New Vegas Bowl

[dgibbons]

With the Raiders new stadium coming on line in 2020, there is an obvious opportunity for the Pac-12 to create a high profile bowl game. The plan is to match up the Pac-12 with the SEC. Presumably this would be something like Pac-12 # 2 and SEC #3 (or 4 or whatever).

Perhaps this bowl could be played after the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, but I doubt it. That's NY6 slot. Earlier than the Rose Bowl (kickoff at 10am Pacific) doesn't seem feasible. So, I'm thinking you make the new Vegas Bowl a fixture on New Year's Eve. The event outside of the CFP Playoff and NY6 bowls. Seems like a perfect fit to me.

Maybe Lavish Larry can cut back on his Citation X expenses and make this happen.

 

[Brent H.]

With the Raiders new stadium coming on line in 2020, there is an obvious opportunity for the Pac-12 to create a high profile bowl game. The plan is to match up the Pac-12 with the SEC. Presumably this would be something like Pac-12 # 2 and SEC #3 (or 4 or whatever).

Perhaps this bowl could be played after the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, but I doubt it. That's NY6 slot. Earlier than the Rose Bowl (kickoff at 10am Pacific) doesn't seem feasible. So, I'm thinking you make the new Vegas Bowl a fixture on New Year's Eve. The event outside of the CFP Playoff and NY6 bowls. Seems like a perfect fit to me.

Maybe Lavish Larry can cut back on his Citation X expenses and make this happen.

The conference needs to get better bowl tie-ins. It's a problem when you have 8-4 Stanford heading to El Paso to play 7-6 Pitt. When the better teams in your conference are playing teams that placed 4th or 5th in their conference it's going to make it tough for fans to travel for the bowls. I don't know how many Oregon fans are going down to Santa Clara to watch them play Michigan State.

Utah vs Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl?

But it also won't change when conferences get multiple NY6 games and we are getting 1 a year. If we had the Vegas Bowl this year with the SEC, we'd get probably WSU vs Auburn since the SEC sent 4 teams to a NY6.

 

[Fab5Coug]

With the Raiders new stadium coming on line in 2020, there is an obvious opportunity for the Pac-12 to create a high profile bowl game. The plan is to match up the Pac-12 with the SEC. Presumably this would be something like Pac-12 # 2 and SEC #3 (or 4 or whatever).

Perhaps this bowl could be played after the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, but I doubt it. That's NY6 slot. Earlier than the Rose Bowl (kickoff at 10am Pacific) doesn't seem feasible. So, I'm thinking you make the new Vegas Bowl a fixture on New Year's Eve. The event outside of the CFP Playoff and NY6 bowls. Seems like a perfect fit to me.

Maybe Lavish Larry can cut back on his Citation X expenses and make this happen.

Pac12 2 vs SEC 3? Yea right. Pac12 2 vs SEC 10 is more like it.

10-2 WSU vs 6-6 Vanderbilt.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

The conference needs to get better bowl tie-ins. It's a problem when you have 8-4 Stanford heading to El Paso to play 7-6 Pitt. When the better teams in your conference are playing teams that placed 4th or 5th in their conference it's going to make it tough for fans to travel for the bowls. I don't know how many Oregon fans are going down to Santa Clara to watch them play Michigan State.

Utah vs Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl?

But it also won't change when conferences get multiple NY6 games and we are getting 1 a year. If we had the Vegas Bowl this year with the SEC, we'd get probably WSU vs Auburn since the SEC sent 4 teams to a NY6.

This year is kind of a crazy year in a lot of ways and a lot of assumptions are being made on information that doesn't reflect the big picture. The supposedly bad matchup in the Holiday featured 9-3 WSU vs 9-3 Michigan State. Was that a bad matchup on paper before the game? Our 2015 Sun Bowl appearance featured 8-4 WSU vs 8-4 Miami. Was that terrible? This year is bizarre in the fact that the middle of most conferences is a bit of a mess and there are a lot of mediocre teams all the way around. In general, and in most years, bowl games end up with good matchups and the system does pretty good. We've made recent upgrades in our bowl games that helped. People seem to forget that we went to the New Mexico Bowl to play Colorado State in a game that nobody cared about.

I do agree that we need to do some shuffling and that we need to reconsider our bowl order once Vegas comes into play. It's important to remember that other conferences get their say as well. Here is the current bowl tie-ins as they stand:

Rose: Pac-12 #1 vs B1G #1
Alamo: Pac-12 #2 vs Big 12 #2
Holiday: Pac-12 #3 vs B1G #4
Redbox: Pac-12 #4 vs B1G #7 (this one is complicated because they have to rotate teams between Redbox, Pinstripe and Quick Lane, so it's arguably #6 or #7)
Sun: Pac-12 #5 vs ACC #5
Vegas: Pac-12 #6 vs MWC
Cactus: Pac-12 #7 vs Big 12 #6

In that list, only the Redbox Bowl stands out as a clunker game. It is the prime example of disrespect in the group. You could argue that the Holiday Bowl is a mild insult, but given the two ass-kickings we've taken, I'm not buying it. If I were king, and once the Vegas Bowl is played in a shiny new stadium, I would make the following changes:

Rose: Pac-12 #1 vs B1G #1
Vegas: Pac-12 #2 vs Big 12 #2
Alamo: Pac-12 #3 vs SEC#4
Holiday: Pac-12 #4 vs B1G #5
Red Box: Pac-12 #5 vs ACC #5
Sun: Pac-12 #6 vs MWC
Cactus: Pac-12 #7 vs Big 12 #6

Setting up the Vegas Bowl with the Big 12 makes the site slightly more neutral and arguably favors the Pac-12, but it's a good enough destination that Big 12 fans would still go. Featuring an SEC matchup in the Alamo Bowl keeps SEC fans close enough to home and gives that bowl a good enough matchup that they would be excited by it. Given that the SEC is soooooo much better than us, we'd have to expect that we'd take their #4 team. Holiday gets dropped a notch but still features the same conferences. The Red Box gets us the Sun Bowl matchup but in a better location. Who cares about our game against the MWC anyway? Move it to the Sun Bowl and let that game rot. Leave the Cactus Bowl alone. My $0.035

 

[dgibbons]

Pac12 2 vs SEC 3? Yea right. Pac12 2 vs SEC 10 is more like it.

10-2 WSU vs 6-6 Vanderbilt.

If it's in the $EC's interest, they will place a top team there. I used a $ sign in SEC if you didn't notice. Meaning that if the conference gets paid enough, it will happen. I'm super clever.

I admit I'm assuming some level of parity in the power 5 conferences, and not 4+ SEC teams in the CFP and NY6 games.

 

[Observer11]

Larry Smith couldn't concoct a marginal Moscow Mule let alone anything as complicated as a new bowl game or an alliance with the SEC.

And if you can't put vodka, lime juice, ice and ginger beer together in a cup, there's no way you should be making $4.8 Million per year.

 

[Suudy]

And if you can't put vodka, lime juice, ice and ginger beer together in a cup, there's no way you should be making $4.8 Million per year.

Clearly you are an amateur. A little bit of syrup (or agave nectar!) first makes all the difference ...

 

[Fab5Coug]

This year is kind of a crazy year in a lot of ways and a lot of assumptions are being made on information that doesn't reflect the big picture. The supposedly bad matchup in the Holiday featured 9-3 WSU vs 9-3 Michigan State. Was that a bad matchup on paper before the game? Our 2015 Sun Bowl appearance featured 8-4 WSU vs 8-4 Miami. Was that terrible? This year is bizarre in the fact that the middle of most conferences is a bit of a mess and there are a lot of mediocre teams all the way around. In general, and in most years, bowl games end up with good matchups and the system does pretty good. We've made recent upgrades in our bowl games that helped. People seem to forget that we went to the New Mexico Bowl to play Colorado State in a game that nobody cared about.

I do agree that we need to do some shuffling and that we need to reconsider our bowl order once Vegas comes into play. It's important to remember that other conferences get their say as well. Here is the current bowl tie-ins as they stand:

Rose: Pac-12 #1 vs B1G #1
Alamo: Pac-12 #2 vs Big 12 #2
Holiday: Pac-12 #3 vs B1G #4
Redbox: Pac-12 #4 vs B1G #7 (this one is complicated because they have to rotate teams between Redbox, Pinstripe and Quick Lane, so it's arguably #6 or #7)
Sun: Pac-12 #5 vs ACC #5
Vegas: Pac-12 #6 vs MWC
Cactus: Pac-12 #7 vs Big 12 #6

In that list, only the Redbox Bowl stands out as a clunker game. It is the prime example of disrespect in the group. You could argue that the Holiday Bowl is a mild insult, but given the two ass-kickings we've taken, I'm not buying it. If I were king, and once the Vegas Bowl is played in a shiny new stadium, I would make the following changes:

Rose: Pac-12 #1 vs B1G #1
Vegas: Pac-12 #2 vs Big 12 #2
Alamo: Pac-12 #3 vs SEC#4
Holiday: Pac-12 #4 vs B1G #5
Red Box: Pac-12 #5 vs ACC #5
Sun: Pac-12 #6 vs MWC
Cactus: Pac-12 #7 vs Big 12 #6

Setting up the Vegas Bowl with the Big 12 makes the site slightly more neutral and arguably favors the Pac-12, but it's a good enough destination that Big 12 fans would still go. Featuring an SEC matchup in the Alamo Bowl keeps SEC fans close enough to home and gives that bowl a good enough matchup that they would be excited by it. Given that the SEC is soooooo much better than us, we'd have to expect that we'd take their #4 team. Holiday gets dropped a notch but still features the same conferences. The Red Box gets us the Sun Bowl matchup but in a better location. Who cares about our game against the MWC anyway? Move it to the Sun Bowl and let that game rot. Leave the Cactus Bowl alone. My $0.035

I'm not sure what party you're acting as in suggesting these changes. I don't think there's much of a chance The Big 12 gives up their alliance with the Alamo Bowl. If the SEC were at all interested in the Alamo, we'd be the ones getting dumped from that game.

 

[Loyal Coug]

Move it to the Sun Bowl and let that game rot. Leave the Cactus Bowl alone. My $0.035

I would like to see us drop the Sun Bowl completely. Hard to get to, undesirable location, etc. Let the Group of 5 conferences take it over. Or the Big-12 since it is in Texas. Barely.

 

[Fab5Coug]

If it's in the $EC's interest, they will place a top team there. I used a $ sign in SEC if you didn't notice. Meaning that if the conference gets paid enough, it will happen. I'm super clever.

I admit I'm assuming some level of parity in the power 5 conferences, and not 4+ SEC teams in the CFP and NY6 games.

They don't need the payout and they don't currently send a team further west than Houston for a bowl game. They're not going to send their #2 all the way to Vegas to play Stanford/Oregon/Utah/UW or God forbid, WSU in a bowl game.

 

[Observer11]

Clearly you are an amateur. A little bit of syrup (or agave nectar!) first makes all the difference ...

I said a marginal Moscow Mule, not a good one.

 

[Suudy]

I said a marginal Moscow Mule, not a good one.

My reading comprehension needs improvement. I apologize for questioning your cocktail bona fides.

 

[dgibbons]

They don't need the payout and they don't currently send a team further west than Houston for a bowl game. They're not going to send their #2 all the way to Vegas to play Stanford/Oregon/Utah/UW or God forbid, WSU in a bowl game.

The $EC never declines money. They just find more of it elsewhere. Vegas could be the elsewhere. It wouldn't be #2 overall team, but it could be whoever is eligible after the CFP and NY6 make their picks.

There are direct flights to Vegas from almost every decent sized airport in the US. Even folks from Cooterville, Louisiana could figure out how to get there.

 

[E Jones]

The problem with moving the Vegas bowl is the cost of a hotel room in vegas around New Years eve. It is usually the most expensive night of the year and difficult to find an open room. Not an easy game for the fans to attend.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

I'm not sure what party you're acting as in suggesting these changes. I don't think there's much of a chance The Big 12 gives up their alliance with the Alamo Bowl. If the SEC were at all interested in the Alamo, we'd be the ones getting dumped from that game.

Yep.

The Alamo bowl history reads as a long string of home games for mostly Texas teams with a few from up north sprinkled in. Great for them as far as attendance, for us not so much.

 

[dgibbons]

The problem with moving the Vegas bowl is the cost of a hotel room in vegas around New Years eve. It is usually the most expensive night of the year and difficult to find an open room. Not an easy game for the fans to attend.

Everywhere is expensive on New Year's.

Some of the football fans will be displacing the NYE revelers, so I don't see Vegas getting extraordinarily overcrowded. Price gouging is the American way. Uber will be surge pricing, so will airlines.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I'm not sure what party you're acting as in suggesting these changes. I don't think there's much of a chance The Big 12 gives up their alliance with the Alamo Bowl. If the SEC were at all interested in the Alamo, we'd be the ones getting dumped from that game.

Definitely a fair take. Again, the idea would be that the Big 12 would find the opportunity to play in a shiny new stadium in Vegas as appealing as we do, at a destination that most fans would appreciate. As for your SEC comment, that's a scary thought, but they already have three bowl tie-ins with the Big 12, so I'm not sure if it's the issue. Of course, now that I look deeper, they already play in the Texas Bowl in Houston....so the question is, do they need another bowl game in Texas?

If the SEC is off the table in Texas.....maybe the Alamo Bowl stays unchanged and the Vegas Bowl hosts the Pac-12/SEC matchup.

 

[Fab5Coug]

It wouldn't be #2 overall team, but it could be whoever is eligible after the CFP and NY6 make their picks.

So, like the 6th or 7th best?

 

[Fab5Coug]

Definitely a fair take. Again, the idea would be that the Big 12 would find the opportunity to play in a shiny new stadium in Vegas as appealing as we do, at a destination that most fans would appreciate. As for your SEC comment, that's a scary thought, but they already have three bowl tie-ins with the Big 12, so I'm not sure if it's the issue. Of course, now that I look deeper, they already play in the Texas Bowl in Houston....so the question is, do they need another bowl game in Texas?

If the SEC is off the table in Texas.....maybe the Alamo Bowl stays unchanged and the Vegas Bowl hosts the Pac-12/SEC matchup.

The SEC probably views playing the Pac12 in any bowl the same way we would take to playing the Sun Belt conference in a bowl.

 

[PatBaum]

Should move the Holiday Bowl to Ellensburg

 

[Cougatron]

I love the Vegas bowl as one of our main bowls, here’s how I would do things for the Pac 12

Rose Bowl Pac 12 #1 vs B1G # 1 (we keeping the grand daddy of them all in the top slot)

Now this is where it gets interesting.

Tropical Bowl in Hawaii (sponsered by Tropicana)
Pac 12 #2 vs ACC #2 (why? Because Hawaii is awesome, and the ACC is freezing its ass off during this time. It also makes the east coast want to pay attention to the Pac 12)

Las Vegas Bowl
Pac 12 #3 vs Big XII #3
Great location great place to party, premiere matchup. Being #3 in the Pac 12 is a great consolation prize going to Vegas.

New Orleans Bowl
Pac 12 #4 vs SEC #4
Another fantastic location great atmosphere and a ton of fun.

Holiday Bowl
Pac 12 #5 vs B1G #5
A Pac 12 classic moves a little lower on the list but stays as part of the cycle.

Alamo Bowl
Pac 12 #6 vs Big XII #6


Miami South Beach Bowl
Pac 12#7 vs ACC / SEC #7


That’s how I would do it.

Every single place is interesting.

Pasadena, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, San Antonio, Miami

We play the B1G, ACC, SEC, and Big XII in fun and interesting locations that all fan bases would love. Absolutely love to go to.

 

[Cougatron]

I love the Vegas bowl as one of our main bowls, here’s how I would do things for the Pac 12

Rose Bowl Pac 12 #1 vs B1G # 1 (we keeping the grand daddy of them all in the top slot)

Now this is where it gets interesting.

Tropical Bowl in Hawaii (sponsered by Tropicana)
Pac 12 #2 vs ACC #2 (why? Because Hawaii is awesome, and the ACC is freezing its ass off during this time. It also makes the east coast want to pay attention to the Pac 12)

Las Vegas Bowl
Pac 12 #3 vs Big XII #3
Great location great place to party, premiere matchup. Being #3 in the Pac 12 is a great consolation prize going to Vegas.

New Orleans Bowl
Pac 12 #4 vs SEC #4
Another fantastic location great atmosphere and a ton of fun.

Holiday Bowl
Pac 12 #5 vs B1G #5
A Pac 12 classic moves a little lower on the list but stays as part of the cycle.

Alamo Bowl
Pac 12 #6 vs Big XII #6


Miami South Beach Bowl
Pac 12#7 vs ACC / SEC #7


That’s how I would do it.

Every single place is interesting.

Pasadena, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, San Antonio, Miami

We play the B1G, ACC, SEC, and Big XII in fun and interesting locations that all fan bases would love. Absolutely love to go to.

Okay here is how my dream bowl setup would look like this year.

Rose Bowl - Ohio State V.S. Mutts
Tropical Bowl - WSU V.S. NC State
Las Vegas Bowl - Utah vs Iowa State
New Orleans Bowl - Stanford vs Florida
Holiday Bowl - Oregon V.S. Iowa
Alamo Bowl - Arizona State V.S. Oklahoma State
Miami South Beach Bowl - Cal V.S. Vanderbilt/Boston College

I just think there are so many interesting games over the years with this setup

 

[Suudy]

Should move the Holiday Bowl to Ellensburg

The dream never dies.

 

[Cougatron]

The dream never dies.

Ellensburg is an undervalued place!

Cougatron stadium gladly accepts the Holliday Bowl.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

Gib, you may be on to something. I like the general idea of a New Years Eve PAC bowl...next step down from the Rose, and our Rose substitute when the Rose is part of the playoff...in Vegas. I might even like an SEC tie in. If they send an equivalent team in terms of final standings, that would be best. But if they don't and we paste them a few years running, that will be just as good.