Okay…so FSU and Georgia cancels their home and home series…and agree to a neutral site game? We love our home and home games, but why neutral? What might be driving the decision to take it from campus to neutral you ask? Oh, hell, money, you should’ve known the answer to that one, precious!
The Duke-Amazon package — three neutral site games this coming season against UConn, Gonzaga and Michigan (maybe Michigan) — is not a novel concept. In fact, plenty of college sports teams hold neutral-site games across the pond internationally, some even outside their television package.
But within the United States? And within their own TV rightsholder’s geographic footprint? That’s the big difference here.
For some, it has cracked open what’s always been a steel trap, a locked box, an impenetrable wall: a conference’s exclusive media rightsholder contract.
Media rightsholders such as Fox and ESPN — the most prominent entities in the college market — pay millions to leagues for the rights to their schools’ home games and for the rights to their schools’ neutral site games played within their territory (in the simplest explanation, a network owns the territory where at least one of their school partners resides).
At the crux of this is that the Amazon package is probably a no-go with Michigan as Fox and the B1G have already pushed back as the game would occur withing their media footprint. Doesn’t mean they can’t move it to somewhere outside of the media footprint for both schools, like a site in the Bahamas or overseas to Italy, for example.
So what does this mean for a proposed Georgia vs. Florida State neutral game? Well, if something like the Duke-Amazon deal is afoot, then don’t expect it to be a the Benz, folks.
So, where are you willing to shell out money to travel to? If they pursue an independent media deal for a neutral site game for extra money, we’re gonna pay a heavy price to see it, especially if you wish to see it in person. And it won’t be in the southeastern United States.
Here’s some ideas:
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Why not. It’s “out of the footprint” and it’s in Vegas. I’d say the Rose Bowl, but if it’s September that’s going to be hot as hell without all the Rose Bowl pageantry, and would be let down compared to the 2018 Rose Bowl. So, if we have to crap out, let it be where it’s historically happened, and you can catch a good show afterwards if the game sucks. BUT…remember, the ACC media footprint extends to California (Sanford, Cal), so Cal is off the table and maybe even Vegas…so, it’s overseas we go!
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Florida State will remember this well as the place where Georgia Tech restored hope that they may be a competitive football program again, so the Seminoles might balk at this idea. But to be where Georgia faithful could visit the Bushmill and Jameson Distilleries, Dubliners may discover that there’s a Dublin in America, named Athens, Georgia. And we may actually drink more.
Wembley Stadium, London, England
Something about this just seems right. Sight of numerous famous concerts and a visiting contingent that loves music, and this might be a fun trip. Expensive as hell, but fun. Manchester, home of the Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, Oasis, and the Happy Mondays, is a light four hour drive north from there. Spend a week, why not.
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium)
Folks, let’s not fool ourselves, we love a good Mexican joint. A bucket of Dos Equis and a plate of street tacos and we’re in heaven if you put the game on the big screen. What better than doing it all right in the heart of Mexico? If you’re feeling froggy, head to one of the beaches and get some sun and maybe even a ride in the back of Ford pickup truck with a black bag over your head from one of the friendly local cartels.
Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy, Circa 720 AD
Hop in Elon’s latest invention, the WABAC Machine, and let’s head to Rome in the 6th Century. Drink real wine, watch someone who fumbles the ball have to fight lions or tigers, and see if Leo III gives you the thumbs up or down to see if he survives. Nestled in Constantinople, we can ask They Might Be Giants to do the halftime show, to boot.
The Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, Greece
If they can rip out the hedges for the Olympics, let them return the favor and rip out rows of marble so we can play a pointless college football game for hooting and hollering American fans to watch. No worries, Amazon will pay for the repairs, and, meanwhile. visiting revelers from the real Athens will enjoy the late night club scene around the coast of Greece. Good times.
Barrow High School Football Field, Barrow, Utqiagvik, Alaska
Hell, it’s September, it’s hot, but it’s not hot on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, is it? What’s better, it’s likely to be a day game, since the sun rises around 6 am and sets at 9 pm. Get disoriented, cool, and bring a cooler to sit on because there’s obviously no seats. But it’s broadcast on Amazon, so who cares?
Where would you most like to see an out of country game for the Bulldawgs?
Nope
Yeah, they can fuck right off. I’m not interested.
I’m shocked FSU wants some more at any price.
Out of the southeast you say I’ll pass.
“To the moon Alice”…GO DAWGS!!
No Damn where! Just keep beating up the fans. Gonna all go to hell!! Dawgs forever! Money, money, money!!!💰💰💰💰
As for me and my old ass, I’m not going anywhere outside of the two schools home stadiums to see those two play. And if they take their ball to some foreign land in the name of greed, I certainly won’t pay for another streaming service to watch it in my house.
European Dawgs would gladly welcome some old country travel with Kirby’s men.
Having family connections near the stadium in Dublin, rest assured the GTP refugees would have a sweet tailgating.
The International School of Brussels has an american high school football team and field. Go Raiders!
Other options…
Le Bernabéu in Madrid
San Siro in Milan
Allianz Arena in Munich
Parc des Sports in Biarritz, France (home of Le Sack, monsieur Richard Tardits)
Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam
Stade Louis II in Monaco – would be my pick!
Monaco? The Magill Society approves this message.
Play games other than Army-Navy, the Red River Shootout and the Cocktail Party on college campuses.
In an ESPN tv studio.
How about Buenos Aires?
https://youtube.com/shorts/IZQIdh1AYEs?si=hD02Fwiw1Umfbdun
Maybe we could learn how to do this hate thing right!
Pick a large overseas military base. Invite as many servicemen as possible.
Hell no. Not a dollar from me to further fund the demise of the sport.
Camp Nou in Barcelona…..because I….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AywQegBaKho&list=RDAywQegBaKho&start_radio=1
Wow, I was going to be agin it all until you mentioned Barrow, Alaska. Will I get to hunt the Vampyr there? Then I’m in (spoiler alert: other than being the Navy’s youngest astronaut, my other cover job was Vampyr Hunter. Dolphin Wrangler was already taken-frown emoji). Other than that, I don’t think I’d travel to a neutral site. I’m with Tony: “Not a dollar from me to further fund the demise of the sport.” Losing my enthusiasm for the WLOCP, even. In Athens, I can pre-game at Cutter’s and crash a tailgate with a TV, bottle in hand as a gift (Weller’s at $50 from JB’s in Normaltown buys goodwill and six bottles for the season are cheaper than season tickets). Heck, my bottle has contributed to a crash & burn that’s freed up a ticket, lol.
Road games? I can roll over to Costco get anything I want to grill or smoke and usually we have a pool party (my water confidence training methods are a hit with the under 10 yo crowd), barb a que or firepit at friends’, now that everyone is in the Grandchildren Business, I show up with a box of Crumbl cookies and I’m a Diva. Why let the FOMO send me all over tarnation? 2018 Rose Bowl broke me, I don’t think anything will top it and now I’m a section HD guaranteed to be with DGDs guy.
#GoDawgs
30 days of night, well done. Puts a whole new spin on a night game.
We’re already scheduled to play Clemson in Atlanta, I don’t see why they wouldn’t play there. Out of the country? No thanks? I hate it when both the NFL or colleges do it. There’s no sense in moving away from home and home when it means so much to the fanbases. Just cancel it if you’re going to do that as there’s nothing better than playing in your home stadium or winning in someone else’s stadium.
I’m not a lawyer/prosecutor but the evidence is now so clear that even I could still convene a grand jury and get an indictment of all of those in charge for grand larceny and conspiracy to ruin the sport. We keep saying these absurd decisions are about the money but the long term economics are going to fail so something more sinister is afoot. Prove me wrong.
I would go to London. Spain … I am in too.
Both have a rich history of gin production.
By the time this game gets rescheduled, FSU will be in Division II. Don’t matter.
I’m surprised CKS would agree to removing 2 cupcake games from future schedules in exchange for 1 neutral site (cupcake) game.
Tokyo Dome (The Big Egg) would be a lot of fun, but how about Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in lovely downtown Pyongyang? Would be a hell of a road trip and I’m sure Dear Leader would enjoy the crowds…..
Please don’t do it. Leave this shit to Georgia Tech.
Do you mean to tell me that there’s another Dublin besides the one between Macon and Savannah?
I am so glad we got our back to back and our undefeated natty before CFB was utterly destroyed by money.
-Muckbeast