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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Concerting the 2020 and 2021 Games to be scheduled
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L.C.
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Posted: 2/4/2019 7:40 PM
The 2020 and 2021 schedules both have openings marked for FCS games to be determined. Other options might exist. There might be teams still looking for money games, and willing to pay Ohio to show up, though that would mean a five game home slate those years, but it would have a huge financial impact.

The third option probable isn't really feasible, but let's pretend there is some G5 team out there looking for a home and home in 2020 and 2021. The result would be a 5 game home slate one year, and 6 games the other, and no FCS foe.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus
L.C.
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Posted: 2/5/2019 8:30 AM
Just to clarify the financial impact, the cost of an FCS game is perhaps $450k, less perhaps $200k in gate receipts, or $250k. The receipts from a money game are perhaps $1m, with travel costs, etc, of perhaps $250k, or a net of $750k. That means about a $1m swing. The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.

Interestingly, the vote so far is a very even split. There is no agreement whatsoever on the best path.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus
Last Edited: 2/5/2019 8:31:39 AM by L.C.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/5/2019 11:07 AM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.
I'm not buying that figure.
Andrew Ruck
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colobobcat66
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Posted: 2/5/2019 11:27 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.
I'm not buying that figure.
I was wondering how much you think it’s worth.

I think I could see $200-250k pretty easily, not sure about higher, but I wouldn’t be surprised either. This should be relatively easy to estimate based on sales and lodging tax(if they have one) receipts.
Last Edited: 2/5/2019 11:28:24 AM by colobobcat66
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/5/2019 11:49 AM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.
I'm not buying that figure.
I was wondering how much you think it’s worth.

I think I could see $200-250k pretty easily, not sure about higher, but I wouldn’t be surprised either. This should be relatively easy to estimate based on sales and lodging tax(if they have one) receipts.
Do we really get that many fans that come and stay in hotels (excluding homecoming)? Maybe I am uninformed, just doesn't feel like it. Sure some people go out for dinner or get gas in town as part of their trek to the game, but you have to consider how many locals would've done that eventually game or not.

Furthermore the accountant in me would argue revenue does not mean worth. If a guy fills up his tank for $30 on his way to the game, that did not bring $30 to the local economy. It brought $30 less the $25 it cost the gas station to get the gas.

A half mil would be about $25 spent outside the stadium/parking lot for every man, woman & child. Just speaking for my family of 5, the most Athens gets out of us in our game day visits is about a $30 bill at Larrys Dawg House or something of the like. I know the bars get some visitors and the book store sells some gear and such...I just don't see it adding up to any more than about 100-150k of bottom line worth.

Again, excluding homecoming.
Andrew Ruck
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L.C.
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Posted: 2/5/2019 1:05 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
...I just don't see it adding up to any more than about 100-150k of bottom line worth.

Again, excluding homecoming.

I suspect that Alan was talking about the top line. On the other hand, your example of gas isn't fair, either, as gas has a high variable cost. At the other extreme, a restaurant has a very low cost for the actual food, and much of the restaurant's expenses are for labor, which does go into the local economy, just as much as the actual profit does.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus
Last Edited: 2/5/2019 1:06:16 PM by L.C.
catfan28
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Posted: 2/5/2019 1:57 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Do we really get that many fans that come and stay in hotels (excluding homecoming)? Maybe I am uninformed, just doesn't feel like it. Sure some people go out for dinner or get gas in town as part of their trek to the game, but you have to consider how many locals would've done that eventually game or not.
I have friends in the local hotel business. You'd be surprised how much football drives their revenue - home game weekends were consistent sell-outs (at higher rates) when we were drawing good crowds to Peden.

Things slipped a bit in 2017, and many of the hotels were struggling for football weekends this year (only 3 Saturdays too). Saturday basketball games also help the hotels - but the last couple years have seen a huge drop-off there too.

So yes, hotel owners/managers pay big attention to what's going on with athletics. The last couple years have been hurting the bottom line from where things were.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 2/5/2019 8:03 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.
I'm not buying that figure.
I was wondering how much you think it’s worth.

I think I could see $200-250k pretty easily, not sure about higher, but I wouldn’t be surprised either. This should be relatively easy to estimate based on sales and lodging tax(if they have one) receipts.
Do we really get that many fans that come and stay in hotels (excluding homecoming)? Maybe I am uninformed, just doesn't feel like it. Sure some people go out for dinner or get gas in town as part of their trek to the game, but you have to consider how many locals would've done that eventually game or not.

Furthermore the accountant in me would argue revenue does not mean worth. If a guy fills up his tank for $30 on his way to the game, that did not bring $30 to the local economy. It brought $30 less the $25 it cost the gas station to get the gas.

A half mil would be about $25 spent outside the stadium/parking lot for every man, woman & child. Just speaking for my family of 5, the most Athens gets out of us in our game day visits is about a $30 bill at Larrys Dawg House or something of the like. I know the bars get some visitors and the book store sells some gear and such...I just don't see it adding up to any more than about 100-150k of bottom line worth.

Again, excluding homecoming.
If course since I live 1000 Miles away, I think hotels, food and drink usually for more than 1 day and a trip to the bookstore which always seems jammed. Not typical fan, I know. I can tell you it’s a lot cheaper and easier to get a room on a Tuesday night.
Last Edited: 2/5/2019 8:24:25 PM by colobobcat66
Buck.Cat
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Posted: 2/5/2019 8:39 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Just speaking for my family of 5, the most Athens gets out of us in our game day visits is about a $30 bill at Larrys Dawg House or something of the like.
Not everyone is a cheapskate. Pretty hilarious humble brag though dropping all that cash at Larry's. What's next, talking about that one time you broke the bank at Jack's Steak House on Route 33?
L.C.
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Posted: 2/5/2019 9:06 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
The loss of the home game does hurt the Athens Business community, though. If I recall, Alan Swank estimated that a Saturday home game was worth about $4-500k to Athens.
I'm not buying that figure.

Also not mentioned above is the multiplier effect. People who work extra hours or get extra tips at the bar turn around and spend that money, and some of that goes back into the Athens economy as well. The point, here, is that we know there is an impact, and it is going to be noticeable.

I have long wondered is part of the reason why attendance to NIU games has been falling for a decade is that they started playing big "home" games at Soldier field, including the 2007 Iowa game and the 2011 Wisconsin game. Both those games were very well attended, but by playing at Soldier Field, they gave no boost to the local economy, and probably upset some local merchants. Those games were about when NIU's attendance peaked, and it has been falling ever since. Yes, attendance is falling everywhere, but theirs started dropping sooner, and has fallen further.
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2018/01/12/niu-football-a... /
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus
RSBobcat
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Posted: 2/6/2019 12:02 AM
$4-500K not unreasonable estimate at all

Game Tics
Game day Peden outside pre-game & inside stadium Food & Bev
Hotels/Motels (many 2 nights)
Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners - many multiple)
Bars (Alc Bevs - it's Athens, It's a lot of OHIO alums - you get the picture - this is a LOT of $)
Convenience stores including gas
Apparel
Other shopping

Oh - And parking fees/parking tickets/towing (and maybe legal fines-fees/court costs?)
RS Bobcat
Valley Cat
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Posted: 2/6/2019 6:39 AM
Isn’t it reasonable to look to another G5 school and schedule something decent? The G5 should form some sort of scheduling alliance.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 2/6/2019 6:45 AM
Valley Cat wrote:expand_more
Isn’t it reasonable to look to another G5 school and schedule something decent? The G5 should form some sort of scheduling alliance.
Along those lines, I've always thought Ohio and Marshall should play every year.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 2/6/2019 2:53 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Isn’t it reasonable to look to another G5 school and schedule something decent? The G5 should form some sort of scheduling alliance.
Along those lines, I've always thought Ohio and Marshall should play every year.
+1

When we don't, it's an indication of rank stupidity here, in Huntington, or in both places simultaneously.
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Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/6/2019 3:30 PM
RSBobcat wrote:expand_more
$4-500K not unreasonable estimate at all

Game Tics
Game day Peden outside pre-game & inside stadium Food & Bev
Hotels/Motels (many 2 nights)
Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners - many multiple)
Bars (Alc Bevs - it's Athens, It's a lot of OHIO alums - you get the picture - this is a LOT of $)
Convenience stores including gas
Apparel
Other shopping

Oh - And parking fees/parking tickets/towing (and maybe legal fines-fees/court costs?)
RS - The discussion was about impact to the community, as in excluding the revenue for the University e.g. tickets, concessions, parking.
Andrew Ruck
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Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 2/6/2019 4:05 PM
Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
Just speaking for my family of 5, the most Athens gets out of us in our game day visits is about a $30 bill at Larrys Dawg House or something of the like.
Not everyone is a cheapskate. Pretty hilarious humble brag though dropping all that cash at Larry's. What's next, talking about that one time you broke the bank at Jack's Steak House on Route 33?
Hey if you can't appreciate a delicious meal at a good value then that is on you.
Andrew Ruck
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Athens
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Posted: 2/9/2019 12:37 AM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Isn’t it reasonable to look to another G5 school and schedule something decent? The G5 should form some sort of scheduling alliance.
Along those lines, I've always thought Ohio and Marshall should play every year.
The decision was made that it was worth taking a break in the series to be able to schedule more of a variety in non-conference competition. That series signed by Hocutt may be why Ohio was forced into such weak non-conference scheduling for a while due to lack of available dates.
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Valley Cat
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Posted: 2/9/2019 8:41 AM
At first glance and who knows how accurate these are I am basing off of college football schedules.com but here are some schools with 9/5 open dates for 2020. FIU, Air Force, Coastal Carolina, NM State, ULM and Troy.
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