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How do these no-one-attended bowls exist?

Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:12 pm
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:12 pm
Forgive my ignorance. How do these bowl games continue to exist? The ones who have maybe 100 people in the stands. This Birmingham Bowl is actually interesting and yes compelling (so far) to watch but there's no one there really.

These bowls like this can't be making any money at all. So, I'm wondering how is it they continue to exist? Anyone who knows the reason why they do, feel free to drop an idea here.
Posted by Colonel Ingus
Houston
Member since Nov 2021
5385 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:13 pm to
TV deals / ad money. They’re on in the background at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:15 pm to
I knew that would be a quick response and not saying you're wrong or disagreeing -- hell, you're almost certainly right, but this did not compel me to eat at BWW. They have ok wings and I am in their target market but I am not moved. I would not visit their establishment anymore than I normally do with this bowl expenditure.
Posted by Colonel Ingus
Houston
Member since Nov 2021
5385 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:17 pm to
I honestly don’t even watch the bowls that aren’t NY6 unless it’s a an SEC team.
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:17 pm to
I will for certain matchups. This one I was kind of interested in but you're right in your inference, there's not much to watch at least for another day or two.
Posted by FightinTigersDammit
Louisiana North
Member since Mar 2006
34603 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:20 pm to
ESPN owns a lot of these no-name, no-tradition bowls
Posted by tylerdurden24
Member since Sep 2009
46415 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:21 pm to
ESPN subsidizes all of the filler bowls so they have inventory to sell advertisers. Remove ESPN from the equation and you likely go back to only 9 bowl games like it used to be in the late 70s: Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, Sun, Citrus, Gator, Independence
This post was edited on 12/27/22 at 7:22 pm
Posted by rgw
Member since Oct 2013
183 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:22 pm to
quote:

ESPN owns a lot of these no-name, no-tradition bowls


This is really it. ESPN hoodwink cities into hosting these games. Maybe they have some significant economic impact but I doubt it.
Posted by tylerdurden24
Member since Sep 2009
46415 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:23 pm to
Most of these games give the stadiums a reason to operate this time of year. It’s not a huge impact but they’re getting a check from ESPN to open up and that’s enough. If fans show up, all the better
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
118924 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:24 pm to
Sponsors will stop if the good players opt out
Posted by tylerdurden24
Member since Sep 2009
46415 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:25 pm to
Or NIL continues to evolve so that bowl sponsors pay the good players to show up (more likely IMO)
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

Maybe they have some significant economic impact but I doubt it.


3/4 of them has almost zero economic impact. Let's be honest.
Posted by Ironlung
Central Arkansas
Member since Nov 2017
1301 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

How do these bowl games continue to exist? The ones who have maybe 100 people in the stands
I was just talking to a friend about this.
There should be maybe 12 bowls games outside of the playoffs. Nobody cares about these crap 6-6 P5 teams any more than they care about 9-3 directional schools.
The fans don't show up. The TV time slots are stupid, the stadium atmosphere is reminiscent of a mausoleum.
It seems like CFB is literally trying to kill itself.
This post was edited on 12/27/22 at 7:28 pm
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

Or NIL continues to evolve so that bowl sponsors pay the good players to show up (more likely IMO)



Now that's an interesting take. In one way a good part of NIL.
Posted by Cheese Grits
Wherever I lay my hat is my home
Member since Apr 2012
54617 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:30 pm to
quote:

TV deals / ad money.
Posted by Ironlung
Central Arkansas
Member since Nov 2017
1301 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:30 pm to
quote:

Or NIL continues to evolve so that bowl sponsors pay the good players to show up (more likely IMO)

Now that's an Idiotic take. No way a potential NFL player with any sense is going to take one-game money from GooberSmooch Auto over an NFL contract. Stupid
Posted by BradJ88
The Dirty Southside
Member since Nov 2022
341 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:35 pm to
quote:

No way a potential NFL player with any sense is going to take one-game money from GooberSmooch Auto over an NFL contract.


You're right in that they "shouldn't". But, I know they do. Right now money still looks bigger than tomorrow money even if tomorrow money is pretty serious.
Posted by Ironlung
Central Arkansas
Member since Nov 2017
1301 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:37 pm to
quote:

You're right in that they "shouldn't". But, I know they do. Right now money still looks bigger than tomorrow money even if tomorrow money is pretty serious.

You can try to convince yourself of that if you want. But college football as we currently know and love it is on its way to the grave.
Posted by multicampus
Member since Oct 2021
1191 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:49 pm to
quote:

ESPN subsidizes all of the filler bowls so they have inventory to sell advertisers. Remove ESPN from the equation and you likely go back to only 9 bowl games like it used to be in the late 70s: Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, Sun, Citrus, Gator, Independence


Peach? It's been around since 1968.
Posted by Ironlung
Central Arkansas
Member since Nov 2017
1301 posts
Posted on 12/27/22 at 7:55 pm to
quote:

like it used to be in the late 70s: Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, Sun, Citrus, Gator, Independence
I'm old, but I was only 5 when the 70s ended.
But I do remember one called the Bluebonnet Bowl.
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