Shrine Game moving to Florida

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I can understand them wanting to move the Senior bowl out of Mobile. Its a small-medium size city which probably has less than adequate accomadations and I'd imagine its a hastle to get there by air. And the SB is big-time event which should be a big draw in a larger city.

and now you contradict yourself with this:

We just never turned out for the Shriner game here in Houston and really don't deserve to have it, though admittidly it wasn't really much of an attraction with mainly second & third tier talent. We'll see if FLA does much better with the game than Houston did ? I got my doubts ?

The Senior Bowl *is* a big attraction in Mobile because they don't have an NFL team or, for that matter, a college team to root for. Other than the fairly new GMAC Bowl, the Senior Bowl is all they have and it is a huge source of civic pride.

With Biloxi, MS and Pensacola, FL within a couple of hours drive, there's enough hotel/motel space for everyone. What it lacks is a nightlife or any of the major attractions to attend when not attending practices or the game. So the media moans like they've been stuck in podunkville.

If you take the Senior Bowl away from Mobile, it is a big wound to their local economy and pride. If you then give it to a city like Orlando or Tampa, they will simply yawn over it and treat it like a third-rate attraction.

Since the East-West Shrine game has already uprooted once and moved from their historical setting, I'm not bothered by them leaving Houston but I would be upset if they moved the Senior Bowl.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

and now you contradict yourself with this:



The Senior Bowl *is* a big attraction in Mobile because they don't have an NFL team or, for that matter, a college team to root for. Other than the fairly new GMAC Bowl, the Senior Bowl is all they have and it is a huge source of civic pride.

With Biloxi, MS and Pensacola, FL within a couple of hours drive, there's enough hotel/motel space for everyone. What it lacks is a nightlife or any of the major attractions to attend when not attending practices or the game. So the media moans like they've been stuck in podunkville.

If you take the Senior Bowl away from Mobile, it is a big wound to their local economy and pride. If you then give it to a city like Orlando or Tampa, they will simply yawn over it and treat it like a third-rate attraction.

Since the East-West Shrine game has already uprooted once and moved from their historical setting, I'm not bothered by them leaving Houston but I would be upset if they moved the Senior Bowl.

Hey I'm sympathetic for Mobil. Its a huge loss for them but this event has a lot more potential (financially speaking) in a bigger metro area. I wish we could have gotten it here but I doubt that we were considered given how sorry our support of the E-W Shrine game was the short-time it was here.
Personally I never bothered to attend any Shrine games or practices, while on the other hand I've actually thought of going to Mobile for the SB so you know I'd attend the action here in Houston.