Babcock to Va Tech?

[TrillCosby]

Football will always generate more $ for UC. Please stop with this MAC nonsense. Miami (fl) and Nebraska wouldn't schedule a home and home with UC if they were in the MAC and didn't plan to renovate Nippert. Babcock was exactly what we needed and he will be missed. Just need a new AD with the same guts and vision to keep the success coming.

 

[ralph1950]

But, profits matter more than sales. And, there are several programs, with both sports, where basketball is more profitable than football. Upon my cursory investigation, Louisville, Duke, Arizona, and Syracuse are prime examples.

The financial question for UC is ROI. Which program is more likely to generate free cash flow? Knowing Cincinnati the way I do, I would argue it's basketball.

Honestly, look at the teams. Do you think the AAC, without Louisville, is better in football than the MAC? You think more fans will attend UC versus Houston than UC versus Miami or UC versus OU?

We are dominating the AAC in basketball. Meanwhile, our RPI is stuck in the twenties. Next year, without Louisville twice a year, it will only get worse.

Football is more profitable than basketball at all the schools above, Louisville , Duke, Arizona, Syracuse. Those $300 million conference TV contracts which pay $20 million plus to each school are for football.

 

[Jarad_Hunter]

Devoting resources away from your strength is a mistake. At UC, basketball is our strength. It's what got us in the Big East in the first place.

I understand big-time football will produce more profits than big-time basketball. But, big-time football is not happening here. Any invested party, who spends a couple years here, sees the truth and leaves.

Ralph, here are a couple links, which support my proposition regarding the basketball programs being more profitable than football.

1. Bizjournals

2. Forbes

According to these figures, Xavier hoops generated more than three times the free cash, when compared to UC football. (Incidentally, the profit margin from Xavier hoops would make you salivate.)

Usually, football generates more sales, but it is also more expensive to operate. What matters is the cash left after gameday. The football programs in UC's tier are not highly-profitable. The ones that are the most profitable keep their expenses low, identifying the market for what it actually is.

 

[HoosierCat]

Basketball stays on campus, I'm tired of this downtown garbage. Fifth third is a good areana, and located right next to where the students, our loudest fans, live

5/3 is not a good arena. It is the #1 reason I don't attend more games than what I do. Non conference schedule being #2.

 

[cincycpaw]

I honestly for get people that don't attend games because of an arena. I could see it if you had to walk across hot lava and sit in a pit if snakes, but it doesn't really take much effort for anyone. I that's your excuse, you'd just find another if the arena was "nicer".

 

[Bearcat Rob]

5/3 is not a good arena. It is the #1 reason I don't attend more games than what I do. Non conference schedule being #2.

#3 your not a true fan
I go to every game and I love 5/3, it gets loud and is a good place to watch a game. Second of all our non conference schedule this year was pretty good and go to watch your team not the other. I don't go to 5/3 because I want to see the other team play I go to watch the bearcats play. They won 11 straight and are ranked in top 15 if your not going to the games that's your fault don't blame 5/3 it's a good gym

 

[waterhead]

But, profits matter more than sales. And, there are several programs, with both sports, where basketball is more profitable than football. Upon my cursory investigation, Louisville, Duke, Arizona, and Syracuse are prime examples.

The financial question for UC is ROI. Which program is more likely to generate free cash flow? Knowing Cincinnati the way I do, I would argue it's basketball.

Honestly, look at the teams. Do you think the AAC, without Louisville, is better in football than the MAC? You think more fans will attend UC versus Houston than UC versus Miami or UC versus OU?

We are dominating the AAC in basketball. Meanwhile, our RPI is stuck in the twenties. Next year, without Louisville twice a year, it will only get worse.

We are dominating the AAC in BB but we have only played 2 of our 8 toughest games to date. We won...YAY...but our RPI is in the 20's for this reason and because we had a terrible OOC schedule. It's not because we are in the AAC. When UL leaves it will hurt just a little...but we can make up for that with a better OOC schedule very easily.

 

[waterhead]

5/3 is not a good arena. It is the #1 reason I don't attend more games than what I do. Non conference schedule being #2.

I blieve you but the #1 reason most fans don't attend games is due to recent success and high rankings and tourney success.

We can replace you...we can't replace 5,000 of you. No disrespect intended.

 

[LaxCat31]

Let's hope that Whit Babcock leaving doesn't affect the momentum and success that the basketball team is creating and having. This could potentially become a distraction.

 

[LaxCat31]

http://www.gobearcats.com/genrel/012414aaa.html

It's official. Desiree Reed-Francois named interim athletics director.

 

[anbuc88]

#3 your not a true fan
I go to every game and I love 5/3, it gets loud and is a good place to watch a game. Second of all our non conference schedule this year was pretty good and go to watch your team not the other. I don't go to 5/3 because I want to see the other team play I go to watch the bearcats play. They won 11 straight and are ranked in top 15 if your not going to the games that's your fault don't blame 5/3 it's a good gym

100% agree. I go to the games to see the Cats, not the opponent. I want to see how the freshman progress, and the improvement of the team game by game. You can see the entire court when at the game, not just what they show on TV. When the arena is full and the students are there, the atmosphere is great. The student section at the UCF game was great. The student section will be sold out for the rest of the season, so the Shoe will be rocking. The rest of us should fill up FTA. This team and the coach deserves it.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

100% agree. I go to the games to see the Cats, not the opponent. I want to see how the freshman progress, and the improvement of the team game by game. You can see the entire court when at the game, not just what they show on TV. When the arena is full and the students are there, the atmosphere is great. The student section at the UCF game was great. The student section will be sold out for the rest of the season, so the Shoe will be rocking. The rest of us should fill up FTA. This team and the coach deserves it.

Yes, when packed the shoe is loud and awesome to be at. This team is rolling and deserves 100% support from their fans

 

[HoosierCat]

I never said they don't deserve it. And don't say I'm not a fan. I've been to games every year since 5/3 opened. I can be replaced, but I know for a fact people like me would rather watch them play southern Norfolk state from their couch than from the rafters or neck cranked from behind the basket. People are forced to watch their spending now a days, including me. And to me and a lot of others, the couch is a better experience to still watch MY team. They need a better place to draw people like me back, like it or not.

 

[HoosierCat]

And I have tix to two AAC games this year.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Again the gym is good, in every big gym the the view from the top seats in not as good as from the lower level....u cant rennovote that unless u want to make it smaller even then the top seats are the cheapest for a reason you are the furthest away. I dont see anything wrong with it, i have been to several gyms and fifth third is great

 

[Bcatfollower]

It is disappointing that with all of the perceived momentum from the stadium renovation and football success that the coaches/administration don't want to actually build anything of their own at U.C. Perhaps its due to larger paychecks with less adversity offered by other universities, but it seems everyone who leaves U.C. somehow finds their "dream job". Maybe U.C. should go the M.C. route and try to find the most qualified local candidates who are U.C. alum and hope they want to actually move U.C. forward for the long haul.

 

[HoosierCat]

Eh, I've been to plenty that are better, including our cross town rival. They are winning, which is key to even think about getting a better place to play. I will agree, that place can get loud. But so could the gardens for Cyclone games. I also believe they are stuck with the current arena for awhile as it is. So I will continue to attend a few conference games to support them. I really don't think that makes me any "less" of a fan.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I consider myself a fan but I haven't had season tickets but I do go to games. I go to see the game. Could careless about the atmosphere. If I have to sit on the bench seats I'm cheering from home.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Found this interesting. Could the decline in attendence be more then about Our Coaching change? Found this on lance's blog page.


Check out this new Harris Poll about America's Favorite Sport

N.Y. – January 16, 2014 – In September and October, it’s an argument that happens year after year in sports bars nationwide. But, it might be that it’s one that comes to an easy conclusion, as football continues to dominate over baseball as America’s Favorite Sport. Over one-third (35%) of adults who follow at least one sport say professional football is their favorite sport, while just 14% say baseball is their favorite.

Results
Pro Football 35%
Baseball 14%
College football 11%
Auto Racing 7%
Men's pro basketball 6%
NHL 5%
Men's college basketball 3%



Read more: http://www.espn1530.com/pages/lances...#ixzz2rLbSNyUC

 

[JerseySean]

I think we should remember that Bob Goin was here for a number of years. Came from a reputable athletic department (Florida State), oversaw the renaissance of football (first return to a bowl game in forever) and hired Bobby Huggins. He retired from UC. Net, there are people out there we can find who want the challenge of turning UC into a real contender. I came to campus in the autumn of 1986. How far we have come! I suffered through 2 win football seasons - and basketball seasons that didn't win much more than that!

I, too, am disappointed that Babcock left. But just like Bob Goin or, for that matter, Mick Cronin, we'll eventually find that person who WANTS to be a part of the UC community, WANTS to stay a long time, and WANTS to retire a Bearcat. Let's just hope it's the next hire... not the hire after the hire after the next hire.