T1B

Michigan State and Wisconsin are set to play in the first ever Big Ten championship game. A Rose Bowl berth is on the line. Neither team is a perpetual conference heavyweight. So you'd think fans would be rolling in to Indianapolis, that ticket prices would be surging, that the excitement would be palpable. You'd be...wrong. StubHub lists 9029 seats available at prices starting at $9.

That's bad, what's worse?

It appears the Big Ten is even willing to pay "fans" to come watch its title game.

At least according to this Craig's List ad:

"Saturday night event in downtown Indianapolis needs seat-fillers. Total number of seat-fillers needed will vary based on crowd. Must tolerate loud noise and crowds. Must have red or dark green casual clothing to wear. Event will last all evening on Saturday night. All ages, sexes, races, etc. Please use contact e-mail. Event planner will follow-up with exact details on location for staging of seat-fillers (additional information and instruction provided there)."


What's the pay?

$75.

Yep, nearly $25 an hour to watch a team win a championship.

Reached for comment by OKTC, the Big Ten office said, "We are not involved in that. You'll have to ask Craig's List."

The Big Ten's denial sounds like that of a coaching candidate when asked if he has been contacted by a school with an opening. Clearly, if someone is paying $75 for fake fans at the inaugural Big Ten title game it isn't happening without the Big Ten's tacit knowledge. Also, if it was a prank or occurring without your knowledge, wouldn't you demand Craig's List take down the ads? The Big Ten hasn't taken that step either.

I've responded to the email stating that I'm available for the work so I'll update this article when or if I get more details. But, if true, this is some serious coin, potentially as much as $750,000 that someone is willing -- or forced to contractually -- drop on fake fans.

Yep, it's really gotten this bad for the Big Ten.

Since a Wisconsin-Michigan State title game in Indianapolis isn't exciting Big Ten fans, I thought I'd lend a helpful hand to the Big Ten.

Here are ten tips to increase attendance.

1. Show the SEC championship game on a jumbotron instead of the Big Ten game.

That's even though the SEC title game doesn't matter very much this year. You know Big Ten fans would secretly rather watch the SEC.

2. Execute Jerry Sandusky at halftime.

It drew great crowds in 18th century Paris. Seems like it would still work in 21st century Indianapolis.

3. Move the title game to Florida.

The only time Big Ten fans seem willing to travel is to Florida in the winter.

Voila, problem solved.

4. Free tattoos on the concourse.

If you pair them with chinstrap beards, Big Ten fans will riot with glee.

5. Tell Colts fans Andrew Luck will be there.

Coincidentally this is also the Colts marketing plan for the final month of the season.

6. Announce that whichever team has the fewest fans will be forced to name Ron Zook as head coach for 2012.

Three words: sell out guaranteed.

7. Maurice Clarett and friends have been hired to provide parking lot security.

Just make sure your valuables aren't visible.

8. Hire the USC song girls for a game.

The Trojans are on probation. Why not put the Song Girls on the jumbotron the entire game?

Be honest, wouldn't you go?

9. Money back guarantee if the game doesn't end on a Hail Mary.

Isn't this the toughest aspect of the lack of ticket demand? The Big Ten is replaying the best game of the season and no one even cares enough to go.

Jim Delany refers to this as a "demographic problem." Others call it something simpler -- sucky football.

10. There's beer available.

.

Adelpiero wrote:i know some of the middle tier bowl games will do this, the Texas ones have done this in the past, but the first big10 title game, shocks me. Your getting 2 quality opponents, this isn't USC vs UCLA.

B1G fans i know,claim if it's in Chicago, it's sold out.,

Goober McTuber wrote:Speaking of Nickelback, I heard there was a big movement in Detroit to not have them play at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game. What does Detroit have against Nickelback? Mind you, I'm not at all a big fan myself, but at least they're not MGMT.

Goober McTuber wrote:Speaking of Nickelback, I heard there was a big movement in Detroit to not have them play at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game. What does Detroit have against Nickelback? Mind you, I'm not at all a big fan myself, but at least they're not MGMT.

MiketheangrydrunkenCUfan wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:Speaking of Nickelback, I heard there was a big movement in Detroit to not have them play at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game. What does Detroit have against Nickelback? Mind you, I'm not at all a big fan myself, but at least they're not MGMT.

I'm no MGMT apologist, and I realize you pretty much live to get under S_M's skin, but if you honestly think Nickelback is better than MGMT, you have pretty much destroyed any credibility you could ever bring to a discussion of music...

Goober McTuber wrote:Hey, 88, where's the Pick 'em?

Goober McTuber wrote:But I do know people who are already booking a trip to Pasadena.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:But I do know people who are already booking a trip to Pasadena.

Nice. Who do you guys think you are, the '85 Bears?

Goober McTuber wrote:The last one was. That's why they call it a H-a-i-l M-a-r-y. Oh, and the last two in a row were both in East Lansing.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:These teams are very evenly matched. I think it will be a battle that could easily go either way.

Goober McTuber wrote:What does Detroit have against Nickelback? Mind you, I'm not at all a big fan myself, but at least they're not MGMT.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:What does Detroit have against Nickelback? Mind you, I'm not at all a big fan myself, but at least they're not MGMT.

Other than they suck balls? The fact you even had to ask this question just shows how utterly and truly clueless you are, Grandpa.

Papa Willie wrote:How are the other conferences going?

88 wrote:Did they officially rename it the Meatgrinder Bowl yet?

Van wrote:The people in Detroit who were protesting the idea of Nickleback playing at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game were doing so not on any stated grounds that Nickelback sucks more than bradhusker at a 300 theme-party, but rather because they felt Detroit should have opted to honor one of their own. Between Motown and various Classic Rock acts, along with goofballs like Kid Rock, their feeling was that Detroit had no business booking a non-homegrown act.

That's what I read, anyway.

M Club wrote:i'm pretty sure the protests were done tongue-in-cheek and only after the story gained momentum did anyone try to come up with legitimate reasons about representing detroit.

M Club wrote:i find it hard to believe there isn't enough demand between wisco and state to fill the stadium. msu hasn't been big ten champions since 1987 (co-champs last year but no one took them seriously) and wisconsin hasn't won a outright title since 1756. they've won a few co-championships recently, though most of them have been of the "yeah, but" variety like state's last year. there must be some corporate ticket policy thing going on where the big ten strong armed sponsors into buying blocks of tickets that they're now trying to unload on disinterested employees as some sort of bonus. "hey, if you don't want to go you can at least make $70 on stubhub, call it your xmas bonus." hosting the game in a western outpost like indy can't help, either. can make a weekend of it in chicago, where all you can do in indy is choose which mini-mall bar and grill to hit up that was just like the last one.

Adelpiero wrote:i know some of the middle tier bowl games will do this, the Texas ones have done this in the past, but the first big10 title game, shocks me. Your getting 2 quality opponents, this isn't USC vs UCLA.

Go Coogs' wrote:Houston sold out their high school stadium within three hours of the release. I got mine. Pics to come Saturday night.

M Club wrote:hosting the game in a western outpost like indy can't help, either. can make a weekend of it in chicago, where all you can do in indy is choose which mini-mall bar and grill to hit up that was just like the last one.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

M Club wrote:i find it hard to believe there isn't enough demand between wisco and state to fill the stadium. msu hasn't been big ten champions since 1987 (co-champs last year but no one took them seriously) and wisconsin hasn't won a outright title since 1756. they've won a few co-championships recently, though most of them have been of the "yeah, but" variety like state's last year. there must be some corporate ticket policy thing going on where the big ten strong armed sponsors into buying blocks of tickets that they're now trying to unload on disinterested employees as some sort of bonus. "hey, if you don't want to go you can at least make $70 on stubhub, call it your xmas bonus." hosting the game in a western outpost like indy can't help, either. can make a weekend of it in chicago, where all you can do in indy is choose which mini-mall bar and grill to hit up that was just like the last one.

Everything I've read suggests State fans are more than pulling their weight. A majority % of tickets sold from ticket broker sites are coming from the state of Michigan. Wisky fans were two plays away from an MNC and are bummed out to be here. Plus they think this game is a foregone conclusion and are banking their mattress money for Pasadena to lose by 40 to Oregon.

Goober McTuber wrote:Seems to me that attendance could often be an issue with this game, unless they permanently hold it in Chicago. I don’t know anyone planning to go to Indy – who wants to visit Indy in December. But I do know people who are already booking a trip to Pasadena.

Hey, 88, where's the Pick 'em?

Screw_Michigan wrote:Fat Fucking Retard: The only reason Detroit built a dome is so they could host the Super Bowl. Real men (i.e. not you or your southern inbrethern) play football outdoors, regardless of temperature. Indianapolis is at a polar end of the league. Would have been just as bad if the Cash Grab game was in Minneapolis or State College. Chicago is a central location (for the most part) and a location people want to visit in general, regardless of weather.

Put that in your fucking pipe and smoke it, idiot.

Screw_Michigan wrote:Fat Fucking Retard: The only reason Detroit built a dome is so they could host the Super Bowl. Real men (i.e. not you or your southern inbrethern) play football outdoors, regardless of temperature. Indianapolis is at a polar end of the league. Would have been just as bad if the Cash Grab game was in Minneapolis or State College. Chicago is a central location (for the most part) and a location people want to visit in general, regardless of weather.

Put that in your fucking pipe and smoke it, idiot.

Goober McTuber wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:Fat Fucking Retard: The only reason Detroit built a dome is so they could host the Super Bowl. Real men (i.e. not you or your southern inbrethern) play football outdoors, regardless of temperature. Indianapolis is at a polar end of the league. Would have been just as bad if the Cash Grab game was in Minneapolis or State College. Chicago is a central location (for the most part) and a location people want to visit in general, regardless of weather.

Put that in your fucking pipe and smoke it, idiot.

Even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then. RACK that take.