2012 New Orleans Bowl

[RCAJUN90]

sat morning.

Very true and I didn't really think about that. Saturday morning is busy time for a lot of folks. Last year we were in a more primetime spot.

[Louisiana84]

One of the reasons that the Independence Bowl sucks is that 40k seats are pre-sold at a discount to corporate supporters of the bowl game. This is what keeps that bowl afloat. Those sponsors re-sell tickets which allows them to recoup their investment. It is still a rotten bowl to play in, ULM didn't make a dime off being there in spite of the fact that it was only a bus trip AND in essence, we helped finance their venture, their ineptness/suckitude and their swagless representation of the SBC.

That giant sucking sound you hear has nothing to do with Ross Perot... it's Moan-roe.

[RCAJUN90]

We made millions in good will, made many new fans and had a blast in the process. If we allow it to happen, we can also parlay this into the gateway to a conference that does not include a certain neighbor to the north.

I hope you are correct about the new conference. The thing that troubles me is that Tulane had the worst performance in 1-A and got rewarded with an offer to the Big East. Their fan base is MIA yet they moved up.

[CajunRed]

We're ahead of LaTechie, though. :-)

[Cajun Monkee]

What, pray tell, is the "ObamaBowl Tax?"

[RedBug58]

The problem with Orlando is that is in a must fly travel zone for me. If I am driving farther than Nashville, I am flying. My wife and I would fly there, but I know this may prevent some Cajun fans from going. Most people can't just decide with 3 weeks notice that they are going on a huge trip like Orlando.

I'd love to see us do Memphis or Nashville or Houston / Dallas. I think you would get close to New Orleans bowl numbers in the Texas cities.

I think you'll get some big numbers in Houston. San Antonio should be thrown into the mix also. It's driveable, in a dome, and there is a lot to see.

[cajunref]

Wealth ( bowl profits, it in only fair...) redistribution.

[Cajun Monkee]

I don't know what our debt limit is. However, while we had already secured funding for the campus facility improvements, T-Joe and Scott stated that Cajun Field renovations were imminent. They were reviewing plans and costs and were talking about getting approvals in one swipe instead of segmenting it. Then, with state budget cuts, all conversation ceased. At that time, we were barely creeping with RCAF. So, they apparently required no proof of its potential. They also didn't have confirmation of Hud's tremendous abilities, the largest increase in Cajun Field attendance, or record breaking bowl appearances due strictly to UL fan interest (at this embryonic stage of our reawakening). I feel very confident that nothing, from a financial perspective, is any worse for UL, than was the case back then. The state budget cuts to institutions of higher education operating costs are what I believe put T-Joe in a "political" situation... not an incapability of funding of Cajun Field renovations.

Further, we've passed a student facility fee that had not existed, and had no guarantee of existing, when UL bonded the campus improvements. That has to have raised our debt ceiling. Also, federal money was made available due to energy efficiency measures employed by these projects. Plus, additions made are expected to bring in more students. They are regarded as investments, not simply campus maintenance projects.

I firmly believe that if T-Joe wanted Cajun Field renovations to be funded, he can get it done.

Agree with everything you said, with one caveat: once an investment, or an improvement is made, it has to be maintained.

Once the project is done, you have to paint it, fix the toilet, cut the grass, etc. And while the enrollment would potentially go up due to the notoriety of the program, that increase in revenues will go first to the university and then to Cajun Field, Moore Field, etc.

I'll give two examples of this conflict. LCG recently bought the Horse Farm. The cost of buying it eventually goes away, the cost of maintaining it doesn't. And where does the money come from? There is money for existing facilities, not proposed ones. And I'm pretty sure we can't reprogram a capital dollar for O&M. And we wouldn't want to.

Now I have to plead ignorance here...I don't know if that dollar that was used for a UL capital improvement can be used for maintenance once the project is paid for. In any event, the project won't be paid in full for 20 years or so, so you wouldnt be able to use that money for maintenance for years.

Youngsville, on the other hand, did a project correct. Youngsville passed a sales rax to pay for a capital project (a recreation facility) but that sales tax also had a maintenance component to it.

I think T-Joe wants to see Cajun Field improvements. I don't think he'll catch heat from the community. I think the community will be excited about the improvements. I agree that this is probably all dictated by apprehension on the part of the administration. But if the picture is close to rosy, they should act.

7 paragraphs, including this. Oy, some people's children.

[Cajun Monkee]

Wealth ( bowl profits, it in only fair...) redistribution.

Conferences have only started revenue sharing since 2009? And this is because of Federal law sponsored by Obama?

Who'da thunk it?

[Turbine]

I know that a public tax was presented and voted down by the people of Hattisburg for S Miss---Wish we could get a Lafayette funding source for UL----I am very worried about the economy---We have a Socialist in the WH and I think we are headed for a terrible recession and Jimmy Carter type inflation---WE need to establish these interest rates NOW and get the raw materials and the labor costs while they are affordable. Ironically these were the premises that T-Joe so eloquently used against the RED-NECK board members on the Campus dorms construction---Hell who knows---just some thoughts!!!

When UL was founded and Lafayette was 4000 strong, the city won the bidding war because the residents voted a 2 mil bond on themselves.

I don't know how it was allowed to expire.

[Big Silly]

1. VALERO ALAMO BOWL_65,277
2. BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL_55,507
3. MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS_50,386
4. R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL_48,828
5. BELK BOWL_48,128
6. RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL_48,127
7. BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL_44,617
8. AdvoCare V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL_41,853
9. BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL_40,754
10. NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL_39,098
11. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL_35,442
12. KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL_34,172
13. MAACO BOWL LAS VEGAS_33,217
14. SHERATON HAWAII BOWL_30,024
15. FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL_29,243
16. GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL_24,610
17. LITTLE CAESARS BOWL_23,310
18. BEEF 'O' BRADY'S BOWL ST. PETERSBURG_21,759
19. MILITARY BOWL - PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN_17,835

[cajuncorkdork]

Conferences have only started revenue sharing since 2009? And this is because of Federal law sponsored by Obama?

Who'da thunk it?

no, but it is the type of economic system Obama is in favor of