PAC12 Scenario = Expansion

[MustangStealth]

SMU a prized get for the Pac-12. Just what they want - a team that has more players on the field than fans in the stands. SMU is going to be a revenue generating monster for the conference.

We'll fit in

[SMU_Alum11]

Agreed UCLAs attendance is absolute trash. I think we do better them consistently.

[smubrooks]

If attendance is holding us back, then how does UCLA get into the Big10 with bad attendance?

Is attendance really the thing holding us back?

[PK]

With the number of people moving to the DFW area from California, we would probable increase attendance with a PAC seat. Better than games with most of the AAC teams. IMHO.

[Nedward]

Hmmm...would I rather go to a home game against Oregon, Utah, Stanford? Also know that a sheet ton of Arizona ppl have come here and they would love to watch the AZ teams.

[Hoofprint]

Surely those teams would draw better than USF and UNT and UAB, etc.

[SoCal_Pony]

SMU a prized get for the Pac-12. Just what they want - a team that has more players on the field than fans in the stands. SMU is going to be a revenue generating monster for the conference.

We'll fit in

That’s a bit misleading as it was unseasonably hot in SoCal and their home opponents were Bowling Green, Alabama State and South Alabama.

Having said that, the Rose Bowl for all its history, is kinda a Dinosaur much like the Cotton Bowl. It’s too big for UCLA and it lacks modern amenities.

Assuming the Bruins continue to schedule soft OOC opponents + only 1 local conference rivalry going forward in USC, it is conceivable that all but a couple of games each year will be played in a half-empty stadium.

[SoCal_Pony]

SoCal you are probably right to be concerned and I could agree that attendance might not bump up that much given no regional rival. I agree we should improve but not expand but put in a design that could be easily added with space and structural support at the foundation for a deck on the east side. This is only if we had 3 years of solid attendance and tickets on reserve kind of thing.

Comparing with northwestern, while I don't know much about them, I think they're more comparable to a P5 Tulane. No history. No real rivals to point to. We had at least a legacy in SWC and those Big 12 teams enjoy playing us and draws a crowd. Just my $.02.

Agreed, If we were headed to the B12, expanding Ford and ‘moderately’ increasing seating would be fine. We are not so we should adjust accordingly.

[TidePony]

SMU breaks ground on Saturday. This is plush!

[TidePony]

Very nice!

[SoCal_Pony]

Tide Pony that is very nice and while I may sometime question our administration's competence, I doubt even they would go forward with this nice addition if it were only for the new AAC.

For them to break ground this Saturday, they must know something.....right?????

[mrydel]

The increase in seating is just a side benefit. The prize is the building itself. Don’t get lost in thinking we are trying to expand seating. It just comes with the rest of the facility.

[Water Pony]

I would add a canopy over the East Stands too.

[SMUstang]

The photo that TidePony posted showed the building in the south end zone. But the rest of the stadium looked like there was no change. This is not what I saw in the original announcement. Is this a modification from the original?

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

It's good the addition appears to be designed in a way we can keep it intact and still implode Ford since it desperately needs it.