ESPN, Fox Open Discussions for Next Big 12 Deal

[2speedy1]

I would say I lived there for 15 years and didn't come close to doing everything that was available. I could live there another 15 years and it wouldn't change.

The Coliseum can be a hot box. USC would need to bring it before a casual fan would slap down the cash.

I've lived in quite a few places and nothing compares to SoCal and the overwhelming amount of entertainment options. Nothing.

If people in Tuscaloosa want to format their entire year and identity around Alabama football then great. But the people in SoCal don't give a **** what they do. They're too busy having fun in other ways.

Now USC has to compete for the football dollar with the Rams and the Chargers too. It's a good, but not great sports town. But it doesn't need to be a great sports town for it's identity

Again that just means they are fair weather fans. They all are just excuses. To why they don't care about CFB there. Does that make them not true, not necessarily, it just makes them excuses.

That Cali/L.A. is not a great CFB town/Market. And people having so much to do that they dont care about CFB is not really a selling point to be bragging about when trying to sell a team, school, or conference to a media partner.

I have only heard people say "there is just SO MUCH TO DO there" but then only say the beach as something NO Where else has, even though that is completely false. I have yet to see any kind of list of activities one could only do in LA that you can not do anywhere else that people flock to every weekend.


Like I said there are plenty of things to do in other areas that you cant do in LA, there are also plenty of beaches in other areas. I would love to hear some things that you can only do in LA that you cant do anywhere else.

 

[2speedy1]

Part of your argument lists jobs as a reason not to attend football games...they have jobs in LA as well so that argument is nullified. If you don't think there isn't more entertainment options available in SoCal...well...I don't know what to tell you. Is football more or less "important" to people in SoCal? Who cares...either way that is a relative statement..."Important" compared to what? A person that lives in SoCal and is a big UCLA fan might just be willing to take their family to the mountains on a Saturday...or to an amusement park or whatever place families go. The entertainment options available to people in SoCal are riduculously more numerous than in Iowa and number a lot more than just a beach. Doesn't mean either region is better or worse than the other...just different.

Im not just talking about Iowa, there are plenty of other places that fill out stadiums, that have just as much to do as LA. And dont use the excuse, well we have a beach.

 

[KnappShack]

Again that just means they are fair weather fans. They all are just excuses. To why they don't care about CFB there. Does that make them not true, not necessarily, it just makes them excuses.

That Cali/L.A. is not a great CFB town/Market. And people having so much to do that they dont care about CFB is not really a selling point to be bragging about when trying to sell a team, school, or conference to a media partner.

I have only heard people say "there is just SO MUCH TO DO there" but then only say the beach as something NO Where else has, even though that is completely false. I have yet to see any kind of list of activities one could only do in LA that you can not do anywhere else that people flock to every weekend.


Like I said there are plenty of things to do in other areas that you cant do in LA, there are also plenty of beaches in other areas. I would love to hear some things that you can only do in LA that you cant do anywhere else.

Have you been there?

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Have you been there?

You’re not going to convince him, I’ve tried a bunch of times.

 

[cyfanatic]

Im not just talking about Iowa, there are plenty of other places that fill out stadiums, that have just as much to do as LA. And dont use the excuse, well we have a beach.

How about "lets spend Saturday at the beach...or the mountains...or Disney/Universal...or hit up a Dodgers/Angels game...driving to Vegas for the night...or Santa Barbara...or San Diego...Palm Springs maybe...or a beach that we have never visited..."? And that is just the tip of the possibilities...

 

[KnappShack]

You’re not going to convince him, I’ve tried a bunch of times.

I'm getting that vibe.

If a person doesn't get it then they just don't get it.

SoCal is an entire lifestyle. College football and sports in general.....just one minor part of that package.

I'm sure the beach at the local pond is fantastic.

 

[KnappShack]

How about "lets spend Saturday at the beach...or the mountains...or Disney/Universal...or hit up a Dodgers/Angels game...driving to Vegas for the night...or Santa Barbara...or San Diego...Palm Springs maybe...or a beach that we have never visited..."? And that is just the tip of the possibilities...

You aren't even scratching the surface either. An entire page just for "San Diego" would be easy to fill.

I did more random **** in the desert that was so fun. But, I guess I should've been at the Rose Bowl cheering on the 2-7 Bruins or something

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I'm getting that vibe.

If a person doesn't get it then they just don't get it.

SoCal is an entire lifestyle. College football and sports in general.....just one minor part of that package.

I'm sure the beach at the local pond is fantastic.

Yep most teams when they aren’t good don’t draw well. In sparty and michigans down years they were giving away tickets. When usc is good people show up. The side lines were packed with celebrities during the Pete carrol area. When they aren’t good far fewer people show up becuase there are 1000 other awesome things to do and also because USC is in the middle of a bad area.

I am a huge cfb fan, I had the sparty Oregon game playing at my wedding and I have been to maybe 3 games in the past decade becuase it’s not worth it. I still watch all the games but for many wasting the extra 3-4 hours before and after a game is not worth it when there are a bunch of other things to do in the area.

 

[2speedy1]

Have you been there?

No, Cali is not really my scene, but I have been to the Texas Gulf, the Alabama Gulf, the Florida Gulf, the Florida Atlantic Coast, Georgia Coast, South Carolina Coast.
Several Great lake coasts too.

You know what I noticed in all those locations......A Beach.

I'm still waiting for the list of things you can only do in LA. That you cant do in say Miami. Or Houston, Or Savannah, or even Tallahassee.

The list of things besides the beach you can't do, in Atlanta, Dallas, hell even KC or DM.

I also want to you understand when I say there are things to do in other states that they don't really do in Cali Like hunting.
Cali gets about 975,000 hunting licenses a year for about 40 Million people, just barely over 2%.
Iowa gets about 640,000 hunting licenses a year for about 3.2 Million People. That is a much MUCH larger percentage of the population that goes hunting. 20% of Iowa's population hunts to be exact. Also of note most of the hunting seasons start up in the Fall. Right when football season starts.

But I doubt that many spend time on the beach in October in Iowa, But I'm sure Many are hunting. Just like I wonder how many actually are at the beach in LA in October, my guess not too many either.

The D.M Metro is 550,000 people to fill a stadium of 61K.

The LA Metro is 12.5 Million to fill a couple stadiums at 70-80K. I doubt all 12.5M are sitting at the beach every Saturday, and you cant use NFL because they dont play on Saturdays. Sure there is a lot to do but there is 25 times as many people to do all those things.

Relative to the number of people is there really that much more to do? Really?

 

[2speedy1]

You aren't even scratching the surface either. An entire page just for "San Diego" would be easy to fill.

I did more random **** in the desert that was so fun. But, I guess I should've been at the Rose Bowl cheering on the 2-7 Bruins or something

I doubt you would go cheer them on. I because you are probably not a fan of them.

But even their fans dont show up.

 

[2speedy1]

How about "lets spend Saturday at the beach...or the mountains...or Disney/Universal...or hit up a Dodgers/Angels game...driving to Vegas for the night...or Santa Barbara...or San Diego...Palm Springs maybe...or a beach that we have never visited..."? And that is just the tip of the possibilities...

So you have never been to Florida? Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, Pretty sure they all have TONS to do just as much. And can still put butts in the seats.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

So you have never been to Florida? Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, Pretty sure they all have TONS to do just as much. And can still put butts in the seats.

Yep and have you seen Florida states stadium the last couple seasons? Pretty empty becuase they suck. Same for when Miami was bad.

 

[2speedy1]

I'm getting that vibe.

If a person doesn't get it then they just don't get it.

SoCal is an entire lifestyle. College football and sports in general.....just one minor part of that package.

I'm sure the beach at the local pond is fantastic.

I dont know But I have been to the beaches in Miami, Daytona, Destin, Tampa, and the Keys, Im pretty sure Los Angeles doesnt have anything on them. But hey I guess I could be wrong.

 

[cyfanatic]

Yep...been to all 3 locations. Orlando is built for family fun and does it well...MIami offers beautiful scenery and fun nightlfe. Gainesville...fun college town. All 3 combined still don't offer immense entertainment options (from the very expensive to the very cheap) that SoCal does! I enjoy tripping to Florida...but everytime I have visited SoCal (quite often for a midwest guy) I have always left with a list of things I wanted to do the next time I get back because the possibilities for fun and enjoyment are endless in SoCal. Guess I am different than you...when I visit SoCal it is almost overwhelming to determine an agenda for fun! So many options!

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I dont know But I have been to the beaches in Miami, Daytona, Destin, Tampa, and the Keys, Im pretty sure Los Angeles doesnt have anything on them. But hey I guess I could be wrong.

That’s personal preference but I’ve been to all those but Tampa and think LA is significantly better but it’s a matter of choice. The other thing you need to consider is that for a lot of places going to a game becomes an all day event and a high expense for often a lesser experience then watching from home or a bar. Especially if you are having a bad season. So if I live in hermosa beach or Culver City and I’m a USC alum do I want to spend 3-4 hours in traffic, plus another 3 watching a game, spend hundreds on tickets, parking, concessions to watch a 7-5 team when I could just watch on TV and free up 4-5 hours to do some of the amazing things in the area? I know what I am choosing every time.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

Remember when the harvest is used as an excuse for low numbers:

"In 2019, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprised 1.4 percent of all covered public and private employment in Iowa." - Workforce Development

So while yes, it does affect it, to compare to the plethora of things to do in Cali is not apples to apples.

You have mountains and desert an hour east, or the beach a bit west (depending on where you are). So much else to do, that college athletics take a far back seat to all of the options, and most of the other options are "free".

 

[2speedy1]

Yep...been to all 3 locations. Orlando is built for family fun and does it well...MIami offers beautiful scenery and fun nightlfe. Gainesville...fun college town. All 3 combined still don't offer immense entertainment options (from the very expensive to the very cheap) that SoCal does! I enjoy tripping to Florida...but everytime I have visited SoCal (quite often for a midwest guy) I have always left with a list of things I wanted to do the next time I get back because the possibilities for fun and enjoyment are endless in SoCal. Guess I am different than you...when I visit SoCal it is almost overwhelming to determine an agenda for fun! So many options!

That’s personal preference but I’ve been to all those but Tampa and think LA is significantly better but it’s a matter of choice. The other thing you need to consider is that for a lot of places going to a game becomes an all day event and a high expense for often a lesser experience then watching from home or a bar. Especially if you are having a bad season. So if I live in hermosa beach or Culver City and I’m a USC alum do I want to spend 3-4 hours in traffic, plus another 3 watching a game, spend hundreds on tickets, parking, concessions to watch a 7-5 team when I could just watch on TV and free up 4-5 hours to do some of the amazing things in the area? I know what I am choosing every time.

Could you guys name some of these amazing things that one can only do in LA. Seriously, to a guy that has never been. I am seriously curious what all there is to do there that you cant anywhere else. And that all 12.5 million people in the LA area do every Saturday, that doesnt cost anything and has no traffic to get to.

I have asked several times and no one can name anything. There might be a day I go, and I might want to do some of these things, but I will never know about them if no one tells me.

I also checked the last few seasons, FSU has struggled, but still puts more buts on average in the seats by several thousand than USC, and double what UCLA does. Miami similar to USC, but has a smaller stadium etc. Also Tallahassee has a MUCH smaller population base to pull from than LA even Miami is only half the size.

I get it you guys think Cali is dream land. And that they have an excuse. It is fine. I just dont think that gives them a pass, or makes them a better media draw. Personally I think those places that have nothing to do but football are better for media etc, because win or lose they will be watching their teams. I think people find things to do, wherever they live. Im sure I did things where I grew up that people would never think of that grew up in Cali, and vise versa. You can say there is tons more to do, but I say that it just is in the eye of the beholder.

I just think this makes places like the Pac 12 look worse to media companies, not better. If there really is so much more to do, and people care so much more about doing other things than football, why would places like that look good to conferences and media people.

I know you guys think I am being difficult and arguing. I understand there are different things to do there, I also think some of those things may be found other places. But I also think there are things people do other places that I am sure they dont do there. Is there more there, maybe, but there are way more people there too.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Could you guys name some of these amazing things that one can only do in LA. Seriously, to a guy that has never been. I am seriously curious what all there is to do there that you cant anywhere else. And that all 12.5 million people in the LA area do every Saturday, that doesnt cost anything and has no traffic to get to.

I have asked several times and no one can name anything. There might be a day I go, and I might want to do some of these things, but I will never know about them if no one tells me.

I also checked the last few seasons, FSU has struggled, but still puts more buts on average in the seats by several thousand than USC, and double what UCLA does. Miami similar to USC, but has a smaller stadium etc. Also Tallahassee has a MUCH smaller population base to pull from than LA even Miami is only half the size.

I get it you guys think Cali is dream land. And that they have an excuse. It is fine. I just dont think that gives them a pass, or makes them a better media draw. Personally I think those places that have nothing to do but football are better for media etc, because win or lose they will be watching their teams. I think people find things to do, wherever they live. Im sure I did things where I grew up that people would never think of that grew up in Cali, and vise versa. You can say there is tons more to do, but I say that it just is in the eye of the beholder.

I just think this makes places like the Pac 12 look worse to media companies, not better. If there really is so much more to do, and people care so much more about doing other things than football, why would places like that look good to conferences and media people.

I know you guys think I am being difficult and arguing. I understand there are different things to do there, I also think some of those things may be found other places. But I also think there are things people do other places that I am sure they dont do there. Is there more there, maybe, but there are way more people there too.

The thing is for LA you can do almost anything you can imagine. Want to mountain climb? Go for it. Surfing? Go for it. Eat at world class restaurants or have some of the best street food ever go for it. Want to do some movie studio tours or tourist things, it’s there. Want to go and have some incredible shopping experiences? It’s there. Honestly it’s eaiser to mention the things LA doesn’t have. Also LA is a massive transplant city. It’s harder to find someone born and raised then it is to find transplants from almost anywhere else. Also LA traffic is horrific which adds another burden to just get to games in the first place. Give USC a few years and if they are consistently ranked they will have their stadium filled up

 

[2speedy1]

Remember when the harvest is used as an excuse for low numbers:

"In 2019, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprised 1.4 percent of all covered public and private employment in Iowa." - Workforce Development

So while yes, it does affect it, to compare to the plethora of things to do in Cali is not apples to apples.

You have mountains and desert an hour east, or the beach a bit west (depending on where you are). So much else to do, that college athletics take a far back seat to all of the options, and most of the other options are "free".

Again I am not just talking about Iowa, and I am not just talking about harvest and farmers. But Farming is just one thing that is going on here, even though I think that 1.4 percent number is rather low. Partly because if you farm, your wife does, your kids do, etc. so none of those will be going to the game usually.
In my home town, the tire shops stay open, the hardware stores stay open, the mechanics stay open, the elevators, ag chems all stay open during harvest, because all of those are the bread and butter of their business. And when they need something they need it. I doubt the Local mechanic, or tire shops are counted, nor the entire families, probably not the hardware stores etc. But those are all part of the ag businesses in the area, that keep everything running.

 

[agrabes]

Have you been there?

I don't know about him, but I've been to LA and I hated it. Full of fake people who only care about keeping up with the Joneses and making sure their physical appearance is kept in top shape.

San Diego on the other hand, was great and I'd go back in a heartbeat. I've been to Seattle and really enjoyed it too. I even liked San Francisco. But, if I lived in San Diego I'd still set aside 12 Saturdays a year to watch college football. There are 353 other days in the year to hike, surf, etc.

This is a silly argument. There are always tons of things to do anywhere you go. Whether those things are your personal favorites doesn't really matter. For you as an individual (and tellingly, maybe many of the people who live in or moved to California), maybe the kinds of things you can do in Southern California are the most important and best things in life and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's only one point of view. Sure, you can't go to Hollywood anywhere but LA. But you can do the vast majority of the things you can do in LA in Austin, TX, Ann Arbor, MI, etc. - trendy cities that also fill their college football stadiums. I hate to break it to you, but everyone has hobbies and tons of things they can do in their local area. That is not unique to California or the West Coast. California is still in general a great place and I definitely plan to go back (though not to LA if I can help it). It's just not a place full of dedicated college football fans. The money is where the dedicated fans are - the ones who prioritize supporting their favorite team over other activities that they enjoy.