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Kansas City, Mo. — Well, it's official. Playful, harmless, memorable Missouri-bashing by Kansas University football fans that used to take place on campus must now take place on Missouri soil.
Sure, it was only a two-year deal that was announced Monday, but does anybody really believe that if the move to Arrowhead Stadium is the cash cow the schools hope it will be the game will be played in Kansas ever again?
Officials from both schools insist the agreement is merely a trial balloon, and clearly at least one side isn't completely convinced it will work. Otherwise, the agreement would have been longer. Still, just in case, cherish the memories of the last time you looked from your seat with Missouri in town and saw blankets on the hill, the last time you walked through the parking lot, the scent of hot dogs warming your spirits, the Mizzou-bashing banners everywhere.
Oh well, here's the good news: Sources say the Nebraska game isn't in any danger of being moved to Omaha.
Here's the bad news: Aside from Nebraska, the remaining home games scheduled for KU's Memorial Stadium in 2007 are Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo, Florida International, Baylor and Iowa State.
BYOP. Bring Your Own Pillow.
Look for the goal posts to come down if the Jayhawks can avenge last fall's overtime loss to the University of Toledo Rockets. After all, a victory against UT is a victory against UT, right?
Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins said the fact the Missouri game is played on Thanksgiving weekend - when students had nowhere to stay in Lawrence - was a consideration in agreeing to move it to his beloved Kansas City.
Actually, though, a check with Dr. Diana Robertson, interim director of student housing at KU, revealed that McCollum Hall, Jayhawker Towers and Stouffer Place remain open throughout Thanksgiving weekend. Those dwellings account for 1,900 of the 5,200 students who live on campus, Robertson said. That leaves 3,300 without a place to stay.
Could this be the first domino in KU bringing its big games to Kansas City? Could the Sprint Center become the site of marquee basketball games?
"One basketball game a year in Kansas City," Perkins assured. "That's not going to change."
Perkins asked for an open mind from those opposed to the football idea.
"We're trying something different," he said. "I think it's exciting. I think it's great. We're looking at it from a business standpoint. Obviously, financially it's great. That extra million dollars will pay for a lot of young people in our Olympic sports to be able to do some things they wouldn't have an opportunity to do."
Perkins is aware this won't sit well with the town in which he lives.
"The merchants downtown have been great to us," Perkins said. "I understand what the issues are, and I respect that. I hope they respect it back the other way. We bring more athletic events to Lawrence than anyone ever has. We bring 20 home basketball games to Lawrence. They've never had that before. They've had 16, 17. We still have seven (football) games (in Lawrence). We're only bringing one home football game to Kansas City."
Quantity isn't the lone issue here. This is college athletics. Shouldn't there be some room left for sentimentality?
Spring game highlights April 28, 2012
Charlie Weis Jr. helps lead the KU running backs in drills April 19, 2012
D.J. Beshears makes tough catch on deep pass from Dayne Crist April 19, 2012
Behind the Lens: Game Over April 19, 2012
Highlights from Charlie Weis press conference April 10, 2012
Comments
sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says…
... 21 games, including the first 16 of the [Border War] series from 1891 to 1906 were played [in Kansas City]
***
Sentimentality? This great rivalry has finally returned to its roots!
actorman (anonymous) says…
Sentimentality? With Perkins? Good luck!
This is just one more example of the almighty dollar taking precedence over everything else. When they say college sports is a business, Perkins is the epitome of that.
I could see them doing this something like every third year, but to just give up the on-campus experience completely is really sad.
mushhawk (anonymous) says…
great article keegs.
this is one more example of why i tell every1 that i see, that "perkins is the devil"!
money is ALWAYS the one and only deciding factor in ANY of his decisions.
the OU game at arrowhead was terrible for lawrence. all the local businessmen complained. the fans complained. aarowhead didn't fill at all. lawrence missed a marquee matchup. fans missed a good game that could be in lawrence. did he care?! NO!
he kicked all of the loyal basketball fans out of AFH, who've been supporting KU since the building opened in the early 50's. he did the same with football and football tailgating spots.
KU is making more $, but we've lost so much. fire perkins now, before he ruins KU!
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says…
Actually, the fraternities and sororities on campus are closed so that's at least another 3-4000 students without a place to stay.
Actually mush, before Perkins came to KU, KU had the WORST overall athletic teams in the Big XII (yes, last out of 12, yes last after K-State, yes last after Baylor). Finally, once KU started generated some revenue and has seen the athletic budget increase 100% since Perkins came here, KU's athletic teams' performance has improved. We still have a long way to go, but frankly, if you weren't embarrassed by KU's performances in the past, you probably are one of KU's basketball only crowd, of which there are far too many members.
Peetro1981 (anonymous) says…
You all gripe about $$$$. It seems most arguements say moving the game from Lawrence is a bad idea because it hurts local businesses......not sure I understand because this arguement seems to center around $$$ as well.
roshi12 (anonymous) says…
I do not have warm fuzzy feelings for Lew or everything he does. It would be great if everything we love about college athletics could stay the same. However, the need to compete with Texas sized budgets is just as real as the need to compete for good recruits. Lew did not create the arms race in facilities development, coaches salaries, etc. He is reacting to it. Pollyanna's that think we can just keep everything like it has been since the '50s are naive and more destructive to the competitive ability of our athletics programs than anything Lew has done. On the contrary, his ability to make unpopular but wise choices is the only thing keeping our heads above water.
Peetro1981 (anonymous) says…
Well said roshi12
getserious (anonymous) says…
Hew Lew, Got to hell you a$$. If it's so damn important to have a game in KC, then play the Toledo game there. You are taking a huge, HUGE dump on all the merchants in town. Not to mention the taxes lost by the city. Screw you Lew.
JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says…
Moving the KU/MU football game to KC is a very bad idea. It is wrong on so many levels. As much as I hate to admit it, money does rule in college sports these days but this is going to far. Some things are sacred. What's next, Perkins building a big Basketball Arena in some field east of Lawrence?
I usually don't approve boycotts but if there ever was a deserving cause, this would be it. I would urge KU fans, particularly students, to boycott these games. I also want to encourage all those against this to write letters to the Lawrence Journal World and to the KC Star protesting this outrage.
gamblinggringo (anonymous) says…
I'll certainly be protesting this game. I had considered traveling to Lawrence for this big game. I certainly won't be traveling just so I can go sit in Camerohead. What a terrible home schedule next year. It will be a tough year to be a Jayhawk fan.
wmsloan (anonymous) says…
I'm in favor of keeping the game on campus, but the merchants certainly can't complain given the timing of the game. I find it hard to believe that any merchants will be harmed that weekend, considering it is already the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Poor schedule or not we still have 7 home games and Christmas shopping will make up the difference. The dorms are closed and many students will be in KC anyway.
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says…
There's way too many merchants whining and complaining. They should be thanking Lew. Because of him, they get an extra football game in Lawrence every year and they're getting 3-4 extra basketball games a season compared to pre-Lew levels. But no, people would rather complain and boycott the university. It's unbelievable how unappreciative people can be.
I think this gives KU football an extra attention boost and will help in recruiting battles with our neighbors to the west. As we continue to build momentum and fan support in football, the stadium should become more and more crowded and because KU plays in a relatively small stadium, there'll be that many more people flooding bars, restaurants, and shops down the road.
rohdek (Kyle Rohde) says…
roshi12, you're 100% right. I love how the people of Lawrence want to have the best athletic program in the country but they want to do it with a $5 million athletic budget. Sure, let's give people at Allen Fieldhouse great seats for cheap $$$, even if there's people willing to donate thousands for the same seats! No, don't play a game in KC and get an extra million $$ out of it. We want Lawrence to be the same quaint, quirky college town it was fifty years ago. Sorry folks, it ain't happening and Lew's the best thing that's happened to KU athletics in a long time.
Jayhawktriplegrad (anonymous) says…
fire lew now--and all his relatives, too!
bpjhawk (anonymous) says…
Pis-poor column, Keegan. All it is is whiney posturing to the downtown merchants.
Over three-quarters of the students are gone anyway. Where will many of them be? Kansas City. We still have 7 home games, right? Not losing any weekend we haven't already had. Nebraska is still coming to town, right? They travel better than Missouri. Having Missouri in Lawrence makes the home schedule better? Whiney band-wagon excuse. B!tch about the non-con schedule if Missouri makes or breaks the season ticket package.
This makes next year's road schedule better. We don't have to travel to Columbia with our hard hats and worry about batteries or empty JD bottles thrown at us.
He11, this may even turn into a classic football weekend like UT-OU, God forbid.
klineisanazi (anonymous) says…
I think this is worth a try. See what happens. Unfortunately, it is all about $$$. Being a member of the Big 12 leaves KU no choice. If they want to have a chance against the big spenders, they have to try different things to generate revenue. This was why Perkins was brought in. The Big 8 is long gone.
KFoz (anonymous) says…
Well done, roshi12.
I love going to KU games because I am a KU fan. This last fall I went to the KU-NU game in Lincoln. On Monday, I will be attending the KU-NU game in Lincoln. I have been doing this for years. I like to travel and see our team in other venues. Frankly, KU falls short in providing a "game day" experience when it comes to football. I recall laughing at NU, K-State, etc., basketball games, the environment, and what I considered an amateur production when I compare it to Allen Fieldhouse. Conversely, I sit in awe at a football game in Lincoln, Boulder, Austin, College Station, etc.
I love KU and will continue to go to football games in Lawrence. But it is because I love KU. I also love college football. If my loyalties did not lean towards KU, Lawrence would not be on my list of places to go watch a college football game. It is not the event ku basketball is.
There are problems KU shares with Lawrence for a football event. The infrastructure flat out sucks. Arrowhead is not the greatest place to get in and get out. Multiply that by at least 100 for Lawrence. That is OK to deal with if you go to one game a year, but I go to all of them. Basketball traffic is bad enough and yet you are not dealing with the same number of people and cars. But once you get there, you begin a new adventure as you look for a parking space. The same can be said for finding parking in Lawrence proper to support these poor merchants. Do I spend an hour fighting traffic and finding a parking space, or do I use that time traveling back to KC where I can pull right up to an establishment, walk in, and not fight a mob of people the Lawrence merchants cannot handle anyway?
KFoz (anonymous) says…
If someone outside of Lawrence, Kansas City, or Topeka came to the game, where would they stay? If a Kansan outside of these areas decided to bring the family for a Thanksgiving event, wouldn't Kansas City be a logical choice? Lawrence does not have the hotel space to accomodate traveling fans that might make this trek. And then do we have to come up with a solution for the merchants to retain all travelers coming to Lawrence for a game? Some opposing teams' fans drive in, go to the game, and then drive away. Do we need put up roadblocks after kickoff so no one can get out of Lawrence when the game is over? Perhaps, people come to Lawrence for a football game. Any business for the merchants could be looked upon as a windfall. It seems to me the event is about the game, not where to shop or eat.
What percentage of game day attendance are students? I know these events are supposed to be for the students, but if we were so worried about the students, the people that have been moved out of their courtside seats in Allen would never have had them in the first place. In theory, courtside seats in the lower level of Allen should have always gone to students and you have four (or 5, 6, 7, etc.) years to enjoy the vantage point and that is it. These poor people who have been moved out after years and years of having them should never have had them in the first place. At what point does a true KU fan just say "I am happy to be here"? If I have a seat in Allen, no matter where it is, I think I am lucky and would not want to be any other place in the world. And that has been my attitude for twenty years.
Change is inevitable. We could bury our heads in the sand and pitch a fit over change. We could go back to the way KU was during the Big 8 and expect everything without having to pay for it. When that happens, we won't have to worry about competing with the athletic budgets of TX, NE, etc. But, instead of competing for the Big 12 title, we will be going after the Missouri Valley Conference title every year. I never thought of KU as a mid-major...
Peetro1981 (anonymous) says…
To the fans encouraging a boycott.....get a life. You don't deserve to be Jayhawk fans
fabio (anonymous) says…
Initially I wasnt crazy about the idea but there has been some good points brought up on here. Texas and OU do the same thing and it seems to be working well for them. I am willing to support it for two years and see how it goes.
Someone had a good point-The reason the home schedule is terrible next year is the non-conference schedule sucks. That is what needs to change. Im not going to waste a gameday watching Florida International or Northwest Louisiana State (or whatever their name is)when there is competitive football going on somewhere else.
ebbenji (Eric Beightel) says…
This is fantastic and I support it 100%. I'll be flying back to Lawrence for the Thanksgiving weekend and driving over to KC for the game, for sure. This brings added revenue into KUAC and provides national exposure to the program. In addition, this is a fantastic recruiting tool - offering kids the opportunity to not only play on national TV but also to play in an NFL stadium in what will most likely be a well attended football game.
For you college football purists out there - the game has passed you by. Sentimentality doesn't win football games, additional revenue streams which lead to better facilities and competitive coaching salaries win football games. If you want to get by with cheap tickets and cheap parking and leave the hill untouched, etc. then you'll have to settle for Terry Allen-esque results on the field. Roshi12 hit the nail on the head. This is the reality of college sports. Embrace it or let go. Just quit bit*%ing about it because you will not change it.
Lew, you are a strong man and I support you 100%. You make the decisions that have to be made in the face of non-stop criticism. You are making our athletic programs stronger and I appreciate you're hard work.
Rock Chalk!
bmcmich1 (anonymous) says…
I really wish people would stop mentioning OU-Texas. That is an event coupled with the Texas State Fair and played at the legendary Cotton Bowl, plus it is right near everything in Dallas--a true college atmosphere. I have been to one and it is quite an experience. Imagine if the OU-Texas game were suddenly moved to tired, outdated old Texas Stadium out in the middle of nowhere Irving and you'd have what we're going to have--it's just not college football.
i grew up watching games at Memorial and think that it is one of the greatest venues I've been to watch college football. I have nothing against KC, but I hate the fact that this game has to be played at Camarohead--the place is such a dump, and it is located in the polar opposite of a college campus (i.e.--middle of nowhere MO) Yeah, it's great that the University will be getting more $, but you've got to consider keeping the alum donors happy too, and I'll wager this move is p*ssing a lot of them off, but maybe not...I don't know.
As a loyal Kansas Football fan, my knee-Jerk reaction to this was anger, and to be honest I see the logic in the decision but it's not making me any less angry. Kansas Football games belong at memorial. Period.
KFoz (anonymous) says…
Yea, so we can tear down the goalposts again en route to another .500 season.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…
It does not seem right to play your home game other than on your home field and this can make a big difference in trying to win the Big 12 north. Thus, if the goal is to make money, then Lew Perkins may have made the right decision on the short term. But, if the goal is to get better each year and win the Big 12 North, it is foolish to give up our home field advantage over a key opponent. I realize they are doing the same thing on the oppositie year but what about the other teams in the North that are not giving up their home games for a fee?
Thus, I think this is just a short term fix to generate money. The better option would be improve the program each year until it becomes a program that generates money on its face. As I see, KU took a big step backwards and lost a lot of games that were winable and maybe correcting that trend should be the concern with the football program as opposed to selling our home games.
hawkfan20 (anonymous) says…
If KU doesn't create a homefield advantage in Arrowhead, it's our own fault. KU has more than 60,000 alumni in Kansas City while Mizzou only has 23,000. Kansas fans should be encouraging each other to attend so we can have a home field advantage every year instead of every other.
kcgangsta (anonymous) says…
you all are dum as crap who cares what state it is in for get the damn state line i live in downtown kansas city missouri i have to relation to either school however i am a kansas fan because it is a 40 min drive west now why does it mater if it is in kansas or missouri kansas city is in between the mu and kansas campus plus look at what it will do for reacurting for both schools natinal tv nfl stadium big crowd rival game = a recurting dream for both schools now ive always like ku because it is closer but if all your fans are mad becuse they move a game to kanas city 40 min down the road u all got problums by the way dumn ass ku is closer to kc then mu so why the hell does it mater if it is in missouri if u dont like it move the campus to the middle of the most boring dule state in america other wise shut up i cant belive u write for this paper u should be fired
kcgangsta (anonymous) says…
kansas city is a great city arrowhead is one of the nicest stadiums in the nfl and i think the only reason you all dont want to bring the game to kc is because you all out thiere in lawance are scared of us black folks
fabio (anonymous) says…
I dont speak jive, sorry.
ebbenji (Eric Beightel) says…
bmcmich1 - I'm an alumnus and a donor and I can tell you I'll continue to give the University money as long as they continue to take steps to make the athletic programs - department wide - better.
This move will do that.
JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says…
This might be stretch but, all you guys who are for playing the KU/MU game in KC, you wouldn't also have a tendency to vote republican would you? I'm sensing a trend in the justifications here.
JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says…
My political affiliation question would exclude Gangstakc. I think I know his political leanings
KFoz (anonymous) says…
So, the people who are worried about Lawrence businesses losing the MU game day every other year are sentimental? Perhaps they are Republicans as well. Perhaps politics has nothing to do with it. Perhaps this could end up being a large build up that will begin a new tradition: it will still be Thanksgiving, but a true border war on the border. A complete build up for a weekend showdown every year. Or, a two year experiment that might fail and we go back to the way things were. My hawkish tendencies for the border war must make me a Republican.
ebbenji (Eric Beightel) says…
Yeah, I'm about as liberal as they come. I'm also a realist and an avid supporter of promoting and progressing our athletic department. Lawrence merchants still get the 6 home games they are accustomed to, they aren't missing out anything that they haven't had in the past.
I understand that the community of Lawrence relies on gameday traffic for support of their businesses during the fall. However, KU football does not solely exist to put money in the pockets of local businesses. It has to look at its own self-interest and when an opportunity presents itself that is beneficial to the program with minimal harm to the community, I see nothing wrong with it.
I understand that the relation between Downtown Lawrence & KU Football is mutualistic but I have a hard time thinking that a Thanksgiving weekend game is going to have that severe of a detrimental effect on the local economy. Hotels will be filled with out of town families, shops will be frequented for the holiday sale events, etc. So 25k Lawrencians fuel up the SUV, buy coolers full of beer and head over to Arrowhead where everyone can tailgate (not just the ones with enough Williams Fund points - not that I'm arguing against that system) and spend 6 hours enjoying a major game-day atmosphere. Where, exactly is the harm?
bmcmich1 (anonymous) says…
I'll tell you where the harm is--it's in the venue! everyone can tailgate in Lawrence--whether it be in the aforementioned parking lots, at a bar, or at a friend's house near the stadium or on the hill! What, you think the only people that tailgate at Memorial are the ones with points?
Arrowhead is an aging DUMP of a stadium--the only reason it is regarded as a good NFL venue is because of the Chefs fans that surround it every other Sunday in the fall! An NFL atmosphere is NOT, I repeat NOT even close to being the same as a college atmosphere. The college atmosphere requires a stadium not to be in the middle of nowhere and offer more than a vast concrete wasteland that people have to pay $20 to park in. What are the students going to do?? Get as drunk as they normally do on a gameday at Memorial (where they can walk home, mind you) and have to DRIVE to get anywhere???
Let's face it, drinking is inevitable and is a part of any college student's gameday activities. To put the biggest game of the year, which usually translates into the drunkest day as a student, in a place with no direct access to post-game activities remotely close (besides the elegant Adam's Mark--woo hoo!) is stuuuupppiiiiddddd!!!!!!!
My argument is not on behalf of the Lawrence Businesses--they will be FINE. My argument is on behalf of the students and those of us who miss being students. Where do all of our memories of Hawk Football as students take place? memorial stadium. Memorial is a place where we can take off from our workweeks and act like we did in college, if just for a day. I don't correlate Arrowhead with those days whatsoever. What's more, A TON of students live within walking distance of Memorial, and ten will get you twenty that those who live in housing that closes over the holiday know someone who lives in housing that doesn't, so they can stay with them. Who's to say that with it being thanksgiving any of them would stick around, but putting the game in this new ridiculous locale sure as hell guarantees less student support. KU is about the students!!! That's what it's there for!!! Those of us who are alums go to the games to just try to relive an inkling of that experience. That experience does not include NFL stadiums out off of I-70. Arrowhead is for NFL Sundays, not college Saturdays.
ebbenji (Eric Beightel) says…
I will make the concession that college gameday is for the students and you can't have a better college gameday atmosphere than what you get on the hill. That being said, Thanksgiving weekend will see many students off to their respective homes for the holiday.
Yes, everybody can "tailgate" in Lawrence. In recent years, after being bumped to the garage from my choice location behind JRP, I "tailgated" at the Wheel. Not the same. Not even close.
This game is about exposure and revenue. It makes sense and I say about damn time.
KU football needs to continue to market itself to the casual fan and I think this is a great way of doing just that.