(04-27-2023 12:19 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  The one thing to keep in mind with this and I may have said it earlier in the thread - Sam Houston's biggest alum base is in Houston. Period.

The institution essentially treats this game as a 'touch' / 'engagement point' to its alumni base, many of whom do not make it up to Huntsville for sporting events, theatre or other alumni activities. There has been an increasing amount of institutionally-sponsored and other events tied to this game that brings fraternities, sororities, etc. together in a way that Homecoming and other functions have not.

For many of those alums, this football game is their only touch to the university and it is a sense of pride, connection for them.

To me, this is simply a huge marketing campaign into Houston for the university that as a FCS school amounted to getting an FBS payout (with how the LSSE contract was structured). As an FBS school, curious how things change for the payout to the SHSU athletic department AND how this game develops particularly as it gets bigger name opponents. Will the fans respond in the same way they did for the SFA game and will the attendance help ensure that Sam Houston is safely over the 15k threshold based on the rest of the year's attendance?

Attendance figures have to be met in your home stadium. Since this is not your permanent home you’ll still have to see those figures met so the stadium has to expand.

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 06:06 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 02:52 AM)dawgonit Wrote:  This is interesting. Tech tried this approach around the turn of the century with Independence Stadium in Shreveport. We had the likes of Miami, Cal, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State coming to be visitors at our "home" game. It worked well as we beat Cal and Oklahoma State for example and had 40k+ crowds for those games. The problem was getting consistent opponents to draw bigger crowds. We had Tulsa and SMU fill the void in other years and the crowds weren't big enough to warrant the game there.

I'm sure Sam Houston's situation is better though. An NFL stadium in a huge urban area to draw fans and the recruiting possibilities can really entice a lot of bigger programs to schedule it. I hope it's fruitful for them.

I understand doing it but it reminds me of UMASS. It just screams little league.

IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

(04-27-2023 07:00 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  Attendance figures have to be met in your home stadium. Since this is not your permanent home you’ll still have to see those figures met so the stadium has to expand.

Do you not recall the ULM “hosting” Arkansas in Little Rock?

NRG is counted as a home venue for Sam Houston. Been confirmed multiple times by Kats athletic admin

Yes that counts as a home game.

I think it is a good idea. You could get some "big" names to come to this "neutral" site game.

WKU has done similar events in the past at Nashville Titans stadium (unfortunately--for whatever reason-- many MT fans never understood those games either). They were a big success for the most part.

(04-27-2023 07:02 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 06:06 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 02:52 AM)dawgonit Wrote:  This is interesting. Tech tried this approach around the turn of the century with Independence Stadium in Shreveport. We had the likes of Miami, Cal, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State coming to be visitors at our "home" game. It worked well as we beat Cal and Oklahoma State for example and had 40k+ crowds for those games. The problem was getting consistent opponents to draw bigger crowds. We had Tulsa and SMU fill the void in other years and the crowds weren't big enough to warrant the game there.

I'm sure Sam Houston's situation is better though. An NFL stadium in a huge urban area to draw fans and the recruiting possibilities can really entice a lot of bigger programs to schedule it. I hope it's fruitful for them.

I understand doing it but it reminds me of UMASS. It just screams little league.

IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

Trust me, I’d MUCH rather have Texas State come to Huntsville, or go to San Marcos, than play in an NFL stadium for the 13th season in a row. The novelty is gone. But if we want to even think about reaching the 15k threshold, we need to have games there.

We’d probably get a decent crowd for them in Huntsville, but would the stadium sellout? Doubt it. I’d anticipate 30k+ at this game in Houston. The environment at NRG is better for big games.

(04-28-2023 08:03 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 07:02 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 06:06 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 02:52 AM)dawgonit Wrote:  This is interesting. Tech tried this approach around the turn of the century with Independence Stadium in Shreveport. We had the likes of Miami, Cal, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State coming to be visitors at our "home" game. It worked well as we beat Cal and Oklahoma State for example and had 40k+ crowds for those games. The problem was getting consistent opponents to draw bigger crowds. We had Tulsa and SMU fill the void in other years and the crowds weren't big enough to warrant the game there.

I'm sure Sam Houston's situation is better though. An NFL stadium in a huge urban area to draw fans and the recruiting possibilities can really entice a lot of bigger programs to schedule it. I hope it's fruitful for them.

I understand doing it but it reminds me of UMASS. It just screams little league.

IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

Trust me, I’d MUCH rather have Texas State come to Huntsville, or go to San Marcos, than play in an NFL stadium for the 13th season in a row. The novelty is gone. But if we want to even think about reaching the 15k threshold, we need to have games there.

We’d probably get a decent crowd for them in Huntsville, but would the stadium sellout? Doubt it. I’d anticipate 30k+ at this game in Houston. The environment at NRG is better for big games.

We all know no one cares about any attendance minimum

(04-28-2023 09:52 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-28-2023 08:03 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 07:02 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 06:06 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  I understand doing it but it reminds me of UMASS. It just screams little league.

IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

Trust me, I’d MUCH rather have Texas State come to Huntsville, or go to San Marcos, than play in an NFL stadium for the 13th season in a row. The novelty is gone. But if we want to even think about reaching the 15k threshold, we need to have games there.

We’d probably get a decent crowd for them in Huntsville, but would the stadium sellout? Doubt it. I’d anticipate 30k+ at this game in Houston. The environment at NRG is better for big games.

We all know no one cares about any attendance minimum

But people care about attendance. What looks better for Sam and CUSA? Getting to report an average of 15,000 thanks to an NRG game? Or reporting 8k because we played in Huntsville five times?

(04-28-2023 10:54 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-28-2023 09:52 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-28-2023 08:03 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 07:02 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

Trust me, I’d MUCH rather have Texas State come to Huntsville, or go to San Marcos, than play in an NFL stadium for the 13th season in a row. The novelty is gone. But if we want to even think about reaching the 15k threshold, we need to have games there.

We’d probably get a decent crowd for them in Huntsville, but would the stadium sellout? Doubt it. I’d anticipate 30k+ at this game in Houston. The environment at NRG is better for big games.

We all know no one cares about any attendance minimum

But people care about attendance. What looks better for Sam and CUSA? Getting to report an average of 15,000 thanks to an NRG game? Or reporting 8k because we played in Huntsville five times?

I think students buy in to games where they know the teams. TSU is always a highly attended game for us even though they are FCS. I’d rather have the game on campus vs in Nissan Stadium even if that meant 44k in attendance (we had 22k last year on campus for the game).

I’m not sure if others realize how apathetic 90% of SHSU alumni are towards coming to Bowers Stadium. It can be changed, it’ll just take some time.

Obviously you’d hope the end goal is to have a nice enough on campus stadium to host a Texas State or low end P5 school, that’s a big reason you even try to go FBS, right? For now though, as TT pointed out earlier, playing at NRG doubles the engagement, the visibility and the brand-growth potential. Not to mention the recruiting chip playing in an NFL stadium once a year brings. Not just about the increased attendance number, it’s nice but really secondary.

I’m sick of going to NRG and idc about seeing them play anyone other than SFA there. But it’s best for the school.

(04-29-2023 03:55 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  I’m not sure if others realize how apathetic 90% of SHSU alumni are towards coming to Bowers Stadium. It can be changed, it’ll just take some time.

Obviously you’d hope the end goal is to have a nice enough on campus stadium to host a Texas State or low end P5 school, that’s a big reason you even try to go FBS, right? For now though, as TT pointed out earlier, playing at NRG doubles the engagement, the visibility and the brand-growth potential. Not to mention the recruiting chip playing in an NFL stadium once a year brings. Not just about the increased attendance number, it’s nice but really secondary.

I’m sick of going to NRG and idc about seeing them play anyone other than SFA there. But it’s best for the school.

That’s fair if it is best for your situation. My experience is no school benefits from playing in an NFL stadium. I am also not an expert on SHSU so if y’all think it’s good I’ll go with that.

(04-28-2023 08:03 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 07:02 PM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 08:02 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 06:06 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 02:52 AM)dawgonit Wrote:  This is interesting. Tech tried this approach around the turn of the century with Independence Stadium in Shreveport. We had the likes of Miami, Cal, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State coming to be visitors at our "home" game. It worked well as we beat Cal and Oklahoma State for example and had 40k+ crowds for those games. The problem was getting consistent opponents to draw bigger crowds. We had Tulsa and SMU fill the void in other years and the crowds weren't big enough to warrant the game there.

I'm sure Sam Houston's situation is better though. An NFL stadium in a huge urban area to draw fans and the recruiting possibilities can really entice a lot of bigger programs to schedule it. I hope it's fruitful for them.

I understand doing it but it reminds me of UMASS. It just screams little league.

IIRC UMASS played all of their home games at Gillette a while. That would be detrimental, sure. Playing in the NFL stadium just once a year helps, if anything. Plus I think we need to have them, as there’s no way we’d ever meet 15k threshold without NRG games.

UMASS played a few seasons at Gillette but then switched to having “big” games there. They’ve come off of that lately it seems. I just don’t think you’ll see the numbers you want unless it’s SFA. I think on campus is the way to go especially for big games.

Trust me, I’d MUCH rather have Texas State come to Huntsville, or go to San Marcos, than play in an NFL stadium for the 13th season in a row. The novelty is gone. But if we want to even think about reaching the 15k threshold, we need to have games there.

We’d probably get a decent crowd for them in Huntsville, but would the stadium sellout? Doubt it. I’d anticipate 30k+ at this game in Houston. The environment at NRG is better for big games.

Trust me, Most (if not all) the kids playing in this game will be stoked to play it at NRG. While the “novelty” may be gone for you, it’s a pretty big deal for the players.

I’m glad we’re renewing this series, goes back to 1915. A lot of history between our two programs.

Should be fun . . .

Yeah, in the end I’m really happy to play TXST wherever. Just think it’s gotten old from a fan’s perspective. Keeler has pointed out a few times how huge the NRG experience is for recruiting, especially when we were FCS.

It’ll be a fun weekend in Houston. Hopefully the rivalry picks up where it left off and the game is a fun, competitive one.

Air Force in 2023, the school from San Marcos in 2024. Could a PAC-12 school be in the works following that?

Quote:Meanwhile, Sam Houston has started a new tradition of its own at NRG Stadium, where it plans to continue playing games on an annual basis. The Bearkats will face Air Force and former Southland Conference rival Texas State in Houston the next two seasons, respectively. While there haven't been any concrete developments in terms of opponents for 2025 and beyond, an athletic department source stated that "numerous Pac-12 schools have expressed interest in playing that game," with the recruiting opportunities of playing in Houston serving as a significant draw.

Houston Chronicle

(07-01-2022 06:22 PM)Saint Greg Wrote:  I think it helped when we played UMass at Gillette Stadium to be able to tell recruits they’re going to get to play a game in an NFL stadium.

You do?
I know they said that, but I have always assumed we were just making the best of having signed an inexplicable one and one with UMass. And moving a home game against an SEC team to do it.

Like "I got a neat paw patrol sticker after my root canal" = "we played @ UMass in an NFL stadium."

But I could be wrong.
Maybe we signed a bunch of good recruits off that deal. The score was good, so that was a plus, certainly.

(07-03-2023 03:59 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Air Force in 2023, the school from San Marcos in 2024. Could a PAC-12 school be in the works following that?

Quote:Meanwhile, Sam Houston has started a new tradition of its own at NRG Stadium, where it plans to continue playing games on an annual basis. The Bearkats will face Air Force and former Southland Conference rival Texas State in Houston the next two seasons, respectively. While there haven't been any concrete developments in terms of opponents for 2025 and beyond, an athletic department source stated that "numerous Pac-12 schools have expressed interest in playing that game," with the recruiting opportunities of playing in Houston serving as a significant draw.

Houston Chronicle

Let the bidding war begin! In all seriousness though, who do you think is the most likely school to come down and play us?

(07-04-2023 08:19 PM)Tubakat2014 Wrote:  

(07-03-2023 03:59 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Air Force in 2023, the school from San Marcos in 2024. Could a PAC-12 school be in the works following that?

Quote:Meanwhile, Sam Houston has started a new tradition of its own at NRG Stadium, where it plans to continue playing games on an annual basis. The Bearkats will face Air Force and former Southland Conference rival Texas State in Houston the next two seasons, respectively. While there haven't been any concrete developments in terms of opponents for 2025 and beyond, an athletic department source stated that "numerous Pac-12 schools have expressed interest in playing that game," with the recruiting opportunities of playing in Houston serving as a significant draw.

Houston Chronicle

Let the bidding war begin! In all seriousness though, who do you think is the most likely school to come down and play us?

TT felt the need to updated us on the SBC board about this and I replied saying to check the future schedules and see what PAC 12 teams have openings. Its tough for them since they only play 3 OOC games.

(07-04-2023 08:19 PM)Tubakat2014 Wrote:  

(07-03-2023 03:59 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Air Force in 2023, the school from San Marcos in 2024. Could a PAC-12 school be in the works following that?

Quote:Meanwhile, Sam Houston has started a new tradition of its own at NRG Stadium, where it plans to continue playing games on an annual basis. The Bearkats will face Air Force and former Southland Conference rival Texas State in Houston the next two seasons, respectively. While there haven't been any concrete developments in terms of opponents for 2025 and beyond, an athletic department source stated that "numerous Pac-12 schools have expressed interest in playing that game," with the recruiting opportunities of playing in Houston serving as a significant draw.

Houston Chronicle

Let the bidding war begin! In all seriousness though, who do you think is the most likely school to come down and play us?

Wazzu

If Colorado, Utah, AZ or whoever else is rumored to be coming to the B12 whould be out since their future schedule will have TX games.

If the P10 current members stay the guesses would be those above and AZ State. Oregon maybe a candidate but their name is fairly strong across the country. Washington, if truly a BIG candidate, needs to broaden their recruiting and brand across the country could be a candidate. The negative, does giving Sam a home game hurt your brand? A BIG candidate playing a G5 at home does look like a BIG brand.

(07-04-2023 08:19 PM)Tubakat2014 Wrote:  

(07-03-2023 03:59 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Air Force in 2023, the school from San Marcos in 2024. Could a PAC-12 school be in the works following that?

Quote:Meanwhile, Sam Houston has started a new tradition of its own at NRG Stadium, where it plans to continue playing games on an annual basis. The Bearkats will face Air Force and former Southland Conference rival Texas State in Houston the next two seasons, respectively. While there haven't been any concrete developments in terms of opponents for 2025 and beyond, an athletic department source stated that "numerous Pac-12 schools have expressed interest in playing that game," with the recruiting opportunities of playing in Houston serving as a significant draw.

Houston Chronicle

Let the bidding war begin! In all seriousness though, who do you think is the most likely school to come down and play us?

I think any of what is left of the PAC 12 schools might make this trip. They don't usually get a chance to play in arguably the hottest recruiting area in the nation.

(07-04-2023 08:19 PM)Tubakat2014 Wrote:  In all seriousness though, who do you think is the most likely school to come down and play us?

I'm sure SHSU's P5 opponent pool will be at the same basic level as JSU's.

That is, take the top-level P5s off the board. We're not landing a home game against UGA or Bama. You're not going to land one against Texas, Texas A&M, or LSU.

But the "low-end" P5s -- schools like Mizzou, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech -- have historically shown more of a willingness to travel, especially as part of a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 arrangement.

I think at that level, the chance to play in an NFL stadium in Houston will make more of a difference to your possible opponents. These schools need every edge they can get to compete, and even if they're already making a trip or 2 to Texas on their conference schedule, they'll gladly squeeze in one more.