What are your thoughts on neutral site games?

[Vfl2407]

With the Nashville Virginia game looking like it won’t be a sellout, thought I’d look at this.
Our neutral site games are usually in Nashville, Atlanta, or Charlotte.

Pros
Those cities are very important in recruiting.
Players from those areas get a game in front of family and friends.
Players get to play in a Pro Stadium (although some might also argue this as a con because of poor condition of turf in some stadiums).
Media coverage in those cities where we recruit.
Rewards UT fans in those areas with a game near their homes.

Cons
These games rarely sellout especially if we play a team that doesn’t travel well (eg. this year vs UVA).
Takes away a game of probable 90k-100k from UTAD coffers.
Travel costs to take team, staff, band, cheerleaders, etc. to another city.
Hurts the Knoxville and East Tennessee economy (Hotels, restaurants, gift shops, etc.).
One less opportunity to show off Neyland and UT facilities to recruits on official and unofficial visits.

Any other pros and cons you have?
So, where do you come down on this? Yes, or No on neutral field games.
I will post a poll.

 

[SDV]

Not a fan at all. However, I did enjoy Bristol

 

[A.J.]

I want every possible game at Neyland. If it’s gonna be a neutral site game, I’d rather it be in one of the newer NFL stadiums like in Atlanta or Dallas against a team that there can be some hype built up for instead of a middling ACC team. A game like this won’t draw much of anyone in that isn’t a UT or UVA fan.

 

[VolinMichigan]

I wouldn’t exactly consider Nashville a fully neutral site game. But I think playing there or Atlanta or Memphis is a good opportunity to expand our brand and give recruits a better chance to see us play. IMO the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[JohnWardForever]

I'm all for a Tennessee season opener at Jerry Jones' place.

 

[supersmo18]

I don't mind it as long as it's a P5 opponent, but it doesn't need to happen every year. Every other year is fine, but when it reaches the idiocy/longevity of the FL/GA game, I have issues with it. Neutral site games give other fans another chance to go see the Vols that may not always have the means or finances to travel to Knoxville. Nothing wrong with expanding your brand to other regions, either. I'm honestly very excited about the potential game in Charlotte, NC next year vs. NC State.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Vol Fans should pack the stadium for the opener with Virginia. Going to be a pressure free fun time blowout.

 

[Ovol]

Con…Everytime we play an ACC team in Nashville we get screwed.

 

[savannahfan]

I wouldn’t exactly consider Nashville a fully neutral site game. But I think playing there or Atlanta or Memphis is a good opportunity to expand our brand and give recruits a better chance to see us play. IMO the pros outweigh the cons.

Forget this!!!

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I wouldn't want it to happen every season, that's why I voted once every three years. Nashville is relatively close to all the major high school programs in Tennessee, so a potential recruit can see the product on the field. Tennessee fans travel well, so I expect those able to will travel to whatever venue the team will be playing in.

 

[Special Ed]

My thoughts?
I'm trying to think, but nothing happens.

 

[clarencepeabody]

Not a fan at all. However, I did enjoy Bristol

Me too. The game-watching experience wasn’t great, but the pre- and post-game atmosphere was awesome. Just imagine if neyland had camping and tailgating in every direction right next to the stadium.

 

[Pride85]

If the neutral site game replaces what would have been an away game, there is really no issue for UT. They have to travel to away games whether it is at the opponent or neutral. Often the pay is substantially more for neutral site games and a pretty good chance of being televised.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Forget this!!!

Hahahahahaahahahah Yep.

 

[Jpcisco]

I'm ok with it once a year, gives fans who can't make it all the way to Neyland options.

 

[Preyed_On]

I say axe all neutral site games except conference championships, bowl games, and the red river shootout.

I hate going to these brand new cookie cutter NFL stadiums. It just feels corporate and gross.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I’m going to Nashville. But I’d rather go to Knoxville

 

[IndianaVol]

My PROS for the neutral site games:

• Helps recruiting in talent rich areas that we either normally don't play or only play once in a year, i.e. North Carolina, Georgia, etc.
• MOST times it's a marquee matchup that gets great attention by a national TV outlet
• SHOULD emulate an away game SEC type environment / game day routine for the team
• Allows fans that can't normally travel to Knoxville or have access to see the Vols in person and see a 'tourist' area they wouldn't usually see

My CONS to neutral site games:

• Lately it hasn't been against marquee programs, that should change if UT keeps trending upwards
• See point number one...lesser competition equals lower attendance and less of an SEC-type experience
• Unless it's a 'once in a lifetime' or 'once in a decade' type deal, it needs to stop...Battle of Bristol was cool because it's a special thing not likely to happen again
• Agree with others, playing and attending a game in an NFL stadium isn't that cool anymore...friend of mine went to a Colts game, Titans game, and UT game all this year. Said the Neyland experience was far, far better and other than the roof, not much difference between Nissan and Lucas Oil.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Ordinarily, I'm not fond of neutral-site games. However, the decision to play Wyoming's "home" game in Nashville enabled them to wipe out something like 15 years of Athletic Department debt.

 

[Volfan1000]

With the Nashville Virginia game looking like it won’t be a sellout, thought I’d look at this.
Our neutral site games are usually in Nashville, Atlanta, or Charlotte.

Pros
Those cities are very important in recruiting.
Players from those areas get a game in front of family and friends.
Players get to play in a Pro Stadium (although some might also argue this as a con because of poor condition of turf in some stadiums).
Media coverage in those cities where we recruit.
Rewards UT fans in those areas with a game near their homes.

Cons
These games rarely sellout especially if we play a team that doesn’t travel well (eg. this year vs UVA).
Takes away a game of probable 90k-100k from UTAD coffers.
Travel costs to take team, staff, band, cheerleaders, etc. to another city.
Hurts the Knoxville and East Tennessee economy (Hotels, restaurants, gift shops, etc.).
One less opportunity to show off Neyland and UT facilities to recruits on official and unofficial visits.

Any other pros and cons you have?
So, where do you come down on this? Yes, or No on neutral field games.
I will post a poll.

I took a car trip to Las Vegas in 1992 and we hit Salt Lake City along the way where I saw the Utah pro basketball arena and ate in a restaurant.

Salt Lake City is a beautiful place to visit.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I hate them. College football should be played in college stadiums. It doesnt need the gimmick of neutral site games. I'd much rather have seen Virginia come to Neyland or us go out there.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

I'm 50-50.

 

[DuckInAPen]

I'm 50-50.

Yeah, I kind of wish there had been a Swiss option.

 

[The Original Fade]

I’m pretty neutral on the whole issue

 

[SpookyAction]

I enjoyed the Music City Bowl, and being from West TN, it is convenient.
But I think neutral site games should provide some kind of benefit in recruiting, and I don't see a ton of benefit to playing UVA in recruiting.
Is VA that fertile? Was there a recruiting advantage after the VATech game?