Comments on: Gator Fans Haven’t Exactly Snapped Up Sugar Bowl Tickets; Blame The Weather

By: Roggespierre

Roggespierre — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:04:21 +0000

Weather probably is a factor, but I think it is just one of many.

1. Watching in HD effectively for free is a fairly attractive option. Why spend money and travel when the in-home experience is quite good?

2. Bowls used to be driven by the local tourism boards; now, they’re driven by the television execs that finance the games. Other sports are experiencing similar fallout. Look at NASCAR, for example. International Speedway Corp now makes more money in TV distributions than it does at the gate. Bowls are the same. So, too, is the NFL – every team would still make millions even if all games were played in empty stadiums.

3. The quest to crown a “national champion” is having a significant impact on the bowls. If you’re not The Game, then you’re just not all that important. The Sugar Bowl used to be the best that an SEC team could do, the ultimate reward for a conference championship and a match-up with an opponent that offered a similar resume. The Orange Bowl was the same thing for the winner of the Big Eight, as was the Cotton Bowl for the SWC champ.

4. Although most students are still out of school, lots of people have to go back to work after New Year’s Day. The extended bowl season – again due to TV requirements – means that working people must use vacation time in order to attend.

By: PAUL ZBaR

PAUL ZBaR — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:08:18 +0000

The game is literally in the murder capital of the United States against a Big East team. Not a Gator fan, but why would I go if I was?

Also, why in the blue heck is the Rose Bowl 2.0 in such a cracked out broken city? Seriously horrible location and it should be in Jerryworld.

By: SouthernBoiSB

SouthernBoiSB — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:29:24 +0000

17-3 Louisville in 2nd

By: buddha22

buddha22 — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:20:14 +0000

It’s the economy first, but then the other points are valid. Long stretches w/o bowls will overcome the economy as pent up fan demand can fuel ticket purchases.

By: SouthernBoiSB

SouthernBoiSB — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:07:18 +0000

Georgia will GLADLY take the Sugar Bowl title & tix if Florida doesn’t want it! *wink*

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:49:06 +0000

@ConnGator

I doubt that it would have been sold out with Oklahoma. And again, if the opponent is the issue, then that’s simply back to Bianchi’s point — that Florida fans are spoiled — which was already covered in the above post.

Many thanks for reading the site,
John

By: ConnGator

ConnGator — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:47:17 +0000

Um, how about the opponent? If Oklahoma were there the game would have sold out in a heartbeat.

Loathe though I am to admit it, FSU had a similar problem.

By: gator in san diego

gator in san diego — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:40:28 +0000

Don’t leave out the fact that New Orleans is a cesspool.

By: db20207

db20207 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:21:03 +0000

Not sure how much time you have spent in Gainesville, but any excuse is a good excuse to leave that place.