The Next Great Valley Rivalry

[uniftw]

IF...and I mean IF....Drake could ever get out of being a perennial 10th place contender the UNI/Drake game could be extremely intense.

The games already are a near sell out for both school every single time, regardless of records. UNI fans tend to make up about 40% of the crowd when the game is in Des Monies due to the number of alumns down there. Tend to recruit same players (though that changed the last year or two under Phelps), just 2 hours apart, etc...


If we could both get to top half teams year after year it would be crazy and may require Des Moines game to be played in Wells Fargo as there could be over 10K for that game, and maybe moving the CF game to the dome....maybe

I agree that Drake/UNI is a rivalry that could be improving over the next decade, but come on, we're not playing in the Dome again for anything short of a home and home with Kansas.

The one year Drake has actually been good we actually had to cut ticket sales off due to the fire marshall cutting it off at 7,300. I'd promise you we could have easily gotten 10K for that game. Like I said - if both teams were to be top half teams on a consistent basis the games would easily draw 10k - especially in DM.

The last 5 years - when Drake has been a PIG team every year the games have still drawn well.

Overall: 6,000
In CF: 5,400
In DM: 6,500


It doesn't draw quite as well in CF, which is easily accounted for -
1. Drake has been terrible these years. Not as likely to draw big crowds for a terrible team.
2. The games at Drake have been on Weekends more frequently that CF (tends to be a weeknight game).
3. City size/alumn base. DM Metro is 5 times larger than CF/W'loo metro. UNI also has tens of thousands of alumns in DM. The UNI contengent tends to make up roughly 40-50% of the crowd at the Knapp Center most games.

Is it likely any time soon? No. It could get there though

[unipanther99]

I love your passion, but UNI didn't have 40-50% of fans in the Knapp.

Just because one game starts to regularly sell out does not mean it's time to move the game to a different venue. It just becomes a regular sell-out. Which is awesome.

[uniftw]

I love your passion, but UNI didn't have 40-50% of fans in the Knapp.

Just because one game starts to regularly sell out does not mean it's time to move the game to a different venue. It just becomes a regular sell-out. Which is awesome.

It's like you aren't listening to what I'm saying.

The games already draw damn near sell out crowds, and Drake has been the laughing stock of the league for the last 5 years (and much of the last decade). If it gets to the point where both teams were top half contenders yearly, it could easily get to the point where the alure of drawing 10K+ paid attendance would be worth passing up the "feel" of a sold out Knapp or Mcleod.

It could eventually get there, and if it does get to that point where both schools are the competitive I'd put money on it happening. The money to be made would be too much.

[indymoon]

UE and InSU have been playing almost every year since 1920. Is that the longest of any two MVC teams? They have played over 150 times and the all-time W-L record is about 50/50.

UE and SIU's rivalry also goes back to the College Division days (or Division II) and the teams have played over 110 times. UE beat SIU in OT to win the 1965 title.

Unfortunately, the other component of a good rivalry - both teams consistently competing for conference championships - has been elusive recently for all 3 teams.

[usmcsaluki]

I'm confident SIU will be back near the top of the Valley standings in the next four years, but between now and then, I think we'll see a rotation of teams competing for the void left when/if Creighton does leave.

[BradleyBrave]

Tornado and Da Coach vs. Every other Bradley fan in existence.

[UNIFanSince1983]

UNI and whoever is going to perenially finish second to us in the standings.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The games already draw damn near sell out crowds, and Drake has been the laughing stock of the league for the last 5 years (and much of the last decade). If it gets to the point where both teams were top half contenders yearly, it could easily get to the point where the alure of drawing 10K+ paid attendance would be worth passing up the "feel" of a sold out Knapp or Mcleod.

According to this link, the game at UNI only drew 4215. That seems pretty far from a "near sell out crowd."

[CFA Jay]

I hope WSU doesn't become the next SIU. If/when Double GG leaves I could totally see this happening. It would be too bad for the valley. On the plus side I think Barry Hinson is going to right the ship and take SIU back to where they belongs..On top.

[Kyle]

The games already draw damn near sell out crowds, and Drake has been the laughing stock of the league for the last 5 years (and much of the last decade). If it gets to the point where both teams were top half contenders yearly, it could easily get to the point where the alure of drawing 10K+ paid attendance would be worth passing up the "feel" of a sold out Knapp or Mcleod.

According to this link, the game at UNI only drew 4215. That seems pretty far from a "near sell out crowd."

Tickets were $30 for this game. A normal ticket price of $15-$20 would have put another 2K in the seats.