Fenway Park bowl game starting in 2020

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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They'll put BC, Syracuse, and perhaps Duke here, on a rotating basis.

If they get one of the dogs like Louisville or NC State, watch out, empty seats. I think they're smart enough to not ever ever put Wake here.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Most bowl games are sparsely attended.
The stadium (Park) is half the size of a traditional bowl stadium, though. If it's after the 19th/20th or so, it'll get the tourists in for a couple years. It's not the worst idea they've ever had for Fenway.

The restaurants in the area could sure use the business for the 3+ days fans are in town. Honestly, I'd rather have events here in the winter, than in the summer tearing up field.

Tilted Kilt couldn't even survive a single offseason.
 

axx

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Do you see people wanting to watch a middling 5-7 ACC team take on a bad AAC team in the freezing cold and snow? This is a terrible idea.
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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The field is not heated, is it? Under the right, or should I say, wrong, conditions; could be an Ice Bowl.
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Why do some think this is a "terrible idea", rather than just being indifferent to it? Who is hurt if it fails? It seems a like a way to squeeze out a little more non-red sox game revenue from the park, and by extension, maybe give a little boost to bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, at a time of year where they could probably use it. I can't say the likely match-ups would be anything I would go out of my way for, but really, what's the harm in giving it a shot?
 

axx

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Why do some think this is a "terrible idea", rather than just being indifferent to it? Who is hurt if it fails? It seems a like a way to squeeze out a little more non-red sox game revenue from the park, and by extension, maybe give a little boost to bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, at a time of year where they could probably use it. I can't say the likely match-ups would be anything I would go out of my way for, but really, what's the harm in giving it a shot?
There are too many bowl games already, not to mention the safety issues in playing in such poor conditions. You are also talking about 2 teams with likely losing records, it's not going to be any kind of draw.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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There are too many bowl games already, not to mention the safety issues in playing in such poor conditions. You are also talking about 2 teams with likely losing records, it's not going to be any kind of draw.
You've heard of the concept of bowl eligibility, right? While it's possible the ACC team may be 6-6, it's is almost virtually impossible that both teams will be below .500.
 

gmogmo

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Jul 15, 2005
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There are too many bowl games already, not to mention the safety issues in playing in such poor conditions. You are also talking about 2 teams with likely losing records, it's not going to be any kind of draw.
For ESPN and the viewing public, there aren't too many bowl games....you might not personally be interested, but the ratings of these 2nd/3rd tier bowl games dwarf what ESPN would normally put in their spot, and are better than most sports regular season games. It's a revenue generator for Fenway, it will help the businesses around the park, bring it on.
 

axx

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You've heard of the concept of bowl eligibility, right? While it's possible the ACC team may be 6-6, it's is almost virtually impossible that both teams will be below .500.
There are so many bowl games now, they will almost have to pull from teams with losing records or yes 6-6.

If you are going to do this bowl inflation it'd be better if these bowls were in the South where at least the weather is nice then.
 

Humphrey

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I don't see Boston being a big Xmas time destination and a lot of the ACC schools make semi-annual trips there in the fall anyway.

But I don't really have any dog in the hunt; and if it's on TV, will most likely watch. I seem to catch most of the crap bowls one way or another.
 

Vinho Tinto

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As far as I know, the closest bowl game is played in the Bronx. Count me in. I love Bowl season. Especially if the teams are underrated.
 

berniecarbo1

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Oct 1, 2008
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As discussed above this will be the Tier II bowl game that will round robin with BC, Syracuse, Pitt, and occasionally Duke/UVA who will play Temple, UConn, Navy, Cincinnati and occasionally in an off year, UCF/USF. Not much to be excited about.
 

axx

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Is the Garden too small to host a football game? Lets face it, the attendance is going to be Marlins-Pirates bad but maybe you could get locals to go to it if it was indoors and tickets were cheap.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Is the Garden too small to host a football game? Lets face it, the attendance is going to be Marlins-Pirates bad but maybe you could get locals to go to it if it was indoors and tickets were cheap.
You want to play a football game on a hockey rink?
 

Humphrey

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God forbid how many will be there if it's an average Christmas week day weather-wise. Even the freebies will go unused.

And I doubt Fenway has any of the type of stuff that places like Green Bay and Chicago have to keep the field from freezing.
 

CFB_Rules

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Nov 29, 2016
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Didn't Fenway used to have both teams on the same sideline for those games? If I remember they basically had to get an exception from the NCAA to ignore all substitution rules.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Didn't Fenway used to have both teams on the same sideline for those games? If I remember they basically had to get an exception from the NCAA to ignore all substitution rules.
That’s correct and if the seating chart is a good indicator, Virginia and SMU will be sharing the same sideline for the first Fenway Bowl.

I believe games at Wrigley Field and Globe Life Field used similar setups this year. Also, the Boston Patriots shared the same sideline their opponents when they were Fenway tenants.
 

edoug

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Jul 15, 2005
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The match up seems to be pretty good. On the other hand, it could be legendary bad. A good chance it will be offensive.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/12/college-football-bowl-games-ranking-all-43-how-good-is-your-bowl/4

10. Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Wednesday, December 29
ESPN, 11:00 am
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
SMU vs Virginia

"There’s a shot this turns into a crazy and ugly blowout if everything plays out like it probably should – SMU has been awful in bowls, which is part of the reason why it’s my No. 1 against the spread confidence pool bowl – this should be a blast.

The novelty of the game being played in a baseball stadium will quickly wear off, but the SMU offense – even in its jumbled coaching state – will be good, the Virginia offense will be great, and the two should combine for over 700 yards of passing offense."

Line: SMU -1.5, o/u: 71.5."

https://www.si.com/college/tcu/football/best-bowl-games-you-arent-thinking-of-2021
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Virginia vs. SMU
Wednesday, December 29, 11:00 a.m.

"Speaking of running up scores, if you like points, this is your game. First of all, it has one of the highest implied point totals of any bowl game. Neither team has their head coach, with Bronco Mendenhall announcing his "stepping away" from Virginia and Sonny Dykes leaving SMU to coach TCU. With both teams in limbo, what is there to lose?

It's a wacky game in more ways than who isn't there– it's played at Fenway Park in Boston. The potential for cold and messy weather is there since this is one of few bowl games played outdoors in the northern US.

Eight Virginia starters announced their intent to transfer, including three of five offensive linemen. SMU has their own total of transfers, including their two leading receivers. If any game is going to go completely off the rails, it's this one. Tune in on Wednesday morning."
 

moretsyndrome

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I mean, ticket prices aren't that bad. If it wasn't probably going to be about 35 out and I didn't have a job where I'm scheduled to work at 11 in the morning on most every Wednesday, I'd maybe think about it.
 

VORP Speed

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Apr 23, 2010
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UVA full bar and brunch tailgate on the Third Base deck starts at 8am. Not a terrible way to spend a Wed morning. Get your boozy brunch on, stick around for maybe a quarter of the game, out of there by noon.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,432
UVA full bar and brunch tailgate on the Third Base deck starts at 8am. Not a terrible way to spend a Wed morning. Get your boozy brunch on, stick around for maybe a quarter of the game, out of there by noon.
Indoors or outside in the wind tunnel?
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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The Winter Classic is at Fenway; given the prep time for putting a rink down, either the bowl game is off (and 100% DEAD) or it's going to be one of those pre-Christmas ones in 2022. Unless they play it at Gillette or something like that.
 

mandro ramtinez

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Aug 24, 2006
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The Winter Classic is at Fenway; given the prep time for putting a rink down, either the bowl game is off (and 100% DEAD) or it's going to be one of those pre-Christmas ones in 2022. Unless they play it at Gillette or something like that.
The last time they did the winter classic at Fenway, the ice and boards were in place well before Christmas. Local adult and kids league were playing just about every night. Not sure if they’ll do it that way again.