Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl

[scumdevils86]

I would've gone but didn't even get home from work until 6. 37 degrees in Tucson currently.

[wyo-cat]

A Barn Burner.

[azcat49]

Exciting game. CSU just needed a time out and that wide out went Anu Solomon on that last play

[CatsbyAZ]

I would've gone but didn't even get home from work until 6. 37 degrees in Tucson currently.

That was kinda my problem too, when it came to trying to get my Dad to go with. He didn't come up with free tickets through work like I thought, and then he didn't even leave work until after 5PM.

Anyways, congrats Nevada on winning a very entertaining bowl game.

[wyo-cat]

Exciting game. CSU just needed a time out and that wide out went Anu Solomon on that last play

Casteel'd it?

[Siempre Verde]

There was a guy selling tix on Speedway for $5. He probably got them for free, but that's fine.

Yep, bleachers were cold, but I've been complaining for years that we lost our bowl, so we were going to support the local economy and adopted home town no matter what...at least through the middle of half time.

Best part of half time, btw, the mini-Winchester cannons that accompanied the Nevada band. I hope the people responsible for taking away Wilbur"s TOY pea shooters heard them loudly and clearly.

I shall never again complain about melting at an Arizona football game.

I hope they can find a way to get this bowl back, that it's warm enough to entice more locals to show up, they can secure a provisional alcohol license (ya right) and they can up the fly over ante to either 4 A-10's or 2 AZ ANG F-16's.


*Pretty sure this is my first sober, non in-game post here. I'll attempt to not make it my last.

[CatsbyAZ]

Congratulations to New Mexico State on qualifying for their first bowl since nineteen-SIXTY!

Good news for the Arizona Bowl - tickets are starting at the surprisingly high amount of $50 and keeping demand:

[scumdevils86]

tix were $25 for the game a couple weeks ago? i would totally go but the way my time off worked for xmas I have to be at work that day. would be fun.

[CatsbyAZ]

$25, $50, and $65 through the universities. Starting at $50 on the secondary resell markets.

Meanwhile NM St has sold out their initial 5K ticket allotment and requested an additional more.

After a shaky roll out in it's first bowl season (two teams from same conference, cold weather, no major TV contract) the Arizona Bowl has gone a long way to make the most of it. Last season they smartly tapped into the local Air Force market and this season they're hosting one of college football's feelgood stories with New Mexico State.

[azcat49]

Just read about the Aggies emotional win. I think I will call there athletic department and get two tickets from them. They keep half the ticket price and give the other half to there conference.

Not sure I will buy Foster farm bowl tickets but I probably should. I have to wonder if the AZ goal might get 40k+

[CatsbyAZ]

Had great time at Tuesday's Arizona Bowl - first time attending.

Upbeat local article on the Arizona Bowl's positive impact:

https://tucson.com/sports/greghansen/gr ... 52c21.html" target="_blank

It works. It almost defies modern sports marketing where “bigger” sells and “little” fades away.

Ordinarily, this might be a good time for the game’s founder, Tucson attorney Ali Farhang, to step away and let someone else do the heavy lifting required to sustain the Arizona Bowl. Nova has until April 1 to decide whether it will return as title sponsor.

Of the 40 bowl games, the Arizona Bowl is one of just two not broadcast by the massive money machines at ESPN/ABC, Fox Sports and CBS. The Arizona Bowl and the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl — Liberty vs. Georgia Southern — are broadcast on the second-level CBS Sports Network.

The 2020 Arizona Bowl, by whatever corporate name, will insist on two things: It will be played on New Year’s Eve and it will be played when the sun shines.

“This bowl is not TV programming,” says Farhang.

[Jefe]

Had great time at Tuesday's Arizona Bowl - first time attending.

Did you stop by the tailgate car show? I had a vehicle in and won a trophy.

The Wyoming fans really showed up for this. Back home for them was 18° so they were loving our sunny 60° day

[BBQ wildcat]

I haven't seen any attendance figures. Does anyone have them?

[scumdevils86]

36,892 per Wikipedia

[BBQ wildcat]

Thanks. Nice turnout.

[scumdevils86]

Yea I actually have new year's Eve off next year so I might make it a point to go.

[Merkin]

What was the turnstile attendance? Announced ticket attendance is widely inflated.

At least end of game attendance seemed pretty dismal.

[CatsbyAZ]

Had great time at Tuesday's Arizona Bowl - first time attending.

Did you stop by the tailgate car show? I had a vehicle in and won a trophy.

The Wyoming fans really showed up for this. Back home for them was 18° so they were loving our sunny 60° day

I did! Another good feature of the Bowl.

Overall really impressed with the management of the bowl. Rather than selling themselves for ESPN money they involve the community and make their own schedule and picks of teams. From what I could tell there were anywhere from 15K-20K Wyoming fans to keep the trend of team selection strong. Getting Air Force a few years ago helped attendance. Next year they'll bring a MAC team on board what they don't bring in can be made up for with well traveling MW teams or an at-large pick like NM St from a few years ago. Definitely BYU and maybe UTEP.

[UAEebs86]

Ugh

[YoDeFoe]

Ugh

This is good for the school. The whole barstool culture thing weirds me out, but the sponsorship will put eyeballs on Arizona sports.

[azcat49]

What in the heck did I just watch? What is barstool sports and how do you watch that?

[Chicat]

I despise Barstool, but this is good for UA, the bowl game, and Tucson. Hopefully they try to upgrade the conference tie-ins and I hope to god they do a weeklong lead up to the game showing how awesome Tucson is.

What in the heck did I just watch? What is barstool sports and how do you watch that?

Barstool is unapologetic douchebaggery. And I don’t think they would be insulted to hear me describe them that way.

If being a frat chode who roofies girls drinks could be distilled down into a specific scent, Barstool would sell it as a cologne.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Ugh

This is a fantastic move for the bowl. Look, that bowl was dying. Nova Home Loans isn't bringing eyes or engagement to a a bowl with no real selling points.

Barstool has some unsavory aspects, including Portnoy making some offensive rape jokes, but they are a home run for driving engagement with the bowl. Their media presence is huge and they will actively promote the game with their brand.

Would it have been better to stick with a vanilla sponsor and die in 2 years? Barstool at least is a path to long term viability for the Arizona Bowl. If they didn't have some warts, they wouldn't be messing with the Arizona Bowl. This has already gotten the Arizona Bowl more national attention then in the rest of its lifespan.

[Chicat]

How soon until they change it to the Barstool Bowl?

[Irish27]

[scumdevils86]

Hate to say it, but good. Barstool is a cancer.

[Chicat]

What percentage was their funding?

[gronk4heisman]

What percentage was their funding?

I read it was only $40K somewhere.

[PHXCATS]

Ugh

This is a fantastic move for the bowl. Look, that bowl was dying. Nova Home Loans isn't bringing eyes or engagement to a a bowl with no real selling points.

Barstool has some unsavory aspects, including Portnoy making some offensive rape jokes, but they are a home run for driving engagement with the bowl. Their media presence is huge and they will actively promote the game with their brand.

Would it have been better to stick with a vanilla sponsor and die in 2 years? Barstool at least is a path to long term viability for the Arizona Bowl. If they didn't have some warts, they wouldn't be messing with the Arizona Bowl. This has already gotten the Arizona Bowl more national attention then in the rest of its lifespan.

This is also a huge opportunity for the Arizona Football, Basketball, Baseball and Golf teams. I really hope that Fisch, Lloyd, Hale, Anderson and Ianello see what great potential this has for the teams and the university. Barstool pushes it too much at times but they actually bring tons of attention and do a lot of good. Finding the right way to work with them would be a huge positive game changer for our school.

[ASUHATER!]

Barstool is not something we really want affiliated with Tucson or the university

[Chicat]

Barstool is not something we really want affiliated with Tucson or the university

Too late homie. It’s affiliated.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Barstool is not something we really want affiliated with Tucson or the university

Yeah, it's a growing business not run by a friend of Robert Robbins.

In general Tucson and Pima County prefer stagnation and lord knows Robert Robbins prefers providing money to friends.

Edit:

This is what Pima County is about.

https://kvoa.com/news/local-news/2021/0 ... lary-vote/

[BBQ wildcat]

No TV, only streaming?

[Merkin]

I don't think Tucson and the UA have the elite reputation some think they do.

UA: A+ party school https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-arizona/

and for Tucson:

The Tucson nightlife scene is a diverse array of hipster hot spots, college hang-outs and dive bar glory. Whether it's your aim to dress up or dress down, see or be seen, rest assured that the Old Pueblo offers something for every mood.

[ASUHATER!]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

[PHXCATS]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

[Chicat]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

Right up until Portnoy makes a rape joke in the kick-off presser.

If Barstool can be professional and not just professional trolls/assholes, this can be a win-win.

[scumdevils86]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

Right up until Portnoy makes a rape joke in the kick-off presser.

If Barstool can be professional and not just professional trolls/assholes, this can be a win-win.

Yea, but that will be a tall order sadly

[Carcassdragger]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

Dude. Tucson is truly the best short term or weekend destination there is for people who haven't been there.

So many cool things to do or see. Old Tucson, the Desert Museum, Pima Air Museum, the bone yard, Mount Lemmon, Karchner Caverns, the Biosphere, great golf courses, outstanding winter hiking. These are just some that come to mind.

I've told some people about it that have never been there and they now love it.

If only we could add some competitive college football to the mix.

[Merkin]

Old Tucson is closed. The operator couldn't maintain expenses during the pandemic and turned it over to the county.

I liked Tombstone better once the original Old Tucson burned down anyway.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

Barstool wanted to sponsor this game because it lends itself to what they're trying to do.

First, bluntly, if Barstool wasn't a little "toxic," they wouldn't be slumming it with the Arizona Bowl.

Second, they want in on the streaming market. Again, the Arizona Bowl was perfect because they needed a bowl that had a crappy TV deal. The Arizona Bowl was probably willing to give up the 15 people watching CBS Sports Network midday on a non-holiday weekday.

[PHXCATS]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

Barstool wanted to sponsor this game because it lends itself to what they're trying to do.

First, bluntly, if Barstool wasn't a little "toxic," they wouldn't be slumming it with the Arizona Bowl.

Second, they want in on the streaming market. Again, the Arizona Bowl was perfect because they needed a bowl that had a crappy TV deal. The Arizona Bowl was probably willing to give up the 15 people watching CBS Sports Network midday on a non-holiday weekday.

Everything you are saying is true. Barstool also wants to he part of a community where they can have fun and have parties and meet and greats and all that associated with the bowl. Portnoy and Kayce Smith and Brandon Walker were all talking about how the city and campus are part of their plans as well.

The point is though, if everyone can hold off on their virtue signaling and judgment on this, I think the bowl will be a real shot in the arm for Tucson during the holiday season and will greatly help U of A in many ways in many sports.

[Chicat]

The point is though, if everyone can hold off on their virtue signaling and judgment on this, I think the bowl will be a real shot in the arm for Tucson during the holiday season and will greatly help U of A in many ways in many sports.

Virtue signaling…

So we should just pretend that Barstool hasn’t made unapologetic douchebaggery their brand? For the good of the town, right?

I was fine with this affiliation because the bowl does need a shot in the arm, but don’t ask me to pretend that Portnoy isn’t a professional piece of shit who has made an entire career out of being an abusive asshole.

[wyo-cat]

We’re all a bunch of old farts.

My 20 year old kid was super exited about this. He can’t wait to have his friends back east see his hometown through the lens of barstool sports.

[PHXCATS]

[Chicat]

I was fine with this affiliation because the bowl does need a shot in the arm, but don’t ask me to pretend that Portnoy isn’t a professional piece of shit who has made an entire career out of being an abusive asshole.

And here we are again…

[UAEebs86]

Paging Machina - please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Alieberman]

This is the least surprising thing to be exposed ever... How the UofA thought this was going to be a positive relationship is indescribably moronic

[Chicat]

Tucson isn't like it was 20 years ago, it isn't New York but it's a fun enough place to be a young person in or someone vacationing here for a bowl.

And that is entirely why Barstool wants to be a part of Tucson, U of A and this bowl game. U of A and Tucson can gain so much from this if they want to.

Right up until Portnoy makes a rape joke in the kick-off presser.

If Barstool can be professional and not just professional trolls/assholes, this can be a win-win.

I wish it had just been a joke.

[Alieberman]

Reading though these past comments are hilarious. Everyone of you knew this guy was a POS but that just doesn't matter to many, I guess.