Florida bowls

[Chip]

The other day I was saying how I thought attendance at bowls looked good (Pinstripe, Holiday, Music City, Texas Bowl stuck out as ones I had watched). The fans of the teams in each of those games came out in full force.

After today, I'm realizing that the biggest victim in the playoff was probably the Florida bowls. Used to be a focal point of Jan 1, at least the early day. Now it seemed like no one cared, including the fanbases of the teams.

Orange Bowl stays relevant, but in this off year, it gets played on NYE night, and looked more than half empty.

Outback Bowl usually has a decent crowd. I'm not sure there was anyone in the upper deck or in the end zones. Not sure either Wisconsin nor Auburn fans had much interest.

Citrus Bowl, I just completely forgot about and then tuned it at one point for a few minutes. It was Mizzou vs Minnesota, two mediocres, with a lot of empty seats, and a lot of boredom. Even though Spurrier could make you feel small for being in the game (if you were UT), it was always a nice landing spot for the Big 10, SEC runner ups, and always seemed to be a full raucous crowd.

Gator Bowl probably fell the furthest. Now the Taxslayer, played on Jan 2, and had 6-6 Tennessee and 7-5 Iowa. Vols brought a good amount because they've been bowl free for a few years. Iowa probably had 500 people there. Another mediocre matchup for a bowl that used to see good Top 25 matchups.

No good matchups, no good buzz. I don't think there's much they can do about it either.

 

[TexanMark]

The ACC IIRC has a partial affiliation to the Gator Bowl...Still disappointed I didn't go to the game in '96 even though I was only 6 hours away.

 

[Toga]

As compared to not all that long ago, it appears the Gator and the Cotton have slipped the most. Taxslayer Bowl - come on.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/college-bowl-game-payouts/

 

[longtimefan]

As compared to not all that long ago, it appears the Gator and the Cotton have slipped the most. Taxslayer Bowl - come on.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/college-bowl-game-payouts/

Isn't the Cotton one of the New Year's Six Bowls? Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Peach and Cotton?

Just checked it myself. Cotton and Orange are the semifinal games next season. So, those Dallas folks made out pretty well.

 

[Scooch]

The ACC IIRC has a partial affiliation to the Gator Bowl...Still disappointed I didn't go to the game in '96 even though I was only 6 hours away.

After the Gator passed us over in 2001 they can go rot.

 

[Cusefan78]

I was at the game. Decided on a last minute trip for golf and a friend had tickets. There were 44k announced. The lower level was near full the upper deck was spotty other then around the center field. No one in the end zones. I showed up for the second half so I didn't catch the tailgating scene but I would guess it was more auburn fans at the game.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Good point, noticed that too.

I'm still upset at myself fot going to the Pinstripe, great game and im told River St was quite the scene.

B1g v ACC is a home run.

 

[Chip]

Isn't the Cotton one of the New Year's Six Bowls? Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Peach and Cotton? Just checked it myself. Cotton and Orange are the semifinal games next season. So, those Dallas folks made out pretty well.

Cotton was falling apart at one point. Then a certain stadium was built and completely saved it.

 

[Moontan]

Just checked it myself. Cotton and Orange are the semifinal games next season. So, those Dallas folks made out pretty well.

Yup. Remember, the championship game is a separate event that host cities/venues bid on. Expect Atlanta to get a similar back-to-back boost. The Peach Bowl hosts a semifinal every 3 years and the organizers will bid for the championship games in the next bidding cycle when the new dome is in place.

Actually, this holds true for all six bowls as they are some of the nicer venues. Next year's final will be played in Phoenix (site of the Fiesta bowl) followed by Tampa.

 

[Moontan]

Cotton was falling apart at one point. Then a certain stadium was built and completely saved it.

The old stadium is still there. The Cotton Bowl Stadium is at the state fair grounds and is still used a few times a year. You can catch it on TV for the Red River Shootout (I don't care for its new name) and the Heart of Texas Bowl. It'll be interesting to see how long the former stays there, before also moving to Arlington.

 

[Chip]

The old stadium is still there. The Cotton Bowl Stadium is at the state fair grounds and is still used a few times a year. You can catch it on TV for the Red River Shootout (I don't care for its new name) and the Heart of Texas Bowl. It'll be interesting to see how long the former stays there, before also moving to Arlington.

Yeah, I just meant when they moved the game to bigger/better. I think they also recently moved the Red River Shootout to Jerry World, didn't they?

I watched some of Heart of Texas. That stadium looks in rough shape when few are occupying it.

 

[Moontan]

Yeah, I just meant when they moved the game to bigger/better. I think they also recently moved the Red River Shootout to Jerry World, didn't they?

I watched some of Heart of Texas. That stadium looks in rough shape when few are occupying it.

It's now the "Red River Showdown" (better than "Rivalry", but I still prefer "Shootout") and is still played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. The current deal runs through 2025.