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Post by bisoninnwmn on Apr 17, 2012 16:40:03 GMT -6
There will be at least 5K Bison fans for this game....maybe more. That will be a nice 125k donation! Maybe more.... Good for USD. NDSU travels well, I'm sure that is why the USD administration moved this game to SF for this experiment or whatever you want to call it. I still think it will be a good thing for USD. If Coyote fans cannot travel from Vermillion to SF then they are not true USD supporters....period! If the Bison had a home game in Bismarck,Dickinson or Minot I would go without hesitation. It is only50 miles......50 miles!!!!! Geeez!
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Apr 17, 2012 21:59:12 GMT -6
That's great that a home game when you can have more away fans at it than home fans. It shows how little the Sioux Falls fan base will care then. The Sioux Falls fan base should be renamed the Rowena fan base, plain and simple.
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Post by Yote 53 on Apr 17, 2012 22:51:34 GMT -6
How would the Bison fans feel if the roles were reversed? Easy for you to sit in NoDak and say we should just suck it up and give up a home game...it's only 50 miles.
Don't flatter yourself. USD isn't moving this game to accomodate the Bison following.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 18, 2012 0:09:21 GMT -6
OK I can't remain silent on this anymore. I'm a statistics guy so I want to get you some numbers to ponder. More details tomorrow. First, to the person who said Sioux Falls people do not support the U could not be factually more incorrect. As a Sioux Falls guy and current President of the Howling Pack I do take offense to that. I've never kept my identity hidden. Most of our board is made up of Sioux Falls people who spend countless hours soliciting scholarship dollars.
Did you know that of the top 48 donors to the HP 25 are from Sioux Falls. Only 11 are from Vermillion.
Did you know that approximately 7,129 alumni live in Minnehaha County, and another 2,233 live in Lincoln Co. Did you know only 2,320 live in Clay Co, and you would have to add nearly all of the rest of the entire state of SD excluding Pennington and Lincoln Counties to equal the same amount of alumni that live in Minnehaha County alone.
Did you consider that beer will be sold at this game? It will in case you were wondering.
Did you consider that this game will be the single highest gate earning game in USD history? We know NDSU will show up, if USD fans get their head out of you know where, this game should smash the previous highs. Even with opening pheasant, I expect 9,000 at this game.
Did you ever consider David S wants to add seats to the Dome? Last I checked we haven't had a sell out in a long long time, that includes games last year. Trying to increase seat capacity to 12,000 or so doesn't fly well when you can't even fill 5,200 seats. This game, if done right, can show why we NEED more seats in the Dome and Dome renovations as a whole. Don't you think there are other factors going into this game?
I personally would prefer a different game in SF, but we know NDSU travels, so this game has the opportunity to set attendance records and show why we need more seats in the Dome. Stop thinking small minded people.
For those who say this flies in the face of Vermillion businesses, well I don't think it does. While there are many great businesses who regularly support the U, there are still plenty of others that do not. I wish more businesses would join the HP, there are many that do not.
Future attendance increases will require help from the SF market. Like it or not, that's a fact. I'm not advocating for a game each year, once the Dome is redone we won't need to. But to market ourselves better to the state and SF, why not. Kudos to Sayler for thinking of this.
I personally would love to see a basketball game in Rapid City. Think of a great weekend like this: USD vs Montana, SDSU vs Montana St, USD vs Montana St, and SDSU vs Montana - a Friday Saturday doubleheader at the Civic Center. Ok, leave State out of it, I don't care. I think it would be great for the University as a whole to extend an olive branch and market itself out west. You could make it a weekend in Deadwood. Rapid is starving for entertainment. They support that hockey team like no other. Just think if USD came to town. Heck play a game against Wyoming, or some other Big Sky schools.
While i personally would rather see basketball games in Sioux Falls or Rapid rather than football, I do see the potential for this game to be special from an attendance and money factor. We're trying to build a new BB arena and Dome renovations. Stop thinking small minded people, open your checkbook and support the U regardless. One game should not prevent you from buying season tickets or donating to the HP. If it does, please reconsider.
Yote 53, I vow to change your mind my friend. My initial reaction was not good either, but like yoteforever I understand the potential this could create. You love football too much to go without it. We need you, and your 20 friends. Go Yotes.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 18, 2012 0:23:23 GMT -6
Also in case you were wondering there are almost as many HP members in Minnehaha and Lincoln Co as there are in Clay Co. While per capita we have more donors in Clay Co, the overall membership is pretty equal. And from a dollars standpoint I can double check but I'm confident more dollars come from Sioux Falls people. Just FYI to the people who think SF people absolutely don't support the U, so why have a game up here. Don't get me wrong, I'm a strong supporter of all games in Vermillion, I love coming back to town. But I can see the benefit of a game once in a while in SF or Rapid per my above reasons. FWIW
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Post by bisoninnwmn on Apr 18, 2012 6:25:27 GMT -6
How would the Bison fans feel if the roles were reversed? Easy for you to sit in NoDak and say we should just suck it up and give up a home game...it's only 50 miles. Don't flatter yourself. USD isn't moving this game to accomodate the Bison following. I never said that. The Bison travel well....period. Which game on your schedule would have the highest attendance? Bison game. I'm sure if you think the Colgate game would draw more fans then email your AD and give him this suggestion.
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Post by newtousd33 on Apr 18, 2012 7:19:04 GMT -6
I guess we will wait and see. There is also an additional cost to play in sioux falls. Transporting the team, band and administration is an added cost. Great that they will sell beer, but I would almost bet that money feo concessions and beer sells is going to the sports authority and not USD.
Here is a noble thought...sell out the Dakota Dome to justify the increased capacity. And quit giving away so many tickets as evident by the Board of Regents report.
I know that I won't attend. I would've if it was in the dome but am not going to with it in Sioux falls. I hate watching fb games at a facility with a track around it. I'm sure my absence will be made up by someone in sf who wouldn't attend if it was in the dome.
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Post by usdfbalum on Apr 18, 2012 7:40:22 GMT -6
I guess we will wait and see. There is also an additional cost to play in sioux falls. Transporting the team, band and administration is an added cost. Great that they will sell beer, but I would almost bet that money feo concessions and beer sells is going to the sports authority and not USD. Here is a noble thought...sell out the Dakota Dome to justify the increased capacity. And quit giving away so many tickets as evident by the Board of Regents report. I know that I won't attend. I would've if it was in the dome but am not going to with it in Sioux falls. I hate watching fb games at a facility with a track around it. I'm sure my absence will be made up by someone in sf who wouldn't attend if it was in the dome. You hate watching FB games played on a field surrounded by a track more than you enjoy supporting our players and coaches? If so, you are apparently not alone. Disappointing
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Post by coyote70 on Apr 18, 2012 8:03:55 GMT -6
Thank you usdlaw for your comments. I for one am changing my mind. My initial reaction was negative for all the reasons previously stated. Most of all, I care about winning and its positive effect on the future of USD athletic programs. From my perspective, moving a home game out of the Dome obviously lowers the chances of a win.
On the other hand I realize some things may need to be sacrificed to what might be called a higher calling. In this case it is the establishment of goals and strategies that carry some risk (to be sure) but focus on the longer term. As a recovering 'know-it-all' I now understand my initial comments were more short-sighted than reasoned.
Living west of Rapid City I would agree a well-marketed BB game with one of the Montanas, etc. might go well out here. Oops, wait a minute! This is now a new knee jerk reaction on my part. Better wait to see if others can enlighten me before once again changing my mind.
Life goes on. Go Yotes !!!
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Post by Yote 53 on Apr 18, 2012 8:09:17 GMT -6
Yes usdlaw, I do think there are other factors that are going into this. It is crazy to use one of the few home football games you have, probably the biggest one of the season, and use it as a marketing ploy to gain some unknown amount of fans in a city where, honestly, attendance hasn't been there. This isn't USD's first game ever in SF. We played Augie there every other year in football and every year in basketball for God knows how long and we also played a majority of our 2002 home dates in SF. All I witnessed was a lot of 19 & 7 county plates headed north up 29 to the game.
I think there is much more to this than just marketing USD athletics to the Sioux Falls community. Judge the reaction in this thread alone, CoyoteFan is all for it, usdfbalum and usdlaw are keeping an open mind (knowing both of you I am not suprised, that's a compliment btw), the rest are pretty negative on this idea and wish the game to stay in the Dome. Those are pretty strong numbers who want the game in Verm. Though just a small sample size extrapolate that out to the rest of the fan base. This is a risky move and surely one you don't make just for "marketing".
I'd also like to see the details on any deal struck with the SF Sports authority. How much of the gain does USD make by doing this go into the pocket of the Authority and negate any financial benefit to USD?
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Post by coyotebiz on Apr 18, 2012 8:16:45 GMT -6
I'm not going to pretend to have knowledge on the economics of the decision. College athletics is driven by money and thats really the only thing that matters. Like it or not, this is an arms race and we are behind. Our fanbase and overall athletic support sucks. We have a HUGE opportunity this fall with the schedule coming into the MVFC and Sayler & co. are trying to light the fire of the alumni base in SF. I don't think we can be successful in the long term without it. We cannot grow our support in the ways we need to without catering to this market. Pretty simple really.
As someone that doesn't have season tickets and only makes it to 1 or 2 games a year I cannot speak on if the decision to renew is right or wrong. I do know ALOT of USD alumni that will go to this game who normally would not go to the same game in the dome.
If this happens I support it and will commit to a trip to SF for the weekend to watch the defending champs get beat again.
Who's coming with me?
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Post by yoteforever on Apr 18, 2012 9:34:13 GMT -6
I do think there has been one excellent thing to come out of all of this and that we have had more and more contributors on this board express their 2 cents worth. There is really some passion being exhibited, and I for one like it.
I bleed Coyote red. I am without a doubt a traditionalist. So when you add those two together it screams out "play the game in Vermillion on the campus of THEE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA".
But even greater than being a passionate fan and a traditionalist, I am a realist. And when you sit back and analyze this decision, I can only speculate that there is a lot more going into this decision than "placating the SF contingency". I don't believe Sayler or Abbott for that matter would make a decision based on that. This decision has the aroma or scent of a major gift. Given the fact that we are in the midst of the largest capital campaign sports has ever had, and we are going to play a "home" game in SF that seemingly came out of the blue, would indicate to me we are about to have our "signature donor", and in return, want to combine their gift into a major marketing plan for the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.
As many have stated in the past, right now we don't have a very strong fan base. In fact I would call it weak. And there is an old saying that if you do the same thing the same way all the time why would you expect different results? We need a signature donor to make the arena happen. I personally don't think there is enough of us out there that can give to the point we reach $50M. However, if you shave that number in thirds or half, then it might be feasible.
My guess is the administration is in a position they can't talk about it or defend their actions because it possibly could undermine what they are attempting to achieve. I say this......" Let's give them the benefit of the doubt until all facts are out and all cards have been laid on the table". As much as I want the game in Vermillion, I am willing to bet there is a lot at stake in which we can only speculate.
Is there anyone here not wanting to increase our fan base? I don't think so. Is there anyone here that doesn't want a new arena built? I don't think so. Is there anything AD Sayler has done to this point that would warrant us not trusting in his decision making process? I don't think so.
For all of the above, purely speculation, I am on board with the call. Sioux Falls get ready, because maybe, just maybe, we have a new breed if fan base that is going to use this to jump start something bigger and better.
I'M IN!!!!!!!!!
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Post by azsod73 on Apr 18, 2012 11:17:00 GMT -6
usdlaw and yoteforever, very good posts. I still believe it will be a much harder game to win from the players and coaches staindpoint but I better understand the opportunity for gains beyond the W or L measuring stick.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Apr 18, 2012 11:53:54 GMT -6
OK I can't remain silent on this anymore. I'm a statistics guy so I want to get you some numbers to ponder. More details tomorrow. First, to the person who said Sioux Falls people do not support the U could not be factually more incorrect. As a Sioux Falls guy and current President of the Howling Pack I do take offense to that. I've never kept my identity hidden. Most of our board is made up of Sioux Falls people who spend countless hours soliciting scholarship dollars. Did you know that of the top 48 donors to the HP 25 are from Sioux Falls. Only 11 are from Vermillion. Did you know that approximately 7,129 alumni live in Minnehaha County, and another 2,233 live in Lincoln Co. Did you know only 2,320 live in Clay Co, and you would have to add nearly all of the rest of the entire state of SD excluding Pennington and Lincoln Counties to equal the same amount of alumni that live in Minnehaha County alone. Did you consider that beer will be sold at this game? It will in case you were wondering. Did you consider that this game will be the single highest gate earning game in USD history? We know NDSU will show up, if USD fans get their head out of you know where, this game should smash the previous highs. Even with opening pheasant, I expect 9,000 at this game. Did you ever consider David S wants to add seats to the Dome? Last I checked we haven't had a sell out in a long long time, that includes games last year. Trying to increase seat capacity to 12,000 or so doesn't fly well when you can't even fill 5,200 seats. This game, if done right, can show why we NEED more seats in the Dome and Dome renovations as a whole. Don't you think there are other factors going into this game? I personally would prefer a different game in SF, but we know NDSU travels, so this game has the opportunity to set attendance records and show why we need more seats in the Dome. Stop thinking small minded people. For those who say this flies in the face of Vermillion businesses, well I don't think it does. While there are many great businesses who regularly support the U, there are still plenty of others that do not. I wish more businesses would join the HP, there are many that do not. Future attendance increases will require help from the SF market. Like it or not, that's a fact. I'm not advocating for a game each year, once the Dome is redone we won't need to. But to market ourselves better to the state and SF, why not. Kudos to Sayler for thinking of this. I personally would love to see a basketball game in Rapid City. Think of a great weekend like this: USD vs Montana, SDSU vs Montana St, USD vs Montana St, and SDSU vs Montana - a Friday Saturday doubleheader at the Civic Center. Ok, leave State out of it, I don't care. I think it would be great for the University as a whole to extend an olive branch and market itself out west. You could make it a weekend in Deadwood. Rapid is starving for entertainment. They support that hockey team like no other. Just think if USD came to town. Heck play a game against Wyoming, or some other Big Sky schools. While i personally would rather see basketball games in Sioux Falls or Rapid rather than football, I do see the potential for this game to be special from an attendance and money factor. We're trying to build a new BB arena and Dome renovations. Stop thinking small minded people, open your checkbook and support the U regardless. One game should not prevent you from buying season tickets or donating to the HP. If it does, please reconsider. Yote 53, I vow to change your mind my friend. My initial reaction was not good either, but like yoteforever I understand the potential this could create. You love football too much to go without it. We need you, and your 20 friends. Go Yotes. Well USDlaw, you better make sure the Rowena (Sioux Falls) fan base shows up then. They have had their chances in the past and chosen to go to Falls Park than to support USD football games and basketball games in the past in Sioux Falls. This is do or die for Sioux Falls in my opinion and the fan base's apathy is the reason why I am not a fan. You are one of the few, but I need to see a lot of support, not just a few.
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Post by 88grad on Apr 18, 2012 11:54:45 GMT -6
Besides... both the Bison and the Yotes are indoor teams. It's not like we're matching up against an outdoor team at HWF. Perhaps it'll even things out a bit.
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