A new and better FBS thread

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JMB

Is interest from a media perspective continuing to wane? What is NDSU'S TV ratings for the year?

---

How did the FCS national championship game TV ratings compare to FBS bowl games?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JMB

To me, the ratings are what would drive the media contract. It may even suggest that interest in the program isn't actually falling...

---

People less willing to go to games are likely less willing to donate to the program though

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 23Bison

First 3 games alone would be worth it for me.
https://twitter.com/bearkatsfb/statu...5m2Dxpn_YYQqJg

---

If the over/under is SHSU 6.5 wins, what are you taking?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NDSU92

People less willing to go to games are likely less willing to donate to the program though

---

BYU Air Force and Houston. Ill take it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NDSU92

People less willing to go to games are likely less willing to donate to the program though

---

Correct. Monetizing interest is one of the most critical elements to a successful Athletic Department. NDSU's media deal is great for an FCS program but it has no chance of funding even our current program if there is a significant drop in ticket sales and donations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

Or the people in the decision making process have some ol boys club donors in their ear who they are letting steer them in the complete opposite direction of what’s logical. If you want to be scared of your own shadow, that’s cool. I’m just not going to join you.

---

BOOM tennnn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

Correct. Monetizing interest is one of the most critical elements to a successful Athletic Department. NDSU's media deal is great for an FCS program but it has no chance of funding even our current program if there is a significant drop in ticket sales and donations.

---

Sure, now imagine getting half the media money, and half the interest, ticket sales and donations.
That's the new cusa. Schools that have 5k attendance and a crap media deal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Sure, now imagine getting half the media money, and half the interest, ticket sales and donations.
That's the new cusa. Schools that have 5k attendance and a crap media deal.

---

Nice, how good is the MVFC TV deal? How is their attendance?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Sure, now imagine getting half the media money, and half the interest, ticket sales and donations.
That's the new cusa. Schools that have 5k attendance and a crap media deal.

---

Why would NDSU get half the interest, ticket sales and donations in CUSA than MVFC? NDSU isn't like most of the CUSA schools just like we aren't like most of the current MVFC schools. We have a more established fanbase than the majority of both conferences. This is exactly what I referenced before. The MVFC is no better than CUSA. I'll give you that it's no worse, but stop trying to convince everyone that CUSA is this massive step down from the MVFC. It's probably more accurate to describe it as a lateral move in many ways. Worst case scenario we see a similar ticket decline in CUSA as we are currently seeing in the MVFC. I personally believe that a move to any FBS conference would bump interest and ticket sales initially. The question is how long would the bump last and would we be able to compete at a high enough level in FBS to keep that bump long term. If we get $500K from CUSA media deal annually versus the $1 Million from our media deal that's a $500K reduction in revenue. If our current financials are so tight that $500K annually makes or breaks our move to FBS, than there is absolutely no reason why we would even be remotely considering a move to FBS. CAS mentioned that leadership has heard the message and doing everything they can to make it happen. I personally hope it is something higher than CUSA, just like you. I just also believe that an AAC or MWC that invites NDSU straight from FCS is likely going to have a much different makeup than they currently do and probably be much more comparable to CUSA in strength/stability than many here want to admit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Sicatoka

If the over/under is SHSU 6.5 wins, what are you taking?

---

I’ll take the under. 0-3 OOC is a given for sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

Why would NDSU get half the interest, ticket sales and donations in CUSA than MVFC? NDSU isn't like most of the CUSA schools just like we aren't like most of the current MVFC schools. We have a more established fanbase than the majority of both conferences. This is exactly what I referenced before. The MVFC is no better than CUSA. I'll give you that it's no worse, but stop trying to convince everyone that CUSA is this massive step down from the MVFC. It's probably more accurate to describe it as a lateral move in many ways. Worst case scenario we see a similar ticket decline in CUSA as we are currently seeing in the MVFC. I personally believe that a move to any FBS conference would bump interest and ticket sales initially. The question is how long would the bump last and would we be able to compete at a high enough level in FBS to keep that bump long term. If we get $500K from CUSA media deal annually versus the $1 Million from our media deal that's a $500K reduction in revenue. If our current financials are so tight that $500K annually makes or breaks our move to FBS, than there is absolutely no reason why we would even be remotely considering a move to FBS. CAS mentioned that leadership has heard the message and doing everything they can to make it happen. I personally hope it is something higher than CUSA, just like you. I just also believe that an AAC or MWC that invites NDSU straight from FCS is likely going to have a much different makeup than they currently do and probably be much more comparable to CUSA in strength/stability than many here want to admit.

---

If you're going to shit on our media deal, at least get the facts right. We signed a 10 year, $21.9M deal in 2020. That's a whole lot more than $1M a year and more than double(almost triple) CUSA's. Those mid-week CUSA games are going to kill attendance. Plus we get statewide broadcast. CUSA gets CBS and ESPN "network", which will probably mean secondary cable or streaming. Don't expect many, if any, national main CBS or ESPN games.
It's simply not possible to think CUSA media is better than what we have now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by taper

If you're going to shit on our media deal, at least get the facts right. We signed a 10 year, $21.9M deal in 2020. That's a whole lot more than $1M a year and more than double(almost triple) CUSA's. Those mid-week CUSA games are going to kill attendance. Plus we get statewide broadcast. CUSA gets CBS and ESPN "network", which will probably mean secondary cable or streaming. Don't expect many, if any, national main CBS or ESPN games.
It's simply not possible to think CUSA media is better than what we have now.

---

I didn’t shit on our media deal. I said it was really good for an FCS team but it’s not the MVFC deal. I apologize for not looking up the exact information. The MVFC isn’t superior to CUSA but you’re also someone who believes the Summit is catching up with the MVC.

The current CUSA media deal is not better than what we currently have. Haven’t argued that point. I also believe that in the case of CUSA we likely will have some leverage in that regard. CUSA has to realize that we’re not going to give up money on a media deal to join their conference. If they have interest in us (which I believe is more plausible than any other G5) there are negotiations that are going to be had and if their stance is take it or leave it than they know NDSU is walking away. With pretty much any other G5 conference were going to have way less leverage and likely will need to make numerous concessions to get in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by taper

If you're going to shit on our media deal, at least get the facts right. We signed a 10 year, $21.9M deal in 2020. That's a whole lot more than $1M a year and more than double(almost triple) CUSA's. Those mid-week CUSA games are going to kill attendance. Plus we get statewide broadcast. CUSA gets CBS and ESPN "network", which will probably mean secondary cable or streaming. Don't expect many, if any, national main CBS or ESPN games.
It's simply not possible to think CUSA media is better than what we have now.

---

Yeah, there's no way we're joining CUSA without either major changes to their TV contract or major caveats that let us do our own thing with media. Taking that kind of revenue hit while increasing travel and expenses is a non-starter if there ever was one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by taper

If you're going to shit on our media deal, at least get the facts right. We signed a 10 year, $21.9M deal in 2020. That's a whole lot more than $1M a year and more than double(almost triple) CUSA's. Those mid-week CUSA games are going to kill attendance. Plus we get statewide broadcast. CUSA gets CBS and ESPN "network", which will probably mean secondary cable or streaming. Don't expect many, if any, national main CBS or ESPN games.
It's simply not possible to think CUSA media is better than what we have now.

---

Exactly.

If anyone thinks the Bison are so special that NDSU vs FIU or SHSU Tuesday night on CBSSN (they don't get CBS primetime) is going to be must see TV, you are crazy. NDSU vs SDSU on ABC draws far more, like it or not. Even the semifinal games draw more than this will.

CUSA and its members are locked into a 5 year, 800k deal. There is not going to be some super special exemption made for NDSU, the conference doesn't have the power to do that. They are contractually locked in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Exactly.

If anyone thinks the Bison are so special that NDSU vs FIU or SHSU Tuesday night on CBSSN (they don't get CBS primetime) is going to be must see TV, you are crazy. NDSU vs SDSU on ABC draws far more, like it or not. Even the semifinal games draw more than this will.

CUSA and its members are locked into a 5 year, 800k deal. There is not going to be some super special exemption made for NDSU, the conference doesn't have the power to do that. They are contractually locked in.

---

Thinking the Bison are so special that they are going to get invited to the AAC or MWC straight from the FCS is just as plausible as believing that we can negotiate a way to make a CUSA football only invite work for both sides.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

Thinking the Bison are so special that they are going to get invited to the AAC or MWC straight from the FCS is just as plausible as believing that we can negotiate a way to make a CUSA football only invite work for both sides.

---

AAC.... Matter of time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EC8CH

AAC.... Matter of time.

---

I really hope so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

Thinking the Bison are so special that they are going to get invited to the AAC or MWC straight from the FCS is just as plausible as believing that we can negotiate a way to make a CUSA football only invite work for both sides.

---

Chapodameous has declared AAC a done deal.

I think MWC or MAC remain our best options. MWC remains likely to lose one or more members in the near term.
JMU went straight to the SBC. You don't think we have more stature and pull than Kennesaw or Jacksonville St?

You really want to join a conference that is 80% low level FCS team quality? Games that would be over in the first 5 minutes. AND give up our Saturday games to be aired Tuesday and Wednesday on CBSSN? The MAC is far superior to this, and a reasonable conference we could join.

How many fans do you really think are going to be pumped up for Wednesday night games vs teams weaker than those we play now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Chapodameous has declared AAC a done deal.

I think MWC or MAC remain our best options. MWC remains likely to lose one or more members in the near term.
JMU went straight to the SBC. You don't think we have more stature and pull than Kennesaw or Jacksonville St?

You really want to join a conference that is 80% low level FCS team quality? Games that would be over in the first 5 minutes. AND give up our Saturday games to be aired Tuesday and Wednesday on CBSSN? The MAC is far superior to this, and a reasonable conference we could join.

How many fans do you really think are going to be pumped up for Wednesday night games vs teams weaker than those we play now?

---

I'd give my left nut and both of Chapo's for a football only move to the AAC leaving all other regional fcs schools behind.

Then fill in the corners and give me 25k in the Fargodome. That's how you inject the opportunity for growth and energy into NDSU football for the next decade.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EC8CH

I'd give my left nut and both of Chapo's for a football only move to the AAC leaving all other regional fcs schools behind.

Then fill in the corners and give me 25k in the Fargodome. That's how you inject the opportunity for growth and energy into NDSU football for the next decade.

---

Absolutely would be as ideal a situation as NDSU and us fans could want.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Chapodameous has declared AAC a done deal.

I think MWC or MAC remain our best options. MWC remains likely to lose one or more members in the near term.
JMU went straight to the SBC. You don't think we have more stature and pull than Kennesaw or Jacksonville St?

You really want to join a conference that is 80% low level FCS team quality? Games that would be over in the first 5 minutes. AND give up our Saturday games to be aired Tuesday and Wednesday on CBSSN? The MAC is far superior to this, and a reasonable conference we could join.

How many fans do you really think are going to be pumped up for Wednesday night games vs teams weaker than those we play now?

---

Never said I preferred a move to CUSA. At this point I would prefer any G5 conference over staying in the FCS. The only scenario in which I would not is an all sports CUSA move. Outside of that I don’t feel there is any upside for NDSU to stay the status quo. If there was a stomach from the fanbase and boosters to put a major emphasis on basketball than I could understand but I don’t think that is likely. Outside of that the upside of moving our football to FBS outweighs anything the status quo can offer and every year in the FCS is only going to make that more apparent to more fans.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EC8CH

I'd give my left nut and both of Chapo's for a football only move to the AAC leaving all other regional fcs schools behind.

Then fill in the corners and give me 25k in the Fargodome. That's how you inject the opportunity for growth and energy into NDSU football for the next decade.

---

You should send in your resume.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EC8CH

I'd give my left nut and both of Chapo's for a football only move to the AAC leaving all other regional fcs schools behind.

Then fill in the corners and give me 25k in the Fargodome. That's how you inject the opportunity for growth and energy into NDSU football for the next decade.

---

I don't want to know how you got possession of Chapo's nuts!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CyPanth

I don't want to know how you got possession of Chapo's nuts!

---

Oh come on, yeah you do…

We've all seen rumors about MWC teams possibly leaving in the next couple years...SDSU, Boise, what have you. What about the AAC? Anything similar going down there? Just curious if they'd be looking to backfill.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daddy daycare

We've all seen rumors about MWC teams possibly leaving in the next couple years...SDSU, Boise, what have you. What about the AAC? Anything similar going down there? Just curious if they'd be looking to backfill.

---

You mean after Cinci, Houston, and UCF, or…?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nca...ion/ar-AAWTrFg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daddy daycare

We've all seen rumors about MWC teams possibly leaving in the next couple years...SDSU, Boise, what have you. What about the AAC? Anything similar going down there? Just curious if they'd be looking to backfill.

---

I've heard speculation that they may be looking to going to 16 football teams, with two additional football only schools. Idk anymore I've read so many takes from so many people that who have no idea what they are talking about.

If the AAC was looking for football only schools, that would be really beneficial for NDSU's chances. I can't see how we'd be a great option if they're looking for all-sports (with the Sun Belt right there), conversely if they're looking for football-only we're probably the best program that would be interested in that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by heffray

Oh come on, yeah you do…

---

Of course he does! We ALL do!

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would
be added when we go FBS?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DORMIE

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would
be added when we go FBS?

---

Women's hockey. :biggrin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DORMIE

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would
be added when we go FBS?

---

Tennis makes the most sense. Easy add and the Summit sponsors it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DORMIE

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would
be added when we go FBS?

---

What about swimming and diving? Tennis only has a roster of 10

Do we have facilities for either? USD has womens triathalon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Women's hockey. :biggrin:

---

Perfect. Games can be played at Sunmart arena. Pre and post game at Chubbs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HerdBot

What about swimming and diving? Tennis only has a roster of 10

Do we have facilities for either? USD has womens triathalon

---

I think one of the Olympic trial competition pools from Omaha, NE is in West Fargo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DORMIE

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would
be added when we go FBS?

---

Beach Volleyball FTW

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigHorns

Beach Volleyball FTW

---

Discussion halted. This is the correct answer ^^^.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigLakeBison

If our current financials are so tight that $500K annually makes or breaks our move to FBS, than there is absolutely no reason why we would even be remotely considering a move to FBS.

---

Might this be exactly why your administrators are taking pause?

NDSU literally cut $942k out of the College of Engineering budget on Oct 28. That was just a portion of immediate campus-wide cuts handed down by the NDSU Provost.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Sicatoka

Might this be exactly why your administrators are taking pause?

NDSU literally cut $942k out of the College of Engineering budget on Oct 28. That was just a portion of immediate campus-wide cuts handed down by the NDSU Provost.

---

Possibly in the short term. Long term I would think that ticket sales, donor contributions and other larger revenue sources would be more critical to that decision. Currently my understanding is that ticket sales revenue hasn't dropped significantly because season ticket sales were still fairly strong even if not all of those tickets were utilized and the decline has been more apparent and significant in the playoffs which doesn't affect as much because a large percentage of the net goes to the NCAA rather than to the university. However, how long that will remain to be the case will be key to the future. I am not a season ticket holder but know of a number of people who are and there were numerous times over the past few years where they were able to find tickets to better seats much cheaper on the secondary market compared to what they spent in Teammaker fees and Ticket prices. For them personally they see value in supporting the program but how many will continue to do that if that trend continues? How much will Teammakers need to reduce the fees per seat in order to keep this from happening? My guess is that lost revenue from those types of adjustments if they are needed would likely be larger hits to the budget than that. The key is trying to project how far attendance could/would drop if nothing changes and what that represents in lost revenue. I guess that's where most of my criticism lies regarding a larger plan for the athletic department. It may very well be that all of that is currently being accounted for and we have a rock solid "tipping point" in which staying FCS becomes detrimental to maintaining the long term health of the entire department. There is just absolutely no indication currently that that is being done in any meaningful way which makes it very difficult to just trust that it is happening.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DORMIE

Anyone have a clue as to what women's sport would be added when we go FBS?

---

Equestrian.


Too soon?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Sicatoka

Might this be exactly why your administrators are taking pause?

NDSU literally cut $942k out of the College of Engineering budget on Oct 28. That was just a portion of immediate campus-wide cuts handed down by the NDSU Provost.

---

I suspect this is a huge consideration, or at least it should be...