New Orleans Bowl to Lafayette?

[Eagle1855]

Not sure if its been posted but...

NO Bowl in Lafayette

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Bowl may have a bit more Cajun flavor this year.

With the Superdome awaiting massive repairs and New Orleans projected to be cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina for months, the December bowl may move to Lafayette, La., said executive director Billy Ferrante of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

"We have had some very preliminary talks with the folks at Louisiana-Lafayette and our first choice is to keep the game in Louisiana," he said. "Hopefully we will have a decision wrapped up in a couple of weeks."

The five-year old bowl game matches the champion of the New Orleans-based Sun Belt Conference with a team from Conference USA. Louisiana-Lafayette is a Sun Belt member. This year's game is scheduled for Dec. 20.

Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said his office and C-USA had been prepared to take over operating the game this year if the Sports Foundation proved unable to but applauded Ferrante's decision.

"That's what's best for everyone," Waters said. "It's good to know that the Sports Foundation is up and running. We're very interested in hearing their plan, but we'll do whatever we can to make this work."

And if the game had to be moved, Lafayette seemed like a good choice to Waters.

"First off, it's one of our conference members," he said. "And beyond that, Lafayette is a city with plenty of amenities to entertain the teams and fans."

What happens to the bowl beyond this year depends on the restoration of the Superdome, which is expected to take at least a year if it's done at all.

"This is the Sports Foundation's signature event," he said. "And we want to be part of the rebuilding of New Orleans. It may mean we have to relocate some of our other events around the state in the coming year, but we're going to stick around."

Waters has relocated the Sun Belt offices to Tuscaloosa, Ala., along with some of the other conference staff members. He intends to inspect the conference offices in the Pan-American Life Building next week but is uncertain when the league might move back to New Orleans.

[AustinTalon]

I'm up for that. As long as I get to eat at Prejeans (pron. Pray-jons)

[Arkstfan]

Selfishly I'd like for it to be in Shreveport because in Shreveport I probably go no matter what. Lafayette, only if ASU is in.

[NT80]

Selfishly I'd like for it to be in Shreveport because in Shreveport I probably go no matter what. Lafayette, only if ASU is in.

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I'd also prefer the Bowl in Shreveport. It's more of a tourist destination location with casinos and better hotels, plus it's a closer drive for all the UNT fans!!

Edited September 16, 2005 by NT80

[ADLER]

I'd also prefer the Bowl in Shreveport.  It's more of a tourist destination location with casinos and better hotels, plus it's a closer drive for all the UNT fans!! 

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It's true that Shreveport has casinos, but Lafayette is far better as a tourist destination. The Acadiana region has Plantation Tours at Shadows on the Teche , Swamp Tours, Salt Mine Tours and Tabasco Plant Tours at Avery Island, FAR FAR Superior Restaurants in Lafayette and Beaux Bridge, and you can even charter fishing boats out of Morgan City (someone caught a 1300 pound Marlin down there last year).

My advice, address your gambling fix the weekend of the La Tech game

[UNTFan23]

NO Bowl in Lafayette

NEW ORLEANS -- The North Texas Invitational may have a bit more Cajun flavor this year.

With the Superdome awaiting massive repairs and New Orleans projected to be cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina for months, the December bowl may move to Lafayette, La., said executive director Billy Ferrante of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

"We have had some very preliminary talks with the folks at Louisiana-Lafayette and our first choice is to keep the game in Louisiana," he said. "Hopefully we will have a decision wrapped up in a couple of weeks."

The five-year old bowl game matches the University of North Texas with a team from Conference USA. Louisiana-Lafayette is a Sun Belt member. This year's game is scheduled for Dec. 20.

Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said his office and C-USA had been prepared to take over operating the game this year if the Sports Foundation proved unable to but applauded Ferrante's decision.

"That's what's best for everyone," Waters said. "It's good to know that the Sports Foundation is up and running. We're very interested in hearing their plan, but we'll do whatever we can to make this work."

And if the game had to be moved, Lafayette seemed like a good choice to Waters.

"First off, it's one of our conference members," he said. "And beyond that, Lafayette is a city with plenty of amenities to entertain the teams and fans."

What happens to the bowl beyond this year depends on the restoration of the Superdome, which is expected to take at least a year if it's done at all.

"This is the Sports Foundation's signature event," he said. "And we want to be part of the rebuilding of New Orleans. It may mean we have to relocate some of our other events around the state in the coming year, but we're going to stick around."

Waters has relocated the Sun Belt offices to Tuscaloosa, Ala., along with some of the other conference staff members. He intends to inspect the conference offices in the Pan-American Life Building next week but is uncertain when the league might move back to New Orleans.

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Sorry, I had to fix some glaring errors in the article. Changes have been bolded.

Edited September 16, 2005 by UNTFan23

[Shof]

Of course I'm a little biased; but I think it would make a nice venue for the Sun Belt bowl game this year. Stadium pretty central to most anything in town, great opportunity for some very nice tailgaiting. They also have a nice thing going on downtown (called Downtown Alive I think) with live music, etc. Could make for a fun night before the game if they decided to do that for the teams coming in. And, a crowd of 25-30K would really fill in the stadium nicely for the tv audience too.

[eulesseagle]

I think Waters should have moved the New Orlean's Bowl to Denton because:

1. Better tourist attractions in the D-DFW area (Denton-Dallas Fort Worth).

2. Slimmer people....was not Louisiana one of the "fatest states in a recent poll?"

3. A College Bowl game in Denton...

4. Infuse the $$ in Denton instead of Louisana.

5. We could sell out Fouts Field

[Eagle1855]

2.  Slimmer people....was not Louisiana one of the "fatest states in a recent poll?"

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actually houston was # 1 (and I believe it), dallas # 6, san antonio was # 10, el paso at # 11, and ft worth at #14 among the fattest sities in the US. New Orleans was number 7 and the only Louisiana city on the top 25 list, so i wouldnt throw stones...

25 fattest cities

Although this has little to do with the actual topic...

Edited September 16, 2005 by Eagle1855

[OXatUNT]

I think Waters should have moved the New Orlean's Bowl to Denton because:

1.  Better tourist attractions in the D-DFW area (Denton-Dallas Fort Worth).

2.  Slimmer people....was not Louisiana one of the "fatest states in a recent poll?"

3.  A College Bowl game in Denton...

4.  Infuse the $$ in Denton instead of Louisana.

5.  We could sell out Fouts Field

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you forgot:

6) North Texas will be playing

[Shof]

you forgot:

6) North Texas will be playing

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Perhaps; but you'll probably have more fans in the stands in Lafayette

[eulesseagle]

OK......on the fatest cities.

#2 should be ammended to Prettiest Coeds..........!!!! after a few pounds of crawfish and beer the women in Lafayette really do look better

[UNTLifer]

La-Lafayette was noted as the "fattest" university.

[Arkstfan]

5.  We could sell out Fouts Field

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It happens so routinely. But maybe if it were for a bowl game some of the 8.13 million cars that pass by each day will stop.

[Eagle-96]

It happens so routinely. But maybe if it were for a bowl game some of the 8.13 million cars that pass by each day will stop.

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Don't get Plummer started. There's not enough bandwidth to deal with his reply.

Edited September 16, 2005 by Eagle-96

[Coffee and TV]

I'd prefer Shreveport simply because I have relatives in East Texas I could stay with, and the drive would be much easier.

[NT Drummer]

The only better scenario than Lafayette is a city capable of being the host of the Sun Belt's 2nd bowl once the New Orleans Bowl can return home. But that would probably be in Florida, and maybe it's best if the NOB's temporary home is in Louisiana.

[Arkstfan]

maybe it's best if the NOB's temporary home is in Louisiana.

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#1. It's good politics.

#2. It's good public relations.

#3. Part of the budget for the bowl comes from a subsidy paid by the state of Louisiana to bowl games played in the state.

[NT Drummer]

I found this on fanblogs.com:

New Orleans Bowl off to "La.-La." land?

For all you Mean Green fans out there, Lafayette is 428 miles from Denton, Texas (the home of the University of North Texas, which has participated in all four New Orleans Bowls since the game's inception). Bowl officials would be wise to consult with the folks in Denton prior to relocating the game.

[TU Hurricane]

Lafayette > Shreveport

Only cause it's closer to Houston

[ntmeangreen11]

Sounds good to me. Extra 3000 pro-sun belt cajuns there to help attendance I'm all for it.

[UNTFan23]

Sounds good to me. Extra 3000 pro-sun belt cajuns there to help attendance I'm all for it.

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So long as they wear green.

[GrandGreen]

I prefer Lafayette to Shreveport. Better cajun food and already planning to stay in Shreveport for La Tech game.

Of course there is also the little matter of first winning the conference. If allowed to dream this would be a good year if NT wins the conference to go to another bowl game and let another team play in the NO Bowl. Would not feel that way if the bowl was in NO but other bowls will look more attractive when you take New Orleans out of the calculation.