Big Ten: Five Possible Venues for a Conference Championship Game

The addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten has created the need for a divisional format and presumably opened the door for a lucrative conference championship game.

Commissioner Jim Delaney informed the Big Ten’s athletic directors in late June that the details of divisional alignment will be discussed during the Big Ten Media Days, August 2-3 in Chicago.

According to ESPN.com blogger Adam Rittenberg, the Big Ten is expected to announce the divisional format by September at the very latest.

The formation of two division ushers in the inevitable creation of a conference championship game.

A title game would generate a considerable financial windfall—roughly $12-15 million from television revenue and ticket sales—and provide an increase in national exposure.

These two factors will likely prompt Delaney and his team to explore possible venues in the coming weeks.

The Big Ten could look to secure a venue for the foreseeable future, or decide to rotate the location of the conference title games across Big Ten country.

Here’s a look at five potential sites for the Big Ten Championship game, which would likely be held on the first Saturday in December:

Soldier Field, Chicago

Seating Capacity: 61,500
Average Temperature in December: 26.6 (F)

Pros:

For the most part, Chicago is the geographical epicenter of the new-look Big Ten. That alone might not be a huge deal to the Big Ten brass, but America’s third-largest city offers plenty of lodging, dining, and entertainment that will undoubtedly entice Big Ten fans to flock to a championship game.

The potential revenue generated by thousands of fans congregating for a weekend in early December would make any city foolish to pass on the opportunity to host a title game.

Chicago is likely to make a strong push to host the contest, regardless of how Chicago Bears’ management feels.

Cons:

Why on earth would the Bears care if the Big Ten Championship was played at Soldier Field? The reason is simple, and could even be enough to make the Big Ten look elsewhere.

Thanks to a variety of events held at Soldier Field throughout the fall, the playing surface of Soldier Field in early December has a strong resemblance to a frozen sandbox, slippery and infested with ruts.

Things are usually so bad that the field must be re-sodded in early winter. Adding yet another event to the already full docket of fall events at Soldier Field wouldn’t help matters.

On a more basic level, Soldier Field is the smallest of the five venues on the Big Ten’s radar.

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

Seating Capacity: 63,000
Indoors

Pros:
Lucas Oil Stadium is certainly an attractive option for the Big Ten. While the quality of play could be adversely affected by the blustery weather conditions of outside venues, the cozy comfort of the indoor stadium would have no impact on the game.

Indianapolis might not be Chicago, but it would provide fans with plenty of lodging and entertainment.

Cons:

Frankly, there aren’t any tangible reasons that the Big Ten Championship game shouldn’t be played at Lucas Oil Stadium. Hosting a game in early December wouldn’t interfere with the NFL schedule in the least.

One possible objection that probably won’t carry much weight is the idea that rugged Big Ten football is intended to be played outdoors.

Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland

Seating Capacity: 73,200
Average Temperature in December: 30.9 (F)

Pros:

It’s big. The largest of the five possible venues, Cleveland Browns Stadium is certainly a viable option for the Big Ten.

The playing surface is generally in decent shape in early December, much better than the other outdoor fields in Big Ten country.

Cons:

For the most part at least, Big Ten fans would have to embark on a real journey to watch their team play in the title game.

Cleveland is at least a 15-hour drive from Nebraska, barring unforeseen winter storms that can cripple transportation.

Flights in the month of December aren’t cheap, and that combined with cold wind whipping off Lake Erie makes staying at home and watching the game in stunning HD a very attractive—and cheap—option.

Ford Field, Detroit

Seating Capacity: 65,000
Indoors

Pros:

It’s indoors. The comfort level for fans, players, and media members would be ideal.

Ford Field has successfully hosted a variety of events in recent years, including the Superbowl and the Final Four.

The city of Detroit can certainly use the dollars a title game would produce and is likely to lobby the Big Ten aggressively.

Cons:

So, who wants to go to Detroit? Aside from the obvious cons related to the state of the city, Ford Field is a bit smaller than two of the other sites the Big Ten could select.

In terms of geographic proximity, Detroit isn’t necessarily as bad as Cleveland but it’s certainly not ideal.

Lambeau Field, Green Bay

Seating Capacity: 72,928
Average Temperature in December: 20.0 (F)

Pros:

Imagine the opportunity for the media to wax poetic about a conference title game played at a historic venue on the national spotlight. The novelty factor would be huge, which in turn would likely lead to spike in television ratings and enhance conference exposure.

The Packers would be willing to share Lambeau with the Big Ten. In fact, team President Mark Murphy has publicly stated that the franchise has a strong desire to host the game.

Cons:

Anyone who has made the drive from Milwaukee to Lambeau has experienced horrendous traffic jams and seemingly endless frustration. There are plenty of hotels in the area, but most are to the south of Lambeau Field.

The weather conditions could certainly be an issue. Although a snowstorm could make the game entertaining for impartial observers, it could create a nightmare for fans, coaches, and players.

That fact of nature combined with Green Bay’s limited size and entertainment options could scare away the Big Ten.