star2city

Now that we are DI, it would be great to get this type of player from the area: Cyclones retire Welle's jersey

Personally have believe that the Summit League has wanted a team in the St Louis area for a number of years. St Louis would be the bridge or gateway between the eastern and western teams. The Summit wanted SIU-E, but SIU-E chose the Ohio Valley (likely because of all travel could be by bus). UM-SL was thought to be possible, but it's administration hasn't shown interest. But there is another option: Lindenwood, in suburban St Charles which is currently NAIA but has nearly an enrollment of nearly 15,000. Lindenwood wants to swap real estate for 9400 seat Family Arena in St Charles County St. Charles County has been losing money on the arena and wants out of ownership. An NAIA school can no longer move directly from NAIA to DI. Lindenwood would first need to move to DII and spend five years at that level before moving to DI. Lindenwood recently announced a move to DII. If they get the 9400 seat arena near their campus, a Lindenwood move to DI later this decade would be very likely.

First time ever in Red River's 43 years of existence (since 1967) that they haven't made the state tournament after losing to West Fargo, 2-1. Bottineau, with an enrollment around 200, makes the tournament for the first time since 1993 and gets to play Central. Boy's Tournament Thursday, February 25th: at Engelstad Main Arena - Grand Forks, N.D. 12:00 PM: #1W-Bismarck High vs #4E-West Fargo 2:30 PM: #2E-Fargo South vs #3W-Williston 6:00 PM #1E-G.F. Central vs #4W-Bottineau 8:30 PM #2W-Bismarck Century vs #3E-Grafton/Park River

So since you are such a financial and athletic department insider, show me financially how NDSU wins by having a sixth game. As I wrote, NDSU only wins by scheduling someone that requires less than a $50,000 guarantee. Hence USD. BTW, when UND last played NDSU, the tickets were more than $20 higher than normal games. That's $200,000 more in UND's pocket. Refute those numbers as speculation? You can't. Sorry, but you are just going to have to accept the fact that you've been deceived by your very own. It's all about trying bison athletics attempting to maintain a very laughable perception that NDSU football >> UND football.

Incredibly, you're still aren't comprehending the costs and embracing the fallacy that a sixth game buys more than a home and home series with UND. This is what a UND game every other year will buy NDSU: With 19,000 seats The revenue from 4,000 seats for students doesn't change. (0 revenue) 10,000 season tickets for non-UND years 12,000 season tickets for UND years 3000 tickets for general admission for UND years 5000 tickets for general admission for non-UND years +$60 for increase for season tickets for UND years x 10,000 = $600,000 even if the increase price for season tickets is only $40 = $400,000 + $20/seat for general admission x 3000 = $60,000 + 2000 more season tickets sold = possibly $400,000 more in advance sales, of which maybe $100,000 to $200,000 would never be sold otherwise without a playoff caliber season (indirect benefit) + Teammakers would get higher level memberships for enhanced seating an more tickets worth possibly $250,000 (indirect benefit) Potential direct benefit = $500-750 k every other year Potential indirect benefit = $3-500 k every other year A sixth game buys what for NDSU? Without an increase in season ticket price for 5 games vs 6 games and since a sixth game does not measurably increase season ticket sales, unless an Austin Peay or Wagner-type team directly helps in selling more season tickets 5000 tickets x $20 ticket = $100,000 - $100,000 for guarantee = zero financial benefit for NDSU for a no-name sixth home game opponent So why did Gene Taylor schedule USD? Because it was a 3-game contract (home and home optional), and USD only required $50,000 for the extra game as USD can bus to Fargo, and USD is hoping that for a sell-out home game in the DakotaDome a couple years hence. So why doesn't Gene Taylor schedule UND in football? IMHO, because scheduling home-home with UND would benefit UND to the tune of $3-400 k directly (UND would sell vastly more season tickets at higher prices during NDSU years). NDSU boosters do not want to boost UND's football program financially or face the very likely possibly that they will lose.

The concept is still going way over your head. A home game against UND is worth much more than a "normal" home game because higher prices can be charged. To bring in a one-game only opponent, paying them $100 k+, every year has a much smaller benefit than a home game against UND every other year. It's net that matters, not tickets sold.

And before that, the Devil's Lake Basin will be flowing into the Sheyenne, making the situation worse. Can someone refresh my memory on why Fargo-Moorhead doesn't have a dike/diversion plan in place after what happened in GF 13 years ago?

Isn't Caitlyn Farroh putting up monster numbers this year?

It's sad that a diversion and/or much more extensive dike system isn't already in place and won't be for 5+ years.

That may all be true, but NDSU is selling season tickets at the same price for a five vs six home game season. A six game season makes more sense if there is a higher price for it. If UND played at the FargoDome, NDSU could likely sell single game tickets for $50, season tickets for $200, and have record season ticket sales. Financially, it makes sense for NDSU to play UND every other year, even if it means sacrificing a six-game home season because a UND game would have much more profitable than any game NDSU has yet to host at the DI level - with the possible exception of when they host Montana (in like six or seven years).

Doesn't appear to have a lot of space left for stands if Memorial is ever renovated / expanded.

Travelocity is showing a $388 fare from SMF to GFK (switch planes in MSP). That flight is actually cheaper than flying into MSP and renting a car. Another option is SMF - SLC - FARgo ($330) and drive 70 miles.

Good question. The legal agreement with the NCAA prevents that: either both tribes agree or any Indian nickname is gone. Other Indian nicknames are also forbidden, UND couldn't become the Ojibwe if Turtle Mountain approved.

Dick Hanson brought perestroika to NDSU!

Obviously you didn't realize that the Conseco Center has an agreement to host IUPUI games of significant local interest (i.e. not NDSU or SDSU). If IUPUI was in the Horizon, almost all it's games would move there. Moreover, IUPUI has plans for an 8000 seat arena on campus. Here's the way the Summit gets hurt badly: a Big East split and western conference changes (posted last week). http://forum.siouxsports.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=434047

I'm impressed with the wisdom of this Bison fan.

This can't be going over too well in circles that don't believe there ever was a problem: Dickinson Press: Hanson says NDSU's image can be cleaned up

Kansas State and Iowa State may have great fans, but they are not wanted by other BCS conferences because they offer so little in media ratings. Kansas offers more because of BB history and has more of the KC market. Kansas legislators would not block KU from joining the Big10 or Pac10 if the alternative was that KU and KSU had to remain in a new Big12 full of old CUSA or and MWC teams. If the Pac10 takes CU first, then the Big10 takes Missouri, every school in the Big12 would be wanting in either the Big10 or Pac10 and there is no legislature that could stop it.

Agree with what you wrote, but it seems that the internet future is something the cable systems and networks are attempting to hedge against. By locking in longer-term deals more or less ensures their survival. Consumers are the ones that need to rebel, as they are being charged $1 a month or more for many of these channels, unless they pick it up via free to air satellite. ESPN's deal with the SEC was such a blockbuster, it is practically forcing all the conferences to respond. Agree. If the top-level schools left, there would also be a political firestorm. With all the money being made at the top, a few scraps will continue to be thrown out to the mid-majors. The Pac10 and Big10 will be effectively destroying an emerging conference like the MWC before it can get a place at the table, keeping the oliarchy in place. AD's at schools like Kansas State, Iowa St, Baylor, Texas Tech, and and especially Wyoming have to be shaking in their boots. They have no natural landing spot that support their current budgets if the Big 12 and MWC breakup.

A 16-team Pac 10?

Two opposing views on Texas to the Big Ten. Texas is supposedly working on a Longhorn Sports Network. If they accomplish that, they could conceivably become easily the most profitable athletic department and be an independent in football. Milwaukee Journal: Big Ten, Big Plans, Big Gains Omaha World-Herald: On Conference Reshuffling

United sees high dollar business seats being bought by Texas and Denver oil people: ExxonMobil, EOG Resources, Continental Oil, Hess, Whiting, Halliburton, Schlumberger. Minot is becoming an oil town, and this is just the next step in the transformation. Would suspect the next GFK route would be to MCO - Orlando by Allegiant, with the target being Winnipeg travelers.

The IOC dropped both baseball and softball, so both men and women were equally affected. Can't see women's hockey getting dropped unless men's does too.

It's been laid out by me a million times, but you're just too obstinate to acknowledge it.

Like the MWC with Utah, or the ACC with Florida State, or the MAC with Central Michigan all have prenups if their tribes pull the names.