...how about a Penn State at Iowa wrestling match that morning? Just a thought...
November 12th: Michigan at Iowa (football)...
- Thread starter SetonHallPirate
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Delaney says no. It makes too much sense and the revenue would be too good.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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Here's the next step to beat the attendance record (and possibly sell out Kinnick) - Have a football night game at Iowa vs either PSU, Okie State, or Ohio State and have a home wrestling meet at Kinnick against the SAME school during the day. Any chance at a sellout would depend on a very large turnout from the visiting crowd though which is always an issue with the distances between the other powerhouse teams.
I think with how successful Grapple at the Gridiron was last year and the buzz it generated, anyone who missed the event the first time would make sure they didn't miss out again.
Also, they need to move the wrestling mat to the 50 yard line next time. They highly underestimated the crowd turnout and they put the mat on the 15 yard line of the south end zone when there were fans sitting on the opposite 30 yard line...
Of course this would all depend on a multitude of factors falling into place perfectly, but I think it's worth a shot.
I think with how successful Grapple at the Gridiron was last year and the buzz it generated, anyone who missed the event the first time would make sure they didn't miss out again.
Also, they need to move the wrestling mat to the 50 yard line next time. They highly underestimated the crowd turnout and they put the mat on the 15 yard line of the south end zone when there were fans sitting on the opposite 30 yard line...
Of course this would all depend on a multitude of factors falling into place perfectly, but I think it's worth a shot.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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It's definitely a risk, and last November couldn't have been more perfect, but I still think it's worth another attempt.
I wouldn't be against wrestling Michigan that morning either.... Michigan will be tough as nails next year.
Could you imagine an Iowa-PSU wrestling meet at noon followed by an Iowa-PSU football game that night? Iowa City would be pandemonium. Would be a sight to behold.
The mat would definitely need to be at the 50 for that, as you'd have 60,000 minimum for the meet if not a sell-out, I'd guess. I was pushing to have the mat at the 50 for the Grapple, but it worked out nicely where it was, I thought. Was great to have the entire south end zone and all of the stands out to the 20 or so completely packed. The additional fans were also great, of course.
As noted above, though, the weather was pretty much the perfect storm. We were hot in windbreakers. It was actually a little uncomfortably warm during the meet. Still having a hard time wrapping my head around that. And as also stated above, the weather the following Saturday was miserable. Would be a real shame to sell out Kinnick for the meet and have to move it indoors where only about 1/5 of the ticket holders can attend.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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Most of the ticket sales at the Grapple were bought at the box office that day or earlier in the week when fans saw the forecast. I don't think it's too big of a concern that fans would buy tickets in advance and travel a long ways and then not be able to attend due to it moving to Carver b/c of weather. They just wouldn't come if the weather was going to be bad. Not that big of a risk in my opinion.
'Don't look for this to be an annual thing. “Maybe every five years,” Eustice said, “for every recruiting class coming through.
“But I don't know if we could ever duplicate this again. The fans, the match, the weather ... (trying to match Saturday's meet) would almost be a little bit of a letdown.”'
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/hlas-it-all-went-right-at-grapple-on-the-gridiron-20151114
“But I don't know if we could ever duplicate this again. The fans, the match, the weather ... (trying to match Saturday's meet) would almost be a little bit of a letdown.”'
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/hlas-it-all-went-right-at-grapple-on-the-gridiron-20151114
Nah! It'd lose it's luster if you do this too often. I hope they don't try to do it again for a couple years.
I'm a big time deer hunter. I have spent decades hunting in November and it is almost always more lion than lamb. This year I arrowed the buck in my avatar couple of weeks before the rumble on the rug. 78 degrees. The year before it was 10 degrees in November when I retrieved a buck.
I love the idea of another Grapple on the Gridiron. But man it don't take long for a good plan to flop. Now if we had a dome?? I am sure it was very positive recruiting tool. I think our results show that. We need to do it again with a good plan in mind.
I love the idea of another Grapple on the Gridiron. But man it don't take long for a good plan to flop. Now if we had a dome?? I am sure it was very positive recruiting tool. I think our results show that. We need to do it again with a good plan in mind.
That's actually a good point. Maybe sell out Carver and put the rest of the fans on notice that it will be in Kinnick if the weather's good. However, there are quite a few preparations that have to be done to hold it in Kinnick. Would be a bummer if all of that were done and the weather didn't allow the event to occur there, but I guess you have to roll the dice every now and then.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
Guest
The weather is not as big of an issue as you all are making it out to be. Everyone knows that it's outdoors weather permitting and that if it moves inside, there will be a limited number of tickets. The hardcore fans who want to be there no matter what will buy their tickets in advance so that they can watch it in Carver if the weather doesn't cooperate.
To never do it again, just because the first one was so successful and perfect and you are afraid of being let down makes absolutely no sense. There is no reason we couldn't attempt this on a yearly (or every other year) basis. In fact, you're taking more of a risk by only scheduling it every 5 years, b/c then if the weather doesn't cooperate you are SOL, but if you try it every year, your bound to have success occasionally.
I think an annual thing would be a bit much, but I like Luke's comment about trying it every cycle, so each recruit gets to be on the team for one event in Kinnick (or at least one attempt).
I generally like to take a "can do" approach to things, but I do agree that a meet in Kinnick every season would lose its luster and would be difficult to sustain. However, I think we could come close to filling the place about every 4-5 years, given the right conditions.
I generally like to take a "can do" approach to things, but I do agree that a meet in Kinnick every season would lose its luster and would be difficult to sustain. However, I think we could come close to filling the place about every 4-5 years, given the right conditions.
I had previously stated I think they will try doing it every few years so each recruiting class gets a chance. It will be hard to beat the original but the right circumstances can blow it out of the water. The easiest formula would be for to have the next one in 2020. Iowa needs to be coming off a national title in 2019. Iowa State needs to have a top 5 team. We need to play the clowns in football that night. Adding a creative ticket package would almost guarantee a sell out if weather cooperated.
Only reason I bring this up is because it's a likely ESPN College GameDay game...imagine them having ESPN College GameDay airing WHILE the stadium already has 55-60,000 Hawkeye fans in it for Grapple on the Gridiron...I'm thinking ESPN could not possibly pass up mentioning it!
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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Question for the locals. What other venues could hold a bunch of people in Iowa City. Say for example, it is booked in Kinnick and 70,000+ buy tickets in advance. The weather sucks and it is moved to Carver, is there anywhere else that wouldn't be a logistical nightmare to pack 20,000+ fans at three venues each. (Just typing that I think I know my answer and it would lose it's luster). Anyway, maid me think of how during the National Championship football game that had watch parties back at the colleges participating and they were packed and atmosphere seemed good. Not ideal obviously, just wondering.
I bought season tickets and went to the last one. Drove 7 hours. If it happens again, I bet I will be bringing 20+ people with me. Noone could believe the pictures and videos from that event.
I bought season tickets and went to the last one. Drove 7 hours. If it happens again, I bet I will be bringing 20+ people with me. Noone could believe the pictures and videos from that event.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
Guest
There is absolutely no way 70,000 people buy tickets in advance. They had only sold 20k tickets in advance for the last grapple. 20k+ people bought tickets the week/weekend of the meet.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
Guest
Could probably squeeze that many into the bars downtown. Brothers, Joes Place, the Union,etc. Probably not far off from their capacity on any given Saturday night anyway.
/sarcasm
=P
All I can remember is how nice it was the day of the Grapple on the Gridiron and how we got 10+ inches of snow just 7 days later.... Luck was definately on our side that day....
For real. Make it two rounds with 3 matches going on at once. Round 1. Iowa vs Penn State, USA Greco vs Russia Greco, Womens USA freestyle vs pick a country womens freestyle. Round 2. OK State vs Ohio State, USA vs Russia Freestyle, #2 USA freestyle vs other top ranked USA freestyle.
I would road trip for this. You would get international travelers, Iowa fans, Penn State, OK State, Ohio State and womens. Bring out 10 weight classes for the international styles though.
I agree with your point, but I thought they were well over 25,000 before the day of the event. Could be wrong.
You would be correct:
"Oct. 1, 2015 – More than 4,000 tickets are sold in the first two hours of general-public sales for what is billed as the “Grapple on the Gridiron.” By day’s end, more than 20,000 tickets (priced at $10) had been sold for the event, guaranteeing an NCAA record if the weather cooperates.
Nov. 11, 2015 – Iowa says that nearly 35,000 tickets had been sold. With a promising forecast to entice more walk-ups, the NCAA record is three days away from being demolished."
http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...restling-tom-brands-kinnick-stadium/75612930/
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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Yeah you could be right. Might've been closer to 25k in advance.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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2015 grapple wasn't a sure thing, but turned out to be well worth the risk. The median temp for Nov. 12th is 43 degrees. Snow is definitely possible this time of the year, but it is more likely to not snow than it is to snow.
I think it should be attempted again within the next 3-4 years and next time, have the wrestling meet be against the same school the football team is playing. Preferably against a team that is a powerhouse in both sports such as PSU or Ohio State.
Vodka - it's called a hypothetical. I'm not saying you would get 70k but I definitely know people that didn't buy tickets in advance because it wasn't guaranteed they would get to watch the meet weather depending. Don't know if it would help much if the alternative was a bar or a hs gym. Doubt it.
As far as FILLING Kinnick for a wrestling meet, the correct and obvious answer is Iowa State. Unfortunately they have to do their part and get back to being extremely competitive (the Gophers would be the next best bet, all due to proximity).
You're only going to get X Amount of PSU or fOSU fans who can get tickets to the Football Game, so if you want to attend both events live, good luck if you're not an Iowa fan. That same philosophy holds true to Iowa State and Minnesota fans, but they aren't driving 8,10,12 hours or whatever it is to do so (unless you live in Northern Minnesota, that is a long drive as well).
This event happening every 5 years would be plenty, and to pull if off like the original would be damn difficult to duplicate, but I'm sure they'll try at some point.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
Guest
The problem is, if you only schedule it every 5 years, then if you have bad weather, you're waiting 10 years between events. I say schedule it every 3 years. This gives you more opportunities for good weather (and good weather against the right school results in a large turnout like last year). If it has to be cancelled and moved indoors, then so be it. It then just becomes a regular dual meet in Carver.
I don't think it's near as simple as you make it sound. Of course the more they did it the better they'd be at it. But then the more you have it the less "special" it gets.
"Girls"? You mean like under-aged women? Girls or women are not tools to use for your convenience. If your response is, "Really? Do I have to put up with this here?" that"s exactly how I feel about the comment.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
Guest
I suppose, but I would prefer if instead of a special event once every five years, it became the norm/standard to fill up Kinnick every year with wrestling fans.
It wouldnt fill up every year. You had the perfect storm last year. Well marketed. A top ranked opponent. Perfect weather which drew a great walk up crowd. It drew 42,000. That in itself is an amazing number. But thinking you're going to get 70,000 for a wrestling meet every 3 years is wishful thinking.
I would add to that spot-on assessment that the planning and logistics for Grapple on the Gridiron were enormous and took an unbelievable amount of staff time from Luke Eustice and others. There's no way they could do that every year. I also agree with those who think having it more often than once every 3-5 years would lead to the law of diminishing returns. If it's every year, how easy would it be for people to just shrug and say, "Oh, I'll go next year instead" if the weather looks even a little iffy. Sure, the die-hard fans wouldn't do that, but you need more than die-hards and season ticket holders to fill up Kinnick.
All valid points above. I'd say to plan for it about every 4-5 years. If the weather causes it to be cancelled, plan it for the next year until you have it again. Then wait another 4-5 years, etc. Bad weather would't mean we'd have to wait another 4-5 years for another attempt.
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