Rotating SECCG venues?

[pineywoods]

Hi everybody, new guy here.

I'm sure my topic has doubtless been discussed, but are y'all happy with Atlanta always seeming to be the host for the SECCG?

Why not rotate? New Orleans, Birmingham, maybe Memphis ought to be good sites, too.

Any thoughts?

 

[bamanut_aj]

"Because Birmingham and Memphis both suck" is a good place to start for those two cities.

Atlanta is good for its facility and location.

 

[RkyMtnTide]

You could also throw Nashville in as well as Orlando. I think rotating would be good... fans could travel to different areas of the conference and it would give the conference even more exposure.

 

[BamaLaw]

First of all, Atlanta doesn't "seem to always be the host." Atlanta is the permanent home of the SECCG and until and unless they drop the ball (which I don't anticipate happening) they will--and should--continue to be the host site. I totally agree with AJ that Birmingham and Memphis suck. Birmingham does not have a facility capable of hosting it and even if they build this 40,000 seat boondoggle being promoted by the new mayor, they wouldn't have an arena capable of hosting it. As a facility, the Georgia Dome is head and shoulders above any other potential host site. Sure, there are home stadia in the conference that are large enough to host but who wants to take the chance of playing UT in Knoxville, LSU in Baton Rouge, UA at BDS, etc.? Of course, the Louisiana Superdome is capable; however, it is not nearly as centrally located as is the Georgia Dome. Also, the MARTA system in Atlanta makes it easily accessible from anywhere in the metro area. Basically, the SECCG has found a home at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and the naysayers just need to accept it. It ain't going anywhere.

 

[bamanut_aj]

You could also throw Nashville in as well as Orlando. I think rotating would be good... fans could travel to different areas of the conference and it would give the conference even more exposure.

The negative for Nashville is that it's outdoors and that seems to be a huge factor in the money-driven football we know today. Orlando is too far.

 

[GrayTide]

The negative for Nashville is that it's outdoors and that seems to be a huge factor in the money-driven football we know today. Orlando is too far.

:iagree:it's outdoors and sucks as much as B'ham and Memphis.

 

[bamanut_aj]

:iagree:it's outdoors and sucks as much as B'ham and Memphis.

Nashville or Orlando?

 

[MasterShake]

It's tradition :tongue:

 

[DiamondDust]

A previous poster mentioned it, but the Georgia Dome is pretty much a central location that can easily be accessed by all schools (Although it's quite a hike for Arkansas fans).

 

[AlabamaSooner]

The negative for Nashville is that it's outdoors and that seems to be a huge factor in the money-driven football we know today. Orlando is too far.

Also outside of the conference "borders". I've always thought that no conference CG should be held outside a conference border (Orlando is well south of Gainesville which is our southernmost school). It was kind of like when the Big 12 held its CG in St. Louis one year. That made absolutely no sense since no Big 12 schools are close to it (other than Mizzou). Centrally located is pretty important I think.

The only other option would be New Orleans (which is an awesome location), but I think Atlanta's perfect for it though.

 

[pineywoods]

A previous poster mentioned it, but the Georgia Dome is pretty much a central location that can easily be accessed by all schools (Although it's quite a hike for Arkansas fans).

Rotating between the Georgia Dome and the Louisiana Superdome seems the most interesting idea to me.

Permanently having it in Atlanta seems a little boring and unimaginative to me.

 

[JeffAtlanta]

Since the winner of the SEC championship game has high odds of playing in the Sugar Bowl, that would mean two trips to the same city back to back if New Orleans was in the rotation.

 

[Dogtown Darren]

In addition to the Dome, the Georgia World Congress Center is right next door to the Dome, making the SEC Fanfest easy and accessable.

Throw in the Aquarium, new World of Coca-Cola (just 4-5 blocks from the dome), a ton of hotel options, MARTA that drops you off at the Dome....

It's a no-brainer. Unless the local politicians screw it up (and trust me, they're more than capable of screwing up just about anything:rolleye2, the SECCG ain't moving anywhere.

 

[BamaLaw]

I have nothing against New Orleans hosting it on some sort of a rotating basis. I love New Orleans and love to go there. I've been there somewhere over 60 times. On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of Atlanta as a destination city. To me the main factors in favor of Atlanta are the relative centrality and the transit system, together with the short trip from B'ham/Tuscaloosa. Currently, I make the SECCG trip every year. Coming on the heels of a 12-game regular season which includes 4 or 5 road trips, I appreciate the fact that I can hop in the car and be parked at a Marta station in about 2.5-3 hours. I like being able to park the car and leave the transportation to MARTA. After parking, I can hang out at the CNN Center/Omni Hotel, GA World Congress Center, Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, etc. or ride to the Buckhead or Perimeter mall areas. After the game, same thing, or I can ride straight back to the car and be home in the same 2.5-3 hour time frame. New Orleans, on the other hand, would be a 4-5 hour drive. After getting down there, once you park, your pretty much either hoofing it or catching a cab to get from the Quarter to the Dome to the Garden District, etc. No mass transit system there and no such thing as making it a day trip--not that I would want to. Basically, I don't need an excuse to go to New Orleans. I go regularly, regardless. I've even been down there under the guise of going to a sporting event then just hung out and had a good time--skipping the sporting event. On the other hand, going to Atlanta for the SECCG is something I look forward to doing each December.

 

[CrimsonMask]

:iagree:it's outdoors and sucks as much as B'ham and Memphis.

We tried the B'ham route at first. People fussed b/c it was outside and in UA's backyard.

The Big 12 started their conference championship a few years after the SEC and rotate the game each year (for the most part). Sometimes they play inside and some outside.....and on at least one occassion played in the semi-inside/outside stadium of Texas Stadium.
In addition to Texas Stadium I believe they have played their championship games at the following:

Alamodome
TWA Dome (St.Louis)
Arrowhead Stadium (outside)
Reliant Stadium

While I like the idea of playing in Atlanta mixing it up a bit could be appealing but not necessary.
JMO

 

[bamanut_aj]

I wouldn't balk at a rotation of ATL, NSH, N.O., maybe J'ville....but that's about it as far as cities capable of handling it.

 

[pineywoods]

We tried the B'ham route at first. People fussed b/c it was outside and in UA's backyard.

The Big 12 started their conference championship a few years after the SEC and rotate the game each year (for the most part). Sometimes they play inside and some outside.....and on at least one occassion played in the semi-inside/outside stadium of Texas Stadium.
In addition to Texas Stadium I believe they have played their championship games at the following:

Alamodome
TWA Dome (St.Louis)
Arrowhead Stadium (outside)
Reliant Stadium

While I like the idea of playing in Atlanta mixing it up a bit could be appealing but not necessary.
JMO

Football should be played on the outside and on real grass, but I guess those days are long gone and I'm way in the minority.

 

[AlabamaSooner]

Football should be played on the outside and on real grass, but I guess those days are long gone and I'm way in the minority.

I agree with you for the most part, but when December hits, being outside is no fun. I went to the 2004 and 2006 Big 12 games in KC and it was so incredibly cold. It was miserable (although winning made it feel better in the end). Everyone I know that went to San Antonio for the CG this year said it's 1000% better than anywhere up north and outside. I'm all for outdoors, but once December comes around, give me warm and indoors (which includes predictable...no rain/snow).

 

[bmcklv]

I sorta like the Georgia Dome. It's a nice venue and it's far enough away from Athens to be considered a neutral site. It's also close enough to most of the fans (except for R-Kansas) to allow for travel.

 

[AlistarWills]

I was at the SECCG's in B'ham, outside. While Winter in the South usually proves to be warm, its also unpredictable. I froze at Legion Field. Keeping the SECCG in an indoor facility, allows for the comfort of the fans, who are paying heaps of money to attend. I agree with what a previous poster said when he mentioned the World Congress Center right next door to host other things associated with the ball game. I don't know of another city with that capability. Also, having the game rotate, you are going to have a constant change in the number of seats, which could be a nightmare when you end up at a smaller venue.