UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

The economic impact is certainly significant. Especially when other Cali schools roll into town. Remember how much UConn's attendance increased when it went D1-A

And just for you. Sacramento Republic FC is getting a new stadium as part of an entire mixed-use development in the Railyards. They currently play in a stadium at Cal Expo. Things are bustling in Sacramento

NFW anyone of serious mind can reasonably forecast Sac State’s potential net revenues (or losses) from the school’s football experiment in a don’t give a crap about college football city.

2nd division USL Sacramento FC originally played in a 20K seat stadium before moving to a smaller 11K seat stadium. Several years ago, their owners were trying for an MLS bid before the league and owners put it on hold 5 years ago when an investor withdrew.

Good reason the projected new soccer stadium capacity for now is only 12K. If the city, USL owners, and Sac State brains were bustling, they might build a larger, dual use stadium à la Snapdragon which is home for SDSU and the San Diego MLS team. Time will tell …

 

[Kolumbo]

NFW anyone of serious mind can reasonably forecast Sac State’s potential net revenues (or losses) from the school’s football experiment in a don’t give a crap about college football city.

2nd division USL Sacramento FC originally played in a 20K seat stadium before moving to a smaller 11K seat stadium. Several years ago, their owners were trying for an MLS bid before the league and owners put it on hold 5 years ago when an investor withdrew.

Good reason the projected new soccer stadium capacity for now is only 12K. If the city, USL owners, and Sac State brains were bustling, they might build a larger, dual use stadium à la Snapdragon which is home for SDSU and the San Diego MLS team. Time will tell …

OK, no economic impact. You go with that. Connecticut has been just as bad if not worse. Except our soccer stadium is only 10k in a city a quarter as large as Sacramento and we put our football stadium in an industrial wasteland.

 

[Vowelguy]

OK, no economic impact. You go with that. Connecticut has been just as bad if not worse. Except our soccer stadium is only 10k in a city a quarter as large as Sacramento and we put our football stadium in an industrial wasteland.

You cannot compare city populations. City boundaries are historical/legal and bear little relevance for economic might. Many western cities are geographically large because they annexed suburban areas or the suburbs never formed independently. Sacramento is 100 sq miles. Bridgeport < 20.

The metro area is the relevant comparison.

 

[Kolumbo]

You cannot compare city populations. City boundaries are historical/legal and bear little relevance for economic might. Many western cities are geographically large because they annexed suburban areas or the suburbs never formed independently. Sacramento is 100 sq miles. Bridgeport < 20.

The metro area is the relevant comparison.

But not for purposes of making my point. And the stadium is still not in the city or on campus.

Seriously though, I guess we could include the entire Sacramento metro area and beyond, since it is still California. I've never been to the area and don't know what they care about football. But they averaged 15k as an FCS program. I'd say there's some interest.

 

[ZooCougar]

Fresno 38k (-6% y/y)
San Diego 26k (+6%)
San Jose 14k (-13%)

I was wrong. They will generate $2B in economic impact.

 

[Vuce]

Something I just saw online: What's UMass's reaction to SacSt getting a FB-only invite?

Not that UMass has any cards to play, but they were told it was all sports or none. Then again, UMass didn't have to spend millions of dollars to get in, pay travel expenses, and accept no revenue.

The UMass guys I know are aware it wasn’t an option for them due to Sac State caving on all the expenses but they all said they would have loved going football only and staying A10 on hoops. None of them would have given up their season tix which they’ve had for decades.

 

[Drew]

I'm a little worried that if Connecticut gets an offer to joining a P conference at some point in the future, the whole "we will forgo distributions for X number of years" thing has now become the new expectation for joining.

You would be correct in thinking this is now a requirement btw

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

OK, no economic impact. You go with that. Connecticut has been just as bad if not worse. Except our soccer stadium is only 10k in a city a quarter as large as Sacramento and we put our football stadium in an industrial wasteland.

Unclear why an effort to compare Sac State and UConn, or Sacramento and Hartford, or the 2 states exists. Solely focused directly on what appear to be wildly enthusiastic Sac State projections, the multi year hold on Sac Republic FC’s hopes to move from USL to MLS, and what’s viewed as a curious intent to build a delayed soccer stadium AND maybe a Sac St football stadium in the same state expo land. Maybe all end up working, time will tell …

 

[Kolumbo]

Unclear why an effort to compare Sac State and UConn, or Sacramento and Hartford, or the 2 states exists. Solely focused directly on what appear to be wildly enthusiastic Sac State projections, the multi year hold on Sac Republic FC’s hopes to move from USL to MLS, and what’s viewed as a curious intent to build a delayed soccer stadium AND maybe a Sac St football stadium in the same state expo land. Maybe all end up working, time will tell …

There have been quite a few programs making the jump from FCS to FBS and a program like JMU happened to be extremely successful. Go FBS, build up your stadium, join a conference, and give it a go. Sounds like a formula. Meanwhile UConn made the jump 26 years ago, still no on campus stadium, and still wandering as an independent. It's unclear to me why many are mocking Sac State for giving it a shot. I know all the ins and outs and ups and downs of our situation here in Connecticut but I don't think we are in any position to throw stones. That's all.

 

[ScottVib]

Except when UConn was newly upgraded it was the talk of college football how quickly they were a viable program. New 40k stadium, bowl eligible (6-6) year one of eligibility, in a bowl year two. Co-champs of a BCS conference by year 5 & second championship and in BCS rep by year 8.

It’s unfair to say still wandering without acknowledging the success of the program during Edsall’s initial tenure. Poor coaching hires (poor AD leadership in the early 2010s) and lack of investment have led UConn to its current state, not failure to figure things out from the jump.

 

[Kolumbo]

Except when UConn was newly upgraded it was the talk of college football how quickly they were a viable program. New 40k stadium, bowl eligible (6-6) year one of eligibility, in a bowl year two. Co-champs of a BCS conference by year 5 & second championship and in BCS rep by year 8.

It’s unfair to say still wandering without acknowledging the success of the program during Edsall’s initial tenure. Poor coaching hires (poor AD leadership in the early 2010s) and lack of investment have led UConn to its current state, not failure to figure things out from the jump.

It's not unfair at all. UConn was successful because it jumped right into the Big East and yes, it had a brand new stadium. The Big East was probably the biggest factor. In hindsight the stadium should have been built on campus. The off campus stadium and being independent are now the biggest handicaps.

 

[ZooCougar]

There have been quite a few programs making the jump from FCS to FBS and a program like JMU happened to be extremely successful. Go FBS, build up your stadium, join a conference, and give it a go. Sounds like a formula. Meanwhile UConn made the jump 26 years ago, still no on campus stadium, and still wandering as an independent. It's unclear to me why many are mocking Sac State for giving it a shot. I know all the ins and outs and ups and downs of our situation here in Connecticut but I don't think we are in any position to throw stones. That's all.

Because they are paying over $20M plus travel for everyone else to play in the MAC.

It’s like some guys throwing a keg party but you only get to come if you pay for everything.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Looks like Sac St has a generous benefactor. Doesn’t appear UMass does

 

[ArtTheFan]

It's not unfair at all. UConn was successful because it jumped right into the Big East and yes, it had a brand new stadium. The Big East was probably the biggest factor. In hindsight the stadium should have been built on campus. The off campus stadium and being independent are now the biggest handicaps.

The town of Mansfield didn't want to stadium. The town was going to fight UConn and sue UConn if they got approval. It would be 2 lane roads leading to it. I know that if Connecticut improved 44 to help UConn, Coventry was going to fight it, too. I knew someone in Coventry who was on the council.

Connecticut got a deal and the roads went right to it. East Hartford was happy, since it was viewed as a rebuild project for the town.

If Pratt didn't donate the land, thank UConn would have a 40k seat stadium opened in Mansfield by the time Indiana came? Mansfield would be SUEING the state, Coventry would be SUEING (44 improvements wouldn't help the town) and UConn would be just a bit better than UMass, or maybe UMass would be better than us.

Now, to you on campus stadium fans, what would you suggest to do with Rentschler? Tear it down?

 

[Kolumbo]

The town of Mansfield didn't want to stadium. The town was going to fight UConn and sue UConn if they got approval. It would be 2 lane roads leading to it. I know that if Connecticut improved 44 to help UConn, Coventry was going to fight it, too. I knew someone in Coventry who was on the council.

Connecticut got a deal and the roads went right to it. East Hartford was happy, since it was viewed as a rebuild project for the town.

If Pratt didn't donate the land, thank UConn would have a 40k seat stadium opened in Mansfield by the time Indiana came? Mansfield would be SUEING the state, Coventry would be SUEING (44 improvements wouldn't help the town) and UConn would be just a bit better than UMass, or maybe UMass would be better than us.

Now, to you on campus stadium fans, what would you suggest to do with Rentschler? Tear it down?

Yes

 

[Bongo Fury]

Pratt benefited from the donation and at the time E Hartford was easier.

 

[Kolumbo]

Because they are paying over $20M plus travel for everyone else to play in the MAC.

It’s like some guys throwing a keg party but you only get to come if you pay for everything.

You are mocking Sac State because they are paying $20 million, as if that is some major hassle. UConn paid millions to get out of the AAC and paid millions to join the new big east. big deal. and Sac State was already paying teams to travel. Maybe you are forgetting they now get to play more FBS programs not in the MAC.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ZooCougar]

You are mocking Sac State because they are paying $20 million, as if that is some major hassle. UConn paid millions to get out of the AAC and paid millions to join the new big east. big deal. and Sac State was already paying teams to travel. Maybe you are forgetting they now get to play more FBS programs not in the MAC.

False equivalence and Nelson level bad faith arguing there.


They are paying much more than that.

They are basically doing the equivalent of picking up the travel budget of another FBS team.

Every time I look at it, gets worse. It’s the most destructive, desperate and wasteful thing I have ever seen in college sports.

 

[ZooCougar]

Nope.

 

[JVN]

These guys will write anything to generate clicks.