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That happened in 1986. It was a great game and a very good crowd. Problem is the big donors want to use the suites at Ford and Amon Carter.

That would be one less home game every other year on the BLVD. I could see going that direction if we and TCU outgrow our facilities and could provide a substantial increase in revenue/fans. But the atmosphere right now is great and no real incentive to forgo such a great home game every other year that gets so many alumni back to SMU for a day. We are school after all. Not to mention the Cotton Bowl is a cramped old stadium and TCU is upgrading their facilities and SMU is looking to do the same.

Should be at Jerryworld

MustangSTATS wrote: Not to mention the Cotton Bowl is a cramped old stadium and TCU is upgrading their facilities and SMU is looking to do the same.

The Cotton Bowl is actually quite nice now after the renovation. I'd be all for playing the game here if we could get enough attendance to make it worth it. If we could get enough in the stands to not be embarrassing it'd be great publicity.

My dream would be to have enough interest to alternate the home location every year between Cotton Bowl and Jerryworld. Can you imagine the game packing 92,000 in the Cotton Bowl?

I don't necessarily hate the idea of playing it at Jerryworld, but attendance has got to increase at those games in order to make it worthwhile. With TCU upgrading their stadium, and us putting 35,000 in Ford when they come to us (and more if we expand), I have a problem seeing, say, 50,000 people showing up to see that game. Dallasites and Fort Worth residents are not going to go to the game just because of the novelty of playing in that stadium.

couch 'em wrote:The Cotton Bowl is actually quite nice now after the renovation.

Not to split hairs but the last time I was there in 09 it had been expanded but the seating and space for fans pails in comparison to most stadiums. Seemed like more people crammed into the same inadequate building. But the idea of filling that place up does sound amazing. Not to mention tieing us to the State Fair further ties us to being Dallas's team. Imaging 90K in fans split purple and red, but we are probably still a long way away from that. If we could get the SMU stadium expanded to 50K and full that would be a milestone in itself. 50k on the BLVD.

leopold wrote:I don't necessarily hate the idea of playing it at Jerryworld, but attendance has got to increase at those games in order to make it worthwhile. With TCU upgrading their stadium, and us putting 35,000 in Ford when they come to us (and more if we expand), I have a problem seeing, say, 50,000 people showing up to see that game. Dallasites and Fort Worth residents are not going to go to the game just because of the novelty of playing in that stadium.

If both teams could package their season tickets to include this game every year it might make financial sense. But I can see the Fort Worth folks complaining that the ancillary money spent in connection with the game would all be in Dallas.

Topper wrote:If both teams could package their season tickets to include this game every year it might make financial sense. But I can see the Fort Worth folks complaining that the ancillary money spent in connection with the game would all be in Dallas.

It would take away a lot of money from FW businesses that support the school and count on the influx of people. This would be money spent in Dallas, even when they are "home." SMU students could take the light rail straight to the stadium. But the possibility of moving is still several years away, but it does feel good to know SMU is finally headed in this direction. If SMU gets into a BCS conference, the attention this game garners by t-shirt fans will only grow, especially if some of the old rivalries of the Big12 end due to realignment and grudges.

MustangSTATS wrote:

couch 'em wrote:The Cotton Bowl is actually quite nice now after the renovation.

Not to split hairs but the last time I was there in 09 it had been expanded but the seating and space for fans pails in comparison to most stadiums. Seemed like more people crammed into the same inadequate building. But the idea of filling that place up does sound amazing. Not to mention tieing us to the State Fair further ties us to being Dallas's team. Imaging 90K in fans split purple and red, but we are probably still a long way away from that. If we could get the SMU stadium expanded to 50K and full that would be a milestone in itself. 50k on the BLVD.

Can't comment on the seat width, but the extra seats came from finishing the 2nd deck all the way around

Cotton Bowl makes sense for OK and UT, when we join the revitalized Big 12, plus ND.

couch 'em wrote:Can't comment on the seat width, but the extra seats came from finishing the 2nd deck all the way around

Width was not the problem (although this is Texas so I am sure just statistically many have a problem), length was a problem for me. Maybe people were not above 6ft when they originally built it. Cowboy Stadium is a great example of proper size not only for seating but for facilities as well. Too bad Dallas and Jerry could not come to a deal to build the stadium in fair park, but then we would have all of these outside teams actually playing in Dallas and not at our stadium, instead of in Arlington.

For what it's worth, last year's Tech Baylor game at the Cotton Bowl only drew 48K, while the year before drew 72K at Jerry World. The state fair does not guarantee more revenue.

MustangSTATS wrote:For what it's worth, last year's Tech Baylor game at the Cotton Bowl only drew 48K, while the year before drew 72K at Jerry World. The state fair does not guarantee more revenue.

How many of that Jerry's World crowd were first time curiosity seekers attending more for the experience and novelty than the actual game?

PoconoPony wrote:How many of that Jerry's World crowd were first time curiosity seekers attending more for the experience and novelty than the actual game?

That's what I wonder, how much of a drop off in the coming years will we see when Cowboys Stadium is not the newest thing and everyone has already been there once.