Brad Cesmat
The Fiesta Bawl and Cheez-It Bowl attendance added up to what used to be one Fiesta Bowl game. Empty seats for the two bowl games was the order of the holiday season. Very little local buzz around Cal v TCU and UCF v LSU left the tickets to the fan bases of both teams. One Fiesta Bowl back in the day would’ve added up to the two bowl games combined.
Now, in fairness to the Fiesta Bowl, a New Years 11am kickoff with bad weather, with two teams from the South, is bound to be a low attended game.
New Year’s Day in Glendale. #CFB #LSUvsUCF (https://t.co/0vPyFz2E7R + https://t.co/viakgy8Yg7) pic.twitter.com/vKtUAGFKT5
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) January 1, 2019
If the Fiesta were able to land Washington St. v Michigan, it probably would’ve been a different story.Instead the ACTUAL turnstile count from what I was told, was well below 50-thousand. Not good, not matter how hard you try and spin it. If the Fiesta isn’t a national semi-final or final game, then it’s just another bowl game. Too bad that the CFP has damaged what was once a big-time national brand.
Bowl game attendance isn’t as important as the ESPN TV ratings. In this case, the Fiesta Bowl didn’t grab a top ten number here in Phoenix. Every market in the top ten was from the South. The Game drew a 8.5 national ratings, while the Rose Bowl grabbed a 16.5. Simple math says the Fiesta didn’t compete for a big time audience.
Pretty clear that the Fiesta has to re-think what they are doing in Phoenix to grab local fans attention, Whatever their local strategy WAS, it’s not working, no matter how hard they may try and spin it…
G
ood for Bobby Hurley! I was in full approval of not starting his backcourt of Martin and Dort vs Colorado. Great early conference move…
Yes, Mike Hazen, if you’re going to tear the Diamondbacks down to the ground, then you should trade Robbie Ray before pitchers and catchers report. Now Zach Greinke is a different story. I’d hang on to him until the trade deadline and catch a kings ransom. BTW pitchers and catchers report in just 45 days…
The only team to make a playoff push in the last couple of years, Phoenix Rising FC, opens preseason games in just over a month. Can’t wait…
If you’re on the Suns payroll, then the team is turning the corner. Since I am not on the payroll, I can be objective and say, business at 201 W. Jefferson is the same as it’s been since 2010 (the last time the Suns had a playoff game). Try as hard as they might to sell Booker and Ayton, the Suns are most likely going to miss the playoffs again. You can’t sugarcoat the scoreboard and the standings with social media posts…
