Why didn't the Big 4 Classic work?

The format and opponents for this event just didn't work, but I would actually like to see ISU find a way to have a regular game in WFA going forward like KU, KSU, and Mizzou do with the Sprint Center. The DSM metro is the largest and fastest growing population center in the state. I would also image it is the biggest concentration center for ISU alums anywhere. Ensuring that we dominate that market is good for ISU in many ways. If it wasn't important, iowa wouldn't be hosting football practices at Valley Stadium.

The deal like the Ohio State game where we got a neutral site game in exchange for a true road game was a no go. But a one time game or a neutral for neutral deal should work.
 
The cost is the main factor.

IMO, ISU should alternate playing Drake and UNI in Hilton. Play Drake one year in Hilton, UNI the next year, and so on. It's unfortunate, but if they want to play ISU, they are going to have to come to Hilton.

Just like in football, ISU is not going to go play AT UNI or Drake. Or as with other non con games ISU plays, like against Southern for example, ISU is not going to go play AT Southern in the non con. Same goes for UNI and Drake.

Or maybe you could do a 3 and 1 with Drake and UNI? Every 4 matchups, Drake and UNI would get ISU at their place once?

I hate to see these games go away, but it's all about $$ these days, and JP isn't going to give up another possible home game.
 
I guess Im just confused on why this isnt good for Iowa State? Is it lost revenue from one extra home game in the non-conf? Or are we legitimately scared to play teams like UNI and Drake anywhere else but Hilton for the fear of an embarrassing loss?

If its option 2 thats pretty weak imo. I can't imagine Pollard stooping to that level. This is what Fran wanted because hes too scared of playing UNI away from Carver and getting another loss with the 20 game Big 10 schedule.

If it means scheduling another good team in Hilton then so be it, but if we take Frans route and schedule DMACC in Carver as a replacement because he's so scared of more losses than thats pretty weak imo.
What's this we?
 
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The cost is the main factor.

IMO, ISU should alternate playing Drake and UNI in Hilton. Play Drake one year in Hilton, UNI the next year, and so on. It's unfortunate, but if they want to play ISU, they are going to have to come to Hilton.

Just like in football, ISU is not going to go play AT UNI or Drake. Or as with other non con games ISU plays, like against Southern for example, ISU is not going to go play AT Southern in the non con. Same goes for UNI and Drake.

Or maybe you could do a 3 and 1 with Drake and UNI? Every 4 matchups, Drake and UNI would get ISU at their place once?

I hate to see these games go away, but it's all about $$ these days, and JP isn't going to give up another possible home game.

Won't happen. From a pure Numbers/RPI standpoint it makes absolutely no sense for Iowa State to step into their gyms. Iowa State literally gains nothing from a SOS stand point. Between Iowa, the Big 12/SEC challenge, and a holiday tournament the rest of the OOC should be filled out with buy games because the round robin conference slate will boost the resume 9 years out of 10.
 
Too expense and 3 teams I don't care to watch. The proximity of Ames and Des Moines is also a killer. If you're in Des Moines or nearby it's an extra half hour to just get to Ames to a game. Not a huge convenience factor.

The only way this would have worked, unfortunately, would be to cut out Drake and UNI and find a solid P5 matchup for Iowa and Iowa State. It would be fun if Iowa State played a Big 10 team and Iowa played a Big 12 team. I'd probably pay the 70 bucks to watch an Iowa/Kansas State game followed by an Iowa State/Northwestern game or something like that.
 
I'm pretty sure Iowa was more than happy to blow this up. The continual outnumbering of Cyclone fans to Hawkeye fans (and it kept trending that way year after year) probably was a little more than their collective egos could handle.
 
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Too expense and 3 teams I don't care to watch. The proximity of Ames and Des Moines is also a killer. If you're in Des Moines or nearby it's an extra half hour to just get to Ames to a game. Not a huge convenience factor.

The only way this would have worked, unfortunately, would be to cut out Drake and UNI and find a solid P5 matchup for Iowa and Iowa State.
It would be fun if Iowa State played a Big 10 team and Iowa played a Big 12 team. I'd probably pay the 70 bucks to watch an Iowa/Kansas State game followed by an Iowa State/Northwestern game or something like that.

I've said this for a few years now. I think the hard part is getting a couple of P5 schools to play a "neutral site" game in Iowa and Iowa States backyard.
 
I'm pretty sure Iowa was more than happy to blow this up. The continual outnumbering of Cyclone fans to Hawkeye fans (and it kept trending that way year after year) probably was a little more than their collective egos could handle.

To be fair I think Iowa State let Iowa fall on the grenade and that they were happy it was ending as well. You are spot on with Iowa State vs Iowa attendance. If it wasn't for Cyclone fans I don't think this event would have ever sold out.
 
Drama much? Des Moines is 30 minutes away.

The event demonstrated a lot of ISU fans were supporting this game because it came to DSM. I attended most years and I"d say the last few years 60% or more were easily Cyclone fans.

Additionally, the comments on this forum from season tickets holders is almost unanimous that they didn't like this event....so it is only reasonable to assume it was attracting another fraction of the fanbase.
 
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I've said this for a few years now. I think the hard part is getting a couple of P5 schools to play a "neutral site" game in Iowa and Iowa States backyard.
I went to the tOSU and the Creighton games at Wells, so it'll be interesting to see if they try and go that route again.

I'd much rather play Michigan home and home every year. That 2 game series we had was outstanding.
 
Thats the spirit, even though i dont give a crap about Drake basketball and hate them when they are playing Iowa State, every 3 or 4 years I actually do something as crazy as pay $15 bucks to go watch them in the Knapp Center.

Its 5 minutes away from my place and sometimes I want to watch some basketball on cold winter nights.

I'll go watch ISU play Drake too, but when they come to Hilton. I'd rather have my money go to ISU and not be divided up between ISU and 3 schools I wish would just close up.
 
If an ISU fan can't drive from Des Moines to Ames then they aren't worth catering to.

That is shortsighted as hell. Thankfully you aren't in charge of marketing.

It really isn't that much of a stretch to believe there are people willing to pay $75 for a chance to watch ISU live on the lower level, is it? They aren't going to get that opportunity at Hilton unless they happen to know someone.
 
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If an ISU fan can't drive from Des Moines to Ames then they aren't worth catering to.

Lol, where did I say they couldnt? I've been to Ames plenty of times as Im sure other people in Des Moines have. Im simply pointing out the convenience factor is a real issue.
 
The event demonstrated a lot of ISU fans were supporting this game because it came to DSM. I attended most years and I"d say the last few years 60% or more were easily Cyclone fans.

Additionally, the comments on this forum from season tickets holders is almost unanimous that they didn't like this event....so it is only reasonable to assume it was attracting another fraction of the fanbase.
60% is less than 10,000 so a lot of season ticket holders could not go and still have a lot of them make up the ISU contingent. In addition there might be a lot of people who regularly catch a few games at Hilton but don't have season tickets who might also go to this. That doesn't mean that they are only going because it is an event in Des Moines. There are a lot of people who try to go to some weekend ISU games but because they live outstate weeknight games are very difficult so they don't buy season tickets.
 

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