Gator Bowl picks Clemson over FSU

[ProjectMaximus]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

Yeah it will be interesting to see. Especially with a worse-off economy than last year. I did find this little nugget on the internet:

"While organizers are noncommittal about the prospects of a sellout in 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium, they are certain of halting the downward spiral experienced in Jacksonville. The inaugural game, which included Florida State, drew a respectable 72,749 in Jacksonville’s Municipal Stadium, which holds 77,497. Subsequent games without the Seminoles or Hurricanes slipped at a rate of 10,000 fans a year, bottoming out last year with attendance of 53,212.

Not only does Raymond James Stadium have fewer seats, but those seats will also come at a cheaper price. Tickets for the ACC’s game begin at $25, well below the lowest-priced ticket last year of $65. About 14,000 of the seats at Raymond James Stadium are priced at $25."

Source: http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60735


If Jacksonville had 14,000 $25 seats we'd probably have hit 60,000 to 65,000 last year. It just all depends on the match-up though, bottom line.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Virginians-are-too-frugal-for-the-ACC-Championsh;_ylt=Aogh8Qm3DQWnyEvKRJkJCZscvrYF?urn=ncaaf,126524

[ProjectMaximus]

"Tech was obligated to pay the Tampa Bay Sports Commission for 10,000 tickets to the game but has only sold about 3,000 of them.

Virginia Tech assistant athletic director Sandy Smith said Tuesday that ticket sales have been slower than last year, when the game was held in Jacksonville, Fla."

[thelakelander]

The stadium looks half empty.

[tufsu1]

I'm betting its more than half empty...an d remember, that's with $25 upper level tickets...which it looks like very few people purchased!

[JeffreyS]

It looks bad. The ACC needs to pick a city, stick with it and grow this game.  I of course would love it to be Jax but Charlotte may be bigger ACC fans.

[thelakelander]

Tampa is off to a bad start.  Despite the smaller stadium and reduction in prices, the attendance was about the same as Jax's last year.

Michael Kelly, ACC associate commissioner for football operations, said 53,927 tickets were distributed for the game, played in Tampa for the first time after a three-year run in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dwindling attendance has been a concern ever since the inaugural title game between Virginia Tech and Florida State drew an announced 72,749 in 2005. The figures slipped to 62,850 for Georgia Tech and Wake Forest in 2006 and 53,212 for BC and Tech a year ago.

Although each school was allotted about 10,000 tickets for Saturday's rematch, the Eagles and Hokies reportedly combined to sell fewer than 5,000. And, with neither Florida State or Miami in the game, and Florida playing for the SEC championship on television later in the afternoon, there was little interest locally.

"It's just the way it is right now. ... Obviously, we're never going to be satisfied until we get this game sold out," Kelly said, adding that ticket sales were affected by the economy and the fact neither school clinched a spot in the game until last week.

The game will be played in Tampa again next year, then head to Charlotte in 2010.

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283410259

[Coolyfett]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

HA HA HA HA!!! The irony of Miami & FSU not being in that game.

The game belongs in Charlotte!! The ACC will just have to learn the hard way.

[Coolyfett]

If Jacksonville want ACC fans they have to get an annual classic. A Georgia Tech VS Florida State or Miami VS Georgia Tech or something like that. That GA-FL game is big, but if the Bulldogs lose too often they try to end that series. It would be cool if Jacksonville could get an annual FSU vs UF game it makes more sense, don't know why the city has never tried to make that happen. The GA-FL tradition is so long running, thats why I would be against the change.

[tufsu1]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

HA HA HA HA!!! The irony of Miami & FSU not being in that game.

The game belongs in Charlotte!! The ACC will just have to learn the hard way.

is there a reason you find it funny that FSU and Miami aren't there....and why would the game be better in Charlotte....with teams that hardly ever sell out nearby and the potential for cold weather?

[civil42806]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

HA HA HA HA!!! The irony of Miami & FSU not being in that game.

The game belongs in Charlotte!! The ACC will just have to learn the hard way.

is there a reason you find it funny that FSU and Miami aren't there....and why would the game be better in Charlotte....with teams that hardly ever sell out nearby and the potential for cold weather?

Looked like the stadium in Tampa was barely a 1/3rd full.  ACC teams just don't travel well regardless of where the game is held.  Acc would be much better off holding the game at the top ranked teams stadium.  And i think its been said before , stop posting in red!

[ProjectMaximus]

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the attendance number will be for this week's ACC championship game in Tampa.  They're getting the same matchup that Jax had last year (BC vs. VT).

HA HA HA HA!!! The irony of Miami & FSU not being in that game.

The game belongs in Charlotte!! The ACC will just have to learn the hard way.

is there a reason you find it funny that FSU and Miami aren't there....and why would the game be better in Charlotte....with teams that hardly ever sell out nearby and the potential for cold weather?

Looked like the stadium in Tampa was barely a 1/3rd full.  ACC teams just don't travel well regardless of where the game is held.  Acc would be much better off holding the game at the top ranked teams stadium.  And i think its been said before , stop posting in red!

Yeah, unlike the SEC and Big 12, the ACC is still a basketball conference. The history and tradition will take more time to grow before you have more traveling fans. As I pointed out in an earlier post as well, the schools just arent that big in general, so the alumni bases aren't as large or spread out.

Not sure what the ACC can do to improve the attendance (I don't see why Charlotte is better) other than having teams that matter (ie, national title contenders) play to make the game more relevant. If Va Tech was playing to go to the Natl Championship, more Hokies would have gone to Tampa rather than just "saving up for the bowl game" as they were quoted as saying. 

[tufsu1]

another somewhat interesting note....while everyone is paying attention to the Big 12 (Texas, Oklahoma) and the SEC (Florida, Alabama), guess which conference is rated as #1 in football this year?

Yep, you guessed it...according to Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings, it would be the ACC...with a 6-4 record against the SEC and undefeated (I think 4-0) against the Big 12, and 10 out of 12 teams bowl eligible.

Its just too bad they don't have the die-hard fan support for football that SEC schools have!

[MattnJax]

Tampa is off to a bad start.  Despite the smaller stadium and reduction in prices, the attendance was about the same as Jax's last year.

Michael Kelly, ACC associate commissioner for football operations, said 53,927 tickets were distributed for the game, played in Tampa for the first time after a three-year run in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dwindling attendance has been a concern ever since the inaugural title game between Virginia Tech and Florida State drew an announced 72,749 in 2005. The figures slipped to 62,850 for Georgia Tech and Wake Forest in 2006 and 53,212 for BC and Tech a year ago.

Although each school was allotted about 10,000 tickets for Saturday's rematch, the Eagles and Hokies reportedly combined to sell fewer than 5,000. And, with neither Florida State or Miami in the game, and Florida playing for the SEC championship on television later in the afternoon, there was little interest locally.

"It's just the way it is right now. ... Obviously, we're never going to be satisfied until we get this game sold out," Kelly said, adding that ticket sales were affected by the economy and the fact neither school clinched a spot in the game until last week.

The game will be played in Tampa again next year, then head to Charlotte in 2010.

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283410259

As host of the ACC Championship game, Jacksonville doesn't look so bad now as far as attendance and support of the game. I think this bodes well for a return of the game after a test run in Charlotte which I think is too cold for the ACC's liking. They picked Jacksonville originally for a reason, and that is a it's warm weather and location. We can't help we get poor match-ups. Charlotte would have the same trouble.

[ProjectMaximus]

another somewhat interesting note....while everyone is paying attention to the Big 12 (Texas, Oklahoma) and the SEC (Florida, Alabama), guess which conference is rated as #1 in football this year?

Yep, you guessed it...according to Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings, it would be the ACC...with a 6-4 record against the SEC and undefeated (I think 4-0) against the Big 12, and 10 out of 12 teams bowl eligible.

Its just too bad they don't have the die-hard fan support for football that SEC schools have!

yeah...did you see the link I posted at the top of the page? It sums that up pretty well...the ACC was without a doubt (imo) the strongest conference overall. But is that what makes a conference the "best?" It certainly isn't what draws the most attention and hype. You need to have very good teams at the top to legitimize yourself, and the ACC's best doesn't compare at all to any other BCS conference's best except the Big East's. And, well, that aint sayin much this season.

[ProjectMaximus]

Since we're sort of on the topic, I was curious if anyone could offer some insight...

Why doesn't Jacksonville try to establish a second bowl game? San Diego, New Orleans, and Orlando all host twice in the same stadium. Would it simply be too costly? Would the economic benefits not make up for that? Just wondering...any thoughts?