Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[Kolumbo]

Interesting Forbes take on the local economic effect of a team moving "up conference" in realignment...

How College Sports Realignment Can Create Hidden Real Estate Opportunities

When a college changes athletic conferences, headlines usually focus on sports. But seasoned investors know another storyline is unfolding: new real estate opportunities.

www.forbes.com

It should definitely be a boon to Texas State playing all those other large State programs. I spend no time in Storrs these days but the campus has changed so much for the better since I was roaming the mudways. I thought there was a good chance that the mindset of the local Mansfieldeers would gradually change over time to embrace the economic engine that is UConn. The senior folk there grew up watching UConn become a national powerhouse.

UMass is a school which could have done a much better job with its athletics department and has big potential. It's already an excellent public academic school, great location, and investing heavily in football would be a huge marketing opportunity benefitting all campuses. I'll just leave it at that.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Sigh...
View attachment 112249

Sigh....the artist said it wasn't a Husky.

 

[UConnJim]

UMass is a school which could have done a much better job with its athletics department and has big potential. It's already an excellent public academic school, great location, and investing heavily in football would be a huge marketing opportunity benefitting all campuses. I'll just leave it at that.

Unfortunately, UMass is in a terrible location given the population center of Massachusetts is in Eastern Massachusetts almost 2 hours away. And, the politicians in Massachusetts, unlike in Connecticut, do not care about UMass athletics.

 

[uconnyankee]

Unfortunately, UMass is in a terrible location given the population center of Massachusetts is in Eastern Massachusetts almost 2 hours away. And, the politicians in Massachusetts, unlike in Connecticut, do not care about UMass athletics.

Not many land grant state universities are in big population centers.
It’s not like UConn is in downtown Hartford. It’s in one of the least populated parts of the state.

 

[CL82]

Sigh....the artist said it wasn't a Husky.

Nope, that's incorrect. He said he based his picture of a husky using his Samoyed as a model. In fact, we have had a Samoyed husky mix as our actual mascot.

 

[Kolumbo]

Unfortunately, UMass is in a terrible location given the population center of Massachusetts is in Eastern Massachusetts almost 2 hours away. And, the politicians in Massachusetts, unlike in Connecticut, do not care about UMass athletics.

UMass is in a great location. Penn State is at least 2.5 to 3.5 hours away from Pittsburgh and Philly and does great. Yeah, the politicians suck but the location is a plus.

 

[billybud]

I have wondered about location...Clemson is a small town built around the University...but they pack in 80,000 for games.

Tuscaloosa (114,000) is in the middle of nowhere yet the pilgrims flock to the shrine...and Auburn ..another small college town with no large population centers nearby.

 

[Mister Wonderful]

I have wondered about location...Clemson is a small town built around the University...but they pack in 80,000 for games.

Tuscaloosa (114,000) is in the middle of nowhere yet the pilgrims flock to the shrine...and Auburn ..another small college town with no large population centers nearby.

Can you next wonder about how many NFL/NBA/MLB teams are located in SC and AL?

 

[UConnJim]

UMass is in a great location. Penn State is at least 2.5 to 3.5 hours away from Pittsburgh and Philly and does great. Yeah, the politicians suck but the location is a plus.

Penn St. football was a decent program before Joe Paterno arrived in 1966, but his success built the fanbase over decades. Beaver Stadium had a capacity of 46k until 1972 when they expanded to 57k. Winning builds fanbases, not location.

 

[ZooCougar]

Interesting Forbes take on the local economic effect of a team moving "up conference" in realignment...

How College Sports Realignment Can Create Hidden Real Estate Opportunities

When a college changes athletic conferences, headlines usually focus on sports. But seasoned investors know another storyline is unfolding: new real estate opportunities.

www.forbes.com

Non Key

It is a paid ad trying to convince everyone that Texas State's move is on par with Texas A&M's move. It's not. Investing in property in college towns is stable. No kidding.



ByShravan Parsi


AUTHOR POST | Paid Program

 

[Kolumbo]

Can you next wonder about how many NFL/NBA/MLB teams are located in SC and AL?

That's a different and relevant issue. His main argument was proximity to a major city which doesn't matter. The number of pro teams in the Northeast certainly affects the college game.

Penn St. football was a decent program before Joe Paterno arrived in 1966, but his success built the fanbase over decades. Beaver Stadium had a capacity of 46k until 1972 when they expanded to 57k. Winning builds fanbases, not location.

Correct, winning builds fanbases, not location. You claimed the location hampered UMass's success because it was too far from Boston, and now you acknowledge UMass's location is not the issue. Well done. I think UMass is in a great location. The Pioneer Valley, close to I-91, easy to get to for all New Englanders, and plenty of room to expand.

 

[billybud]

Ohhh...you are confirming that the northeast is pro oriented and that the old hack about college football in the NE not competing with pro fans has real legs ?

Hey...do the Savannah Bananas count ?

Can you next wonder about how many NFL/NBA/MLB teams are located in SC and AL?

When I was 12, the closest MLB team to Pensacola was St. Louis or Washington. And no NFL in the deep south...Dallas was probably closest when they started when I was 14. It is true, as I have often posted, that college ball was big in the south because that is what was there.

 

[billybud]

Things change...when I was born, FSU was a girl's school. The migrations from the north had not started...I now live in the mountains of North Carolina and my neighbor friends from NY State follow the Yankees and Buffalo, my neighbor from Minnesota follows Minnesota and the Vikings...And my neighbor from Miami is an insufferable Cane fan (LOL)...no one here follows UNC...Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, FSU are in demand on the sports bar screens.

 

[prankster]

I have wondered about location...Clemson is a small town built around the University...but they pack in 80,000 for games.

Tuscaloosa (114,000) is in the middle of nowhere yet the pilgrims flock to the shrine...and Auburn ..another small college town with no large population centers nearby.

How far do fans go to support a pro football team?
When Giants Stadium was being built, was attendance harmed when games were.moved to Yale Bowl?
While I agree that Metropolitan locations make it easier for fan attendance, "brand loyalty" supercedes distance in most cases (well, that is presuming brand loyalty in the first place).
Most fans commit the entire day to their game attendance. An hour or two on the road is a very small deterrence.

 

[billybud]

Tallahassee is relatively isolated from population centers...8 hour drive round trip from Orlando...Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater..and more to cities farther away..Lauderdale, West Palm, Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami..

Now that Tallahassee hotels double their prices on game weekends and demand 2 night stays, on crowded roads the travel is long, the booster donation and ticket cost add up...folks may choose to stay home and turn on their big screen...

This trend has had the school remodel the stadium in an attempt to provide a "premium" game experience...scaled down total numbers..but with more chair back seating, more club seating.

I do marvel at those fanbases that regularly put 100,000 in the stadiums....

 

[Hoophound]

Tallahassee is relatively isolated from population centers...8 hour drive round trip from Orlando...Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater..and more to cities farther away..Lauderdale, West Palm, Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami..

Now that Tallahassee hotels double their prices on game weekends and demand 2 night stays, on crowded roads the travel is long, the booster donation and ticket cost add up...folks may choose to stay home and turn on their big screen...

This trend has had the school remodel the stadium in an attempt to provide a "premium" game experience...scaled down total numbers..but with more chair back seating, more club seating.

I do marvel at those fanbases that regularly put 100,000 in the stadiums....

Tallahassee is a hike from most parts of Florida. I know all too well from having a house there. There’s also a lot to do in Florida. It isn’t hard to keep busy or see live sports close to home.

I’ve been to Clemson and it isn’t a bad drive at all to and from Greenville. I also noticed that when both Clemson and SC were playing, there were tons of fans in the bars in Greenville watching. I think it’s in one of the sweet spots where the people love football and they are close enough by to show up regularly.

 

[billybud]

Hey...I like Greenville for a three day stay....like the Reedy...good food...traffic is awful if coming into downtown area on a Friday afternoon.

In the way back, our boy played soccer at Clemson and we would stay in Clemson...sometimes Highlands or Anderson.

My brother lives on the lake opposite Clemson's stadium and two miles down.

 

[RSTuthill]

Hey...I like Greenville for a three day stay....like the Reedy...good food...traffic is awful if coming into downtown area on a Friday afternoon.

In the way back, our boy played soccer at Clemson and we would stay in Clemson...sometimes Highlands or Anderson.

My brother lives on the lake opposite Clemson's stadium and two miles down.

I love Clemson and Greenville both. The Clemson convention center is a great place to stay with the exception of football weekends when it is fully booked I am sure. And Greenville has a decent FCS team in Furman. A more beautiful campus you will not find.

 

[billybud]

I dunno...Appy State campus can give them a run for their money.

 

[UConnJim]

Correct, winning builds fanbases, not location. You claimed the location hampered UMass's success because it was too far from Boston, and now you acknowledge UMass's location is not the issue. Well done. I think UMass is in a great location. The Pioneer Valley, close to I-91, easy to get to for all New Englanders, and plenty of room to expand.

My point about Boston is not just physical distance, but emotional distance. Massachusetts is dominated by really good private colleges like MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Wellesley, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Babson,.... If you lived near Boston, you might understand how few state politicians care about UMass athletics. In fact, no UMass grad has ever been governor of Massachusetts. When was the last time a Massachusetts governor showed up to a UMass football or basketball game in Amherst?

 

[RSTuthill]

My point about Boston is not just physical distance, but emotional distance. Massachusetts is dominated by really good private colleges like MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Wellesley, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Babson,.... If you lived near Boston, you might understand how few state politicians care about UMass athletics. In fact, no UMass grad has ever been governor of Massachusetts. When was the last time a Massachusetts governor showed up to a UMass football or basketball game in Amherst?

When was the last time a CT governor showed up at a UConn football game? Genuinely interested in the answer, not trying to make a point.

 

[Bongo Fury]

UMass Amherst has a campus in Newton. (Mt Ida)

 

[Kolumbo]

My point about Boston is not just physical distance, but emotional distance. Massachusetts is dominated by really good private colleges like MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Wellesley, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Babson,.... If you lived near Boston, you might understand how few state politicians care about UMass athletics. In fact, no UMass grad has ever been governor of Massachusetts. When was the last time a Massachusetts governor showed up to a UMass football or basketball game in Amherst?

If that is the case, then the UMass politicians are simply shooting themselves in the feet. All of those exceptional privates will continue to thrive, I would think. Growing the flagship U really benefits the state. Of course I have no doubt that politicians may be mucking things up.

This was from the UMass Chancellor in 2011 on FBS and joining the MAC:
"The announcement was made by Chancellor Robert C. Holub, who expressed how the move would gain UMass greater national recognition. "This move advances our aspirations to assume our rightful place in the upper echelon of national public research universities,” said Holub. “Our move to the top of the college football world now becomes part of our overall move towards ever greater national prominence.”"

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

My point about Boston is not just physical distance, but emotional distance. Massachusetts is dominated by really good private colleges like MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Northeastern, Holy Cross, Wellesley, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Babson,.... If you lived near Boston, you might understand how few state politicians care about UMass athletics. In fact, no UMass grad has ever been governor of Massachusetts. When was the last time a Massachusetts governor showed up to a UMass football or basketball game in Amherst?

And on top of this, most Bostonians don't give a rat's ass about anything outside of 128. Even Worcester is an afterthought, to say nothing about Springfield and Amherst. Greater Hartford has more in common with Massachusetts' I-91/CT River cities and towns.

 

[Kolumbo]

And on top of this, most Bostonians don't give a rat's ass about anything outside of 128. Even Worcester is an afterthought, to say nothing about Springfield and Amherst. Greater Hartford has more in common with Massachusetts' I-91/CT River cities and towns.

So forget Boston. Massachusetts is the 16th largest state with over 7 million people. Western Mass with Springfield, Amherst, even Worcester is more than large enough to support an FBS program. Delaware has 1 million people. West Virginia 1.8 million. Nebraska 2 million. The other MAC programs are dwarfed by other P4 and pro programs. Heck UMass is in a better situation than many G6 programs. Mass has no excuse.