Looks Like Michigan Does Not Want to Play UConn at the Rent

[sutomcat]

They want to play them in the Meadowlands or maybe in Foxborough instead. UConn is holding tough, UM is indicating they will buy the game out before playing there.

Linkage

Tough to get a big power to play in a small stadium. Tennessee is scheduled to play UConn at the Rent in 2015. That game is unlikely to be played there as well.

I feel for the UConn fans who have invested in the program and waited patiently for big names to come for a visit. It is a situation not unlike ours...

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Looks like SU has its' Meadowlands opponent for 2018.

 

[OrangePA]

They want to play them in the Meadowlands or maybe in Foxborough instead. UConn is holding tough, UM is indicating they will buy the game out before playing there.

Linkage

Tough to get a big power to play in a small stadium. Tennessee is scheduled to play UConn at the Rent in 2015. That game is unlikely to be played there as well.

I feel for the UConn fans who have invested in the program and waited patiently for big names to come for a visit. It is a situation not unlike ours...

I wish I understood the math on this one.

So, Michigan pays its way out for $2 million? Wow.

How does it cover the cost? Another home game at the Big House? But doesn't Michigan have to split the gate if it schedules another home game?

Does this mean that the Wolverines want to play at the Meadowlands or at Redskins Park or some other neutral venue?

I can tell you that Indiana will not attract 50,000 to see the Wolverines, and I'm pretty sure the same holds true for NW.

Once again we see the integrity that the college football game now engenders.

 

[TexanMark]

Obviously UConn wants it in the Rent...I'm sure it would cause a nice bump in season tix and after that plays out UConn could package it as part of a 2-3 game package if you want a Michigan tix you have to also buy a tix for Buffalo and Akron.

 

[Chip]

I wish I understood the math on this one.

So, Michigan pays its way out for $2 million? Wow.

How does it cover the cost? Another home game at the Big House? But doesn't Michigan have to split the gate if it schedules another home game?

Does this mean that the Wolverines want to play at the Meadowlands or at Redskins Park or some other neutral venue?

I can tell you that Indiana will not attract 50,000 to see the Wolverines, and I'm pretty sure the same holds true for NW.

Once again we see the integrity that the college football game now engenders.

It's not going to apply to conference games obviously, unless the home team chooses to move its game (Indiana vs Penn State at Fedex).

I would like to see the ins and outs of the math as well. But the big house holds 110,000 people. If you conservatively estimate $50 per ticket, that's $5.5M. Plus parking, concessions. Less the cost of running the operation for a day. I'm sure it makes out well, just wonder what the net profit is.

On the flip side, you pay $2M to buy out of the game, save on the cost of the traveling production to get there. Net Profit there? Not sure.

Then the costs that aren't tangible, like giving your giant fanbase another home game, instead of a trip to UConn, which I'm sure none of them are interested in. TV $/profit hosting a game vs traveling to UConn.

I imagine this has to come up either close to even or somewhat favorable for them to take the buyout option.

 

[HtownOrange]

I think Michigan is just using this as an excuse to step away from: 1) a team than can hurt them by either a respectable loss or (gasp) actually winning; and 2) the possibilty of renegotiating a neutral site payday. If you can make more money on the deal, might as well try.

Now that RichRod is gone, I don't really believe that UConn can win. The talent differential is too great. But there is no upside to Michigan playing in the Rent beyond honoring a contract. NOTE: If Michigan has the right to buy out the game, then there is no dishonor in that UConn already agreed to take a payday if Michigan decidesnot to stop by for a visit.

 

[PeteCalvin]

Obviously UConn wants it in the Rent...I'm sure it would cause a nice bump in season tix and after that plays out UConn could package it as part of a 2-3 game package if you want a Michigan tix you have to also buy a tix for Buffalo and Akron.

...and Houston, and Memphis, and SMU, and...

 

[Moontan]

$2m is a lot to pay to start to be labeled as a program that's afraid to play road OoC games*.

* other than at ND, just as Florida only plays an away OoC game at FSU

 

[Orangello]

They want to play them in the Meadowlands or maybe in Foxborough instead. UConn is holding tough, UM is indicating they will buy the game out before playing there.

Linkage

Tough to get a big power to play in a small stadium. Tennessee is scheduled to play UConn at the Rent in 2015. That game is unlikely to be played there as well.

I feel for the UConn fans who have invested in the program and waited patiently for big names to come for a visit. It is a situation not unlike ours...

How about Tenn at the Meadowlands in 2015

 

[Chip]

How about Tenn at the Meadowlands in 2015

It would be a little embarassing if the stadium looks more full with cream orange than real orange.

Plus I don't want to miss another potential trip to Knoxville, so needs to be home and home and NYC arrangement.

 

[Madbiker]

Michigan knew the size of the Rent and the dollars involved when they signed the contract for a home and home. UConn went there. Now they owe the return visit. Live up to your agreement. Hate to see crap like this. Does anyone have any integrity anymore?

 

[huskypantz]

Tough to get a big power to play in a small stadium. Tennessee is scheduled to play UConn at the Rent in 2015. That game is unlikely to be played there as well.

We have a better shot to see Tennessee at the Rent because we play them first (and visit Tenn in 2016). Michigan would be a screw job since we already played in their place and they'd be bailing on the return game. It sucks, but it is what it is. It's the same scenario in basketball, but the shoe's on the other foot. We play our one or two road games per year and buy a slate of home games against mid- and lower-tier schools.

 

[retro44]

they both are bcs programs,michigan needs to man up and play the game as what the contract says. I think michigan knew they were going to pull this crap when they signed.

Its going to get like no other bcs teams from another conference will sign a home and home unless your stadium is 80,000 seats. Would michigan pull this on any SEC school,i highly doubt this,but uconn is a big east team

 

[Scooch]

Is this because the rent is too damn high?!

Thanks, I'll be here all week, try the veal!

 

[Moontan]

they both are bcs programs,michigan needs to man up and play the game as what the contract says. I think michigan knew they were going to pull this crap when they signed.

According to Brady Hoke, they're not.

The game won't be moved... and shouldn't be. To anyone outside of Michigan this won't look very good. The more of a stink they make about it, the worse they will look.

 

[MadNY3]

We did this to Wyoming. We were just smart enough to have a very small buyout.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Michigan knew the size of the Rent and the dollars involved when they signed the contract for a home and home. UConn went there. Now they owe the return visit. Live up to your agreement. Hate to see crap like this. Does anyone have any integrity anymore?

storz was a bcs program, in a bcs league, when the bcs was around.... albeit a HORRIBLE one when the contract was signed.

now storz is in confusa, which is a non bcs league and the bcs is gone. its now a league in type that mich already plays, aka mac team and now its time to pump SOS


the game has changed, bigeast programs are useless.

the smart move is to get the fluck out of that contract now.

 

[texasorange]

I hope Michigan fulfills it's commitment to UConn. In the future UConn should consider the formula TGD came up with and play home & home with a 3rd game at Foxboro. But I hope the best for them in the future.

 

[Townie72]

Michigan knew the size of the Rent and the dollars involved when they signed the contract for a home and home. UConn went there. Now they owe the return visit. Live up to your agreement. Hate to see crap like this. Does anyone have any integrity anymore?

Actually by paying the $2M Michigan would be doing exactly that. "Living up to the terms of the agreement", that is.

Exactly as SU lived up to the terms of the Agreement with Wyoming.

 

[javadoc]

I feel for the UConn fans who have invested in the program and waited patiently for big names to come for a visit. It is a situation not unlike ours...

Somewhat, but not entirely. The ACC was ready to take us in 2003, which would have ensured a steady stream of FSU, Miami, VT, etc. ND came to the Dome, Penn State. And now that we are going to the ACC we get automatic quality visits.

I agree, though, that getting big teams to go to small schools is a terrible problem. It was especially galling a few years back when the NCAA instituted the minimum home attendance requirement to retain D-1A status, and a bunch of the MAC schools were in danger of getting booted. All those nice Big 10 teams in the neighborhood, and none would go the MACs to help attendance. I posted on here more than once that if the NCAA was serious about promoting D-1A membership, a scheduling rule was in order that would require home visits to the "little" schools.

 

[Townie72]

Here's the deal.

If UConn wants to play Michigan in this game they better agree to move it to Foxborough.

If they don't, Michigan will pay them the $2M and schedule another game in Ann Arbor and make money on the deal.

But a program like UConn --- especially now that they are in C-USA II --- needs to play teams like Michigan to even be considered on the fringe of "Big Time".

So UConn has a choice. They can get the $2M and not play Michigan. Or they can play Michigan in a pro stadium. Both are good outcomes.

The only thing they can't get is the game at Rentchler.

You may not like the hard ball approach that Michigan is using, but this is the big leagues. Lots of money at stake.

I'd be willing to bet the game gets moved. Michigan has all the cards.

And please get off the "violating the contract" stuff. The buy out clause is in the contract. If UConn didn't want a buy-out to be possible, they shouldn't have signed the contract.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

The B1G will be keeping an 8 game conference schedule, and will begin a long term crossover arrangement with the PAC12 starting in 2017.

Throw in ND and a home cupcake every year, and Michigan's schedule is almost complete.

 

[billsin01]

Here's the deal.

If UConn wants to play Michigan in this game they better agree to move it to Foxborough.

If they don't, Michigan will pay them the $2M and schedule another game in Ann Arbor and make money on the deal.

But a program like UConn --- especially now that they are in C-USA II --- needs to play teams like Michigan to even be considered on the fringe of "Big Time".

So UConn has a choice. They can get the $2M and not play Michigan. Or they can play Michigan in a pro stadium. Both are good outcomes.

The only thing they can't get is the game at Rentchler.

You may not like the hard ball approach that Michigan is using, but this is the big leagues. Lots of money at stake.

I'd be willing to bet the game gets moved. Michigan has all the cards.

And please get off the "violating the contract" stuff. The buy out clause is in the contract. If UConn didn't want a buy-out to be possible, they shouldn't have signed the contract.

I'm with you on this and it's nothing new. Would the Cuse play St. Bonaventure in their gym? Loyola in Baltimore in their gym? Both teams won their leagues and went to the NCAA tournament and are solid programs (well, OK, Loyola has historically been abysmal, but they were OK this year). Yet neither has a prayer of a home game vs. the Cuse. They can come to the Dome if they want.

And no one has answered this question, IMO -- how exactly do the fans get screwed? What is Foxborough from UConn? 1 hr. 40 min? People can do that in a day trip and be home by dinner. Students can drive that then go out partying in Boston all night. I drive that for appointments two days a week. But people are getting screwed somehow by not being able to see a big game in their craptastic home stadium?

 

[Chip]

I'm with you on this and it's nothing new. Would the Cuse play St. Bonaventure in their gym? Loyola in Baltimore in their gym? Both teams won their leagues and went to the NCAA tournament and are solid programs (well, OK, Loyola has historically been abysmal, but they were OK this year). Yet neither has a prayer of a home game vs. the Cuse. They can come to the Dome if they want.

And no one has answered this question, IMO -- how exactly do the fans get screwed? What is Foxborough from UConn? 1 hr. 40 min? People can do that in a day trip and be home by dinner. Students can drive that then go out partying in Boston all night. I drive that for appointments two days a week. But people are getting screwed somehow by not being able to see a big game in their craptastic home stadium?

UConn fans should be used to traveling for home games. 25 miles from campus isn't exactly walking distance.

 

[zls44]

UConn fans should be used to traveling for home games. 25 miles from campus isn't exactly walking distance.

UConn's stadium is a lot shorter trip for a majority of the fanbase because of where it is. I live in Southington and it takes me 15 minutes on I-84. From the campus it takes 20 minutes.

The stadium was never getting built on campus. Ever.