One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

Great ideas, OBJ! The original issue was that MACtion games brings down everybody's attendence average from the early Saturdays game averages. It was a concern that it brings the averages below the NCAA FBS threshold of 15k. If we were to play the regular slate of Saturday games, I don't think that 15000 mark would be a problem for most teams except EMU and Akron who would still have to buy out their own tickets to make that 15K threshold*w*.

It was pointed out the NCAA doesn't really care about upholding the 15K threshold as long as revenue streams are coming in. If I had a choice, I would take a full slate of Saturday games and trash MACtion.
But even though there are empty stadiums during MACtion games(Except for the Toledo fans who claim the Glass Bowl is sold out for every game), MACtion does provide a good revenue stream and a good recruitment tool to feature MAC only games(Though the Toledo fans say they don't need recruitment help because they always have the top recruiting class in the MAC every year.) I also think MACtion games have been getting a following among people who like all offense no defense games.

Now is there a way to raise attendence for MACtion games? That is the big question. Or do we just expect to have empty stadiums during MACtion games and just shrug our shoulders and say, "On the bright side, I am watching my team on ESPN on a Tuesday Night in November from my cozy and warm man cave."?

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

Except the OOC games are easily scheduled early in the season and much more difficult as you get into the season and everyone else is into the conference games on their schedule. P5 want to pay you $$$ to be their homecoming game early in the season as the weather is nice and they want to impress their fans as they warm up for their conference rivals.

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

That idea bears a lot of merit !!
The SEC does not seem to have a problem with scheduling late November games with so-called mid major programs before their conference championships... The OSU’s and Wisconsin’s of the world could implement the same thing...

(01-09-2022 08:00 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  Ok, so 1 game 14 years ago & way before MACtion started is proof that having games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from late October to late November is a draw for fans?

Attendance in November was always pretty thin in the MAC for schools not in a title hunt or hosting a big rivalry game, even on Saturdays.

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

P5 conferences are NOT going to revise their schedules in order to bring in a MAC team in November. No chance.

(01-10-2022 12:58 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

P5 conferences are NOT going to revise their schedules in order to bring in a MAC team in November. No chance.

The SEC is already doing it. Most SEC teams schedule an OOC pay-out game against a G5 or FCS team in November.

Now, would the Big 10 do it and go against their traditional scheduling format? I agree with you there, not a chance.

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

But E$PN pretty much decides the MAC schedule.

(01-10-2022 04:54 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

But E$PN pretty much decides the MAC schedule.

Play Sun Belt teams in MAC Stadiums in early season.
Play MAC teams in Sun Belt Stadiums in late season.

The stupid is strong here…..

(01-10-2022 03:11 AM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  One option for the MAC to increase attendance would be to have conference rivalry games in weeks 1 and 2 of the season in late August early September. Teams would have better weather for their biggest home conference games on first and second Saturday of the season. It also avoids attendance tainted by poor season record. Save the November games for road money games vs the power 5. Have Ohio State and Michigan play the MAC at home a week before "the game" as a break for them before their rivalry week. I think that would benefit the Big Ten and the MAC.

Agree on general philosopy, but ...
--- no way the B1G is going to interrupt its conference play for a MAC game, so forget that late November idea. B1G is driving the schedule bus, not the MAC.
--- most MAC o-o-c payday games are among the first 4-5, so no way is anyone giving those up. Those are a big chunk of revenues.
--- shift to Tuesday-Wedesday games occurs at the end of the season. For transition from Saturday games, probably not a good idea to throw anything else in there.
--- agree that games like NIU-Toledo and NIU-Ball State (Bronze Stalk) should be in the first half of season, probably after o-o-c games. Better local attendance opportunities. (I used NIU, obviously, but pick any two for your own).

Big Ten might also like playing MAC on Thursday/Friday nights with BTN getting a prime time games and saving their Saturday for conference games. If Ohio State has to play one Thursday night game a year they might perfer playing at home vs Akron in a short week vs playing Minnesota on the road. MAC and Big Ten could work together in schedules. Big Ten gets to rest its starters if game becomes a blow out. Most football teams even the best are banged up in November.

MACtion is the best!!!

(02-04-2022 08:21 PM)UTSA_Alum Wrote:  MACtion is the best!!!

Glad you enjoy, it has it s detractors especially from those who would like to see some defense once in a while.

Whether you love all offense, or hate because of the lack of defense, they can all agree on one thing, it is never dull.

hoagies, heineken, MACtion, can't beat it

(02-06-2022 07:46 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  hoagies, heineken, MACtion, can't beat it

Hoagies, Yuengling, MACtion beats yours

(02-06-2022 07:46 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  hoagies, heineken, MACtion, can't beat it

Heineken?!?!

We are talking the Rust Belt here, Edelweiss!


Reminds me of that Scene from Blue Velvet where Dennis Hopper says:

Heineken? Heineken su*ks! Pabst Blue Ribbon!