Get On Board
The whole attitude adopted by the Lawrence City Merchants provides a concrete example of the cynicism that tends to hold back Kansas athletics. First off, my stance has always been that I enjoy the game and the atmosphere at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. I had no interest in a move to Arrowhead. However, Lew Perkin's and crew have taken a look at this game and identified it as possibility to advance the program to the next level. With the steps taken thus far, I have no reason to question that judgement. Plus, consider that we are competing with well-entrenched football programs like Texas, Texas A&M, OU and Nebraska with the expectation to rise to the top. So, the decision has been made and I'm on board and in no way does it take a genius to understand the potential that this opportunity presents for both KU and Lawrence. Of course, it's immediately a financial win for the program, but for the city of Lawrence it is more of a long-term proposition.
Unfortunately, the Lawrence merchants have set an expectation of failure for our football team. Try to understand the possibity of KU getting just two hard fought wins on the road against a few mediocre Big 12 squads. Of course, we expect to win every game at Memorial Stadium. So maybe the Hawks head into Arrowhead with a 9-2 record. Maybe the Tigers are playing the same and the game will decide the north representative in the Big 12 title game. Maybe 45k KU fans show up and MU brings 35k to make a huge atmosphere and ABC is televising game and the entire midwest is tuned in along with a good part of the nation. And of course, KU will win.
The game is a monster success and Lawrence loses the Border War forever. How does this benefit downtown Lawrence? Let's try this:
KU averaged 44k in 2006. If the Arrowhead game goes big-time, the fanbase grows and KU is easily on it's way to playing seven home games per year at full capacity. At seven times 6k, you've pretty much added an additional game worth of attendance to the equation.
Go even farther -- the track/lower field equation is ironed out and the new configuration gives us a capacity of 60k. The potential for another 70,000 in attendance. It's not out of the question. The appetite for sports in the region is massive. We average 16k for basketball and there is no reason to believe that is possible based on the population in the region. Build a winner and the fans will come.
Questions
The LJW World financed the study for the one-year impact. What was the cost of that? Did they study future years and account for the possible success scenario portrayed above? If not, it's questionable whether or not the paper invested that money wisely.
Consideration
This has been noted before, but again envision the game as big-time national level rivalry. In two years, does Blake Lawrence chose Nebraska over playing in the game? How many area football prospects will be able to pass on playing in the big game at Arrowhead?
Doubters
They say that the KU/MU rivalry can't reach that Army/Navy, Texas/OU or Ohio State/Michigan level. Maybe it can't, but it should be tested. There is a reality out there and that is that a lot of KU fans do not like to visit Columbia for the game. The same is true for MU fans and Lawrence. Both sides may be more comfortable at a neutral site. We know the rivalry is passionate, but can KU and MU fans work together to rightfully place the Border War among the major college football rivalries. It seems very possible and it benefits both schools. When you look at those big games like Ohio State/Michigan, as fierce the rivalry is, you can tell that fans take pride in the actual game itself. KU and MU fans need to tap into that pride for the Border War and expect to take the national stage.
DJ Goodwin
