens when those sponsors have to cut their advertising budget? I can bet the exec's at magicJack's might consider cutting budgets to the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl if they keep getting matchups like this year - South Florida vs. Memphis. Or the funding for the Motor City Bowl - you think it continues in this economy with the high national viewership they will pull with the game featuring Florida Atlantic and Central Michigan? The economy is forcing everyone to cut corners - and the NCAA bowl system may just take a hit.
As a result of the souring economy, even professional leagues are cutting personnel. NASCAR teams are merging now more than ever in a sport that relies more heavily on sponsorship than any other. WNBA teams are folding. The Arena Football League - which has been profitable and around for almost 30 years - is 50-50 on taking a year long (maybe more) hiatus. With even President-elect Obama stating he would have his people look into a college football playoff - the time of the BCS may be nearing an end. With America's financial centers fresh off the heels of a bailout how long can they keep shelling out money for naming rights to stadiums (Bank of America Stadium, Edward Jones Dome, Raymond James Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, etc.)? And don't get me started on the auto-makers (Ford Field). And what about the luxury boxes whose normal fair are businesses entertaining VIP's - these luxuries will go away. As advertising goes - so does the money for sports - college of professional.
Though it may not happen right away, and there will always be controversy anyway you try to crown a national champion in the NCAA - the days of 34 bowl games may be on the waning side. Whether or not a playoff, a combined BCS and playoff or keeping with the current system is the answer for crowning a national champion - you can count on one thing - it may be harder to find sponsors for these bowl games in this current economic trend.
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