The Meadowlands Game - Success or Failure?

[44PRIDE]

Now that it's over, how does everyone feel about this game? With the amount of controversy that led up to this game, I'm curious to see if you all think moving this game was a success or not.

I was a proponent of having this game in the Meadowlands. But now that its over, I'm not so sure the benefit was worth giving up the game. It was clear that the Meadowlands were only 1/2 full and that the crowd was split 50/50 at that.

The press that we'd received going into the game was due to us playing USC...and not because we were playing in the Meadowlands. I feel we would've had the same press whether it was at the dome or in Jersey...

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I doubt the MetLife people were thrilled with a crowd less than 40,000.

I can see PSU in 2013, and ND in 2014 and 2016 doing better on the ticket sales, but I'll be surprised if the 10 game package ever happens.

 

[Scooch]

As long as the check clears, it was worth doing.

I'm not a big proponent of doing it much more though. Finish off the PSU and ND series and call it a day.

 

[Faegan]

I have two young kids and it is going to be very hard to get up to the dome for a game with their athletics. I am thrilled they are doing this. I told a lot of my friends about the Penn State game, and they were psyched to hear about it. I think it really could build into something very positive, especially with high quality opponents coming to the dome through the ACC.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

Do the Penn State game and then I'd consider what the buy-out clause is. That game should have been in the Dome, and I'll say it, less than 40K with 5K+ from SoCal is not ideal. As Scooch says, as long as the check clears, there is no need to play 10 games in Jersey. Frankly, with only three OOC per year, let the Irish find another opponent and bring quality OOC back to the Dome.

 

[Scooch]

Do the Penn State game and then I'd consider what the buy-out clause is. That game should have been in the Dome, and I'll say it, less than 40K with 5K+ from SoCal is not ideal. As Scooch says, as long as the check clears, there is no need to play 10 games in Jersey. Frankly, with only three OOC per year, let the Irish find another opponent and bring quality OOC back to the Dome.

There was more like 15-20K SC fans there. Crowd seemed darn near close to 50/50 to me.

Was stunned USC traveled like that.

I will say, it was a great venue, and if we could actually turn out I'd be more interested in playing games there. Just won't happen though.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Do the Penn State game and then I'd consider what the buy-out clause is. That game should have been in the Dome, and I'll say it, less than 40K with 5K+ from SoCal is not ideal. As Scooch says, as long as the check clears, there is no need to play 10 games in Jersey. Frankly, with only three OOC per year, let the Irish find another opponent and bring quality OOC back to the Dome.

The Irish originally approached Rutgers for a 4 game series, but Rutgers refused to leave Piscataway.

Then ND approached UConn, and wanted to play 1 in the Meadowlands, and 1 in Foxboro, but UConn refused.

By keeping the ND series, it's a way for SU to thumb its' nose at frick and frack. And you know the game will be well attended.

 

[mayselc]

I think that it was a success for two reasons.

1) You can't pass up the money especially when we a) might not make a bowl and b) might lose money on ticket commitments for a lower-tier bowl.

2) I saw a lot of families of current players there (groups of four or more with T-shirts of players name/number). I think that if these games help us lock up the three or four 4- and 5-star guys that come out of the New York area, it will be well worth it.

 

[44PRIDE]

With respect to recruiting, I'm sure it was a resounding success. All the NYC families saw us.

 

[BORZAK]

I think that it was a success for two reasons.

1) You can't pass up the money especially when we a) might not make a bowl and b) might lose money on ticket commitments for a lower-tier bowl.

2) I saw a lot of families of current players there (groups of four or more with T-shirts of players name/number). I think that if these games help us lock up the three or four 4- and 5-star guys that come out of the New York area, it will be well worth it.

That's pretty close to what HCDM said. minus the star ratings.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

The Irish originally approached Rutgers for a 4 game series, but Rutgers refused to leave Piscataway.

Then ND approached UConn, and wanted to play 1 in the Meadowlands, and 1 in Foxboro, but UConn refused.

By keeping the ND series, it's a way for SU to thumb its' nose at frick and frack. And you know the game will be well attended.

I know the game will be well attended. But frankly, it's a different world than it was when that series was signed. I'm from Cleveland, so I don't have "skin in the game" like the season ticket holders in CNY. And I didn't have a solidly formed opinion on moving the game before this game was played.

But what we proved today, I think, is what we always knew. We're a private university with a fairly good, yet fickle, local fan base, that doesn't have tens of thousands of state-school type alumni to fill a neutral-site NFL stadium, like, say, Alabama, Oregon, or even VaTech or WVU. And frankly, today we gave up home field advantage, and I didn't like it one bit.

I travelled with my family to the Coliseum last year. And I've been to Michigan, Purdue, Akron, Cincy, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Miami of Ohio and Notre Dame too, in addition to taking in 1-2 home games a year. Just last week, I traveled with my family back to the Dome for the opener. But I chose not to go to NJ today. And I could have changed my mind as late as yesterday, because I flew out of EWR, where I was for the week for work, to come back home and watch with my boys and my wife.

I guarantee you that if this game was in the Dome, I would have been there again. We sold out, and I understand why we had to do it. But we are Syracuse. Our home is the Dome. And that is where I want our OOC games to be now that our future is secure in the ACC.

Hats of to Doug and the boys for the effort today. Not sure we would have won at home, but I guarantee Barkley and company would have had a full, hostile and deafening environment to overcome if this game were truly "at home." Would it have made a difference? Unfortunately, we'll never know.

 

[Fjoinkay]

Smashing Success!

No way USC plays SU in the dome. No way.

USC has a large alumni community in the metro area as do most large state schools, plus USC has fans all over that never went to school there and who have never even been to southern california, and those who did travel did so at least in part to spend time in the NYC area. I went to the game last year at the coliseum, and SU had an impressive turn out. The SU alumni in California were excited to see SU play, and I saw that today at MetLife Stadium with USC alumni.

I hope the folks at MetLife allow SU to play more games at the stadium.

 

[Rocco]

Now that it's over, how does everyone feel about this game? With the amount of controversy that led up to this game, I'm curious to see if you all think moving this game was a success or not.

I was a proponent of having this game in the Meadowlands. But now that its over, I'm not so sure the benefit was worth giving up the game. It was clear that the Meadowlands were only 1/2 full and that the crowd was split 50/50 at that.

The press that we'd received going into the game was due to us playing USC...and not because we were playing in the Meadowlands. I feel we would've had the same press whether it was at the dome or in Jersey...

I will say that your sig pic is a failure. Can't speak to anything else just yet...

 

[Czar]

Smashing Success!

No way USC plays SU in the dome. No way.

USC has a large alumni community in the metro area as do most large state schools, plus USC has fans all over that never went to school there and who have never even been to southern california, and those who did travel did so at least in part to spend time in the NYC area. I went to the game last year at the coliseum, and SU had an impressive turn out. The SU alumni in California were excited to see SU play, and I saw that today at MetLife Stadium with USC alumni.

I hope the folks at MetLife allow SU to play more games at the stadium.

USC already agreed to play in the dome...

 

[Orangeyes]

Smashing Success!

No way USC plays SU in the dome. No way.

USC has a large alumni community in the metro area as do most large state schools, plus USC has fans all over that never went to school there and who have never even been to southern california, and those who did travel did so at least in part to spend time in the NYC area. I went to the game last year at the coliseum, and SU had an impressive turn out. The SU alumni in California were excited to see SU play, and I saw that today at MetLife Stadium with USC alumni.

I hope the folks at MetLife allow SU to play more games at the stadium.

When the games were agreed upon our home game was announced for the Dome.

 

[Orangeyes]

When the games were agreed upon our home game was announced for the Dome.

Edit: Just saw that Czar had already said the same thing.

 

[44PRIDE]

I will say that your sig pic is a failure. Can't speak to anything else just yet...

That's your opinion and you are welcome to it. I prefer to think Dougie needs to grow a pair and trust in his team's ability to get 2 yards.

 

[Rocco]

That's your opinion and you are welcome to it. I prefer to think Dougie needs to grow a pair and trust in his team's ability to get 2 yards.

No disrespect to you... I just think it is too soon for that, and as a football coach, it was the right call to make. Alot easier to say someone's job when not standing in their shoes and in that moment.

 

[Fjoinkay]

When the games were agreed upon our home game was announced for the Dome.

It worked out much better for everyone involved (I did not know USC agreed to play in the dome obviously). USC had 15-20k at MetLife today. The paycheck for SU rocks, and I met a lot of SU alumni who haven't been up to the dome for years who were very happy to see SU play today.

 

[Czar]

No disrespect to you... I just think it is too soon for that, and as a football coach, it was the right call to make. Alot easier to say someone's job when not standing in their shoes and in that moment.

Too soon for what? Going for it is the right call there.

 

[RF2044]

With respect to recruiting, I'm sure it was a resounding success. All the NYC families saw us.

I'll add: saw us play competitively against a top ranked team.

 

[RF2044]

I know the game will be well attended. But frankly, it's a different world than it was when that series was signed. I'm from Cleveland, so I don't have "skin in the game" like the season ticket holders in CNY. And I didn't have a solidly formed opinion on moving the game before this game was played.

But what we proved today, I think, is what we always knew. We're a private university with a fairly good, yet fickle, local fan base, that doesn't have tens of thousands of state-school type alumni to fill a neutral-site NFL stadium, like, say, Alabama, Oregon, or even VaTech or WVU. And frankly, today we gave up home field advantage, and I didn't like it one bit.

I travelled with my family to the Coliseum last year. And I've been to Michigan, Purdue, Akron, Cincy, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Miami of Ohio and Notre Dame too, in addition to taking in 1-2 home games a year. Just last week, I traveled with my family back to the Dome for the opener. But I chose not to go to NJ today. And I could have changed my mind as late as yesterday, because I flew out of EWR, where I was for the week for work, to come back home and watch with my boys and my wife.

I guarantee you that if this game was in the Dome, I would have been there again. We sold out, and I understand why we had to do it. But we are Syracuse. Our home is the Dome. And that is where I want our OOC games to be now that our future is secure in the ACC.

Hats of to Doug and the boys for the effort today. Not sure we would have won at home, but I guarantee Barkley and company would have had a full, hostile and deafening environment to overcome if this game were truly "at home." Would it have made a difference? Unfortunately, we'll never know.

Good post, good points. Question for you, TN--do you think that this was a decent "compromise" in order to further establish our metro area presence for recruiting, etc.? Does that outweigh giving up home field?

I don't see this being a good move for us down the road--when we establish ourselves as a better team. Don't like giving up the home game, losing the revenue of having the extra home game, etc. but we aren't drawing well at home right now, so I'm torn about whether this was a bad move.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

Good post, good points. Question for you, TN--do you think that this was a decent "compromise" in order to further establish our metro area presence for recruiting, etc.? Does that outweigh giving up home field?

I don't see this being a good move for us down the road--when we establish ourselves as a better team. Don't like giving up the home game, losing the revenue of having the extra home game, etc. but we aren't drawing well at home right now, so I'm torn about whether this was a bad move.

Ryan, note that I didn't say this was a bad move. In fact, I said I understood why we did it. But the world has changed and we have a stable future from a financial standpoint. You bring up a great point about recruiting, and I can only hope that this game has a positive impact on maintaining and reinforcing the recruiting pipeline that Doug is building in NYC, and for that matter, in the heart of the Garden State.

However, outside of next year's 1-1-1 setup with Penn State, I don't see the advantage of giving away home games against marquis OOC opponents. As the board shows tonight, the rational among us can tell that the future is brighter than the past with this team and with this program. The wins are coming, and I think that will go a long way toward putting fannies back in the seats at the Dome. I didn't like seeing what some say is upwards of 15K USC fans at our "home" game. And I don't look forward to the Irish making our home field their own either. Remember what Walter Reyes did to the Golden Domers at home? Let them come to the Dome or, if they don't want to, let's get somebody else prominent who will.

I don't think we "need" to play so many in NJ in the future. I hope we can back off the 10-game commitment. As for recruiting, we're being handed the perfect storm. Storz and Rutgirls are being hung out to dry in the SunBeast. And PSU is a shadow of their former selves. So I'll say this. I expect that we'll win more than we lose for the remainder of this season. But from a recruiting standpoint, you can point to the PSU game next year right now and circle that as a must win. There is no room left for moral victories. We are poised to be the dominant NE program again. No matter where the games are played, my hope is that the Dome becomes the future destination for both top recruits and top OOC programs.

 

[RF2044]

Ryan, note that I didn't say this was a bad move. In fact, I said I understood why we did it. But the world has changed and we have a stable future from a financial standpoint. You bring up a great point about recruiting, and I can only hope that this game has a positive impact on maintaining and reinforcing the recruiting pipeline that Doug is building in NYC, and for that matter, in the heart of the Garden State.

However, outside of next year's 1-1-1 setup with Penn State, I don't see the advantage of giving away home games against marquis OOC opponents. As the board shows tonight, the rational among us can tell that the future is brighter than the past with this team and with this program. The wins are coming, and I think that will go a long way toward putting fannies back in the seats at the Dome. I didn't like seeing what some say is upwards of 15K USC fans at our "home" game. And I don't look forward to the Irish making our home field their own either. Remember what Walter Reyes did to the Golden Domers at home? Let them come to the Dome or, if they don't want to, let's get somebody else prominent who will.

I don't think we "need" to play so many in NJ in the future. I hope we can back off the 10-game commitment. As for recruiting, we're being handed the perfect storm. Storz and Rutgirls are being hung out to dry in the SunBeast. And PSU is a shadow of their former selves. So I'll say this. I expect that we'll win more than we lose for the remainder of this season. But from a recruiting standpoint, you can point to the PSU game next year right now and circle that as a must win. There is no room left for morale victories. We are poised to be the dominant NE program again. No matter where the games are played, my hope is that the Dome becomes the future destination for both top recruits and top OOC programs.

Completely agree--let me restate [just reread my post above, and I didn't make my point clear]: was this a good trade off THIS YEAR, given that attendance overall is down, given the importance to the NYC metro area on many fronts, etc?

My dad is a season ticket holder--hate to see him lose out on the opportunity to see this game at home [although he traveled down to NJ for the game]. Very important to get these type of marquee opponents at home, no argument there. I just meant that this year, was it a good idea? Hard to say--I don't know that we necessarily would have "won" per some threads tonight if this game is at the Dome, but I do think it might have given us an advantage.

Hopefully, we'll be in a position 2-3 years down the road where the prospect of giving up this kind of game is unattractive, given that the fair weather fans have returned and we are again packing the Dome.

 

[rrlbees]

I met a lot of SU alumni who haven't been up to the dome for years who were very happy to see SU play today.

That there is a problem.

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