Will the Gophers be in the top 3 for fan support at the bowl games?

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ruppertflywheel

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I'm thinking this:
1. Ohio State
2. Minnesota
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State ( New York a great venue )
5. Nebraska. ( I still think they'll have a good following )
6. Iowa
7. Rutgers
8. Maryland
9. Illinois
10.Wisconsin ( They will avoid Tampa like the plague )
 


It's so hard to say how well we'll travel. I seem to recall people being pumped for the Sun Bowl in 1999, but we haven't brought many fans on the road since. That said, I was overwhelmed at how many Gopher fans traveled to the Final Four in 1997. Although Kentucky had the most fans due to being in close proximity to Indianapolis and having many local fans, we had more than North Carolina and especially Arizona. What it shows is that Minnesotans will turn out for the big event. The Citrus Bowl isn't the Final Four in terms of prestige, but for this program it's the biggest bowl since our last trip to Pasadena.

I doubt we'll be the #2 traveling fan group in the Big Ten, but think we can be in the top half. My take is we'd bring more fans had we gone to Tampa instead. It's a more doable drive for Minnesota transplants, retirees, and snowbirds living in the greater Fort Myers/Naples/Sanibel area. Plus many a fan coming from up north would have a place to stay and a car to borrow in Fort Myers/Naples/Sanibel in comparison to Orlando where travel costs may keep some folks at home. I'm not talking a massive difference, but enough to notice.
 

If we don't attend in respectable numbers (i.e. 10,000 or more), then we fans will have no-one to blame but ourselves if we get "passed over" in future years by teams that have a reputation for travelling well.

People are complaining about flight costs to Orlando. Do you think those flights are any cheaper from Milwaukee or Omaha? Also, I firmly believe that we in the upper-Midwest do have higher wages (especially when you include the value of benefits) than people in the south, so the higher travel costs for us are probably an equal or lesser proportion of our incomes than it would be for people in places like Mississippi who don't have to spend money on airline tickets (but still have to pay for gas, hotel, tickets, etc.).

In other words... be part of the solution - go to the game!
 

Ruppert: I see your pure and utter disdain (rightly or wrongly) for all things Wisconsin is once again shining through. Come on bud. :)

Seriously though, I think you are being purposely obtuse if you really think Becky is going to sell fewer tickets than Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, possibly even Iowa. The first three teams I noted all have bowl games either right after or not long after Christmas Day. And those three have far less attractive bowl locations than Central/South Florida. Rutgers (Detroit really??), Illinois (Dallas, while not a bad destination, have been there many times is a great city, it is at 1pm ET the day after Christmas Day, Maryland (Santa Clara/San Fran is a cool area, but the date is not very attractive, a Tuesday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

While, yes, Becky will very likely sell fewer tickets than they have in past seasons due to some repeat state/destination fatigue, I think it is rather silly to actually suggest they will sell the fewest bowl tickets of all B1G schools. I am not a fan of Wisconsin either my man, but I am not going to be naive on the topic you brought up. I hate to, but will give them credit where credit is due. They have usually traveled pretty well and kudos to them. I want us to get to that level too where bowl committees consider us a school/fan base that can be relied upon to generally travel quite well for bowl season. That is the goal all Gopher fans and the program should always be aiming at.

Just my two cents. Go Gophers! Ski-U-Mah! Beat Missouri!

Oh and F Becky! ;)
 



supadupafly said:
Ruppert: I see your pure and utter disdain (rightly or wrongly) for all things Wisconsin is once again shining through. Come on bud. :)

Seriously though, I think you are being purposely obtuse if you really think Becky is going to sell fewer tickets than Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, possibly even Iowa. The first three teams I noted all have bowl games either right after or not long after Christmas Day. And those three have far less attractive bowl locations than Central/South Florida. Rutgers (Detroit really??), Illinois (Dallas, while not a bad destination, have been there many times is a great city, it is at 1pm CT the day after Christmas Day, Maryland (Santa Clara/San Fran is a cool area, but the date is not very attractive, a Tuesday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

While, yes, Becky will very likely sell fewer tickets than they have in past seasons due to some repeat state/destination fatigue, I think it is rather silly to actually suggest they will sell the fewest bowl tickets of all B1G schools. I am not a fan of Wisconsin either my man, but I am not going to naive on the topic you brought up. I hate to, but will give them credit where credit is due. They have usually traveled pretty well and kudos to them. I want us to get to that level too where bowl committees consider us a school/fan base that can usually be relied up to travel quite well for bowl season. That is the goal all Gopher fans and the program should always be aiming at.

Just my two cents. Go Gophers! Ski-U-Mah! Beat Missouri!

Oh and F Becky! ;)
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Nope...This was well thought out. This is Illinois first bowl in what, 3 years? Rutgers? You can drive from Missouri to Detroit. you can fly in for the day for 100.00. Rutgers has a pretty good fan base. Maryland to California? I think you'll be surprised. A lot of Badger fans spent their wad going to Indy.
They've play in Florida what, 3 out of the last 4 years? And you're forgetting the beat down in Indy.
Plus, don't they get Alabama at a neutral site next year? I think fan wise, we'll be right in with Sparty.
The only wrinkle I see is the Pin Stripe Bowl. It's a drive and a 9 iron from Happy Valley to New York.
Penn State may show up in droves.
 

I really doubt Illinois fans will travel in great numbers to spend Christmas in Dallas away from home and family for a fourth rate bowl game to play Louisana Tech, a team that would have trouble drawing interest for a mid September game Champaign. More than Wisconsin this bowl season? Not a chance.

Think of the dread and disdain Gopher fans have shown for playing a bowl game in Detroit, treating it more like a punishment than a reward? Why are we to think Rutgers would be any different? The Scarlet Knights also finished 2-5 to end the season with some crushing losses. I can't see them getting many fans on the plane.

I think Maryland won't embarrass itself in Santa Clara, but it's a huge distance to cover to one of the most expensive travel locations in the 48 contiguous states with the game on a somewhat inconvenient date. Driving is realistically out of the question to the vast majority of fans. My guess is the Terps will have a lot of transplants and California alumns but can't see them bringing too many from Maryland and nearby environs.

Time will tell, but I think Wisconsin will outdraw all three.
 

ruppertflywheel said:
Nope...This was well thought out. This is Illinois first bowl in what, 3 years? Rutgers? You can drive from Missouri to Detroit. you can fly in for the day for 100.00. Rutgers has a pretty good fan base. Maryland to California? I think you'll be surprised. A lot of Badger fans spent their wad going to Indy.
They've play in Florida what, 3 out of the last 4 years? And you're forgetting the beat down in Indy.
Plus, don't they get Alabama at a neutral site next year? I think fan wise, we'll be right in with Sparty.
The only wrinkle I see is the Pin Stripe Bowl. It's a drive and a 9 iron from Happy Valley to New York.
Penn State may show up in droves.
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I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. That said, I do agree with you that Penn State should likely make a good showing in NYC considering the extreme proximity of the majority of their fan base and New York City. And the fact they are playing an old rival in BC doesn't hurt. I believe they have met up with Boston College a good number of times over the decades.
 



Sports_Realist said:
I really doubt Illinois fans will travel in great numbers to spend Christmas in Dallas away from home and family for fourth rate bowl game to play Louisana Tech, a team that would have trouble drawing interest for a mid September game Champaign. More than Wisconsin this bowl season? Not a chance.

Think of the dread and disdain Gopher fans have shown for playing a bowl game in Detroit, treating it more like a punishment than a reward? Why are we to think Rutgers would be any different? The Scarlet Knights also finished 2-5 to end the season with some crushing losses. I can't see them getting many fans on the plane.

I think Maryland won't embarrass itself in Santa Clara, but it's a huge distance to cover to one of the most expensive travel locations in the 48 contiguous states with the game on a somewhat inconvenient date. Driving is realistically out of the question to the vast majority of fans. My guess is the Terps will have a lot of transplants and California alumns but can't see them bringing too many from Maryland and nearby environs.

Time will tell, but I think Wisconsin will outdraw all three.
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Thank you. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to pimp Becky, but Ruppert's logic seems to be flawed. Just my opinion.
 

supadupafly said:
Thank you. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to pimp Becky, but Ruppert's logic seems to be flawed. Just my opinion.
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I think you guys will be surprised. Both Rutgers and Illinois ended the season on a high note.
As Lou Holtz said: " There is no bad bowl game " I will be calling the ticket offices for updates.
 

We couldn't fill TCF during the B1G Ten season. Unless the snowbirds jump on the bandwagon...not sure this will be much different.
 

Ruppy, GopherHole's official fan attendance estimator

ruppertflywheel said:
I'm thinking this:
1. Ohio State
2. Minnesota
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State ( New York a great venue )
5. Nebraska. ( I still think they'll have a good following )
6. Iowa
7. Rutgers
8. Maryland
9. Illinois
10.Wisconsin ( They will avoid Tampa like the plague )
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Will these predictions turn out as well as your predictions for Gopher fan attendance at New Mexico State 2 years ago?

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?43166-Will-the-9-7-13-game-at-New-Mexico-State-be-picked-up-by-TV

norman dale said:
ruppertflywheel said:
Norman Dale talking out the side of his mouth. Las Cruces is pretty nice. Creative Charters will send one plane and maybe two. So that is 360 fans. Flights are about half of what they were to Houston. We're planing to take a group out there. If you golf, some beautiful courses in the area.
On a side note. It amazes me how people can bad a mouth a trip that is 9 months away and of course without any knowledge of said location. I guess they just like to hear themselves spew. Unreal...
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Las Cruces is pretty nice, huh Ruppy? That may be and I'll take your word for it. Never attempted to denigrate the city itself. Creative Charters may send one plane. That's great! How many would have been sent to Charlotte or Raleigh/Durham if Kill wouldn't have gotten his way? Would you rather be teeing up at Pinehurst No 7 or Red Hawk in Las Cruces? Fact is we'll get a fraction of fans to Las Cruces as would have travelled to North Carolina.

At an earlier point in my life I woulnd't think twice about if the football game would be televised as I'd be on a plane visiting a destination I'd probably never visit if it wasn't for Gopher football. Priorities and responsibilities change. My beef is that the U has to play nice to NMSU and give them a home game after cancelling the UNC series - something I'd have a problem with even if I could travel to Las Cruces.

Ruppy, I can always count on you for 2 things 1) good golf course recommendations 2) the latest Gopher fashion updates from your local Mills Fleet Farm. You're probably the best dressed Gopher fan in the Central Lakes area sporting the latest pleather.
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ruppertflywheel said:
Norman Dale.... You will get a good cross section of Alumni traveling from Arizona and California to the New Mexico State game. I talked with several people in Houston that are going for the simple fact they've never been to New Mexico. I don't know if you made the Las Vegas trip or not, but there were quite a few people from California that made the trip. The " tobacco belt" is not that great of a location. We're not talking Myrtle Beach here my good man. Tell you what Norman Dale,
If the Gopher fan base doesn't travel more than 300 people to the New Mexico State game I'll buy you lunch/drinks at Pittsburg Blue at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove You don't even have to reciprocate. Cheers...
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norman dale with a knock out in the 2nd round!

Ruppert, where is my drink? Are you a man of your word?
 

Stan said:
norman dale with a knock out in the 2nd round!

Ruppert, where is my drink? Are you a man of your word?
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There were more than 300 people there. Period. End of story. Now excuse me, I'm re-gripping my clubs Btw, never welched on a bet in my life. Come to think of it. Never lost a wager in my life.
 

ruppertflywheel said:
There were more than 300 people there. Period. End of story. Now excuse me, I'm re-gripping my clubs Btw, never welched on a bet in my life. Come to think of it. Never lost a wager in my life.
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Ruppy....AggieVision CLEARLY showed less than 300 Gopher fans in the stands :rolleyes:. I'd like GopherHole's unofficial Road Warrior, Jike Spingleton, to be the arbiter since I believe he was in attendance.
 

norman dale said:
Ruppy....AggieVision CLEARLY showed less than 300 Gopher fans in the stands :rolleyes:. I'd like GopherHole's unofficial Road Warrior, Jike Spingleton, to be the arbiter since I believe he was in attendance.
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AggieVison! Nothing was clearly seen on AngieVision. And wtf is your point Norman Dale?You're a hoops fan. At least pony up and buy some tickets through the U for support
 

ruppertflywheel said:
AggieVison! Nothing was clearly seen on AngieVision. And wtf is your point Norman Dale?You're a hoops fan. At least pony up and buy some tickets through the U for support
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awww-got-your-goat.jpg

Sorry Ruppy, haven't had season tickets in hoops since 1999 but have had season tickets in football since 1998 but thanks for trying to psychoanalyze me over an online message board. Maybe spend eight-tenths of a second and use the search engine on this board to see where a majority of my posts originate from and you'll find you where my passion lies.
 

Go Gophers Rah said:
If we don't attend in respectable numbers (i.e. 10,000 or more), then we fans will have no-one to blame but ourselves if we get "passed over" in future years by teams that have a reputation for travelling well.

People are complaining about flight costs to Orlando. Do you think those flights are any cheaper from Milwaukee or Omaha? Also, I firmly believe that we in the upper-Midwest do have higher wages (especially when you include the value of benefits) than people in the south, so the higher travel costs for us are probably an equal or lesser proportion of our incomes than it would be for people in places like Mississippi who don't have to spend money on airline tickets (but still have to pay for gas, hotel, tickets, etc.).

In other words... be part of the solution - go to the game!
Click to expand...

3800 sold by U thus far according to 6 pm KTTC News (Rochester). Also reported the 2 Charters being sold out. Hopefully, people continue to purchase and we hit that 10K! Will be an awesome thing to be a part of.
 

norman dale said:
View attachment 3222

Sorry Ruppy, haven't had season tickets in hoops since 1999 but have had season tickets in football since 1998 but thanks for trying to psychoanalyze me over an online message board. Maybe spend eight-tenths of a second and use the search engine on this board to see where a majority of my posts originate from and you'll find you where my passion lies.
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Apologies due. I stand corrected.
 

ruppertflywheel said:
The only wrinkle I see is the Pin Stripe Bowl. It's a drive and a 9 iron from Happy Valley to New York. Penn State may show up in droves.
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Its not even a drive from Happy Valley to NYC for this game. 1/3 of PSU is Philly Metro based students. They will all be back in Philly for winter break. Train from Philly to NYC is $45 round trip. Subway from Penn Station to Yankee Stadium is $4. Its a day trip with no hotel required. Most will go up for game, party all night (bars close at 4 AM) and then take the 4:36 am train back to Philly. Have done it many times...easy to sleep on the train.

I expect 30K PSU fans at that game easy...if the weather is decent, could be more.

Add in that NYC and Boston are connected by rail, air, sea and road...should see 15k from BC at this game...wont be surprised to see close to a full house.
 

GopherinPhilly said:
Its not even a drive from Happy Valley to NYC for this game. 1/3 of PSU is Philly Metro based students. They will all be back in Philly for winter break. Train from Philly to NYC is $45 round trip. Subway from Penn Station to Yankee Stadium is $4. Its a day trip with no hotel required. Most will go up for game, party all night (bars close at 4 AM) and then take the 4:36 am train back to Philly. Have done it many times...easy to sleep on the train.

I expect 30K PSU fans at that game easy...if the weather is decent, could be more.

Add in that NYC and Boston are connected by rail, air, sea and road...should see 15k from BC at this game...wont be surprised to see close to a full house.
Click to expand...

Yup...you're probably right. Probably should move them in the top 3.
 

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