Pre- preseason 2013 poll

[EWURanger]

How many charters did we take last year? Traveling to ND, Cal Poly, No Col will probably be good candidates for a charter this year. Others? Any idea what a charter costs? Could it be that we need those money games to offset increasing charter costs?
Are we getting in the 500k range for the OSU game? A 350k payday for Toledo will certainly help cover those costs.

I believe we got 450k for playing UW last season, so my guess is that we'll get around 400-450k for playing OSU. I didn't know we were getting 350k for playing Toledo, is that accurate? If so, then that's not too bad a deal for playing a MAC team. I thought it would be considerably less than that. Even if that's the correct figure, the travel costs for a Charter to Ohio might be quite a bit.

This is why I'm a big fan of playing the NW Pac-12 schools. The pay-outs are good, and the travel costs to go to Seattle/Eugene/Corvallis/Pullman are very minimal (bus trips). Although it's almost certainly a loss most years, if we have to play these games it's our best option by far. Some other good options are Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State of the MWC. Boise is an easy trip and I think Fort Collins is accessible via Denver.

 

[EWU98]

Just looking at their schedule the last couple of years I am not so concerned about Toledo and honestly I think OSU may be full of themselves after their success this year. Plus it being the first game of the year is a prime time to play a team like this.

 

[Eagle1990]

Good points and I agree. We are either good or we are not. Lets take our game to them!

 

[sammamisheag]

The more $$$ that comes from EAA the Dept won't have to schedule games like UW, WSU and Ore State. Plain and simple. Believe me, the AD would rather play a schedule like UM or MSU but EWU can't.

This is why the Gateway Project is so critical.

DONATE DONATE DONATE


If you haven't, then shut the @*&% up!!!!!

 

[CouvEagle]

Man I hope the Gateway Project picks up some steam, but we can't even sell out playoff games. Truth is, even with our winning ways and nationally known turf, we still sell out only 1-2 games a year and average well under 10,000. The Gateway Project will surely help, but without tons of donations and support, the EWU accountants probably won't give it the green light. Here's hoping Kaufman becomes a pro bowler. "Kaufman Stadium (not the Royals) at Roos Field.

 

[marceagfan5]

Man I hope the Gateway Project picks up some steam, but we can't even sell out playoff games. Truth is, even with our winning ways and nationally known turf, we still sell out only 1-2 games a year and average well under 10,000. The Gateway Project will surely help, but without tons of donations and support, the EWU accountants probably won't give it the green light. Here's hoping Kaufman becomes a pro bowler. "Kaufman Stadium (not the Royals) at Roos Field.

Pretty spot on...we need a lot more donors to step up to the plate, which means we need a lot more fans. We have definitely gained some momentum, but we still have a ways to go. We need a few more successful years (consecutive) and fan growth before I see the green light being given for the Gateway Project, that is why I am so harsh on our scheduling sometimes. It was like pulling teeth to find money for a scoreboard(s) which cost close to $1,000,000. Trying to find close to $50,000,000 for the gateway is going to be tough a lot tougher than most think. If we are having to play 2 FCS games in one year to help with our financial situation, we are a long ways away from funding the gateway project IMO.

Hopefully the success will continue, the fan base will grow, and the money will come in. We definitely have the players and coaching staff to do it...

 

[howroark]

It was like pulling teeth to find money for a scoreboard(s) which cost close to $1,000,000. Trying to find close to $50,000,000 for the gateway is going to be tough a lot tougher than most think. If we are having to play 2 FCS games in one year to help with our financial situation, we are a long ways away from funding the gateway project IMO.

What makes you think it was challenging to find money for the scoreboards? I've never heard/read that. I'm sure it won't be simple getting donors to pay for the Gateway, but what is easy? Other programs of similar demographics and success with smaller regional population bases have done it. Why can't EWU? Maybe you should start making lists of what we can do.

 

[clawman1]

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

 

[HannahO]

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

 

[EWURanger]

It was like pulling teeth to find money for a scoreboard(s) which cost close to $1,000,000. Trying to find close to $50,000,000 for the gateway is going to be tough a lot tougher than most think. If we are having to play 2 FCS games in one year to help with our financial situation, we are a long ways away from funding the gateway project IMO.

What makes you think it was challenging to find money for the scoreboards? I've never heard/read that. I'm sure it won't be simple getting donors to pay for the Gateway, but what is easy? Other programs of similar demographics and success with smaller regional population bases have done it. Why can't EWU? Maybe you should start making lists of what we can do.

Boom! Spot on. There is no reason that the money can't be raised. It's the small-time mentality that still seems to be prevalent amongst some EWU folks that put us in the position we are at in the first place. Realistically, a significant overhaul of old Woodward Field should have been done twenty years ago instead of playing the Joe Albi charade and investing in things like the Spokane Center. The key to continuing to build a vibrant, successful University is investing all available resources into the Cheney Campus and increasing the number of students that live on Campus and in town. EWU is the fastest growing University in the State. Our current facilities are not representative of the quality of the program and places us behind our peer institutions. We need improvement in this area to sustain the program in the years when we aren't winning 11 games.

The other thing that I think gets overlooked is the current turbulence in college football. When "the split" comes, and I believe it will, you'll see the upper level FCS schools merge with the non-BCS FBS Conferences. When that happens, I want to see us in that second Tier playing Montana, Idaho, etc, and not CWU, Western Oregon, et al. We need improved facilities to ensure we'll make the cut.

 

[marceagfan5]

It was like pulling teeth to find money for a scoreboard(s) which cost close to $1,000,000. Trying to find close to $50,000,000 for the gateway is going to be tough a lot tougher than most think. If we are having to play 2 FCS games in one year to help with our financial situation, we are a long ways away from funding the gateway project IMO.

What makes you think it was challenging to find money for the scoreboards? I've never heard/read that. I'm sure it won't be simple getting donors to pay for the Gateway, but what is easy? Other programs of similar demographics and success with smaller regional population bases have done it. Why can't EWU? Maybe you should start making lists of what we can do.

Boom! Spot on. There is no reason that the money can't be raised. It's the small-time mentality that still seems to be prevalent amongst some EWU folks that put us in the position we are at in the first place. Realistically, a significant overhaul of old Woodward Field should have been done twenty years ago instead of playing the Joe Albi charade and investing in things like the Spokane Center. The key to continuing to build a vibrant, successful University is investing all available resources into the Cheney Campus and increasing the number of students that live on Campus and in town. EWU is the fastest growing University in the State. Our current facilities are not representative of the quality of the program and places us behind our peer institutions. We need improvement in this area to sustain the program in the years when we aren't winning 11 games.

The other thing that I think gets overlooked is the current turbulence in college football. When "the split" comes, and I believe it will, you'll see the upper level FCS schools merge with the non-BCS FBS Conferences. When that happens, I want to see us in that second Tier playing Montana, Idaho, etc, and not CWU, Western Oregon, et al. We need improved facilities to ensure we'll make the cut.

I am all for the Gateway project, I have never been against it and would love to see it happen, I just think there is a lot of money to be raised and its difficult to get people to donate to EWU. We don't sellout our playoff games, and if you take away the students, we average about 5000 paying fans a game, that's a difficult sell for a new stadium. We''ve been told they are in the process of securing donations and that is the biggest thing. I hope it happens I just think we have a lot longer road to go then some people think, but maybe (hopefully) i'm wrong.

Ranger - I completely agree with you on the changing college football landscape. Its just a matter of time before the 5 or 6 major conferences form their own league and the bottom FBS and top FCS form another, so we do have to try to stay relevant there.

Howroark - #1 on my list is better scheduling. Winning programs bring in more fans and more $. Its been talked about way too much, but thats the top of my list and pretty much the only thing on it. Everything else EWU and the admin have done has been fantastic!

 

[marceagfan5]

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

The initial capacity for WA-Griz was about 16,000 when full. They may have only had 12,500 or so seats, but they routinely filled it well beyond that capacity with their stading room grass-bowled endzones. We had 16k in attendance when we beat them in Missoula in 1990.

 

[clawman1]

:thumbdown:

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

Populations-
Msla#- 67,290
Msla county#- 110,138

Spokane# - 208,916
Spokane county#- 473,761
Spokane metro#-- 614,893
#-Wikipedia

 

[kalm]

:thumbdown:

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

Populations-
Msla#- 67,290
Msla county#- 110,138

Spokane# - 208,916
Spokane county#- 473,761
Spokane metro#-- 614,893
#-Wikipedia

And don't forget Bozeman. They expanded and are near the top in FCS attendance. The demand is there.

 

[marceagfan5]

:thumbdown:

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

Populations-
Msla#- 67,290
Msla county#- 110,138

Spokane# - 208,916
Spokane county#- 473,761
Spokane metro#-- 614,893
#-Wikipedia

And don't forget Bozeman. They expanded and are near the top in FCS attendance. The demand is there.

Winning does a lot of wonderful things, if we keep winning, things will work themselves out...and I sure hope things work out...

Tough to compare us to Missoula or Bozeman, they are the only show in the entire state, we are 3rd or 4th fiddle to other teams in our local area and even in Spokane we have to compete with Griz fans because there are a ton of them here.

 

[clawman1]

:thumbdown:

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

Populations-
Msla#- 67,290
Msla county#- 110,138

Spokane# - 208,916
Spokane county#- 473,761
Spokane metro#-- 614,893
#-Wikipedia

And don't forget Bozeman. They expanded and are near the top in FCS attendance. The demand is there.

Winning does a lot of wonderful things, if we keep winning, things will work themselves out...and I sure hope things work out...

Tough to compare us to Missoula or Bozeman, they are the only show in the entire state, we are 3rd or 4th fiddle to other teams in our local area and even in Spokane we have to compete with Griz fans because there are a ton of them here.

Washington 6,897,012 (2012 est)
Montana 1,005,141 (2012 est)

 

[kalm]

:thumbdown:

Anyone familiar with the history of the Grizzly program will confirm that the beginning of their success was WaGriz stadium.

This!

I get really tired of the naysayers whose default position is "we can't" or "no". Anyone that remembers the Dornblazer days would have said that UM was crazy to built WA Griz.

Totally agree, but remember, WA/Griz was built originally for 12,500 and they built to expand (which they've done 3 times) once they knew they had the fan base to attend. It took 10 years to go from 12,500 in permanent seating to 18,000. I do think a new stadium would help bring our attendance up (not sure how much), especially if we keep winning.

Populations-
Msla#- 67,290
Msla county#- 110,138

Spokane# - 208,916
Spokane county#- 473,761
Spokane metro#-- 614,893
#-Wikipedia

And don't forget Bozeman. They expanded and are near the top in FCS attendance. The demand is there.

Winning does a lot of wonderful things, if we keep winning, things will work themselves out...and I sure hope things work out...

Tough to compare us to Missoula or Bozeman, they are the only show in the entire state, we are 3rd or 4th fiddle to other teams in our local area and even in Spokane we have to compete with Griz fans because there are a ton of them here.

Washington 6,897,012 (2012 est)
Montana 1,005,141 (2012 est)

As Marc points out it's a tough comparison because of the competition from other sports entities. I'm just trying to suggest that if towns the size of Mo and Bozeman can sustain 16,000+ in attendance, there should be enough demand in our metropolitan area with 35,000 and some EWU alumni to do the same. The shock and Zags have proven that Spokanites will get behind a successful team. I think it's still a little bit of an small college football branding problem and the perception that Cheney is almost as far away as Pullman.

The Gateway project will help with the branding.

 

[DefendtheRed]

I don't think either sheep schools are good models for EWU to try to emulate. Both are in rural areas and have no competition in terms of market share in their respective areas. Also, one could make the argument that we are already ahead of MSU from a competitive aspect. We need to look at other programs that are in mid-sized metro areas with similar demographics that have succeeded despite having to compete with other regional programs. Most of those examples are back east.