[NU Sports] ACC FB schedule out

[Jonathan Hodges]

The ND/Miami game was announced about a year ago, I believe, as a part of
Notre Dame's new scheduling strategy that has them playing a good number of
neutral site games across the country (prior examples: they played
Washington St in San Antonio a couple of years ago and played Army at
Yankee Stadium the same day as NU's Wrigley Game).  Basically, they want to
reap the financial rewards of a home game (TV & game day revenue) while
trying keep a hold on their infamous national footprint (for
recruiting/visibility purposes).  This game is just one piece of that
puzzle.  Fortunately for NU, this game has lost a huge amount of its luster
over the past year or so due to ND's continued struggles on the field and
Miami's "situation" off of it.

Also, NIU is responsible for scheduling what are becoming annual games at
Soldier Field (I believe these are all "home games" for NIU): they played
Iowa within the past few years and have them again this year there on Sept.
1.

I'm sure the Chicago Parks Dept (who runs Soldier Field) is eager to book
sellout events like this although it wreaks havoc on that field come
November/December (reference the annual griping by the Bears' & fans about
how bad the turf is).

Finally, on NU ever playing at Soldier Field again: I doubt it will happen
as it doesn't really bring enough novelty or extra capacity to justify
moving a game and losing a portion of the revenue to other interests.  NU
needs to average at least 7 home games a year and neutral site games would
put a dent in that given the fact that NU plays a lot of home and home
series and must make those return trips.  Now, when the Pac-12/Big Ten
challenge gets going later this decade, there was talk about neutral site
games, so that could lead to a game there at some point.

Jonathan

--
Jonathan Hodges
Contributor, HailToPurple
Web: http://www.hailtopurple.com/jhodges/
Twitter: @hailtopurple
Email: j-hodges at alumni.northwestern.edu



On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 3:03 PM, Mike Nolan <nolan at tssi.com> wrote:

> The ACC's full football schedule for 2012 is out.
>
> Normally this wouldn't be relevant here, but there is one item that might
> have some interest on it.
>
> Notre Dame will play Miami at Soldier Field in Chicago on October 6th.
> I wonder if, somewhat like NIU's game against Wisconsin last season,  this
> is
> in response to Northwestern's 'Chicago's Big Ten team' promo?
>
> Notre Dame has two other games scheduled against the ACC in 2012,
> Wake Forest and BC.
> --
> Mike Nolan
>
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