Monday, January 22, 2007

Border War moving to Arrowhead for 2007 and 2008

By Ryan Wood

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Reader poll

What do you think about the KU-MU football game being at Arrowhead Stadium the next two years?

  • I think it's a great idea 25% 684 votes
  • I couldn't disagree more 59% 1584 votes
  • Doesn't matter, I'll go anyway 7% 212 votes
  • Doesn't matter, I won't be going anyway 7% 202 votes

2682 total votes.

Kansas City, Mo. — What's been talked about for years is finally becoming a reality.

Kansas University and Missouri University will move the annual Border War football game to Arrowhead Stadium for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson announced the deal at a news conference Monday, with athletic directors Lew Perkins and Mike Alden and football coaches Mark Mangino and Gary Pinkel seated beside him.

"There was a lot of people who said it would never get done," Peterson said. "But I think perserverance is the right word here."

Under the agreement, Kansas will be considered the home team in 2007 and Missouri the home team in 2008. KU has elected to include the game in its 2007 season-ticket package, though Missouri won't include it in its 2008 plan.

The deal calls for both school to be guaranteed $1 million each year. Perkins said that's about what Kansas makes for a home game, and getting the sum twice in two years essentially doubles the profits.

With the announcement, the Border War game will be played away from both schools' campuses for the first time since 1945.

"I'm a firm believer," Perkins said, "that sometimes you have to try new things."

KU officials stressed that Memorial Stadium will play host to seven games each of the next two years. In 2007, that will be four nonconference and three conference games. In 2008, the plan is for three nonconference and four conference games.

The deal differs from perhaps the most well-known off campus rivalry - Oklahoma and Texas, played annually in Dallas. In that game, the stadium is split 50-50 in terms of ticket allocations.

Other off-campus games include Army-Navy in Philadelphia and Florida-Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.

Both games are scheduled to be played Thanksgiving weekend. They are tentatively slated for Nov. 24, 2007 and Nov. 29, 2008.

For more on this story read Tuesday's Journal-World.

Comments

kong (anonymous) says...

I think this is terrible for the students of both schools. Homefield advantage is negated, all so that the Athletic Departments of each school can bring in some extra bank.

booooo! hissss!

January 22, 2007 at 10:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says...

Asinine.

I look forward to paying $20 to park! Yeah! Our home football schedule this fall is pathetic. Take a gander.

January 22, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

beenahawk (anonymous) says...

The entire University, all the KU Football fans, the City of Lawrence and our state government should rise up in unison and thank lew perkins for taking those Kansas dollars rightout of Lawrence and the STATE and giving them to the fine folks we love to hate in Missouri!

The economic impact on the Lawrence and Lawrence area merchants is certainly a PLUS!

The tax revenue lost to the folks over in Missouri simply has to make the legislature happy! Especially when they are trying to figure out ways to finance the overdue maintenance to regents schools buildings and infrastructure.

Perhaps "we" should just move ALL "home games" to Arrowhead! If it is that big of a moneymaker, we can be certain that our AD has at least considered the idea. Why spend any more money updating the facilities in and around OLD Memorial when Arrowhead is just an hour away? Give the money back to the Anderson's and Kivisito's and just close the place down.

Hard to believe we wasted money building Houghland Field, of course that was pre-Lew....had he been around he would have realized that there was a perfectly good baseball field right next to Arrowhead that hasn't truly been used in 20 years!

Lew should also consider the economic advantages of moving all HOME basketball games to the new sprint center! Then we can close that drafty old barn that eats money for the larger and far more modern facility in downtown kc missouri!

For that matter, maybe this idea can catch on deep into this legislative session....move the entire University over the the KC Metro area! There are acres and acres of EMPTY office buildings and warehouses where classes can be held without the need to spend any tax dollars on campus maintenance! With Lew's legendary VISION, we can become the University of Kansas, at Kansas City, missouri!

But this is ONE Hawk who refuses to come along for the ride!

January 22, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kevbo (anonymous) says...

LAME!

January 22, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rohdek (Kyle Rohde) says...

Lousy decision, just lousy. Arrowhead is an overrated venue and a lousy gameday experience compared to Columbia or Lawrence. And neither team is good enough to bring a sellout crowd. I look forward to drunk alumni yelling at each other throughout the neverrending concrete that is the Arrowhead experience.

January 22, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

I believe the thing I hate the most about this situation is that we are using the Lawrence/KU dollars to support everything that is TRASH coming from Missouri.
I do not even mean the University in this statement. I mean the TRASH group of citizens from the dump state of Missouri that I am sure will attend this game.
I hate supporting anything that appreciates the Royals more than the Chiefs. (i.e.- Renovations to baseball over Arrowhead)
I do not understand this move by Lew. It's about as bright as allowing KU to play OU at Arrowhead 3 years ago.

I can't wait to see all of the Fat White Trash rednecks, with their belly's hanging out of their 30 year old yellow t-shirts which they got when they lied to their parents about getting accepted to college, became pregnant to bubba, made $7.35 an hour for the next 18 years and then spent their life savings to come to this game and piss me off.
That's Right KU Fans! Get ready, it will be us and the other State of Missouri Bandwagon fans, exiting their Trailer park at 5am to get their head start on a drunk day of warm High-Life and peeing themselves for the 3rd time, still working on the ultimate goal of making themselves smell worse than Osama.
The reason I never went to Columbia, was I didn't want to be exposed to Hepatitis. Now we are bringing it closer to us.

Sweet Move Lew! Go back to UConn or learn your current schools hated rivalry with the crap on the other side of the fence.

January 22, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

pj_hawk4life (anonymous) says...

As a KU student, Lifelong citizen of Lawrence, and football fan through all the thick and thin of the 90's, I am truly insulted by this decision. Every two years i look forward to packing Memorial Stadium with blue and booing everybody and everything that wears a black&gold M, but now we have no home field advantage to a game that we may need to qualify for a bowl. Thanks a lot Lew, you took away my family's basketball season tickets that we'd had for 20 years and now you're moving jayhawk faithfuls' favorite game both for one reason, the almighty dollar. I'll still go because i have always refused to be a fairweather fan, but for a football program that has proven that they need any break they can get, how is taking away home field advantage supposed to help?

January 22, 2007 at 11:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

getserious (anonymous) says...

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid decision. The mayor of Lawrence(if we had one) should stand up and demand that football games be played in town. Town loses millions of dollars when Ku doesn't play at home. Truly Stupid decision Lew. Dumb.

January 22, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

Seriously. This has ruined my day.

January 22, 2007 at noon ( | suggest removal )

JuliansWright (anonymous) says...

stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 22, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jclarkson (anonymous) says...

This is a bad idea. The Border war in Lawrence is a very exciting game. This is stupid.

January 22, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

Once again the KU athletic department has found another way to stick it to the students. As a KU student from 01-05 my best football memories were packing memorial stadium and watching the Jayhawks destroy Brad "Heisman" Smith and taking it to Mizzou twice. Holding this game on Thanksgiving weekend and in KC,MO stiffs the students of an opportunity to enjoy an on campus game against our biggest rival. what a joke!

January 22, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

WOW ... what gives with all the venom?

Everyone here realizes that the KU/Mizzou games used to be played in KC, it has been a few decades, but this isn't a new concept.

Playing OU or some Div IAA also ran in KC is useless ...

Th long-term impacts of moving this game to Arrowhead are profound: exposure for the program, legitimacy of football in this area.

And it's not like this is an extended contract, it's two seasons, two games. A trial period ...

If you think Lawrence is getting stiffed by lost revenue, then get off your butt and go to the stadium for the other games on the slate.

I've only missed ONE home game in three years, and I have a family (we all go) ... there's a way to make it work!

(I've also attended a number of road games, but that's another story ...)

January 22, 2007 at 12:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

esubrett (anonymous) says...

Lew
Have you ever heard the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? First you change the Border War to the Border Showdown, which I can let slide due to the times, and then raise Mangino's pay for doing mediocrity, now this. Come on Sweet Lew, you are better than this????!! Long live the Border War in Lawrence and Columbia, not KC.

January 22, 2007 at 12:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

esubrett (anonymous) says...

Is this a master plan to make it KC's problem when the goalposts are meaninglessly torn down?

January 22, 2007 at 12:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ICECOLD (anonymous) says...

I won't be there. I will be in Lawrence, spending my money in Lawrence, watching or listening to the game in Lawrence.

I will not stand for

"Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go Pay Lew."

January 22, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

Sevenyearhawk
I would love to meet you so I could stand you up and kick you in the empty and distorted sack where your acorns used to hang.
I have seen your comments on walls for the past couple of months and you never cease to amaze me with your completely ignorant statements.
First off, so far from 13 comments, you are (not surprisingly) the only one unopposed to this move.
Second, I don't think I would care about you so much, but I remember an argument we had over Women's basketball and their legitimacy at KU. How's that working out for ya? Yea, you lost a little credibility there.
Also, happy to see you're a family man, but how relative to this conversation is it that you or your family has only missed one home game.
This is no longer a home game, Idiot.
But, MAJOR props on your road warrior travels to away football games. With your obvious luck to our team on the road, maybe you should miss a few of those away games for the sake of the worst traveling team in D-1

January 22, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Migady,
I see you've crawled back out from under your rock, or bridge since you are obviously a troll ...

I'm all for increasing the exposure of our football program like OU/UT and Georgia/Florida.

As for my presence affecting the outcome of any KU sporting event - you sound like that superstitious fool who used to coach the KU basketball program.

So - do you have a point regarding this story, or are you just going to sling mud - jackass?

January 22, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

I believe everyone is concerned about this year, and I bet we can get 35,000 or more fans to Arrowhead this year, but think about the following year when we would have gone to Columbia. I went to the game this year and there was barely anyone in blue at the game. I would like to take this to our advantage of playing closer to lawrence 2 years in a row. There's nothing more that I love than to Tailgate right across the street from memorial stadium, but if we might be able to get a chance to beat MU 2 years in a row instead of going to Columbia and getting whooped like we did this year. We still are going to have 7 home games and I'm sure they will include the MU game in the season ticket package as well the student ticket package which almost all of the students at KU are from Johnson County and will be home for Thanksgiving.

January 22, 2007 at 12:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcarod72 (anonymous) says...

Horrible idea!! The atmosphere of a Saturday college football game on campus will be lost. I hate the idea and hope that both departments get it in their head that money is only a small part of the game and that this is a rivalry!! Most of all, what will be lost is the tradition and HOME field advantage...the debate will continue.

January 22, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

Less than 25% of KU students are from JoCo Mcguzzo. "Almost all" give me a break. Nice argument. Also the main reasons there was hardly any blue in Columbia this year is because of this little holiday called Thanksgiving and oh yeah 8500 KU fans went to Vegas to follow the only sport this school is good at.

January 22, 2007 at 1 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says...

I agree with all those who think this is a terrible idea. If I was organized I would start a letter writing campaign to try and stop this. All you guys need to make your concerns known by writing letters to the Lawrence Journal World and if any of you know any influential alumni, let them know too. It was those people who kept Perkins from building a big football complex in front of the campinella(sp), and kept Perkins from building a 25,000 seat basketball palace in the middle of a field east of Lawrence. He said he would never do that but you know he tried to talk the big donors into it. Maybe these guys can talk him out of this.
The only good thing out of this is high percentage of people with emails against the whole idea. Sevenyear Hawk, there are a whole lot more people than Migady who think your position is downright wrong! In fact, I am almost as embarrased to have you as a fellow fan as I am of Bill Mayer.

January 22, 2007 at 1:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Tommy_Jayhawk (anonymous) says...

Whether you like it or not, college athletics is big business. It's about making money. The more money you make, the better your athletic department. The better your athletic department, the more money you make. It's a cycle. Welcome to capitalist America.

As a fan of KU football and all KU athletics, I'm glad Lew is more worried about making KU better than a popularity contest.

If you can look long term instead of just short term, this will make KU stronger.

January 22, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

97jhawk (anonymous) says...

I've seen it all now! Moving one of the best games of the KU football schedule on campus to White Trashville.....excellent. If this was done to supposedly help with tv coverage, the university has got another thing coming. The last game this past Turkey Day was moved to the holiday weekend to supposedly increase our national coverage on CBS.

Umm yeah, due to the other "border battle" games that day, the KU vs. MU game got 8% of the national coverage. 8%!! How ridiculous is that?!! Heck, the home office of the Big 12 is in Texas and they didn't even have this Big 12 contest on in their area. Instead, they were televising that stupid Florida game like every other CBS station. Moving the game to Arrowhead off the hill will only make this worse. Don't think we'll get anymore coverage spread with this move. Someone's head ought to roll for this one. Way to go Frankenstien Lew....it's alive, alive, alive...or should I call him the proverbial "missing link" in human evolution. Unbelievable. What other stupid move will they think of next? Maybe they could play at Haskell.

January 22, 2007 at 1:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Geekinout (anonymous) says...

It's all about the money huh Lew? Greed is never a good thing. I'd like to see what your getting out of all this. Perhaps another raise? You already diminished the aura of Allen Field House with all the silly banners and marketing, now this. I hope the fans of both side boycott these games b/c obviously NO ONE agrees with it. Sad day to be a Jayhawk!

January 22, 2007 at 1:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufan4004 (anonymous) says...

What the heck is everyone so pissed off about? It's great for a MU/KU game at Arrowhead because now we can at least drink legally while in the stadium! It will make things much more interesting! So calm down everyone!

January 22, 2007 at 1:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Tommy_Jayhawk (anonymous) says...

As a matter of fact, it is all about the money. That's what businesses do, make money to improve what they have. College athletics is a business.

January 22, 2007 at 1:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KBReyn06 (anonymous) says...

I'm a freshman, and my best memory of this year so far was the K-State game here in Lawrence. Until now, I was really looking forward to next year's game against Mizzou. I think everyone was, and it gets everyone around campus excited for football. We aren't some high-profile football school that can do whatever they want. Keeping people excited about our football program should be the number one concern right now. Now we can only look foward to attending the Nebraska game, but that still doesn't measure up to what the KU-Mizzou game does for the students around here. I guess I'll have to wait until my senior year for the home game against Mizzou.

January 22, 2007 at 1:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

am i the only one that thinks this is an awesome idea..kansas city is a great town...its pretty much divided between ku/mu fans...its the city dividing ku and mu....why not try this game with neither team having a real home field advantage for a change...it would turn it into the home team wins, to more of a bowl game feel...as long as they keep the ticket prices down, and a lot of people attend, this game will be great at arrowhead...arrowhead is a great place to watch football...this even gives more reason to make this a nationally televised game...and its over thanksgiving..wow, this is awesome for both schools!!!! there are plenty of other home games during the year...also, those that dont go to the game, will still be able to stay "in lawrence" and watch the game at a bar or restaurant or go to a local grocery store and pick up game food to watch at home....the only loss would be that of hotel room sales, which, everyone that comes in town for the mu game LIVE in KC so they just drive back anyway...geeze, this isn't the end of the world, its a great idea, so why not try it????????

rock chalk jayhawk

January 22, 2007 at 1:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Geekinout (anonymous) says...

Also, for those who say it brings in more money to the University, sure it definitely does that, but for who? Lawrence business is more important to me than a ton of money for the University. It's not like a major program like KU ever had a shortage in the first place. Maybe a lousy distribution of it, but never a shortage. People get together to donate buildings, scholarships, statues, ect. all the time.

Lastly, "exposure?" i think the exposure factor is a pretty weak argument. I think a new and upcoming recruit would rather see a bunch of crazed fans in a sell out Memorial stadium, than a bunch of clowns wearing their Chiefs gear at a KU/Mizzou football game. Last time I watched a regular season college game in Arrow Head, the bottom tier wasn't even full.

January 22, 2007 at 1:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuhawksr1 (anonymous) says...

Did the Athletic Department ask for input from the customer base prior to making this decision? From reading the posts above, it appears they did NOT. Par for the course in the Perkins era. Why on earth would they want to listen to the customer?? I don't think they look at us as customers!!! Problem is, KU and MU fans don't have the nads to not attend which is about the only way we have to remind them that we ARE customers. We keep buying the crap they often produce.

January 22, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

am i the only one that realizes this is just one game out of the season??? and actually, just one home game out of a two year span that lawrence would be "losing"....i mean, come on, people are being a little ridiculous lawrence will go under, and our children will suffer, and that pothole that i keep driving over on my way to work won't get fixed because of the money lost from this 1 game..its a little stretch don't you think...i do agree that this game will only work if people fill the stands...thats why i believe reasonably priced tickets would be the only way to go with this....

January 22, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

To all those who argue that the game used to be played in KC: Why do you think it wasn't anymore??????

And to those arguing about more exposure, like OU/Texas and Florida/Georgia: we are not those schools!!!!!!!!! we will never be those schools!!!!! We have OUR OWN thing with KU/MU, and it has been working FINE the way it is!!!!!!!

I am so P*SSED off that I can't walk to the Wheel after the game and heckle dumbass Mizzou fans wearing basketball jerseys and jean shorts I am about to lose my mind!!!!

Can I walk to a bar after the game now? NO!!! Why? because that dump is in the middle of f**king nowhere!!! Let's not kid ourselves, KU isn't putting a national champion on the field any time soon, so part of the reason you go the games is for the atmosphere! And i promise you the atmosphere for this debacle will be nothing like it is at Memorial. goooooddddd i'm so irate!!!!!!!!

Oh, and if anyone argues that this is more convenient for the students in Johnson County they are morons. If a student is too lazy to drive the whole whopping 30 minutes into Lawrence for the game then they do not deserve to call themselves fans. Man, I remember as a student that over Thanksgiving I was so tired of my parents that I looked for any excuse to get out of the house! That argument simply does not work, and neither will this STUPID money-grubbing ploy.

January 22, 2007 at 2:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Sevenyearhawk: We are not FL/GA or OU/UT. Why can't people get that through their heads. How bad was the atmosphere at the OU game a couple of years ago? Unless both teams roll into this game with 7+ wins you are going to see a lot of empty seats and that will not be good pub for KU. Even worse is that this is wasting homefield advantage in one of the few years when KU really has a shot to put a run together. If this was the first game of the Big 12 season, I'd like it a lot more, but end of the year is a bad idea that could turn into a disaster.

I love this football team/program, but I realize that most of the people who come out to games come out because of the atmosphere. I am scared that Black and Gold will severly outnumber Blue in Arrowhead. The Student section finally gets to the point where it is a factor in games and you take that away from this team. KU's non-student fan base is perpetually a quiet fan base. All this does is take a road game away from Misery the next two years.

Perkins is out of touch with the KU fan base.

January 22, 2007 at 3:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fletch (anonymous) says...

We gave up a home game to play in Missouri? Vs Missouri? Are you freaking kidding me? Thanks Lew. Glad to see you're willing to flush over a hundred years' worth of history down the crapper for some more cash in the short term. Arrowhead is a dump, and the renovations won't even be done for this. Plus, you just cost the local merchants in Lawrence and Columbia a few million in food, beer, and hotel room sales. Way to be loyal to your community you hack job. If you wanted more exposure for the series, why don't you put the name back to Border War and remind all those broadcast networks that it's the oldest football rivalry this side of the misssissippi.

January 22, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

Oh Sevenyeardipshi^
Is calling me a troll helping the situation?

Just read the board, no one agrees with you. Your boat is sinking and you only have your family to go down with you, since you all go to the games together.
I wasn't being superstitious, I was just pointing out that you going is obviously making a difference.
The point of my "Story" was to show, again, you are the only one who sees a benefit to this.

Also, how is putting this game, 40 miles east, gaining us more exposure like your examples of Georgia/Florida and OU/Texas? (Good choice of examples by the way... We compare well with the National Champions of NCAA Football... hahahahaha)

In case you didn't know, Cameras can change venue to venue. If we needed more exposure, it isn't hard to have the cameras show up at Memorial rather than Arrowhead.

Good use of the word Jackass as well. I hadn't heard that since a KU Women's basketball game!

January 22, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

January 22, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Geekinout (anonymous) says...

Hey, one home game out of this entire 2yr deal could mean a disadvantage of making a bowl game. Just look at it if KU would have won one more road game this year.

January 22, 2007 at 3:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ryanm1988 (anonymous) says...

Bad idea. Lousy gameday experience (see OU-KU two years ago) Sending money out of state. Lew will get to sit in the Hunt family box at Chiefs games. The fans will thoroughly enjoy sitting in a stadium under renovation.

January 22, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbgjayhawk (anonymous) says...

this is retarded

January 22, 2007 at 3:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Man, I wish there was a way to watch the game on the jumbotron at Memorial--get every KU fan to still go to Lawrence where the game SHOULD be, and stick Lew at his precious relic of a stadium with a bunch of Mizzou clowns to show him that he is really P*SSING us off. Ha! that would be sweet!

January 22, 2007 at 3:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jacobpaul81 (anonymous) says...

Brilliant. Take the biggest game of the year, and move it so that it's always played in missouri. Great Move Lew.

January 22, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kevbo (anonymous) says...

More money coming to KU, sure....but LOTS more money flooding to Missouri economy...boo on this move. KU - MU games are all about the home field atmosphere. As I noted above, this move is LAME.

January 22, 2007 at 4:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

simply ridiculous that all of you fans are ripping the one or two reasonable voices on this board. moving the game to KC is good for KU because it will make them relevant. If all of you who are complaining put your money (since you're such big fans) where your mouth is, then Arrowhead won't be painted black and gold. Unless of course all of you die hard fans can't make a 40 mile trip to watch the 'Hawks play.

As for Oklahoma-Texas and Florida-Georgia, you're right we're not those schools. Those schools are football powerhouses. Last I checked though, KU wants to be a football power. Or is it that we want to still gripe about Ol' Roy leaving and Bill's Boys struggling?

The money is important for KU because that money means upgraded facilities where we can attract the type of players necessary to compete for the Big XII north and ultimately, a big time bowl. Unless 6-6 and 7-5 is the type of team you want to see every year from now until eternity.

If you're really a Hawk fan, go to the game in KC and support the squad. If not, sit home and whine about Lew wanting to make your program like other big time football schools like OU (2001 national champ), Texas (2006 national champ), Florida (current national champ) and Georgia (2006 SEC champ and BCS bowl). Shame on Lew for thinking KU could be like that.

January 22, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTamale (anonymous) says...

I think Mangino said it best on after a November game against Texas, "I have two words for you: dollar signs".

If it helps the KU football program with Exposure and revenue, then so be it.

But any REAL negative effect won't be known until 2 years from now.

January 22, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

97jhawk (anonymous) says...

You'd have thought that before doing something of this magnitude the University would've taken a poll with the student body and/or maybe run another in the KCstar for non-students or something. Wouldn't you think, as far as marketing goes, that you would want to keep the main fan at interest, the student body? If it is all about money, I would think the Univ AD's office would research this before enacting it. Unbelievable. Those that will be most upset will be the students.

I'm surprised Mangino didn't have a say. Maybe he was too busy filling his face with a doughnut when they took votes so he was discounted. He's the one always talking about" the fans, the fans, the fans." Wanting to build the fanbase for KU football. Talk about taking away from that. We really need to replace some of these front office idiots with KU grads who can respect the rivalry and know what it means to play it at home in Memorial Staduim. It is all about the atomsphere of gameday on the hill in Lawrence, KS.

Next thing ya know they'll be building another apartment coplex and remove The Crossing. Oh wait, they've already suggested doing that.....nevermind.

January 22, 2007 at 4:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...

this sucks!!! so much for going to ku and missouri games!!!

January 22, 2007 at 4:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

How does playing a game at Arrowhead make a team relevant? I thought winning games made football teams relevant. KU needed that game at home next year. I do hope we all end up eating our words though.

January 22, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

beenahawk (anonymous) says...

Playing games at Arrowhead has HARDLY made the Chiefs "relevant". They won their one and only Superbowl before the Truman Sports Complex had even broke ground. But with the extra revenue, Lew can hire a few more family members and call them his Arrowhead Point men! Geez, Mizzou so LOVES the idea they aren't going to make it part of their season ticket package. But Carl Peterson, Lew and Mike Alden are all HAPPY, that's the ONLY important thing in this dumb ass deal!

January 22, 2007 at 5:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Sunflower_Jen (anonymous) says...

You have all been so focused on the negative you missed two of the best parts of this:

As someone who would never go to Columbia to see the KU-MU game, now I get to go every year. I realize the game is in Missouri, but at least it's not in Columbia.

Best of all, the Missouri team and fans have to drive two hours to get to the game every year! They have to drive two hours to get to a home game!

It warms my heart knowing I can go every year and the MU fans have to drive two hours to a home game. I literally have a smile on my face.

January 22, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

natehawk (anonymous) says...

Really disappointed in my university, way to remove our only guaranteed (no matter how the season goes) big home game next year. I forget sometimes that some folks in the administration ( not kansans) belive we are the Kansas (City) Jayhawks.

January 22, 2007 at 6:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

First off, I will say that I am a huge KU fan and go to several football and basketball games every year (including the ku/mu game in columbia this year. that being said, I don't know what all the fuss is about.

First off, this hurts lawrence businesses? How is that exactly? There will still be seven home games, same as last year. The businesses should make the same amount of money, you would think. You can't take away something you never had. By the way, do most of you realize that these businesses make money 365 days a year because of the university? They exist because of the university. The merchants should be excited and supportive of the university regardless. It seems to me that they feel entitled.

Which brings me to my next point. Why do the fans feel entitled to this game? Are we here to support the university or is it visa versa. When did everything become "what about me"? Where are these fans every other game during the year? BTW do you realize that the last game vs misery in Lawrence was not sold out. What gives with that?

Obviously this venue change was made to increase revenue. As any business would tell you, the way you get better is to raise revenue and improve your business. How many revenue generating sports do we have at KU? Did you realize that the money generated from these 2 sports keep ALL of the other sports afloat. Do you think a player on the womens soccer team, or the mens track team would be happy if there just wasn't enough money in the coffers to keep their programs afloat?

And Lew didn't make this decision alone. I am sure he asked those people with real input, Chacellor Hemingway, select deans and professors etc.. This was a university decision.

But all I hear on this board is "what about me" and "do you know how this affects me" Can you still not go the game every year now? is this better in the long run? If you don't want to support misery, then people can still eat, lodge and drink in lawrence. Driving to the game is like driving across most major cities. Or is it to inconvienient for you? Because of course this university is here to support you and you are "entitled" right?

January 22, 2007 at 7:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

I like the points made and I also liked the points made by the coaches in the press conference today when they said our players really like to play at a NFL stadium. Gary Pinkel even said that as much as we like to play at Faurot field it's nice to have a chance to go play in a stadium like Arrowhead. Mark Mangino had the same type of comments and was looking forward to using that as a recruiting tool. I think you can market yourself as a university that is on the up by telling future recruits we play a game in Arrowhead stadium against Missouri. I know that doesn't mean as much to us as KU fans but to a kid in California or Florida it is definately going to give somewhat of an edge. I think KU will have the edge on fans for both of the games in the future with Lawrence being closer. If anything KU is getting a better deal than Missouri is out of this.

January 22, 2007 at 7:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

has anyone checked a map recently? i'm pretty sure kansas city, although is in missouri, is on the state line of missouri, and kansas...holy crap... even more, lawrence and columbia are connected by I-70, with the only major city between them being, wait, what is it?...kansas city!!! ahhh, its amazing what a map will tell you...those of you saying it gives mizzou two home games is ridiculous!!...the only way that would be true is if no ku fans get tickets to the game, which would be unfortunate being that Kansas City is CLOSER to Lawrence(check a map again if you don't believe me)...and to those of you who say it is unfair, wait a second, they are trying it for two years...that means, both teams lose one of their home games...why not have a bowl game like atmosphere for two years straight increasing the national awareness for both schools football programs...thanksgiving weekend...primetime....its amazing how everyone is so quick to oppose trying something new...the one thing that would be truely unfortunate though is if they make the ticket prices ridiculous, which would in turn cause less people to go....so, i guess we'll see there...anyway, i think its a good idea, to try something new...

rock chalk jayhawk

January 22, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

thebashman (anonymous) says...

i guess you people dont realize they have a home game in missouri too!!!!!!!! they lost playing a game at their home just like we do!!!....that means while yes, we lose a home game, we avoid having to go to columbia,missouri.....i'd take that any day

KC is full of kansas fans, and KC is mainly a kansas town....and figure this up.....62K at columbia.....51K at lawrence go to games....and you dont get more than 5k from the other school.....thats 113K that go to border war games.....heck take 33K fans away and you still sell out arrowhead....this isnt AT ALL like oklahoma playing in kc in 2005.....face the facts....this is best for recruiting, best for $$$ and in the long urn, after taking a road game away each year from missouri, its best for kansas

January 22, 2007 at 7:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JamesSCraigDDS (anonymous) says...

We have endured the changes in the atheletic department that were probably necessary. Money is important in the current climate of college sports and those methods used to increase the income is understandable. I don't like it but understand.

The move of the KU-MU football games to KCMO has crossed the line. I do not expect Lew to understand the antipathy I feel for this move, he is a hired gun doing his job. Do not expect, however, for me to look at the rah rah half-time presentations as anything more than what they are. They are simply marketing oportunities just like the spate of retired jerseys that Roy promoted during his swan song season.

Those of us that have been loyal for decades(Bud Moore, Bob Valasente, Mike Gottefreid sp) of horrible football( forgot Terry Allen) love this university, not for the current crop of administrators, but for what this institution has meant to us. We are tiring of the Hill being taken over by those that do not respect tradition.

I'll go to Arrowhead and hope the experience is better than the OU game in 2005. I will look forward to seeing the 2008 MU game without being exposed to the tragladites in Columbia. Then I will sit back and await the next assault on my sensibilities and my universitly by Hemenway, Lew and the other "progressives".

January 22, 2007 at 7:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Ignorant to think that this is anything but a positive. Big time schools play their biggest rivals in games like this all over the country. Ever been to UT/OU in Dallas? Atmosphere is electric. Don't be so damn myopic.

myopic
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin
"a lack of foresight or discernment : a narrow view of something."

January 22, 2007 at 8:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

gamblinggringo (anonymous) says...

This is sad. I was considering traveling back to Lawrence next year for this big rivalry game. Like I'd do that to sit in Arrowhead? Lew Perkins just lost another Jayhawk fan.

January 22, 2007 at 8:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

McGuzzo23 (anonymous) says...

Go ahead and quit on Lew Perkins that is fine but, don't quit on our football team that struggles enough as it is. If having to go 45 miles to a football game makes you no longer a fan you never were a fan in the first place.

January 22, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cornerstorebum (anonymous) says...

I think this is a terrible idea! I love going to Memorial stadium and yelling at all the loser MU fans who think they have a good football team. KU knows it has a mediocore football team. The issue about bringing money in for the school is not a great point. We can bring in all the money we want, but until we know how to spend it (Mangino's contract is waaaaaay to big) we aren't really going to get anywhere as a program.
The exposure thing is not a good arguement because I would much rather watch a crazy bunch of kids packed into Memorial stadium on sportscenter (which is probably the best we can hope for since we only got 8% of the market last year) than I would watch a pretty dead crowd at Arrowhead. It's too spread out to truely encompass what is the college football experience. The great stadiums now are backed to the brim with people in bleachers, not seats.
This will get KU money, not exposure. That's it. We didnt show up this year in Columbia and I dont really see it as a place to be afraid of. KU won there just a couple years ago. Two neutral site games hurts us more than 1 road game.
Not a good move Lew. While you're making money decisions why not give the whole student section to GA so we can make more money there. It's not like the students make the most noise and make Allen Fieldhouse what it is.

Not a good move. At all.

January 22, 2007 at 9:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ophawks (anonymous) says...

Just curious anyone ever worn anything ku to a chiefs/royals game? Because everytime i have ive gotten some drunk idiot who makes some "funny" typical missouri joke. the people there could care less. this totally gets rid of the whole "college gameday" atomosphere and we all know nothing beats gameday on the hill. oh well, in 2 years they will realize how stupid it was and come back home.

January 22, 2007 at 9:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

I agree with all those hawks who think this is a bad idea. Of course, it does not matter where we play Mizzou. We must beat them. Another bad showing like last year and we are sunk

January 22, 2007 at 9:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tiggerjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Where has the college game gone? KU & the Big 12 works so hard to act like a pro game. I like the marching band, the tradition, the home crowd. I love the hill. My family has traveled from SC Kansas for 60+ years for a beautiful fall Saturday on the hill.
Instead, we get recorded music over a loud speaker and the most tradition rich game of the year moved to a neutered (I mean neutral) site?
If I wanted to go to an NFL game, I'll go to one, but quit trying to chase the almighty dollar and imitate the NFL.
There is a reason we like the college game and atmosphere, but it is getting lost.
As for basketball, the crowds have been blase' since the corporate seats chased out the long time fans that knew when to rally the home team. That has gone to the wayside as well.
Lew, you've done it again. I did not care for the damage you did at WSU, and in my eyes, you still have not done much for 'Hawks or 'Shocks. Boo Hoo Lew.

January 22, 2007 at 10:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kong (anonymous) says...

LAJayhawk5, why go through all the trouble to wow us with your vocabulary and define a word that you can't use correctly?

Just a thought...

January 22, 2007 at 10:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbgjayhawk (anonymous) says...

so how does having the game at arrowhead cause us to be a better program and have national recognition on tv? i just don't understand how that would help, so just keep it in lawrence.

January 23, 2007 at 12:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

I'm excited as hell to go to this game. OU just wasn't the right team to play at Arrowhead, but a game against Missou is a good natural fit. I don't really care what other people think of the situation, I just think it will be fun.

As for whether it is good for the program, only time will tell. I'm not going to sit and badmouth an event that hasn't even happened yet. Let the university try it out and if it doesn't work this year we still get the benefit of not having to play at Missou the next year before bringing it back home.

January 23, 2007 at 3:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

thebashman (anonymous) says...

once again....this takes away from going to columbia!!!!!!!! and anyone against this should move to columbia if they want to support it so much.......sure you take away 1 home game.....big deal, go to 6 others....KSU is a great draw, and if ku gets good, the ycan have other huge home games in the future that mean alot

but if you are badmouthing this idea, then you go sit in columbia,mo and just think to yourself how nice it is when an antler throws a bottle of piss at you

January 23, 2007 at 3:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

doubleJ (anonymous) says...

This is a rediculous move that has nothing good for our program other than money. This is something cooked up by the stupid Chiefs so they can get a piece of the gate and get all that parking money.

And this whole idea of giving us more exposure is a bunch of crap. We aren't touting our program any more than Mizzou. People who see the game on TV are going to see as many Mizzou jackholes as they would KU fans. To me we get more exposure if we show them 50,000 plus that are majority wearing crimson and blue rather than half blue and half black in a huge, soul-less stadium that most likely won't even get filled.

I hope you're happy with that extra guaranteed money Lew. Cause I hope your ticket sales for this game tank.

January 23, 2007 at 3:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

I cant believe my eyes. So many KU fans are jumping ship and are not going to support our kids next fall because "you dont like the site". Id like to be civil but anyone with that kind of attitude sucks, I dont care where they are from. I hope our football players arent seeing this.
Ive been to some of the major venues around the country and I think it is safe to say we have a solid student section. However, if they cant drive 40 MILES to a KU/Mizzou football game then we have some pretty sorry students!
Nutflush-You might be right about all the KU fans going to a meaningless November basketball game instead of the KU/Mizzou football game in Columbia. If you are right than its time for a serious culture change in Lawrence and Kansas. Ive been going to KU basketball and football games since I can remember and sorry basketball fans but nothing compares to Saturdays in Lawrence in the fall.

January 24, 2007 at 1:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )