Spring game 2024

[Znelson15]

Just heard on the radio in an interview with hauck spring game is April 12 th Friday in Missoula

 

[Znelson15]

Interview with hauck was also really good about the championship game and the whole season and all the big wins

 

[Griz til I die]

What station interviewed him? I’d like to hear it

 

[Znelson15]

What station interviewed him? I’d like to hear it

Inside the den with Riley yeasterday

Tried to get the link on here but it wasnt working
I

 

[Znelson15]

https://art19.com/shows/inside-the-den?month=2&year=2024

Hear it is

 

[Spanky2]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

 

[PDXGrizzly]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

I recall someone saying that it is now being used for official visits and other recruiting. Gotta be in Missoula for that one.

 

[GrizTexas]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

Legitimate question ... what's the appeal of Billings for the game? I understand they have the largest GSA membership outside of Missoula...

 

[alabamagrizzly]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

Legitimate question ... what's the appeal of Billings for the game? I understand they have the largest GSA membership outside of Missoula...

Just to spread the love. Moving it permanently to Msla though and using it as a recruiting tool makes a lot of sense. Now if we could only get more then 5,000 people to show up so the stadium doesn’t look like they’re playing the class C state championship there would help a lot also.

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

Legitimate question ... what's the appeal of Billings for the game? I understand they have the largest GSA membership outside of Missoula...

I have zero insight into the thinking of people that lead the program on this topic, but I know that as an outsider there was talk for quite a while about moving it around the state to draw in new fans and increase our profile within the state.

To me, that seems like a really missed opportunity to showcase the team in their natural setting, Washington Griz. I am probably too opinionated on this, but I see far more downside in trotting the team out on high school fields whose maintenance is outside the Griz control. I also don't think it is possible to raise the profile. Nobody who follows sports at all is confused about who the Montana Grizzlies are, or their history. And playing a spring game in Hamilton or Polson or Billings isn't going to suddenly inspire enough kids to want to be a Griz to make it worth the trip.

I don't see the appeal or cost/benefit of doing it elsewhere. But I am so far outside these conversations that I am also sure there are a dozen factors I haven't considered.

 

[MikeyGriz]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

Legitimate question ... what's the appeal of Billings for the game? I understand they have the largest GSA membership outside of Missoula...

It's nice to see the flag being flow occasionally in contested territory. It'd also be nice to not have to drive that far and dole out the associated expenses.

I do fully understand the recruiting advantages of WaGriz.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Aside from the possibility of crappy weather, I just don’t get how a town of almost 80k and 20k more in the surrounding area, hungery for football in the off season and coming out of hibernation, can’t put more then 5-8k butts in the seats. It’s always disappointing to me to hear the announced spring game attendance numbers, especially when SEC schools regularly have 60-80k show up for theirs.

 

[Znelson15]

I could see 8 plus thousand coming out this year with all the hype the team has and people still feeling the energy form this past season.

Making it all the way the the ship which was not that long ago has kept football on peoples minds for sure.

I also think having it in Missoula every year if that is the plan will gain more people year after year as well.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I could see 8 plus thousand coming out this year with all the hype the team has and people still feeling the energy form this past season.

Making it all the way the the ship which was not that long ago has kept football on peoples minds for sure.

I also think having it in Missoula every year if that is the plan will gain more people year after year as well.

And in my opinion, that should be considered a low turnout.

2023 top attended spring games
10. COLORADO BUFFALOES: 47,277
9. CLEMSON TIGERS: 50,000
8. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS: 51,000
7. OKLAHOMA SOONERS: 54,409
6. GEORGIA BULLDOGS: 54,458
5. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS: 58,473
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE: 58,710
3. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS: 63,000
2. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS: 66,045
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES: 75,122

Yes, I know these are the big boys of college football but we consider our fan base to be just as rabid as these guys yet we can’t even crack 5-10% of what they put in their stadiums. I get often times April in montana can be a major factor in that but it’s still discouraging.

 

[kemajic]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

The desire to showcase the game in Missoula is augmented by lukewarm desire by the local Billings GSA. Taking this on is a huge effort for the relatively small group, which could benefit from better participation from local fans like you.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I could see 8 plus thousand coming out this year with all the hype the team has and people still feeling the energy form this past season.

Making it all the way the the ship which was not that long ago has kept football on peoples minds for sure.

I also think having it in Missoula every year if that is the plan will gain more people year after year as well.

And in my opinion, that should be considered a low turnout.

2023 top attended spring games
10. COLORADO BUFFALOES: 47,277
9. CLEMSON TIGERS: 50,000
8. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS: 51,000
7. OKLAHOMA SOONERS: 54,409
6. GEORGIA BULLDOGS: 54,458
5. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS: 58,473
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE: 58,710
3. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS: 63,000
2. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS: 66,045
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES: 75,122

Yes, I know these are the big boys of college football but we consider our fan base to be just as rabid as these guys yet we can’t even crack 5-10% of what they put in their stadiums. I get often times April in montana can be a major factor in that but it’s still discouraging.

Interesting. Just out of curiosity, do those programs have their spring games in far-flung areas of the state to "showcase"? Or do they play their spring games where their fu*king universities are located?

 

[Spanky2]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

The desire to showcase the game in Missoula is augmented by lukewarm desire by the local Billings GSA. Taking this on is a huge effort for the relatively small group, which could benefit from better participation from local fans like you.

Ouch

 

[alabamagrizzly]

And in my opinion, that should be considered a low turnout.

2023 top attended spring games
10. COLORADO BUFFALOES: 47,277
9. CLEMSON TIGERS: 50,000
8. SOUTH CAROLINA dna rifle: 51,000
7. OKLAHOMA SOONERS: 54,409
6. GEORGIA BULLDOGS: 54,458
5. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS: 58,473
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE: 58,710
3. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS: 63,000
2. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS: 66,045
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES: 75,122

Yes, I know these are the big boys of college football but we consider our fan base to be just as rabid as these guys yet we can’t even crack 5-10% of what they put in their stadiums. I get often times April in montana can be a major factor in that but it’s still discouraging.

Interesting. Just out of curiosity, do those programs have their spring games in far-flung areas of the state to "showcase"? Or do they play their spring games where their fu*king universities are located?

Well to get that many fans at a spring game, you gotta do what makes sense.

 

[BDizzle]

What happened to the Spring game being played in Billings?

The desire to showcase the game in Missoula is augmented by lukewarm desire by the local Billings GSA. Taking this on is a huge effort for the relatively small group, which could benefit from better participation from local fans like you.

Small but mighty!