Bowling Green State University Athletics
Ask The AD -- March 10, 2008
March 10, 2008 | General
March 10, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - Bowling Green State University Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Greg Christopher answers a few of the many questions that have been submitted to BGSUFalcons.com. Here is the latest installment ...
Q: Why are so many of our ESPN games on during the week?
Bill in Rossford
A: Here are some of the basics of our ESPN agreement...
ESPN pays the MAC for the following broadcast slots...
- TV coverage of the MAC championship games (football and men's basketball)
- A set number of mid-week football broadcasts in November. Given the mid-week schedule, this is why many MAC schools have a bye late in the season, in order to re-set everything for the last three or four games of the season.
We also have a new relationship with ESPN Regional for the syndicated package that includes six or eight Saturday games in September and October. These are the 12 noon kickoffs that used to be Big Ten games (our Temple game last year was picked up by ERT). The ERT syndication footprint covers about 25 percent of U.S. households and provides a great package for MAC schools.
Our basketball production package (for men and women) is different and includes ESPN and FSN.
Finally, once all of the above rights are exhausted, schools are permitted to have local coverage, which is how some of our games end up on BCSN.
Q: Great news on the Stroh Center. Any chance the building will be larger than Anderson Arena?
Kevin in Bowling Green
A: Our working number for capacity of the Stroh Center is somewhere in the vicinity of 5,000. I don't believe we need a facility any larger. Here are some of the key points...
- Our 40-year history of average attendance at men's games is about 2,800. I know we've been down recently, but with that track record, I don't think it's prudent to plan for more than 5,000.
- Adding seats costs more money. Our $36 million budget is sufficient but will be tight. Space in the building will run about $250 to $300 a square foot.
- Our number one priority is to create an intimidating home court advantage. An empty arena doesn't do that. Look around the MAC for several examples of nice facilities that are built more for concerts than MAC basketball games.
- While we expect to have a few concerts, most will go to the new downtown Toledo arena. Again, our main tenants and priorities are the needs of our teams.
- Regarding graduation, roughly 5,000 seats won't allow everyone to be seated for graduation, but the overall space, flow and queuing in the Stroh Center will be much better for graduation. We would need more than 15,000 seats to accommodate all requests in one building for graduation.
