I too always thought Orlando was a more natural spot for a Championship game... just more options for everyone. That, and once I'm on a plane... an additional 1h 45min is no big deal. And oddly enough, the weather is more stable in Central Florida this time of year. That's a big sell for us. This year is a great example. We may have to cancel/bail based on what transpires weather-wise in the next 30hrs or so. Not only will that be expensive, its stressful. Like any of us need that.

(01-08-2020 10:42 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  San Antonio and the Alamodome could handle it easily. No problem with weather. The upper-level can be closed so the stadium seats 30k, and there are adequate hotels and lots of things to visit in SA.

Yep , I've been thinking about San Antonio as a great option. San Antonio has the best food outside of New Orleans. You can get a non-stop flight out of DC. The Alamodome has the opening. But, they gotta make a viable bid or it's a moot point--or as a ODuh grad would say--a mute point.

When does that Virgin-backed private rail connect to Orlando?

Orlando or San Antonio would both be great alternatives and almost definitely provide a better game environment for the teams(warmer weather or dome).

The Bizon will complain as they mostly drive the 1,000 miles to Frisco.

(01-08-2020 10:20 AM)Dukester Wrote:  How about Orlando City Stadium? So much to do there. Attractions, cheaper Airport, more and cheaper hotels, more restaurants, better weather.

Orlando City Stadium was completed in time for Orlando City SC's first home game of 2017 and it is now one of the best places to watch soccer in the United States. The soccer-specific stadium is just a few blocks from the heart of downtown and the stadium itself was built with the intention of promoting an incredible atmosphere on game days. Orlando City Stadium features the first safe-standing section in the United States for the club's supporters' group. The roof of the stadium was built at an angle to trap in noise. And the sight lines and seating help fans feel close to the action. The stadium is the perfect home for Orlando City's dedicated fan base. The club averaged 25,028 on game days in 2017, which ranked fourth in MLS, and has averaged 23,790 so far this year.

I would not even mind going to Portland Oregon.

Look at all the new 22,000-ish stadiums we could go to.

US Soccer Stadiums

Frisco is fine for a two year package, but getting old.......

I agree.... and I live here. I would like to go somewhere different, make a vacay of it. Frisco is like a home game to me. And, the smelly Bisons always bring North Dakota weather with them.

(01-08-2020 11:30 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:18 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:05 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 10:48 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  If cost is anyone’s reason for not attending, then moving the game from DFW doesn’t likely improve the situation.

American has more direct flights than any other airline, and as a major hub, flights are generally reasonable.

Similar situation with hotels, restaurants, etc.
[/u]

Every option from prices, to options would be better in Orlando than Frisco.

Frisco is a 24 hour trip for me this year. If it were in Orlando I would likely get there Wednesday night, and return on Sunday. Why spend the money for an additional night following the game? Why get to Frisco early? What is there to do?

Apples to apples comparison - I'd estimate Orlando would be 25% cheaper than Frisco due to cost of flights, hotels, rental car.

I’m not so sure on the pricing being cheaper. Orlando area airports don’t handle near the level of volume, and flights can spike in price quite rapidly, particularly when buying on short notice.

If you avoid the Disney trap, hotels could be a wash, but Orlando is not the cheapest city across the board. I travel there semi-frequently for work-related activities and notice this every time.

Is there more to do in Orlando than DFW? Perhaps, particularly if you include Disney. I’d venture Disney could also be the reason many people would want to avoid the area. I groan every time we have a work conference and I must navigate through hoards of mickey-eyed families.

There are also plenty of things to do in DFW. If you think there isn’t anything to do, you just aren’t searching.

The only semi-obvious answer is more consistent weather outlooks, and perhaps Florida being closer for JMU fans than Texas.

admitedly, I havent searched for things to do in frisco / DFW, but curious what there is to do other than the obvious, book depository, tour of Jerry World and BBQ

Did the book depository the YSU year. It was interesting and educational, but would not want to do it again. I think I was more interested in it than my wife and kids.

you guys act like the NCAA can just pick any place and they are choosing Frisco over 20 over locations.

they can only pick from who bids, which has been very limited.

and if they picked a lower bid, then you all would complain ticket prices are too high.

(01-08-2020 01:52 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:30 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:18 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:05 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 10:48 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  If cost is anyone’s reason for not attending, then moving the game from DFW doesn’t likely improve the situation.

American has more direct flights than any other airline, and as a major hub, flights are generally reasonable.

Similar situation with hotels, restaurants, etc.
[/u]

Every option from prices, to options would be better in Orlando than Frisco.

Frisco is a 24 hour trip for me this year. If it were in Orlando I would likely get there Wednesday night, and return on Sunday. Why spend the money for an additional night following the game? Why get to Frisco early? What is there to do?

Apples to apples comparison - I'd estimate Orlando would be 25% cheaper than Frisco due to cost of flights, hotels, rental car.

I’m not so sure on the pricing being cheaper. Orlando area airports don’t handle near the level of volume, and flights can spike in price quite rapidly, particularly when buying on short notice.

If you avoid the Disney trap, hotels could be a wash, but Orlando is not the cheapest city across the board. I travel there semi-frequently for work-related activities and notice this every time.

Is there more to do in Orlando than DFW? Perhaps, particularly if you include Disney. I’d venture Disney could also be the reason many people would want to avoid the area. I groan every time we have a work conference and I must navigate through hoards of mickey-eyed families.

There are also plenty of things to do in DFW. If you think there isn’t anything to do, you just aren’t searching.

The only semi-obvious answer is more consistent weather outlooks, and perhaps Florida being closer for JMU fans than Texas.

admitedly, I havent searched for things to do in frisco / DFW, but curious what there is to do other than the obvious, book depository, tour of Jerry World and BBQ

Did the book depository the YSU year. It was interesting and educational, but would not want to do it again. I think I was more interested in it than my wife and kids.

Agree on the depository, it’s a good one-time thing. We went to the Zoo last time, that was decent. There’s some other random things around too, though didn’t find anything amazing not available in DC area.

I can see the point about Frisco getting repetitive. Unless you put it in a dome, Florida, AZ, and So Cal are the only two places in the country likely to get warm weather this time of year. And, I think the NCAA looks at Dallas at a relatively neutral location for fan bases on each of the coasts. I think that had something to do with moving the game out of Tennessee.

Vegas sounds cool but I was there around this time last year and it was freezing rain and snowy the entire time so don't be fooled by that. I am not a fan of New Orleans but Tulane just built a new stadium that might be a good venue but at 30k probably a little too big even for the best FCS fan bases. I don't think you'd ever get 30k able to travel to an FCS game.

(01-08-2020 11:30 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:18 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 11:05 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 10:48 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  If cost is anyone’s reason for not attending, then moving the game from DFW doesn’t likely improve the situation.

American has more direct flights than any other airline, and as a major hub, flights are generally reasonable.

Similar situation with hotels, restaurants, etc.
[/u]

Every option from prices, to options would be better in Orlando than Frisco.

Frisco is a 24 hour trip for me this year. If it were in Orlando I would likely get there Wednesday night, and return on Sunday. Why spend the money for an additional night following the game? Why get to Frisco early? What is there to do?

Apples to apples comparison - I'd estimate Orlando would be 25% cheaper than Frisco due to cost of flights, hotels, rental car.

I’m not so sure on the pricing being cheaper. Orlando area airports don’t handle near the level of volume, and flights can spike in price quite rapidly, particularly when buying on short notice.

If you avoid the Disney trap, hotels could be a wash, but Orlando is not the cheapest city across the board. I travel there semi-frequently for work-related activities and notice this every time.

Is there more to do in Orlando than DFW? Perhaps, particularly if you include Disney. I’d venture Disney could also be the reason many people would want to avoid the area. I groan every time we have a work conference and I must navigate through hoards of mickey-eyed families.

There are also plenty of things to do in DFW. If you think there isn’t anything to do, you just aren’t searching.

The only semi-obvious answer is more consistent weather outlooks, and perhaps Florida being closer for JMU fans than Texas.

admitedly, I havent searched for things to do in frisco / DFW, but curious what there is to do other than the obvious, book depository, tour of Jerry World and BBQ

If you haven't done the FW Stockyards, definitely should.
https://travel.usnews.com/Dallas-Fort_Wo...ngs_to_do/

Is it Saturday yet?

(01-08-2020 01:59 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  I can see the point about Frisco getting repetitive. Unless you put it in a dome, Florida, AZ, and So Cal are the only two places in the country likely to get warm weather this time of year. And, I think the NCAA looks at Dallas at a relatively neutral location for fan bases on each of the coasts. I think that had something to do with moving the game out of Tennessee.

Vegas sounds cool but I was there around this time last year and it was freezing rain and snowy the entire time so don't be fooled by that. I am not a fan of New Orleans but Tulane just built a new stadium that might be a good venue but at 30k probably a little too big even for the best FCS fan bases. I don't think you'd ever get 30k able to travel to an FCS game.

Apparently the bison will as soon as it’s moved to Minneapolis

I do think NDSU/JMU could draw 30k at the right location, though not 60k.

Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta would be a decent alternative for a couple of years. Plenty of cheap flights and hotels.

(01-08-2020 01:59 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  I can see the point about Frisco getting repetitive. Unless you put it in a dome, Florida, AZ, and So Cal are the only two places in the country likely to get warm weather this time of year. And, I think the NCAA looks at Dallas at a relatively neutral location for fan bases on each of the coasts. I think that had something to do with moving the game out of Tennessee.

Vegas sounds cool but I was there around this time last year and it was freezing rain and snowy the entire time so don't be fooled by that. I am not a fan of New Orleans but Tulane just built a new stadium that might be a good venue but at 30k probably a little too big even for the best FCS fan bases. I don't think you'd ever get 30k able to travel to an FCS game.

I think NDSU/JMU, or NDSU/Montana could get over 30k in the right right location/stadium size. When Marshall hosted:
1992 Marshall/YSU 31,304
1993 YSU/Marshall 29,21
1994 YSU/Boise St 27,674
1995 Montana/Marshall 32,106
1996 Marshall/Montana 30,052

The 27,674 for YSU/Boise is the highest ever for when neither school was a host.

A pretty good Q&A from the Southland Commissioner who spearheaded getting the game in Frisco where the Southland hosts the event and where the Southland League offices are.
https://www.southland.org/news/2020/1/6/...-year.aspx

So where are you Joey D in getting partnered with a location on the east coast to make this happen......

i do wish it was in a warmer location, but that's probably not going to happen. i agree it would be nice. i don't understand the "fatigue" of being the same two teams. first, we've only played NDSU once in a championship game and it wasn't even last year. so if you're fatigued after one example, i don't know what to tell you.

besides that, even if it were 10 straight JMU/NDSU finals, i still don't understand getting bored with that. it's a national championship game. if you're not 100% completely jacked up for it, then you're also probably one of those fans that "likes that we win, but wish our offense/defense would do more _______". no. just win. period. i have no idea how someone could see JMU in a national title game and come even CLOSE to feeling bored.

(01-08-2020 02:08 PM)NovaDukes Wrote:  Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta would be a decent alternative for a couple of years. Plenty of cheap flights and hotels.

Plus 1 as long as NDSU and JMU are in the game. These teams show up. One of the two would work. Neither...does that actually happen?

(01-08-2020 02:48 PM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  i do wish it was in a warmer location, but that's probably not going to happen. i agree it would be nice. i don't understand the "fatigue" of being the same two teams. first, we've only played NDSU once in a championship game and it wasn't even last year. so if you're fatigued after one example, i don't know what to tell you.

besides that, even if it were 10 straight JMU/NDSU finals, i still don't understand getting bored with that. it's a national championship game. if you're not 100% completely jacked up for it, then you're also probably one of those fans that "likes that we win, but wish our offense/defense would do more _______". no. just win. period. i have no idea how someone could see JMU in a national title game and come even CLOSE to feeling bored.

My fatigue is not due to the opponent. That is actually a plus for me versus YSU. My fatigue is due to the same small limited town. It was great for a year or two, but this year I'm simply flying in for the game. Not excited to again have it there. I'd be more excited it was at one of the many places listed by many on here. As far as a location like Orlando - there are tons of complimentary things to do. Frisco has gone stale to me.

(01-08-2020 10:48 AM)Bison01 Wrote:  If cost is anyone’s reason for not attending, then moving the game from DFW doesn’t likely improve the situation.

American has more direct flights than any other airline, and as a major hub, flights are generally reasonable.

Similar situation with hotels, restaurants, etc.
[/u]

I think for the more 'casual' fans Miami, NOLA, Orlando are more attractive, especially in January, and they might be a little more willing to drop $500 for a weekend than they would for Frisco. Frisco (Dallas), Atlanta and most of the other cities mentioned, just don't have that same appeal for people to run off to in the cold of winter. Especially since the game is touted as being at Frisco.