Relocation of SWAC HQs; Good, Marginal, Bad for SWAC?
- Thread starter Bartram
- Start date
BLUEBENGAL
Senior Member
The SWAC offices should have never been moved from New Orleans. New Orleans in closer in proximity to the SWAC schools.
Mike
Ace Dawg! RQQ!!!!
Say whaT?
You are not aware of what you speak! If the SWAC HQ's was still in N.O. during the past year. Instead of being broke, the conference would also be homeless. We PAID to have our offices in the Superdome. Without money the conference would have been on the streets with a "Will play for office space" sign.
You are not aware of what you speak! If the SWAC HQ's was still in N.O. during the past year. Instead of being broke, the conference would also be homeless. We PAID to have our offices in the Superdome. Without money the conference would have been on the streets with a "Will play for office space" sign.
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
Points
What do you have: 2 TX, 2 LA, 1 AR, 3 MS, 2 AL?
True, the SWAC "center of gravity" is probably somewhere in Louisiana, and historically the SWAC was pretty much TX/LA/MS/AR, but perhaps someone in the SWAC hierarchy was thinking down the road about SWAC expansion into Atlanta, Florida or perhaps South Carolina.
As far as tourism, I think what Birmingham offers is vastly different and decidedly more family-oriented than N.O. but that's only a factor for the one game a year, the SWAC Championship Game. The other 365 days the SWAC is conducting the business of the league just like any other business/corp.
Also, today it's all a game. Any entity like the SWAC, the SEC, the MEAC know that they have accumulated financial impact that they can sell to a host city in exchange for incentives, concessions, etc to relocate.
Maybe New Orleans kind of rested on its lorals thinking the SWAC would never dare leave N.O., Birmingham/state of Alabama officials snuck in with an "incentives package" to relocate and N.O. got caught nappin. It happens to Birmingham all the time. As soon as the SWAC's contract is up in Birmingham, they could be in Nashville or Little Rock,,, just depends on who has the sweatest incentives package.
What do you have: 2 TX, 2 LA, 1 AR, 3 MS, 2 AL?
True, the SWAC "center of gravity" is probably somewhere in Louisiana, and historically the SWAC was pretty much TX/LA/MS/AR, but perhaps someone in the SWAC hierarchy was thinking down the road about SWAC expansion into Atlanta, Florida or perhaps South Carolina.
As far as tourism, I think what Birmingham offers is vastly different and decidedly more family-oriented than N.O. but that's only a factor for the one game a year, the SWAC Championship Game. The other 365 days the SWAC is conducting the business of the league just like any other business/corp.
Also, today it's all a game. Any entity like the SWAC, the SEC, the MEAC know that they have accumulated financial impact that they can sell to a host city in exchange for incentives, concessions, etc to relocate.
Maybe New Orleans kind of rested on its lorals thinking the SWAC would never dare leave N.O., Birmingham/state of Alabama officials snuck in with an "incentives package" to relocate and N.O. got caught nappin. It happens to Birmingham all the time. As soon as the SWAC's contract is up in Birmingham, they could be in Nashville or Little Rock,,, just depends on who has the sweatest incentives package.
Mike
Ace Dawg! RQQ!!!!
Bartram.....
The contract was for as long as the SWAC wanted to be in Birmingham. The only thing that could be renegotiated was payments on the A. G. Gaston building. The city will probably waive in price increases just to keep the SWAC there.
What else could you ask for?
We get cheap rent on the Headquarters.
We pay nothing for using Legion Field.
We paid nothing for Fair Park Arena.
I think we got the best thing that was offered and New Orleans was given a chance to beat the deal and declined. So was Memphis, Houston, and ATL.
The contract was for as long as the SWAC wanted to be in Birmingham. The only thing that could be renegotiated was payments on the A. G. Gaston building. The city will probably waive in price increases just to keep the SWAC there.
What else could you ask for?
We get cheap rent on the Headquarters.
We pay nothing for using Legion Field.
We paid nothing for Fair Park Arena.
I think we got the best thing that was offered and New Orleans was given a chance to beat the deal and declined. So was Memphis, Houston, and ATL.
Deuce
Well-Known Member
Re: Points
Bartram,
This "could" happen, but it is not likely. Organizations don't tend to move their headquarters that often. The SWAC HQ had been in New Orleans for YEARS, before they got tired of not being appreciated, and moved to Birmingham.
The only thing that would likely move the HQ from Birmingham to Louisiana, Texas or Mississippi is POLITICS. By that I mean pressure from schools in those states to move the HQ.
But any OBJECTIVE person can see that Birmingham has been great for the SWAC . . . Free use of an 83,000 seat stadium, free use of a 9,000 seat basketball arena, free rent for the HQ in the historic Civil Rights District of Birmingham, and a great job by the Alabama Sports Foundation handling the SWAC Championhsip Game . . . .
This one's a no-brainer.
Bartram,
This "could" happen, but it is not likely. Organizations don't tend to move their headquarters that often. The SWAC HQ had been in New Orleans for YEARS, before they got tired of not being appreciated, and moved to Birmingham.
The only thing that would likely move the HQ from Birmingham to Louisiana, Texas or Mississippi is POLITICS. By that I mean pressure from schools in those states to move the HQ.
But any OBJECTIVE person can see that Birmingham has been great for the SWAC . . . Free use of an 83,000 seat stadium, free use of a 9,000 seat basketball arena, free rent for the HQ in the historic Civil Rights District of Birmingham, and a great job by the Alabama Sports Foundation handling the SWAC Championhsip Game . . . .
This one's a no-brainer.
BLUEBENGAL
Senior Member
Rudy is gone, I wonder how much money he made personally in moving the SWAC headquarters from New Orleans?
S.U. T-BONE 99
Owner of Humanjukebox.com
Probably a lot.
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
So did N.O. counter with a better deal?
The points of Deuce, Mike are well taken. If N.O. is such a great venue, why didn't they counter Birmingham's bid to land the SWAC? Seems like to me if N.O. is so great the SWAC would still be there.
Plus Birmingham and the state of Alabama is a college football mecca and this is well known around the sports world. This is one of the main reason why there's no NFL in Birmingham. They were looking at Birmingham in the 60s but didn't want to encroach on college football. The SWAC coming to Birmingham gets all the benefits of a major metro area, plus it's treated well and appreciated (like someone mentioned). Also demographically Birmingham is a city that's about 60-70% black with a large black college football fan base state-wide to draw from.
Seems to me, also, if the SWAC doesn't have to pay for the use of Legion Field, head quarters in the most hallowed black historical district in the country (next to the Selma/Montgomery/Tuskegee corridor), free baseball stadium,,, that's immediate savings right there.
The points of Deuce, Mike are well taken. If N.O. is such a great venue, why didn't they counter Birmingham's bid to land the SWAC? Seems like to me if N.O. is so great the SWAC would still be there.
Plus Birmingham and the state of Alabama is a college football mecca and this is well known around the sports world. This is one of the main reason why there's no NFL in Birmingham. They were looking at Birmingham in the 60s but didn't want to encroach on college football. The SWAC coming to Birmingham gets all the benefits of a major metro area, plus it's treated well and appreciated (like someone mentioned). Also demographically Birmingham is a city that's about 60-70% black with a large black college football fan base state-wide to draw from.
Seems to me, also, if the SWAC doesn't have to pay for the use of Legion Field, head quarters in the most hallowed black historical district in the country (next to the Selma/Montgomery/Tuskegee corridor), free baseball stadium,,, that's immediate savings right there.
Dr. Mac
Player
Given the ineptness and ineffectiveness of the SWAC's office it could be located in China and still have about as much impact as it has had in New Orleans and/or Birmingham.
That old saying that "location, location, location" is the key to successful business operations doesn't apply in this case. It don't matter where the office is located: given its current state, it will be ineffective no matter where it is.
Regards.
That old saying that "location, location, location" is the key to successful business operations doesn't apply in this case. It don't matter where the office is located: given its current state, it will be ineffective no matter where it is.
Regards.
bornthrilla
Proud ***** of JSU
Has the conference made money from the SWAC Championship Game yet? I know before Rudy left he said the game was in the red both years.
A conference hq does not make money. It just houses the idiots that try to make decisions. For instance the SEC HQ is here also - but the only events the SEC has here are the SEC Baseball Tourney and the Gymnastics Champs....Now I love the SWAC events being here and I think it makes a big difference that the conference does not have to come out of their pockets to put these events on - as stated the city gives not only free office space for the headquarters, but also free rental on Legion Field and Fair Park, police and other services are of no charge during these events and local sponsors - Healthsouth, Sports Foundation (and I do hate them lol) also underwrite a lot of the cost for conference events and make the SWAC Champ game feel like a true bowl game for the participants. What kind of packages did the conference have for the spring championships? What does New Orleans do for the Bayou Classic - for the schools involved? Im just asking for info and am not in anyway tryin to smack - its a shame one has to add that disclaimer on here lol
AAMU Alum
Active Member
I've said it before........
...and I'll say it again. The SWAC Headquarters moved to where they were WANTED! You cannot, I repeat, cannot force your way into someone's front door if they don't want you in their house. When your contract on a piece of property that you're leasing expires, and the leaseholder doesn't want you to renew....guess what? That's all that needs to be said for this subject.
...and I'll say it again. The SWAC Headquarters moved to where they were WANTED! You cannot, I repeat, cannot force your way into someone's front door if they don't want you in their house. When your contract on a piece of property that you're leasing expires, and the leaseholder doesn't want you to renew....guess what? That's all that needs to be said for this subject.
JaguarNationAJL
Aquarius Man
I guess I really never gave it much thought on how the move had effected the SWAC. Looking at the big picture I think the move has helped. Being in Birmingham along with other big time conferences like the SEC should help the SWAC with networking for sponsers to bring the SWAC back to greatness.
Mike
Ace Dawg! RQQ!!!!
Actually it did help.
Kramer (The SEC Commisioner now retired) would tell the reporters after the SEC Season opening Press Days to stick around for the SWAC press days.
That and other things actually helped to get sponsorship from Healthsouth and other companies that otherwise had not given us a second look. Rudy just messed up alot of what could have happened with all the bad press. After we get a capable Commissioner in place, with better business sense. Maybe we can still tap into the resources that are already in Birmingham to improve the conference both financially and athletically.
Kramer (The SEC Commisioner now retired) would tell the reporters after the SEC Season opening Press Days to stick around for the SWAC press days.
That and other things actually helped to get sponsorship from Healthsouth and other companies that otherwise had not given us a second look. Rudy just messed up alot of what could have happened with all the bad press. After we get a capable Commissioner in place, with better business sense. Maybe we can still tap into the resources that are already in Birmingham to improve the conference both financially and athletically.
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
,,, the "I"s have it.
Welp, looks like to me the "I"s (,,, in this case, the "I"s being those who say the move to Birmingham was/is a good move for the SWAC) have it. There seems to be no really strong opposition to the move with any credible positions that the move was/is bad for the SWAC, so it looks like Birmingham/the state of Alabama,,,, in a rare, RARE I SAY,, move, pulled off an OUTSTANDING feat getting the SWAC to relocate to da Ham. As has been pointed out,,, the exposure in Birmingham a huge plus,, second only to the exposure the SWAC could get in Atlanta. And when Birmingham builds a proposed dome stadium and massive entertainment district, the SWAC and the SCG will be in on the ground floor.
Like I said, Bama is THE college football capitol of the south and a die-hard SEC strong hold with no pro sports to compete with college sports. Being home to HealthSouth, the pre-emminent supplier of college sports medical services, is a huge plus for the SWAC also.
late
Welp, looks like to me the "I"s (,,, in this case, the "I"s being those who say the move to Birmingham was/is a good move for the SWAC) have it. There seems to be no really strong opposition to the move with any credible positions that the move was/is bad for the SWAC, so it looks like Birmingham/the state of Alabama,,,, in a rare, RARE I SAY,, move, pulled off an OUTSTANDING feat getting the SWAC to relocate to da Ham. As has been pointed out,,, the exposure in Birmingham a huge plus,, second only to the exposure the SWAC could get in Atlanta. And when Birmingham builds a proposed dome stadium and massive entertainment district, the SWAC and the SCG will be in on the ground floor.
Like I said, Bama is THE college football capitol of the south and a die-hard SEC strong hold with no pro sports to compete with college sports. Being home to HealthSouth, the pre-emminent supplier of college sports medical services, is a huge plus for the SWAC also.
late
JROCK
Preeminent
My Personal Perspective
The SWAC Headquarter being in B'Ham is not the problem. SWAC leadership in the past has been the problem. Just how in the hell can we have free stadium rental and huge crowds and not turn a profit? Someone has apparently not managed revenue properly. Has our board of presidents lack of business acumen enabled the SWAC office to falter to its current state? A full accounting should be made available to each conference member to share with constituents. Unethical behavior will persist when individuals hide information that should be made public. Why in the hell are our leaders hiding information from SWAC alums and constituents? Where has all the revenue gone? What are the expenses incurred by the conference to justify not having a bottom line profit? Are unethical practices being facilitated by our leaders? Who approves spending? Will there be checks and balances in place to stop unethical behavior and foster fiscal responsibility? If so, please convey to SWAC alums and constituents. What input does each member school have in where a conference championship is played? How in the hell can a commish have the autonomy to state what city he wants to live and headquarter housed in without member institution input? Is this simply "negro business?" Who in the HELL is the SWAC PR person and why in the shiznick dont he/she convey some of this info on the SWAC PAGE to keep everyone abreast? Can our adminstrators connect the dots and understand that athletics is a window to our institutions? Hence, if bad PR persist, enrollment can decline, prospective television contracts loss, media coverage becomes obsolete, endowments hampered and other charitable contributions diluted among other negative repercussions. I challenge anyone with the answers to these questions that is a part of the current weak establishment called the SWAC Office, board of presidents or athletic directors to answer these question......Peace
The SWAC Headquarter being in B'Ham is not the problem. SWAC leadership in the past has been the problem. Just how in the hell can we have free stadium rental and huge crowds and not turn a profit? Someone has apparently not managed revenue properly. Has our board of presidents lack of business acumen enabled the SWAC office to falter to its current state? A full accounting should be made available to each conference member to share with constituents. Unethical behavior will persist when individuals hide information that should be made public. Why in the hell are our leaders hiding information from SWAC alums and constituents? Where has all the revenue gone? What are the expenses incurred by the conference to justify not having a bottom line profit? Are unethical practices being facilitated by our leaders? Who approves spending? Will there be checks and balances in place to stop unethical behavior and foster fiscal responsibility? If so, please convey to SWAC alums and constituents. What input does each member school have in where a conference championship is played? How in the hell can a commish have the autonomy to state what city he wants to live and headquarter housed in without member institution input? Is this simply "negro business?" Who in the HELL is the SWAC PR person and why in the shiznick dont he/she convey some of this info on the SWAC PAGE to keep everyone abreast? Can our adminstrators connect the dots and understand that athletics is a window to our institutions? Hence, if bad PR persist, enrollment can decline, prospective television contracts loss, media coverage becomes obsolete, endowments hampered and other charitable contributions diluted among other negative repercussions. I challenge anyone with the answers to these questions that is a part of the current weak establishment called the SWAC Office, board of presidents or athletic directors to answer these question......Peace
Lewis
Peabody Warhorses
Bartram, it is hard to answer your question, since the SWAC was run by pure idiots. When someone can screw up "free", you really cannot accurately judge anything, including this move. I did not really like it. To me, there is a reason Birmingham gave us everything for free. Sometimes free ain't better. IF you line up cities you can market with your conference in the south New Orleans comes in well in front of Birmingham. For one of the 2 Alabama schools Birmingham is great, for the rest of the SWAC, it basically sucks. Even if we have to pay some rent, a well marketed smartly run event in New Orleans will go alot further. Take the Basketball tournyment. It is great for Ala State and AAMU, but basically to damn far for anyone else, esp. the Texas Schools. New Orleans is 4 hours or less from 8 of the SWAC Schools.<br><br>Correction, I called them pure idiots, my bad, thievin' idiots.
Swac PR Man
New Member
JROCK,
The SWAC PR person is a he
... and your comments bring to mind two things that "Big Mamma" would say
1) Everything is not for EVERYBODY ... (tell the SWACPAGE all)
2) Hold on ... Don't go wettin' your pants
My personal perspective is this ... Hopefully, with the selection of a new commissioner, the board of presidents will have an opportunity to put someone in place who can move the conference's administration ahead in all areas .... athletic administration, marketing, accountability.
We (on this site) all share a common interest ... to make the SWAC the best it can be.
Peace Out!!!
The SWAC PR person is a he
... and your comments bring to mind two things that "Big Mamma" would say1) Everything is not for EVERYBODY ... (tell the SWACPAGE all)
2) Hold on ... Don't go wettin' your pants
My personal perspective is this ... Hopefully, with the selection of a new commissioner, the board of presidents will have an opportunity to put someone in place who can move the conference's administration ahead in all areas .... athletic administration, marketing, accountability.
We (on this site) all share a common interest ... to make the SWAC the best it can be.
Peace Out!!!
JROCK
Preeminent
The fact of the matter is the relevant questions have not been answered. Let us not act like the board of presidents are not co-conspirators in the total ineptness of the SWAC office. SWAC PR man your answer was POLITICAL designed to protect your JOB. Hiring a new commish has nothing to do with placing new checks and balances before hand to exemplify prospective fiscal responsibility. Please answer the aforementioned questions (previous post). Do you not know the answers and trying to put a spin on a distasteful and pitiful chapter? You made the comment that everything is not for everyone. Does the board of presidents harbor the same philosophy when it comes to conveying important information to you? If not answer the questions and stop waffling.
Swac PR Man
New Member
JROCK,
One of the amusing things I find about posting here is that sometimes some of us don't use common sense. From time to time I attempt to be helpful and give some insights from within the office. I don't get involved in all the mindless banter that show up here about things that some folks have NO idea about, they just throw it out there to see what happens. I've been accused of posting to make excuses about this and that. So I refrain from saying a lot, since obviously everybody can't handle a lot.
Sure, there are things wrong with the SWAC office and I've seen it for many years from a vantage point outside the conference and its office. I am,however, choosing to help in whatever manner I am allowed to help lift things up.
Now to some common sense. What kind of stupid would I be to post personal opinions on this site. My politics is REAL radical, and would surely displease a lot of people ... so I learned many years ago not to mix MY politics with my job. YES, my job is to promote the SWAC and I will do that as best as I am allowed. PROTECT my jobYou
.... My brother, if you only knew!!!! .... I took this position, for a higher calling than to have a job.
Hopefully, you can see this post in some other way than attack mode, and understand it for what it's worth.
Now let me go back to covering the SU game vs. Tulane
One of the amusing things I find about posting here is that sometimes some of us don't use common sense. From time to time I attempt to be helpful and give some insights from within the office. I don't get involved in all the mindless banter that show up here about things that some folks have NO idea about, they just throw it out there to see what happens. I've been accused of posting to make excuses about this and that. So I refrain from saying a lot, since obviously everybody can't handle a lot.
Sure, there are things wrong with the SWAC office and I've seen it for many years from a vantage point outside the conference and its office. I am,however, choosing to help in whatever manner I am allowed to help lift things up.
Now to some common sense. What kind of stupid would I be to post personal opinions on this site. My politics is REAL radical, and would surely displease a lot of people ... so I learned many years ago not to mix MY politics with my job. YES, my job is to promote the SWAC and I will do that as best as I am allowed. PROTECT my jobYou
.... My brother, if you only knew!!!! .... I took this position, for a higher calling than to have a job.Hopefully, you can see this post in some other way than attack mode, and understand it for what it's worth.
Now let me go back to covering the SU game vs. Tulane
Bartram
Brand HBCUbian
Some good points
Yeah Lewis, a more central location would be optimal logistically, but hey, like I said, it's not like the schools have to travel to Birmingham to play every game. We are only talking a tournament or a championship once a year, so the upside of being in a metro like Birmingham with all the business intangibles like the sports medicine giant, being in secound largest bank holding company(4 major banks are headquartered in Birmingham) in the country behind only Charlotte, being in a state that is synonomus with college football, would be a good situation for a conference.
The issue of alleged corruption in the SWAC brass is beyond the control of Birmingham. This is a whole other topic. Why is it that black-controlled organizations seem to have so many problems with ethics and fiscal responsibility? Is it because we have never had control of anything and yield to the urge to skim and line our pockets?
It's interesting that SWAC grads like most of you bring these points up. If the government or any white watchdog group raised these issues, we'd jump on them for being racist. I just don't know what to say about the alleged corruption issue. Hard to argue against open meetings and accountability though.
Yeah Lewis, a more central location would be optimal logistically, but hey, like I said, it's not like the schools have to travel to Birmingham to play every game. We are only talking a tournament or a championship once a year, so the upside of being in a metro like Birmingham with all the business intangibles like the sports medicine giant, being in secound largest bank holding company(4 major banks are headquartered in Birmingham) in the country behind only Charlotte, being in a state that is synonomus with college football, would be a good situation for a conference.
The issue of alleged corruption in the SWAC brass is beyond the control of Birmingham. This is a whole other topic. Why is it that black-controlled organizations seem to have so many problems with ethics and fiscal responsibility? Is it because we have never had control of anything and yield to the urge to skim and line our pockets?
It's interesting that SWAC grads like most of you bring these points up. If the government or any white watchdog group raised these issues, we'd jump on them for being racist. I just don't know what to say about the alleged corruption issue. Hard to argue against open meetings and accountability though.
JROCK
Preeminent
You are still WAFFLING. You have not answered the questions. No one is amused with the lack of common sense that is being exhibited by the SWAC office. Please answer the questions or be strong enough to say that you dont know the answers. Since you are amused, and your contetions is that common sense is an ally, stop circumventing the issues and give some coherent answers to the questions that have been posed. Thus far, common sense and everyone affiliated with the SWAC office as of late has been an oxymoron.