April 5, 2009

Jax throwing heat in bid to keep Cocktail Party

As the end of Jacksonville's contract to host the annual Florida-Georgia game draws near, there's been some focus recently about moving the game away from Jacksonville. Some fans want to see the game go to a home-and-home series, while others like the neutral field setup but would prefer Atlanta, or even some hybrid arrangement between Jacksonville and Atlanta.

There's been some more recent buzz regarding theThere's a rather insightful ancient Taoist saying regarding business: "Money talks. Bullshit walks."

OK, so maybe you won't find that little nugget in Tao Te Ching, but you will find plenty of numbers-driven reasons why the (Adams says Don't Call It) The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party should stay in Jacksonville in this Times-Union piece.

The T-U story breaks down payouts for Florida and Georgia in the current contract - which is set to expire after the 2010 game - and details why neither the Gators nor the Bulldogs would be better off moving the traditional game from Jacksonville.

Among the findings:

- Florida and Georgia are guaranteed $1.6 million per year - or $6.4 million over a four-year period.
- Both UF and UGA net about $2.2 million per home game. If the series were to move to home and home, both teams would make about $4.4 million over a four year span, approximately $2.2 million less than they currently make in Jacksonville.

And there's an expense side to the equation as well:

Travel costs factor in as well. Georgia receives $100,000 from Jacksonville to help defray its costs, but if the game alternated between the campus sites, the Bulldogs would not get any help. Each Southeastern Conference road trip costs about $150,000, meaning Georgia would be out an additional $300,000.

UF's costs from Gainesville to Jacksonville are about $50,000. That's $200,000 over a four-year period. Two trips to Georgia, however, would cost the school about $300,000.

In addition, the city picks up the costs for game-day operations: security, ticket takers, ushers, concession workers, medical services, cleanup, etc. McGarity said the cost for those services is about $250,000 at Florida Field. Over four years, that's a $500,000 savings.

Financially, home-and-home is just a FAIL for both schools.

But what about the prospect of a rotation between Atlanta and Jacksonville? According to the Times-Union story, Jacksonville seats 82,917 for this game and the Georgia Dome seats 72,000. Since tickets are given out in a 50-50 split, both teams would have to tell fans, students, and boosters, that they simple cannot all go to games in Atlanta. Who loses under that scenario? Fans and students, I presume.

So... if the schools would get less and the ticket embroilio makes Hotlanta a non-starter... what's the reason we're even talking about the WLOCP moving?

Well - as best as I can tell - it's being bantered about by Georgia fans and the sentiment that playing in Jacksonville is giving the Gators too much of an advantage. The Bulldogs have won just three times in Jacksonville since 1990. But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, the Dawgs were 15-4 against UF from 1971-1989 in Jacksonville.

The series goes in cycles. Right now, UF is taking to Georgia - without question. A lot of fans thought the tide had turned after the Dawgs did the Stanky Leg in the endzone two years ago, but... not so much. But the fact remains - the Gators have owned Jacksonville and the Bulldogs have owned Jacksonville. So why bail out?

The long and the short of it is this: Florida-Georgia belongs on a neutral field. It's a great tradition that is paying off handsomely for both schools. There's plenty of seats for both teams and there's a nice little atmosphere around town for that weekend. So don't go screwing it up, OK?

Comments:

Jax throwing heat in bid to keep Cocktail Party
As the end of Jacksonville's contract to host the annual Florida-Georgia game draws near, there's been some focus recently about moving the game away from Jacksonville. Some fans want to see the game go to a home-and-home series, while others like the neutral field setup but would prefer Atlanta, or even some hybrid arrangement between Jacksonville and Atlanta. There's been some more recent buzz regarding theThere's a rather insightful ancient Taoist saying regarding business: "Money talks. Bullshit walks." OK, so maybe you won't find that little nugget in Tao Te Ching, but you will find plenty of numbers-driven reasons why the (Adams says Don't Call It) The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party should stay in Jacksonville in this Times-Union piece. The T-U story breaks down payouts for Florida and Georgia in the current contract - which is set to expire after the 2010 game - and details why neither the Gators nor the Bulldogs would be better off moving the traditional game from Jacksonville. Among the findings: - Florida and Georgia are guaranteed $1.6 million per year - or $6.4 million over a four-year period. - Both UF and UGA net about $2.2 million per home game. If the series were to move to home and home, both teams would make about $4.4 million over a four year span, approximately $2.2 million less than they currently make in Jacksonville. And there's an expense side to the equation as well:
Travel costs factor in as well. Georgia receives $100,000 from Jacksonville to help defray its costs, but if the game alternated between the campus sites, the Bulldogs would not get any help. Each Southeastern Conference road trip costs about $150,000, meaning Georgia would be out an additional $300,000. UF's costs from Gainesville to Jacksonville are about $50,000. That's $200,000 over a four-year period. Two trips to Georgia, however, would cost the school about $300,000. In addition, the city picks up the costs for game-day operations: security, ticket takers, ushers, concession workers, medical services, cleanup, etc. McGarity said the cost for those services is about $250,000 at Florida Field. Over four years, that's a $500,000 savings.
Financially, home-and-home is just a FAIL for both schools. But what about the prospect of a rotation between Atlanta and Jacksonville? According to the Times-Union story, Jacksonville seats 82,917 for this game and the Georgia Dome seats 72,000. Since tickets are given out in a 50-50 split, both teams would have to tell fans, students, and boosters, that they simple cannot all go to games in Atlanta. Who loses under that scenario? Fans and students, I presume. So... if the schools would get less and the ticket embroilio makes Hotlanta a non-starter... what's the reason we're even talking about the WLOCP moving? Well - as best as I can tell - it's being bantered about by Georgia fans and the sentiment that playing in Jacksonville is giving the Gators too much of an advantage. The Bulldogs have won just three times in Jacksonville since 1990. But it hasn't always been that way. In fact, the Dawgs were 15-4 against UF from 1971-1989 in Jacksonville. The series goes in cycles. Right now, UF is taking to Georgia - without question. A lot of fans thought the tide had turned after the Dawgs did the Stanky Leg in the endzone two years ago, but... not so much. But the fact remains - the Gators have owned Jacksonville and the Bulldogs have owned Jacksonville. So why bail out? The long and the short of it is this: Florida-Georgia belongs on a neutral field. It's a great tradition that is paying off handsomely for both schools. There's plenty of seats for both teams and there's a nice little atmosphere around town for that weekend. So don't go screwing it up, OK?