It was just a rumor. Just some sportswriter's idea of an interesting possibility.
But it's time for Florida A&M to play football against Florida State for the first time. That idea was floated in a downstate newspaper last week, as FSU finalized a 2008 home schedule that includes Division I-AA teams Western Carolina and Tennessee-Chattanooga. FSU quickly vetoed the idea, as it has for generations.
CONTINUE READING THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.
A FAMU vs. FSU football game is long overdue.
This is about athletic business, not social justice or politics. Save that debate for those that care about such things as ancient history, race relations in Florida from Slavery to 1991 or for studies on how to carry useless baggage for two decades.
This topic is about athletic business at the Florida A&M University.
This game will only happen if the financial field is leveled--financially for Florida A&M University's athletic department.
It will take more than bring your money, bring your people, bring your famous Marching 100 Band, buy our concessions, pay us parking for your vehicle, and here is a check for one-fourth of your current market value--$250,000.
This game is an economic engine for Leon County, Tallahassee and surrounding communities. Florida State University stands to gain $3.5 million or more from such a historic game.
The Jacksonville Business Journal reported that the economic impact of a Florida State football game alone on Northeast Florida was more than $17.6 million. That evolves out of $7.4 million in "direct spending" for 17,000 room nights in hotels in that four-county area for thousands of the 85,000 people who attended the game at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
The Walt Disney World Florida Classic brings to the City of Orlando an estimated $9.7 million dollars in direct sales and $15.9 million dollars in economic impact, via jobs impacted and jobs created.
The Florida Classic is played annually between Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA) MEAC foes Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University. EACH program earns $1.3 Million for the game played in Orlando, Florida's Citrus Bowl Stadium.
In the past five years, Florida Classic attendance has ranged from 65,000 to a maximum of 73,358 (stadium-record) for this rivalry.
Doak S. Campbell Stadium on the campus of Florida State University has a maximum seating capacity of 84,336 (2003 record with Miami). Florida A&M University Bragg Memorial Stadium has a maximum capacity of 30,000.
The current going rate for Football Bowl Championship vs. Football Championship Subdivision games are in the CY 2008 range of $275,000 to $400,000, based on the appeal of the opponent.
The FAMU brand is at the top of the classic charts in football attendance and Kentucky, Rutgers, South Carolina, Clemson, Air Force, Central Florida, Florida, Miami, South Florida have paid the MEAC teams greater than $250,000 for a home contest.
So, why should FAMU accept a pay day with FSU that is less than what it can earn hosting a Division II, like Virginia Union University in Bragg Memorial Stadium or playing at other FBS schools?
Florida A&M University is not Western Carolina or UT-Chattanooga that are just happy to be playing before a crowd greater than their home stadium capacity of 12,000 and 20,668, respectively. These programs averaged less than 6,765 fans per home contest in 2007 and neither school have a Band that could increase game attendance like the FAMU Marching 100.
Remember, the only reason this game should be played is for the economic impact to FAMU, FSU and the Tallahassee region and North Florida.
Unless the Seminoles are talking about a payday in the range of $750,000 to $1 million, the chatter you are hearing on this subject is only noise.
This game will continue to be long overdue until a reasonable financial package is placed on the Florida A&M University negotiations table.
Nothing else should matter in the business of Florida A&M University athletics other than show us the guarantee and contract.
-beepbeep
But it's time for Florida A&M to play football against Florida State for the first time. That idea was floated in a downstate newspaper last week, as FSU finalized a 2008 home schedule that includes Division I-AA teams Western Carolina and Tennessee-Chattanooga. FSU quickly vetoed the idea, as it has for generations.
CONTINUE READING THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.
A FAMU vs. FSU football game is long overdue.
This is about athletic business, not social justice or politics. Save that debate for those that care about such things as ancient history, race relations in Florida from Slavery to 1991 or for studies on how to carry useless baggage for two decades.
This topic is about athletic business at the Florida A&M University.
This game will only happen if the financial field is leveled--financially for Florida A&M University's athletic department.
It will take more than bring your money, bring your people, bring your famous Marching 100 Band, buy our concessions, pay us parking for your vehicle, and here is a check for one-fourth of your current market value--$250,000.
This game is an economic engine for Leon County, Tallahassee and surrounding communities. Florida State University stands to gain $3.5 million or more from such a historic game.
The Jacksonville Business Journal reported that the economic impact of a Florida State football game alone on Northeast Florida was more than $17.6 million. That evolves out of $7.4 million in "direct spending" for 17,000 room nights in hotels in that four-county area for thousands of the 85,000 people who attended the game at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
The Walt Disney World Florida Classic brings to the City of Orlando an estimated $9.7 million dollars in direct sales and $15.9 million dollars in economic impact, via jobs impacted and jobs created.
The Florida Classic is played annually between Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA) MEAC foes Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University. EACH program earns $1.3 Million for the game played in Orlando, Florida's Citrus Bowl Stadium.
In the past five years, Florida Classic attendance has ranged from 65,000 to a maximum of 73,358 (stadium-record) for this rivalry.
Doak S. Campbell Stadium on the campus of Florida State University has a maximum seating capacity of 84,336 (2003 record with Miami). Florida A&M University Bragg Memorial Stadium has a maximum capacity of 30,000.
The current going rate for Football Bowl Championship vs. Football Championship Subdivision games are in the CY 2008 range of $275,000 to $400,000, based on the appeal of the opponent.
The FAMU brand is at the top of the classic charts in football attendance and Kentucky, Rutgers, South Carolina, Clemson, Air Force, Central Florida, Florida, Miami, South Florida have paid the MEAC teams greater than $250,000 for a home contest.
So, why should FAMU accept a pay day with FSU that is less than what it can earn hosting a Division II, like Virginia Union University in Bragg Memorial Stadium or playing at other FBS schools?
Florida A&M University is not Western Carolina or UT-Chattanooga that are just happy to be playing before a crowd greater than their home stadium capacity of 12,000 and 20,668, respectively. These programs averaged less than 6,765 fans per home contest in 2007 and neither school have a Band that could increase game attendance like the FAMU Marching 100.
Remember, the only reason this game should be played is for the economic impact to FAMU, FSU and the Tallahassee region and North Florida.
Unless the Seminoles are talking about a payday in the range of $750,000 to $1 million, the chatter you are hearing on this subject is only noise.
This game will continue to be long overdue until a reasonable financial package is placed on the Florida A&M University negotiations table.
Nothing else should matter in the business of Florida A&M University athletics other than show us the guarantee and contract.
-beepbeep
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