Recession Forces College Football To Cut a BCS Bowl Game

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The NCAA universities are in major cutbacks. In fact, Due to the recession, NCAA football lost a BCS Bowl game.

Since 2004, the Central Washington Wildcats and the Western Washington University Vikings have been meeting at Qwest field to compete in the “Battle in Seattle.”

In the first year of the Battle in Seattle, 16,392 fans came together to watch. The intensity of the rivalry was increased when the two DII schools moved to the North Central Conference because the teams could only play once, opposed to the Greater Northwest Athletic conference when they played twice. So, the prestigious “Cascade Cup” was awarded to the winner of the Battle.

Competing in the battle, I know the impact that the game creates for the students, athletes, coaches, and the entire communities for CWU and WWU. This game equates to a FBS BCS bowl game for each of these NCAA football programs.

The economic impact of this game is a strong layer in the universities' budgets. The universities receive the ticket sales from this game. Also, people travel from many different cities and towns within the State of Washington, and even Idaho to watch this game. The three basic necessities of travel are transportation, lodging, and food.

To more strongly support WWU’s budget, the football team has been cut from the universities' funding. Western Washington football had been a part of the State of Washington since 1903. The lack of funding to support a 105 year program has caused students, athletes, and coaches’ current and future jobs while also costing the city of Seattle an important economic factor. Washington Communities have lost the opportunity to support an NCAA football program.

Central Washington is highly affected by the lack of a WWU football program. Rivalry games have been destroyed, the uniqueness of playing in Qwest Field is lost, and beating the rival has disappeared, too. The energy produced by CWU and WWU football programs was sufficient to turn on the lights at Qwest Field—not anymore.

The communities of Central Washington and Western Washington have lost the opportunity to support NCAA student-athletes, thus resulting in economic losses to the State of Washington, directly affecting the City of Seattle.

Perhaps this is the reason that the University of Washington and Washington State University are in the process of moving the Apple Cup to Seattle to be permanently played at Qwest Field—not a good idea.

The economic impact of the Apple Cup is crucial to the spreading the wealth throughout the State of Washington and costing the City of Pullman economic value.  If the fans are always traveling to Seattle to watch the Apple Cup, the money invested is mainly being invested in Seattle. What about the little guy? Businesses, like Dissmores, depend on the Apple Cup.

Even if the two teams are winless, the Apple Cup still brings different cash flow to the city of Pullman and the eastern side of Washington. Transportation, lodging, and food would mostly be consumed in Seattle and the western side if the game were moved—this action is non-beneficiary for the overall economic health of the state of Washington.

Moving the Apple Cup to Qwest Field deflates the purpose of the rivalry because the game is being taken away from the universities. Husky and Cougar fans pride themselves on the football team. In fact, many memories are associated with how the teams are currently competing during the current era. Why move one of college football’s longest running rivalries away from the campuses?

Having the games played at the universities affords the communities the chance to see improvements to the campus and increases spending in the U-Districts. Also, the Apple Cup is supposed to be played in Seattle in odd years and in Pullman on even years—we lose this unique trait if the game is always played in Seattle.

Recently, an article by the AP stated that more Pac Ten schools are cutting athletic programs.

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