ESPN Article

[oneepstein]

Also, it shows the impact of success. Need another $100k for the QB? Here it is, no problem! We will see how this all plays out. But if Odom can continue winning the purses will open up. If the power brokers feel that a winning college football team has value and adds to the Vegas brand, the floodgates will open.

I tend to agree with many who think that the support just hasn’t been there so why should it start now, but…

Vegas is ALWAYS looking for events and MORE visitors, and the casinos are very involved and interested in THAT.

A GOOD UNLV program in both football and basketball, but mostly football, can attract visitors beyond locals. It may not be a ton, but opposing teams fan bases are more likely to travel to see their team vs a top 25 UNLV than they otherwise might be.

I don’t know if it moves the needle, but it’s at least a pitch to be made.

 

[j. spilotro]

I tend to agree with many who think that the support just hasn’t been there so why should it start now, but…

Vegas is ALWAYS looking for events and MORE visitors, and the casinos are very involved and interested in THAT.

A GOOD UNLV program in both football and basketball, but mostly football, can attract visitors beyond locals. It may not be a ton, but opposing teams fan bases are more likely to travel to see their team vs a top 25 UNLV than they otherwise might be.

I don’t know if it moves the needle, but it’s at least a pitch to be made.

It’s hard to guess what the reaction would be.

Back when we were amazing, the hotel becoming resort just started as the basketball program started to drop. The mirage, Excalibur around 1990, 1991? I do think there was a ton of pride in the Rebel program back then by the casinos. But they weren’t the mega corps that they’ve now become.

The sheer size and variation now has really diluted what we are experiencing with football. If Nunnelly or Strong had us ranked and undefeated, it would be very loud noise locally. With Odom, it’s there but it’s kind of mixed in with a lot of other things. Sure; for the diehards it’s loud and it’s leaked further than that. But it should be an emphatic bang heard across the valley and it’s not.

 

[Rebel1986]

For competitive purposes so that we have a more than one bid conference. Even with them we may be only one bid but it adds the potential for two.

I believe Grand Canyon would be a much better long term pick than Gonzaga. They have quickly moved into a top 25 level program with wins over 2 top 25 teams last season including over San Diego State, they have very good funding on a national level and they have an on campus population of over 25K with a total student population of over 120K with online students. They are a program that can very easily build a football program with adequate funding to be competitive. On the other side Gonzaga has an enrollment of 7,306 student which will never give them the ability to build a football program which makes them a one trick pony.

 

[Rebel1986]

It’s hard to guess what the reaction would be.

Back when we were amazing, the hotel becoming resort just started as the basketball program started to drop. The mirage, Excalibur around 1990, 1991? I do think there was a ton of pride in the Rebel program back then by the casinos. But they weren’t the mega corps that they’ve now become.

The sheer size and variation now has really diluted what we are experiencing with football. If Nunnelly or Strong had us ranked and undefeated, it would be very loud noise locally. With Odom, it’s there but it’s kind of mixed in with a lot of other things. Sure; for the diehards it’s loud and it’s leaked further than that. But it should be an emphatic bang heard across the valley and it’s not.

On the other side the casinos were being run by people that had no connection to UNLV, while many of the casino/hotel leaders are now UNLV graduates. Back in the 70's-90's casino's like Caesar's Palace that were more of a national company had a strong involvement with UNLV not just for what it could do for them, but also to have a positive connection with the people who live here as well as the local government. Get the local government more vested in UNLV football, and you will also draw in more of the casino money.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

I believe Grand Canyon would be a much better long term pick than Gonzaga. They have quickly moved into a top 25 level program with wins over 2 top 25 teams last season including over San Diego State, they have very good funding on a national level and they have an on campus population of over 25K with a total student population of over 120K with online students. They are a program that can very easily build a football program with adequate funding to be competitive. On the other side Gonzaga has an enrollment of 7,306 student which will never give them the ability to build a football program which makes them a one trick pony.

Maybe, on paper UTEP should be able to build a program too but they haven't been much even in that terrible conference.

 

[LocoRebel]

Maybe, on paper UTEP should be able to build a program too but they haven't been much even in that terrible conference.

If the money is what we are expecting, and for UTEP in CUSA was what we hears it was, they should be able to steady a below average ship, I'd imagine. Instead of a sinking one.

I've seen 400k for them currently from media rights, and an expectation of 4 million in MWC.

Between that, rekindling old WAC rivalries, their local fan support, and potential new interest I their program out west, they should be OK.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

For competitive purposes so that we have a more than one bid conference. Even with them we may be only one bid but it adds the potential for two.

I think MWC should kick the tires on St Mary's and Grand Canyon. GCU has solid baseball program as well. I know baseball is way down the pecking order. But basketball could use some depth.

 

[Rebel1986]

I think MWC should kick the tires on St Mary's and Grand Canyon. GCU has solid baseball program as well. I know baseball is way down the pecking order. But basketball could use some depth.

In basketball they would likely be at the top of the current MWC. Ask SDSU how they felt losing to Grand Canyon last year.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

I think MWC should kick the tires on St Mary's and Grand Canyon. GCU has solid baseball program as well. I know baseball is way down the pecking order. But basketball could use some depth.

I agree adding those two would make it at least a decent basketball conference. Not as strong as we were but better than where we sit today that's for sure.