Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[HFCS]

The problem with going to Mexico... losing a home game. I pay enough for my season tickets, I dont want to lose my home games to Mexico. Sure if they want to add an extra game to the schedule etc for that game I dont mind, but losing one of my games, especially the limited number of home football games already, is not something I am looking forward to. Play a non con basketball game there sure, or host a tournament in the non con, fine. But its bad enough having a neutral site game in KC instead of home, its worse when its 1500 miles away.

I get it, for some people it's nothing but bad...but there is some opportunity there. It's really not a bad flight, flying to west coast is actually more of a chore and we have people who want to be a coast to coast conference. You don't even change time zones from Iowa.

The more I look into Monterey city/stadium it seems like the ultimate fan trip. It would be one time at most over 7-8 years and basically we'd have 3 years in a row of 4 B12 home games instead of the regular 4-5-5-4 rotating. I just assume they'd never leave a team with just 3 home games. I also figure season ticket holders would get some kind of edge for tickets to the game.

If we every expanded to 10 games it'd totally be worth it for a 5, 5, 4+Monterey, 5, 5, 5, 5 cycle. If it's a hit maybe doing it until every team goes once is ideal.

For other sports I don't see the big opportunity, I see the other sports as tagging along for the football opportunity.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

David Ubben still has a job as a sports 'reporter'. I remember when he 'covered' the Big 12 for ESPN. He was terrible at this job then, and is still terrible.

This is just part of the perception problem the Big12 has. When you actually dig into the numbers losing OUT and adding the other 4 would result in the Big12 getting the exact same number of people drafted.

Now the recruiting rankings are a big sore spot for the conference but in terms of putting people in the NFL the Big12 is still in a fine place.

 

[RonBurgundy]

The conference already has an unbalanced schedule with 9 conference games. ISU is always balanced nicely since the Iowa games are the years we have 5 conference road games, so we always have 5 P5 home and road games. I don't know what the others do.

I don't mind if Yormack and the conference explore opportunities. In some ways, I always thought the RRR was something the conference should have done more of. In years we have five conference road games, a Farmaggedon game in KC for ISU/KSU would be fun. Not every year, but maybe twice in eight years, once for them and once for us (losing a road game). So if other neutral site matchups could be created, a nice way to expand exposure for the conference. That is how I would view a Mexico game. Not frequently, but if each team went down once in eight years (assuming we are at 16), then it might be acceptable and a value to the conference. Millions of eyeballs in Mexico.

The best news is that BY is keeping us in the news cycle with opportunities like Gonzaga, Mexico game, etc. Even if none of it moves forward, Big 12 is in the news.

 

[isucy86]

The problem with going to Mexico... losing a home game. I pay enough for my season tickets, I dont want to lose my home games to Mexico. Sure if they want to add an extra game to the schedule etc for that game I dont mind, but losing one of my games, especially the limited number of home football games already, is not something I am looking forward to. Play a non con basketball game there sure, or host a tournament in the non con, fine. But its bad enough having a neutral site game in KC instead of home, its worse when its 1500 miles away.

I don't buy that argument.

With 9 conference game schedules most teams flip flop between 7 and 8 home game seasons. So don't really see it being an issue giving up a conference home game once a decade during what would be an 8 home game season.

Who knows, if the Big12 adds 4 Pac12 teams, we could see the Pac12(4), Texas(4) and BYU wanting to play in Mexico. Especially if the Big12 makes it financially beneficial to the home team.

 

[2speedy1]

I get it, for some people it's nothing but bad...but there is some opportunity there. It's really not a bad flight, flying to west coast is actually more of a chore and we have people who want to be a coast to coast conference. You don't even change time zones from Iowa.

The more I look into Monterey city/stadium it seems like the ultimate fan trip. It would be one time at most over 7-8 years and basically we'd have 3 years in a row of 4 B12 home games instead of the regular 4-5-5-4 rotating. I just assume they'd never leave a team with just 3 home games. I also figure season ticket holders would get some kind of edge for tickets to the game.

If we every expanded to 10 games it'd totally be worth it for a 5, 5, 4+Monterey, 5, 5, 5, 5 cycle. If it's a hit maybe doing it until every team goes once is ideal.

For other sports I don't see the big opportunity, I see the other sports as tagging along for the football opportunity.

So you think its nothing to buy a group of plane tickets, fly to Mexico, hotel costs, dealing with the cartels, dealing with all the bad in Mexico, (Most people that go to Mexico to a resort, never step foot off the resort except to arrive and depart, because of many things including safety concerns.

This is no big deal?....when comparing to jumping in the family van and heading to JT for a day of tailgating and a game... that is, and should be included in our season ticket package.

I guess I wish I had your disposable income to just add another trip that will cost $thousands, for a game that should be home, and included.

Sure it should only be once every so often, but why? Is Mexico really that big of a boom and huge market that is just itching for some College FB? Is it going to make us money? or cost us Money? After having games stuck on the LHN every time we play there, not to mention all the other slights over the years, do you really think ISU wont get the short end of the stick, whatever it is, every chance they can?

Then you look at Monterrey? What is the draw to go there? Its not on the coast with beaches, its not a famous city with an abundance of culture and sights. Its just another city, and city in Central Mexico.

 

[Clonehomer]

I don't buy that argument.

With 9 conference game schedules most teams flip flop between 7 and 8 home game seasons. So don't really see it being an issue giving up a conference home game once a decade during what would be an 8 home game season.

Who knows, if the Big12 adds 4 Pac12 teams, we could see the Pac12(4), Texas(4) and BYU wanting to play in Mexico. Especially if the Big12 makes it financially beneficial to the home team.

Yes, but that 4/5 split allows for a home and home series with another P5 team (currently Iowa). So we would always have 5 P5 home games each season. This would take away one of those. But perhaps the days of interconference home and home series are nearing an end with the consolidation.

 

[HFCS]

So you think its nothing to buy a group of plane tickets, fly to Mexico, hotel costs, dealing with the cartels, dealing with all the bad in Mexico, (Most people that go to Mexico to a resort, never step foot off the resort except to arrive and depart, because of many things including safety concerns.

This is no big deal?....when comparing to jumping in the family van and heading to JT for a day of tailgating and a game... that is, and should be included in our season ticket package.

I guess I wish I had your disposable income to just add another trip that will cost $thousands, for a game that should be home, and included.

Sure it should only be once every so often, but why? Is Mexico really that big of a boom and huge market that is just itching for some College FB? Is it going to make us money? or cost us Money? After having games stuck on the LHN every time we play there, not to mention all the other slights over the years, do you really think ISU wont get the short end of the stick, whatever it is, every chance they can?

Then you look at Monterrey? What is the draw to go there? Its not on the coast with beaches, its not a famous city with an abundance of culture and sights. Its just another city, and city in Central Mexico.

It's not "nothing" but it's lightyears better than most bowls or other exotic neutral site games in almost every way. Playing a game in Ireland is crazy expensive and stupid compared to Monterey.

Monterey is the most Americanized city in Mexico, very safe to fly into and visit for tourists (unless you think every American city is also unsafe). The stadium is regularly named most beautiful on the planet. Great climate, easy flight compared to even US west coast or definitely Europe. You don't think this is beautiful (pics)?

Playing a bowl game in Yankee Stadium is something far more ridiculous. We did that already. It also crushes pretty much every non Fiesta Bowl game we've played in terms of a fan experience. Alamo Bowl could be debatably equal or better.

It's worth trying, especially if people actually know what Monterey and Mexico City are actually like. The first group of Big 12 fans will go there, if it's like I suspect they will love it and it will crush some stereotypes for the other fans if it happens again. I think it's all about this one game a year for two teams for a limited amount of time, the other sports are just some filler or part of a deal.

 

[Daserop]

This is just part of the perception problem the Big12 has. When you actually dig into the numbers losing OUT and adding the other 4 would result in the Big12 getting the exact same number of people drafted.

Now the recruiting rankings are a big sore spot for the conference but in terms of putting people in the NFL the Big12 is still in a fine place.

He's cherry picking data to push biased and flawed narrative.

 

[CascadeClone]

So you think its nothing to buy a group of plane tickets, fly to Mexico, hotel costs, dealing with the cartels, dealing with all the bad in Mexico, (Most people that go to Mexico to a resort, never step foot off the resort except to arrive and depart, because of many things including safety concerns.

This is no big deal?....when comparing to jumping in the family van and heading to JT for a day of tailgating and a game... that is, and should be included in our season ticket package.

I guess I wish I had your disposable income to just add another trip that will cost $thousands, for a game that should be home, and included.

Sure it should only be once every so often, but why? Is Mexico really that big of a boom and huge market that is just itching for some College FB? Is it going to make us money? or cost us Money? After having games stuck on the LHN every time we play there, not to mention all the other slights over the years, do you really think ISU wont get the short end of the stick, whatever it is, every chance they can?

Then you look at Monterrey? What is the draw to go there? Its not on the coast with beaches, its not a famous city with an abundance of culture and sights. Its just another city, and city in Central Mexico.

Look, I would never go to the game either, but that's not the point.

I posted a ways back, I think all of this is to create a new fanbase for Big12 among Latino/Mexican demographic, on both sides of the border. And that border is Big12 country (esp if the Arizonas join), most of those folks don't have a rooting interest, but do enjoy basketball and American football - and there are a bunch who are college and hs athletes in the US right now.

People talk about the B1G and SEC having all the population, and the midwest & southwest don't. Well, here's maybe 50M people that could potentially gaf about your product. Go after them. Showpieces (or boondoggles if you prefer) like a game in Mexico City are part of that effort.

 

[KnappShack]

What do we have to lose? Mexico seems like a football market. The Cowboys are their own thing but if our neighbors down south love football them give them Big ******* 12 football


The Cowboys have played four preseason games on Mexican soil, with three in Mexico City – including the largest international crowd in history (112,376) in famed Azteca Stadium in 1994 – and one in Monterrey

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Look, I would never go to the game either, but that's not the point.

I posted a ways back, I think all of this is to create a new fanbase for Big12 among Latino/Mexican demographic, on both sides of the border. And that border is Big12 country (esp if the Arizonas join), most of those folks don't have a rooting interest, but do enjoy basketball and American football - and there are a bunch who are college and hs athletes in the US right now.

People talk about the B1G and SEC having all the population, and the midwest & southwest don't. Well, here's maybe 50M people that could potentially gaf about your product. Go after them. Showpieces (or boondoggles if you prefer) like a game in Mexico City are part of that effort.

I love the creativity in exploring Mexico but one thing that is forgotten is that other countries don’t really understand or have interest in college sports.

I could still see the game being a local sell out due to the novelty which could be a nice money earner but do we think it’s really going to push brand growth?

Either way it’s awesome outside the box thinking from the commish, just interested to see how it plays out.

 

[alarson]

I love the creativity in exploring Mexico but one thing that is forgotten is that other countries don’t really understand or have interest in college sports.

I could still see the game being a local sell out due to the novelty which could be a nice money earner but do we think it’s really going to push brand growth?

Either way it’s awesome outside the box thinking from the commish, just interested to see how it plays out.

Hell, plenty of parts of the US dont really do college sports

 

[2speedy1]

It's not "nothing" but it's lightyears better than most bowls or other exotic neutral site games in almost every way. Playing a game in Ireland is crazy expensive and stupid compared to Monterey.

Monterey is the most Americanized city in Mexico, very safe to fly into and visit for tourists (unless you think every American city is also unsafe). The stadium is regularly named most beautiful on the planet. Great climate, easy flight compared to even US west coast or definitely Europe. You don't think this is beautiful (pics)?

Playing a bowl game in Yankee Stadium is something far more ridiculous. We did that already. It also crushes pretty much every non Fiesta Bowl game we've played in terms of a fan experience. Alamo Bowl could be debatably equal or better.

It's worth trying, especially if people actually know what Monterey and Mexico City are actually like. The first group of Big 12 fans will go there, if it's like I suspect they will love it and it will crush some stereotypes for the other fans if it happens again. I think it's all about this one game a year for two teams for a limited amount of time, the other sports are just some filler or part of a deal.

Im guessing as someone that lives in Cali, you Dont have season tickets, and rarely if ever come to a game. So watching it on the tv, televised from Ames or from Mexico makes no difference. And picking up a flight from Cali to Ames for a game or Cali to Mexico for a game is a wash probably too. It also is something to say that you probably dont really care for Ames as a location, and would rather ISU was in a place like SoCal or Mexico because your visits would be better in your mind.

Fact is we season ticket holders will be losing out on a home game, unless somehow they added an extra home game in the years they go to Mexico. And for those of us that do have season tickets, and go to a bowl game each year, Adding another trip to someplace we really dont care to go, is not a bonus for us.

It is a pretty city, But it still is just a city. It still has all the problems surrounding it that Mexico has everywhere. And It still is in a foreign country.

Im not for adding a game in Ireland or anywhere else either, so I am not sure that is a point do dispute me. But as far as Mexico, I dont care to go...ever, anywhere. And as far as losing a game that I spend a lot of money for, at home.. I dont like that either.

Again, Monterrey is pretty, but there are a lot of pretty areas, and cities. Hell look at BYU stadium, Colorado Stadium, ASU stadium, etc. There are cities just the same. But to spend that much money to go to Mexico, I would want more than just a stadium with a small Mountain behind it. I would want other things to see and do, like a beach. Hell what is the draw to go there, for the Big 12? What makes it a huge money win? They like soccer there, not American Football. You fill a stadium in Mexico...big deal, for places that regularly fill stadiums at home too. Who makes the money? ISU wont because they wont make money on tickets, They dont provide the travel or hotels etc, Ames wont make the money, the hotels and restaurants will lose that too. This is not a good thing for ISU, and the fans that go to the games. It is fine for those that dont go to the games, and of those very few will actually pick up a ticket to a game there. No matter what you think it is not as easy to go to/get to a game in Mexico vs somewhere in the US, as a lot of people dont even have Passports.

And as far as Cities in the US, being unsafe. A lot are. But they also arent run by and in a country that the government and police are completely run by Drug Cartels. You can say they arent part of Monterrey but that would be a complete falsehood. The cartel owns everything down there, including many of the resorts. But Monterrey according to Murder rate would be in the top 10 for worst if comparing it to US cities. With several of the local/suburb cities around it being off the charts above event the worst city in the US some more than double, which is St Louis by murder rate.

Saying Monterrey is safe is easy when comparing it to other areas in Mexico, but comparing it to the US it would be one of the worst, and if you included the Metro area it would for sure be the worst when compared to any US city.

 

[Cloneon]

I love the creativity in exploring Mexico but one thing that is forgotten is that other countries don’t really understand or have interest in college sports.

I could still see the game being a local sell out due to the novelty which could be a nice money earner but do we think it’s really going to push brand growth?

Either way it’s awesome outside the box thinking from the commish, just interested to see how it plays out.

What hasn't been mentioned is if the networks want it. Which, I can't imagine why they wouldn't. If the AZ schools, SDSU, and with our existing TX schools, that's a great addition to their markets. That said, I can see why season ticket holders wouldn't want it. And, if I were within range to get a season ticket, I'm not sure if this one lost game every few years would be a deterrent or not.

 

[AuH2O]

So you think its nothing to buy a group of plane tickets, fly to Mexico, hotel costs, dealing with the cartels, dealing with all the bad in Mexico, (Most people that go to Mexico to a resort, never step foot off the resort except to arrive and depart, because of many things including safety concerns.

This is no big deal?....when comparing to jumping in the family van and heading to JT for a day of tailgating and a game... that is, and should be included in our season ticket package.

I guess I wish I had your disposable income to just add another trip that will cost $thousands, for a game that should be home, and included.

Sure it should only be once every so often, but why? Is Mexico really that big of a boom and huge market that is just itching for some College FB? Is it going to make us money? or cost us Money? After having games stuck on the LHN every time we play there, not to mention all the other slights over the years, do you really think ISU wont get the short end of the stick, whatever it is, every chance they can?

Then you look at Monterrey? What is the draw to go there? It’s not on the coast with beaches, it’s not a famous city with an abundance of culture and sights. It’s just another city, and city in Central Mexico.

The point of playing games in Mexico isn’t so a bunch of Iowa State and Kansas State fans go to Mexico to watch the game. It isn’t a bowl game done for the purpose of the local tourism and economy. It’s 100% being considered for its benefits to the schools and conference which means getting people that aren’t currently paying customers to buy tickets, buy some merch, maybe even subscribe to ESPN+.

 

[clone52]

Im guessing as someone that lives in Cali, you Dont have season tickets, and rarely if ever come to a game. So watching it on the tv, televised from Ames or from Mexico makes no difference. And picking up a flight from Cali to Ames for a game or Cali to Mexico for a game is a wash probably too. It also is something to say that you probably dont really care for Ames as a location, and would rather ISU was in a place like SoCal or Mexico because your visits would be better in your mind.

Fact is we season ticket holders will be losing out on a home game, unless somehow they added an extra home game in the years they go to Mexico. And for those of us that do have season tickets, and go to a bowl game each year, Adding another trip to someplace we really dont care to go, is not a bonus for us.

It is a pretty city, But it still is just a city. It still has all the problems surrounding it that Mexico has everywhere. And It still is in a foreign country.

Im not for adding a game in Ireland or anywhere else either, so I am not sure that is a point do dispute me. But as far as Mexico, I dont care to go...ever, anywhere. And as far as losing a game that I spend a lot of money for, at home.. I dont like that either.

Again, Monterrey is pretty, but there are a lot of pretty areas, and cities. Hell look at BYU stadium, Colorado Stadium, ASU stadium, etc. There are cities just the same. But to spend that much money to go to Mexico, I would want more than just a stadium with a small Mountain behind it. I would want other things to see and do, like a beach. Hell what is the draw to go there, for the Big 12? What makes it a huge money win? They like soccer there, not American Football. You fill a stadium in Mexico...big deal, for places that regularly fill stadiums at home too. Who makes the money? ISU wont because they wont make money on tickets, They dont provide the travel or hotels etc, Ames wont make the money, the hotels and restaurants will lose that too. This is not a good thing for ISU, and the fans that go to the games. It is fine for those that dont go to the games, and of those very few will actually pick up a ticket to a game there. No matter what you think it is not as easy to go to/get to a game in Mexico vs somewhere in the US, as a lot of people dont even have Passports.

And as far as Cities in the US, being unsafe. A lot are. But they also arent run by and in a country that the government and police are completely run by Drug Cartels. You can say they arent part of Monterrey but that would be a complete falsehood. The cartel owns everything down there, including many of the resorts. But Monterrey according to Murder rate would be in the top 10 for worst if comparing it to US cities. With several of the local/suburb cities around it being off the charts above event the worst city in the US some more than double, which is St Louis by murder rate.

Saying Monterrey is safe is easy when comparing it to other areas in Mexico, but comparing it to the US it would be one of the worst, and if you included the Metro area it would for sure be the worst when compared to any US city.

The loss of a home game (and probably not a decrease in the cost of season tickets) is really the only downside, though. And that maybe happens once a decade, probably less. I'm sure it would generate more money for everybody and I think the positives outweigh that negative

 

[aeroclone]

I love the creativity in exploring Mexico but one thing that is forgotten is that other countries don’t really understand or have interest in college sports.

I could still see the game being a local sell out due to the novelty which could be a nice money earner but do we think it’s really going to push brand growth?

Either way it’s awesome outside the box thinking from the commish, just interested to see how it plays out.

Yeah, this. College sports Fandom just tends to be so much more personal than the pros. You are a fan because you or a friend or family member went there. You lived near there. I don't see many people in Mexico becoming fans of the B12 in general or a team in particular from one neutral site game a year. It may peak their interest in football and then they will go off and become fans of some NFL team.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Just go look at projections of the population and economic growth of Mexico.

 

[HFCS]

you probably dont really care for Ames as a location, and would rather ISU was in a place like SoCal or Mexico because your visits would be better in your mind.

I'm going to use this over the Holidays when I'm visiting immediate family in Ames. They'll get a kick out of it.

 

[CascadeClone]

I love the creativity in exploring Mexico but one thing that is forgotten is that other countries don’t really understand or have interest in college sports.

I could still see the game being a local sell out due to the novelty which could be a nice money earner but do we think it’s really going to push brand growth?

Either way it’s awesome outside the box thinking from the commish, just interested to see how it plays out.

Again, I think it is a demographic play. You're not trying to CAPTURE college-sports fans, you are trying to MAKE them.

Lots of Latinos in the US, esp in Texas & southwest. Many of them go to college. Student population percentages:
Tech 30%
ASU 26%
TCU 11%
Baylor 17%
Houston 33%

All those kids have families. Many of those families have ties across the border. Over a generation, interest level in college sports in Mexico may be a lot different. There's no guarantee, but its a big, long-term, low-risk strategy.