Question: do we really benefit from having the Spring game in Spokane?

[ttowncoug]

1. Not a huge student draw (large portion of game day crowd);
2. Unclear how much Spokane really support Cougar football.
3. Obviously a cost (transportation, etc.).
4. Not a great recruiting weekend with offsite game. Would argue a Pullman game could be packaged with a ton of unofficial visits.

Thoughts?

 

[Fab5Coug]

1. Not a huge student draw (large portion of game day crowd);
2. Unclear how much Spokane really support Cougar football.
3. Obviously a cost (transportation, etc.).
4. Not a great recruiting weekend with offsite game. Would argue a Pullman game could be packaged with a ton of unofficial visits.

Thoughts?

I don't think WSU ever drew even 1000 fans for the Crimson & Gray game in Pullman.

As long as a few thousand are showing up in Spokane, why not have it there and market your brand a little bit.

 

[dgibbons]

I don't think WSU ever drew even 1000 fans for the Crimson & Gray game in Pullman.

As long as a few thousand are showing up in Spokane, why not have it there and market your brand a little bit.

Plus, it's closer to my house.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

I'm not sure if you could actually pencil out any benefits from having the game in Spokane, but it sure isn't worse than having it in front of an empty stadium in Pullman.

 

[chinookpirate]

1. Not a huge student draw (large portion of game day crowd);
2. Unclear how much Spokane really support Cougar football.
3. Obviously a cost (transportation, etc.).
4. Not a great recruiting weekend with offsite game. Would argue a Pullman game could be packaged with a ton of unofficial visits.

Thoughts?

Yes, it needs to be in Spokane. The ties between Spokane and WSU have never been greater. I'd rather play the Spring game there than a reg season game. The Inland Empire represents a huge par of our base and MOST of our growth potential.

 

[Coug95man2]

Also, I think the way they've done the whole "Spokane Week" is big for branding. It isn't just a scrimmage game on Saturday. WSU has a whole bunch of stuff going on all week to lead up to the game. Some aren't attended well, some are. But they all serve a purpose. PR for the main population of supporters… For better or worse.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Until Spokane is filling the stadium during the season I think you have to have it there. WSU needs to get Eastern WA on board. They could even take the game to the Tri Cities if they wanted. But you have to do something to drum up some interest where you should be drawing your attendance from.

 

[Coug1990]

Also, I think the way they've done the whole "Spokane Week" is big for branding. It isn't just a scrimmage game on Saturday. WSU has a whole bunch of stuff going on all week to lead up to the game. Some aren't attended well, some are. But they all serve a purpose. PR for the main population of supporters… For better or worse.

I agree. It is not about butts in the seats. It is about marketing WSU for the entire week with all the events. It is the same thing I said time and time again about the Seattle game. There were WSU events the entire week that lead up to the game. The marketing was something that was important.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I agree. It is not about butts in the seats. It is about marketing WSU for the entire week with all the events. It is the same thing I said time and time again about the Seattle game. There were WSU events the entire week that lead up to the game. The marketing was something that was important.

Investing in Seattle is a waste of time. The stadium only seats 40K. Do a better job on campus and in town and you'll actually fill half of it. Land 10K from the Tri Cities and 10K from Spokane and you're full.

Seattle fans aren't coming. They'd rather just go to the Seattle game. Or cheer for the Seahawks.

 

[Coug1990]

Investing in Seattle is a waste of time. The stadium only seats 40K. Do a better job on campus and in town and you'll actually fill half of it. Land 10K from the Tri Cities and 10K from Spokane and you're full.

Seattle fans aren't coming. They'd rather just go to the Seattle game. Or cheer for the Seahawks.

I am guessing you have never driven back and forth for game day weekend. There are thousands of people that travel to games from the Seattle area. But again, it is way more than just the games.

 

[Coug95man2]

I kind of stand between Biggs and 1990 on the Seattle Game. It completely served a similar purpose as Spokane Week. But here's my caveat for both sides. I think the Seattle Game serves a purpose, when we have a product worthy of "showing off". I also don't know that playing the likes of Baylor or Oregon is the best choice. But the likes of Portland State won't draw a crowd, either. A nice "middle ground" competitor, IMHO, would be perfect. Wyoming, as an example.

But I also realize how unrealistic this is. We are scheduling games 3-8 years in advance. Those teams want to know the venue (at least some of them) they'll be playing. The politics that's involved there is bigger, I'd guess, than some might realize, as well. So how do we gauge whether we suck or not, 8 years out? Won't, can't. So really, my perspective will never happen.

So in short, I do see how the Spokane Week and Seattle Week are cut from the same cloth. But the slight difference is, scrimmage vs. game. And because of that difference, I don't want to show off our program while we suck in a game atmosphere. That actually has the opposite affect WSU is wanting, IMHO. Popcorn guy, although not at the Seattle Game, is EXACTLY what we don't want. But bad football in Seattle means that is what we get.

 

[ttowncoug]

I guess my view of the Spokane game is as follows;
1. Spokane isn't the answer to fill the stadium.
2. Winning is.
3. Winning starts with recruiting.
4. I see no recruiting advantage to having a spring game in Spokane.
5. Spokane's team is Gonzaga in hoops.
6. The casual sports fan in Spokane might drive down for one game per year, but it will be IF the Cougs are good.

 

[Fab5Coug]

I guess my view of the Spokane game is as follows;
1. Spokane isn't the answer to fill the stadium.
2. Winning is.
3. Winning starts with recruiting.
4. I see no recruiting advantage to having a spring game in Spokane.
5. Spokane's team is Gonzaga in hoops.
6. The casual sports fan in Spokane might drive down for one game per year, but it will be IF the Cougs are good.

I don't see how the spring game benefits recruiting either way, unless you had it in LA, I guess.

 

[Coug1990]

I kind of stand between Biggs and 1990 on the Seattle Game. It completely served a similar purpose as Spokane Week. But here's my caveat for both sides. I think the Seattle Game serves a purpose, when we have a product worthy of "showing off". I also don't know that playing the likes of Baylor or Oregon is the best choice. But the likes of Portland State won't draw a crowd, either. A nice "middle ground" competitor, IMHO, would be perfect. Wyoming, as an example.

But I also realize how unrealistic this is. We are scheduling games 3-8 years in advance. Those teams want to know the venue (at least some of them) they'll be playing. The politics that's involved there is bigger, I'd guess, than some might realize, as well. So how do we gauge whether we suck or not, 8 years out? Won't, can't. So really, my perspective will never happen.

So in short, I do see how the Spokane Week and Seattle Week are cut from the same cloth. But the slight difference is, scrimmage vs. game. And because of that difference, I don't want to show off our program while we suck in a game atmosphere. That actually has the opposite affect WSU is wanting, IMHO. Popcorn guy, although not at the Seattle Game, is EXACTLY what we don't want. But bad football in Seattle means that is what we get.

We got bad football in both Spokane and Seattle. Bad teams play bad no matter where they play. The good thing is that the players are improving. The program as a whole is improving.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I kind of stand between Biggs and 1990 on the Seattle Game. It completely served a similar purpose as Spokane Week. But here's my caveat for both sides. I think the Seattle Game serves a purpose, when we have a product worthy of "showing off". I also don't know that playing the likes of Baylor or Oregon is the best choice. But the likes of Portland State won't draw a crowd, either. A nice "middle ground" competitor, IMHO, would be perfect. Wyoming, as an example.

But I also realize how unrealistic this is. We are scheduling games 3-8 years in advance. Those teams want to know the venue (at least some of them) they'll be playing. The politics that's involved there is bigger, I'd guess, than some might realize, as well. So how do we gauge whether we suck or not, 8 years out? Won't, can't. So really, my perspective will never happen.

So in short, I do see how the Spokane Week and Seattle Week are cut from the same cloth. But the slight difference is, scrimmage vs. game. And because of that difference, I don't want to show off our program while we suck in a game atmosphere. That actually has the opposite affect WSU is wanting, IMHO. Popcorn guy, although not at the Seattle Game, is EXACTLY what we don't want. But bad football in Seattle means that is what we get.

Why spend millions on a stadium remodel only to play home games somewhere else? Why spend millions on a football operations building only to NOT showcase it at home games?

If WSU were smart, which they're not, they'd look at the blueprint SEC teams use. Play as many home games as possible. So that means WSU would never travel for another non league game ever. Just play all 3 OOC games in Pullman then let the league schedule fall as it may. If you start the season with 4 straight home games, awesome.

If you have to spend a few more bucks to get people on your campus, do it. WSU has tried the home and home, it hasn't worked. Not much has to be honest. Time to try something new.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

We can whine all we want about Spokane's Coug loyalty or lack thereof. There are still more alums there than anywhere else within driving distance, and after years of pissing away good will, it won't be rebuilt in a day, a year, or even several years. But we are on the right track and it is a track worth pursuing. Not worth pursuing at the exclusion of other options, but certainly worth pursuing in tandem with other choices. The spring game is a good way to maintain visibility and promote optimism…probably (along with some sort of basketball game or small tourney) the easiest choice in a long list of possibilities.

 

[CrimsonWazzu]

Investing in Seattle is a waste of time. The stadium only seats 40K. Do a better job on campus and in town and you'll actually fill half of it. Land 10K from the Tri Cities and 10K from Spokane and you're full.

Seattle fans aren't coming. They'd rather just go to the Seattle game. Or cheer for the Seahawks.

You can shit on the idea of the Seattle games and the fans that refuse to ever make the trek over the pass for real home games, but then again aren't you the guy who refuses to go to any games?

 

[kayak15]

You can shit on the idea of the Seattle games and the fans that refuse to ever make the trek over the pass for real home games, but then again aren't you the guy who refuses to go to any games?

Moving the Spring game to Pullman makes no sense to me at all. If we are having trouble getting Spokanites to drive to Pullman for a real game, how many are going to make the same drive for a scrimmage? And during the opening time of fishing season? Would I like to see the Spring game in Martin with a nice crowd? Sure, who wouldn't? But it ain't going to happen.

Moos is trying to get interest developed in Spokane and the Tri-cities and I feel he is going about it correctly. Spring game at Albi and the occasional basketball and baseball games in the Tri-cities. If anyone has a better idea, let the board know.

As far as the Seattle game is concerned, I am not entirely opposed to one under the proper conditions. (Bias alert: Living on Mercer Island makes this a lot easier for me than most.) A game at the Clink would be acceptable providing it involved a Power 5 team which could not be enticed to Martin. A Wisconsin, TCU or Nebraska type of opponent is not going to Martin if for no other reason than finances. The occasional game like that at the Clink would be fine in my opinion. Just not too many and certainly not involving a Mountain West/ Big Sky level opponent. Hopefully, those days are behind us.

So: Concentrate on Spokane, give as much attention as possible to the Tri-cities and do not completely forget Seattle.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. Involve the students as much as possible. Their interest is, to me, even more important than the prior mentioned areas. They are the alumni of the future and will form the fan base and donors in the coming years. If the athletic department cannot get them sufficiently interested to take a short and pleasant walk over to Martin, then why should we be surprised that they won't drive a hundred or more miles in the future? I do not know what Moos and Floyd are doing about this but, whatever it is, it needs to be increased. The primary emphasis of attracting fans should be the campus itself.

 

[BiggsCoug]

You can shit on the idea of the Seattle games and the fans that refuse to ever make the trek over the pass for real home games, but then again aren't you the guy who refuses to go to any games?

No Im not. I have a job that is specifically weekends. So I don't make it to many games any more. So go pound sand.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Moving the Spring game to Pullman makes no sense to me at all. If we are having trouble getting Spokanites to drive to Pullman for a real game, how many are going to make the same drive for a scrimmage? And during the opening time of fishing season? Would I like to see the Spring game in Martin with a nice crowd? Sure, who wouldn't? But it ain't going to happen.

Moos is trying to get interest developed in Spokane and the Tri-cities and I feel he is going about it correctly. Spring game at Albi and the occasional basketball and baseball games in the Tri-cities. If anyone has a better idea, let the board know.

As far as the Seattle game is concerned, I am not entirely opposed to one under the proper conditions. (Bias alert: Living on Mercer Island makes this a lot easier for me than most.) A game at the Clink would be acceptable providing it involved a Power 5 team which could not be enticed to Martin. A Wisconsin, TCU or Nebraska type of opponent is not going to Martin if for no other reason than finances. The occasional game like that at the Clink would be fine in my opinion. Just not too many and certainly not involving a Mountain West/ Big Sky level opponent. Hopefully, those days are behind us.

So: Concentrate on Spokane, give as much attention as possible to the Tri-cities and do not completely forget Seattle.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. Involve the students as much as possible. Their interest is, to me, even more important than the prior mentioned areas. They are the alumni of the future and will form the fan base and donors in the coming years. If the athletic department cannot get them sufficiently interested to take a short and pleasant walk over to Martin, then why should we be surprised that they won't drive a hundred or more miles in the future? I do not know what Moos and Floyd are doing about this but, whatever it is, it needs to be increased. The primary emphasis of attracting fans should be the campus itself.

You realize this is 90% loss for WSU right now and that it would require WSU to win one more game in league play? A league that has the most money ever and parity top to bottom than ever before.... This type of thinking will keep WSU going to 10 bowls per 100 years.

Tell me, are you more interested in watching the other team play? Or do you have interest in watching WSU play?

 

[kayak15]

You realize this is 90% loss for WSU right now and that it would require WSU to win one more game in league play? A league that has the most money ever and parity top to bottom than ever before.... This type of thinking will keep WSU going to 10 bowls per 100 years.

Tell me, are you more interested in watching the other team play? Or do you have interest in watching WSU play?

My post should have clearer. Obviously, we are not yet ready to deal with a highly ranked OOC game yet. I was thinking of the future when, hopefully, we would be competitive with a team of that caliber. Even then it should be done only on an occasional basis. I understand your reasoning and agree with that as long as the OOC schedule does not descend to SEC type schedules of directional schools played at home.

 

[BiggsCoug]

My post should have clearer. Obviously, we are not yet ready to deal with a highly ranked OOC game yet. I was thinking of the future when, hopefully, we would be competitive with a team of that caliber. Even then it should be done only on an occasional basis. I understand your reasoning and agree with that as long as the OOC schedule does not descend to SEC type schedules of directional schools played at home.

I don't care who they play. Just win. When WSU needs strength of schedule points to get into the playoff, fine. Schedule a big timer. Until then, WSU sees more big timers then it can handle in league play. There is no reason to play them and no reason not to play all 3 OOC games in Pullman.

 

[Fab5Coug]

I don't care who they play. Just win. When WSU needs strength of schedule points to get into the playoff, fine. Schedule a big timer. Until then, WSU sees more big timers then it can handle in league play. There is no reason to play them and no reason not to play all 3 OOC games in Pullman.

I agree with this, unless you are trying to get a game in SoCal for recruiting purposes. I have no issue with home & homes with SDSU, SJSU, or even Fresno.

As to the quality of opponents, I'm completely with you. I hope WSU never plays Wisconsin or Auburn again, unless it's in a bowl game. "Prove it points" mean nothing for WSU right now, and likely never will.

Pair an opponent like that with the Seattle venue (where we seem to play our absolute worst), and you're looking at a lot of 3 TD losses in front a largely uninterested fan base. No thank you.

 

[405 Coug]

Any exposure outside of Pullman is a good thing, provided it's not a game that is on the schedule, all scheduled games should be in Pullman. I personally think they should have two spring game weekends, a warm up weekend in the Tri Cities and the Final weekend in Spokane.

 

[95coug]

Moos is trying to get interest developed in Spokane and the Tri-cities and I feel he is going about it correctly. Spring game at Albi and the occasional basketball and baseball games in the Tri-cities. If anyone has a better idea, let the board know.

Really? I live in Tri-Cities, I work at WSU. I haven't seen any evidence that Moos or anyone else is trying to develop interest in Tri-Cities.

The baseball game they play here is in mid-May, after there's nobody left in Pullman. So, it's a throwaway game. They could play it in Ritzville and get more butts in the seats than they will in Pullman. A couple years ago they played a 3-game series with UW here, and it looked like they were catching on, but then they went back to a 1-game set against BYU and Portland State.

Basketball is the same - they play here when there's nobody in Pullman, and they don't even do it regularly. Usually a mid-week game with a tip-off that is too early for people to get home, get dinner, and get to the coliseum.

And general marketing...forget it. WSU has such low presence in Tri-Cities that there are people in town who don't even know there's a campus here, much less a football team 2 hours away.

 

[95coug]

Until Spokane is filling the stadium during the season I think you have to have it there. WSU needs to get Eastern WA on board. They could even take the game to the Tri Cities if they wanted. But you have to do something to drum up some interest where you should be drawing your attendance from.

I think it'd make a lot of sense to have a spring scrimmage in Tri-Cities...maybe even alternate between TC and Spokane. Have a Tri-Cities week, try to drum up some interest down here. But I'm sure they'll blow it off by saying Tri-Cities doesn't have a stadium big enough. The local high school stadiums are billed at 5,300, 6,800, and 9,000....all of which are more than will show up in Pullman. And since they don't charge admission, what difference does it make anyway?

 

[cr8zyncalif]

It would cost a little money and add a bit to the program's logistics, but I don't see a legal/rules reason why we could not have scrimmages/games in both the Tri-Cities and Spokane. It would certainly be less work than a week or two in Lewiston.

 

[wazzubruce]

My first questions is have you ever attended a Spring game in Pullman? I have and I remember there being about 350 people, not more than 500. And you're advocating Spokane to lose the Spring game, which has generally over 5000 people attend. I'm LOL at this. Whmmmm..... lets do the math.... 350 or 5000. Which shall we choose??

That is nonsense! Spokane is the only logical choice to speak of. Whether you like it or not, Spokane is the only real choice there is here. Kind of seems like a silly post /question to me.

 

[kayak15]

Really? I live in Tri-Cities, I work at WSU. I haven't seen any evidence that Moos or anyone else is trying to develop interest in Tri-Cities.

The baseball game they play here is in mid-May, after there's nobody left in Pullman. So, it's a throwaway game. They could play it in Ritzville and get more butts in the seats than they will in Pullman. A couple years ago they played a 3-game series with UW here, and it looked like they were catching on, but then they went back to a 1-game set against BYU and Portland State.

Basketball is the same - they play here when there's nobody in Pullman, and they don't even do it regularly. Usually a mid-week game with a tip-off that is too early for people to get home, get dinner, and get to the coliseum.

And general marketing...forget it. WSU has such low presence in Tri-Cities that there are people in town who don't even know there's a campus here, much less a football team 2 hours away.

Well, that is a bitter dose of reality. I am not close to the Tri-cities but was under the impression that Moos and staff were more involved than previously. You, obviously, know better. Sounds like it is worse than I thought. Any ideas would be helpful.