Why UNI Must Always Fight For Our In-State Series

[Panthers to the Bone]

Let's say UNI makes an average of $250,000 off of the in-state series from the Iowa/ISU games (an average of 10,000 fans paying $25). Throw in concessions (10,000 fans x $2 profit), about $20,000. So, about $270,000 in revenue from just the tickets and concessions (both estimates are on the low side). Add in the fact that this game is the key to the television package. I'm not sure how much it is, but my guess is, if you take this game out of the package, there isn't alot left currently.

Then, add in the fact that UNI wouldn't have made the NCAA Tourneys the past two years if it wasn't for the Iowa/ISU wins on UNI's home court. That in itself is priceless for fan/alumni/booster morale. Pricetag wise, you are looking at about $50,000 less per year, per game, over a six year period. So, about $300,000 per game not in CF. What do you have? About a $570,000 payout from this game (not to mention increased fan attendance from a big home win against Iowa/ISU).

Can this series guarantee that much? The Wells Fargo Arena would probably charge $50/ticket. $50 x 16,500=$825,000...times two days of games= $1.65 mil. Let's say they do give UNI and Drake 30% of the revenue (while Iowa and ISU split the remaining 40%). That's $495,000 in revenue for UNI. $75,000 less than the low ball estimate of how much a home game like that for UNI means. I am taking into account that corporate sponsorships and tv money cancel out the rent of the building. I'm not sold that this money is good for UNI.

If ISU and Iowa decide not to play UNI in basketball, then I say that UNI pulls out of the football series too. Why? B/c it hurts ISU more than it does UNI, IMO. UNI doesn't have the travel costs of any other 1-AA game. The payout is cheaper for UNI. We bring more fans than any other 1-AA or low tier 1-A team. ISU fans would probably rather see UNI play ISU than ISU play Buffalo. UNI could make more money by playing at Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, K-State, etc...even with travel costs. This is just my opinion. But, a Big Four event is just not in good taste for UNI, Drake, or the state of Iowa in terms of basketball. Home and homes make the state of Iowa unique, and it has proven to be successful. Why change a good thing, when it doesn't make sense financially and is risky NCAA Tournament wise?

[DWadle1983]

I like Pollard's comment that this event will help the four schools to showcase their teams in the "capital city." Doesn't Pollard realize that Drake plays its home games in the "capital city", ISU plays its home games in the "capital city's" metro area, unless he thinks 25 miles is a long drive, and UNI plays Drake in the "capital city" every year? Of course he does, which shows how his argument is BS. Since apparently Pollard wants to pretend he isn't up on Iowa's geography, and UNI's basketball schedule, someone should send him an Iowa map, and UNI's basketball schedule to show that his event isn't needed.

As far as Iowa, it would help their RPI if they play a couple of their cupcakes in Des Moines for the "exposure" Pollard apparently doesn't think they get through television. You get .6 for a home win, 1.0 for a netural court win, and 1.4 for a road win.

[AmesPanther]

At the end of the day ISU/Iowa play at UNI to be nice and to be fair to an in state school. They don't have financial reasons to and they don't have scheduling reasons to. It might be playing this tourney or nothing. Playing in DM is better than nothing. I really don't like watching games at the Well so on a personal level this wouldn't be cool

[Panthers to the Bone]

I really don't like watching games at the Well so on a personal level this wouldn't be cool

Agreed. The games in Wells Fargo Arena last year weren't very good atmospheres, IMO. I don't know about the ISU game, but from what I heard, it wasn't the greatest. Is that what you are saying Ames?

[AmesPanther]

The ISU game with Ohio could have been played in Utah; it just didn't work for whatever reason. Should keep the games pretty neutral for a Big 4 tourney though. The hockey setup made it bad for BB also. The Hockey walls stayed up so the seats were too far from the court. Also the first 4 rows on the side were at the same level so only 1 of the 4 rows could see. The end section had probably 12 rows all at the same level.

I didn't like the idea of any games in the Well so I decided to not buy tickets to any game last year. I went only because I got free tickets. If a Big 4 tourney happens I guess I'll probably have to break down and buy tickets.

['70 Grad]

I did not like the Well either. Nice concourse, nice ribbon scoreboard, parking O.K. for the small crowd, nice meeting room for pregame, but the seats were lousy. With no place/room for pop & popcorn, it was hard to stand up for school song with such narrow seats. No knee room either. I was only about 8 rows up, but not close to the action. ITS A HOCKEY ARENA.

I agree with PTTB. We need to work Dome magic on those guys for many reasons. Pollard seems to be pretty smart. Maybe he has heard that the legislature may take note if the series were canceled, and this would get around it. Sly. I hope they don't get away with it.

If they do, then the legislature needs to allocate us more money, which they won't do. The simplist thing is to leave everything as it is. Why should the Iowa/ISU series remain a home & home affair?

[DWadle1983]

At the end of the day ISU/Iowa play at UNI to be nice and to be fair to an in state school. They don't have financial reasons to and they don't have scheduling reasons to. It might be playing this tourney or nothing. Playing in DM is better than nothing. I really don't like watching games at the Well so on a personal level this wouldn't be cool

You're right it's better than nothing, but I would like to see Pollard say ISU doesn't have to play at Drake or UNI, instead of pretending like he's coming up with some event that helps Drake and UNI. I realize why politically Pollard doesn't admit his true motive, but the media should call Pollard on his reasoning behind the Des Moines series. Let him call a spade a spade.

Pollard should also be asked that if he thinks it's important to showcase teams in Des Moines, why he doesn't think it's just as important to showcase Iowa and Iowa State in the Cedar Valley, or Drake and UNI in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area.

[AmesPanther]

He doesn't want to not play UNI/Drake. He wants to get paid more for playing these games and not have to risk losing on the road. Plus he wants to increase ISU's fan base in DM. Putting together a plan like this helps Pollard accomplish this. If he is now trying to sell this plan he will word it like it's a better plan than what's currently happening; to do anything else would be dumb.

I'm not a big fan of DesMoines or Wells Fargo; but like it or not to show case basketball in Iowa the best place is Des Moines and the best facility is the Well. To centrally location such a game in order to draw from the whole state again DM is centrally located and sits on I35 and I80.

It's not entirely bad. It would be good games for UNI to play in front of alumni and fans in DM. Central Iowa doesn't see enough of UNI.

[UNIAlum95]

Say No to the Well!

It's not a good deal for UNI so I don't support it at all. I'm not in the group that thinks we should take it if that is the only way ISU will play us. I'd rather take the high road and go look for someone else to play. Since we're not going to make any money on the deal (PTTB's numbers would never fly with Iowa and ISU), why not go elsewhere. I think if this happens we should take the route proposed by others and shop our football team and volleyball team elsewhere too. If they think they're playing down to us in basketball, we are definitely playing down to them in Volleyball. A loss to them hurts us worse it does them, so why not look for a little better competition. If this is the garbage that is going to come out of there, forget it. They aren't worth the effort in other sports either.