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Football headed to Arrowhead in 2009 and 2010
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-21
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The arrow is pointing south for Iowa State football.
ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard announced at a joint press conference with Kansas State and the Kansas City Chiefs that the Cyclones will travel down Interstate 35 to face the Wildcats in a two-game series at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City beginning in 2009.
“We think this is something we can really grow into the long term,†Pollard said.
If that happens, ISU athletics will be able to add an influx of revenue into its budget. The teams are guaranteed to receive $900,000 a year with a chance to earn more depending on the attendance figures.
Missouri and Kansas started a two-game series at Arrowhead last season with both teams were guaranteed a million dollars and a sellout pushed the schools revenue to $1.3 million.
The Cyclones average about $1 million in revenue for a home football game and will make at least an additional $800,000 because of the series. Pollard would not comment on what the added revenue would be used for.
“Hopefully we will do our part on the football field to make this an attractive event,†Pollard said. “That’s what will make this successful and allow it to sustain itself over time.â€
The dates for two games are Oct. 3, 2009, which was a Cyclones home game, and Oct. 9, 2008.
Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holders will have first shot at the tickets. Each school will be given an allotment of tickets with first preference going to season ticket holders. Pollard said ISU season ticket holders will be given the chance to sign up for the K-State game in their season ticket packages.
Tickets for the public will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets prices are not available. All tickets will go on sale next spring.
Pollard said Kansas City was an attractive location for the Cyclones to play in because it will allow fans from Iowa to spend a whole weekend in Kansa City while also giving alumni in Kansas City a chance to watch their team play.
The Cyclones have around 5,000 alumni in the area. K-State has about 25,000.
“All the way back to the Big Eight Conference there have been two teams that have consistently brought teams into the Kansas City area and that’s Iowa State and Kansas State,†K-State athletics director Bob Krause said.
K-State first approached ISU about a neutral site series not long after Pollard was hired. The two sides struck up the conversation again at the Big 12 Conference meetings this spring, which culminated in Thursday’s announcement.
Both schools talked of potentially growing the Arrowhead series beyond two games, but will wait to see how things play out before committing to anything else.
For now, both sides are happy to give their teams a chance to play on an NFL field.
“Arrowhead Stadium is one of the most historic facilities in the NFL and our student-athletes will remember the experience forever,†coach Gene Chizik said in a press release Thursday.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-21
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The arrow is pointing south for Iowa State football.
ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard announced at a joint press conference with Kansas State and the Kansas City Chiefs that the Cyclones will travel down Interstate 35 to face the Wildcats in a two-game series at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City beginning in 2009.
“We think this is something we can really grow into the long term,†Pollard said.
If that happens, ISU athletics will be able to add an influx of revenue into its budget. The teams are guaranteed to receive $900,000 a year with a chance to earn more depending on the attendance figures.
Missouri and Kansas started a two-game series at Arrowhead last season with both teams were guaranteed a million dollars and a sellout pushed the schools revenue to $1.3 million.
The Cyclones average about $1 million in revenue for a home football game and will make at least an additional $800,000 because of the series. Pollard would not comment on what the added revenue would be used for.
“Hopefully we will do our part on the football field to make this an attractive event,†Pollard said. “That’s what will make this successful and allow it to sustain itself over time.â€
The dates for two games are Oct. 3, 2009, which was a Cyclones home game, and Oct. 9, 2008.
Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holders will have first shot at the tickets. Each school will be given an allotment of tickets with first preference going to season ticket holders. Pollard said ISU season ticket holders will be given the chance to sign up for the K-State game in their season ticket packages.
Tickets for the public will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets prices are not available. All tickets will go on sale next spring.
Pollard said Kansas City was an attractive location for the Cyclones to play in because it will allow fans from Iowa to spend a whole weekend in Kansa City while also giving alumni in Kansas City a chance to watch their team play.
The Cyclones have around 5,000 alumni in the area. K-State has about 25,000.
“All the way back to the Big Eight Conference there have been two teams that have consistently brought teams into the Kansas City area and that’s Iowa State and Kansas State,†K-State athletics director Bob Krause said.
K-State first approached ISU about a neutral site series not long after Pollard was hired. The two sides struck up the conversation again at the Big 12 Conference meetings this spring, which culminated in Thursday’s announcement.
Both schools talked of potentially growing the Arrowhead series beyond two games, but will wait to see how things play out before committing to anything else.
For now, both sides are happy to give their teams a chance to play on an NFL field.
“Arrowhead Stadium is one of the most historic facilities in the NFL and our student-athletes will remember the experience forever,†coach Gene Chizik said in a press release Thursday.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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