Column: Going neutral can be positive
Published April 27, 2010
Looking around the stands at Kauffman Stadium last Wednesday during the Missouri-Kansas baseball game, I noticed several in attendance wearing Kansas City Royals memorabilia rather than Tiger or Jayhawk apparel. Many of them were kids.
I can't say for sure why those fans showed up. For some, it might have been the opportunity to go back to the ballpark. But for others, the Border Showdown meant a rare chance to watch their favorite school in action in their hometown of Kansas City.
When NCAA universities compete at neutral sites, they increase both their own exposure and that of the sport they're playing. Perhaps the most prominent examples are basketball's Final Four games and football's Bowl Championship Series, but the numerous neutral site venues serving regional rivalries throughout the country prop up interest for the NCAA and its various sports.
For example, more people are now aware of Butler University thanks to its recent basketball success, but few will continue to follow its sports on a regular basis.
On the other hand, I'm willing to bet some of the kids I saw last week will now follow Missouri and/or Kansas for the rest of their respective baseball seasons.
I say this because while growing up in St. Louis, I kept the most tabs on teams that came to town the most. Because the Missouri Valley Conference's annual basketball tournament took place downtown, I knew more about the Valley teams than MU.
Fans aren't the only part of the community excited to watch neutral site games; venues themselves are thankful to take part. I'm not just talking about revenues, either.
Before the game last week, a stadium worker noticed I was headed toward the wrong gate to purchase tickets and offered to drive my friends and me to the only entrance that sold tickets — on the other side of the stadium. On the way, we talked about the Royals game earlier in the day. (KC won in extra innings after blowing the win for its ace pitcher, Zack Greinke.) Then he expressed his gratitude to us for driving up from Columbia to watch the game.
Despite the probability of lower revenues, I hope to see more neutral site venues in the future. I'm not advocating stealing multiple home games away from campuses — only a few, reminiscent to the baseball and football schedules.
Most college students associate road trips with football and basketball games. I found my trip very enjoyable. A couple-hour road trip to watch Missouri play in a professional ballpark I had never been to before? Heck, I wish I could do that more than just once a season.
Athletes certainly love the concept.
"As a little kid I followed the Royals a lot," Missouri junior catcher Brett Nicholas said after last week's game. "I'm actually named after George Brett. So it was something special to come play on the same field as him."
After playing April 7 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Tiger freshman centerfielder Blake Brown was similarly impressed.
"It was awesome getting to stand in the same box as Albert Pujols and getting to roam centerfield like that," Brown said.
All these players dream of competing in the majors. For those who don't make it, playing on a major league field happens to be the next best thing.