How High To Gas Prices Have To Go

the real grad88 · June 10, 2008

Gas prices keep rising with no end in sight. Travel costs must be weighing on AD's minds like never before. When will gas prices figure into the equation of conference alignment? Something tells me that it will be soon. If gas goes to $5.00 a gallon and stays around there, I think we will see renewed talks and interest in tight regional conferences (and bowl affiliations) as opposed to the craziness we now have. It may be one of the only positive things to come out of this energy mess. Has anyone seen any discussion on this anywhere? I've been too busy to keep up.

GoMeanGreen1999 · June 10, 2008

Gas prices keep rising with no end in sight. Travel costs must be weighing on AD's minds like never before. When will gas prices figure into the equation of conference alignment? Something tells me that it will be soon. If gas goes to $5.00 a gallon and stays around there, I think we will see renewed talks and interest in tight regional conferences (and bowl affiliations) as opposed to the craziness we now have. It may be one of the only positive things to come out of this energy mess. Has anyone seen any discussion on this anywhere? I've been too busy to keep up.

It would have to get to $10 a gallon before most would think about going anywhere, and since it probably wouldn't stay that high, I doubt it would matter.

the real grad88 · June 10, 2008

Gas prices keep rising with no end in sight. Travel costs must be weighing on AD's minds like never before. When will gas prices figure into the equation of conference alignment? Something tells me that it will be soon. If gas goes to $5.00 a gallon and stays around there, I think we will see renewed talks and interest in tight regional conferences (and bowl affiliations) as opposed to the craziness we now have. It may be one of the only positive things to come out of this energy mess. Has anyone seen any discussion on this anywhere? I've been too busy to keep up.

Sorry about the poor spelling in the subject line...just saw it.

UNTflyer · June 10, 2008

All right! We really needed another gas price thread. :ph34r:

We are nowhere near a gas price that would really start to hurt. We're all feeling a little pain, but judging from the rush hour traffic on our highways, not much has changed.

greenminer · June 10, 2008

If the Big 6 change anytime soon, it won't be because of gas prices. Too much spare change lying around under their couch.

the real grad88 · June 10, 2008

All right! We really needed another gas price thread.
We are nowhere near a gas price that would really start to hurt. We're all feeling a little pain, but judging from the rush hour traffic on our highways, not much has changed.

Rush hour traffic exists because people have to go to work. That is a different argument than talking about travel costs for college athletic programs...where there is a CHOICE. I think we will hear discussions soon from ADs who are trying to make the balance sheet balance! School districts are running out of transportation funds. Police departments are running out of funds for fueling up their cars. This is more serious for public organizations than most people realize.

Green Mean · June 10, 2008

I just think that this is all a big shock to us is because we have never been exposed to high gas prices like this. 15 years ago when I went to Europe, gas over there was about 4-5 bucks a gallon at THAT TIME and over the years its increased more and more. When I went to there last year it was about 7-8 bucks a gallon...I think its at like 9-10 right now. Maybe there may be some realignment but I dont see a ton of it solely because of gas. I just think it will just be a matter of time until we all get used to it. Once that happens I dont think it will be as shocking as it is right now it seems.

jimmyjames_99 · June 10, 2008

Diesel is already pushing $5 a gallon and that is what most of buses use. Top that with the airlines rising their prices and I believe the "mid-majors" and those that barely make their yearly budget are sweating. You can assume travel costs have always been a part of the equation when figuring out which conference to join. While the prices continue to go up and become a larger percentage of the budget, there will be more weight associated with that factor if the ability to switch conferences presents itself.

However, I see this less impacting conference alignment as OOC game schedules. The further you have to travel to the OOC game, the more your payout gets eaten into with travel costs. Plus, you have to consider your fan base and their costs if you want to travel well.

the real grad88 · June 11, 2008

Diesel is already pushing $5 a gallon and that is what most of buses use. Top that with the airlines rising their prices and I believe the "mid-majors" and those that barely make their yearly budget are sweating. You can assume travel costs have always been a part of the equation when figuring out which conference to join. While the prices continue to go up and become a larger percentage of the budget, there will be more weight associated with that factor if the ability to switch conferences presents itself.
However, I see this less impacting conference alignment as OOC game schedules. The further you have to travel to the OOC game, the more your payout gets eaten into with travel costs. Plus, you have to consider your fan base and their costs if you want to travel well.

Exactly. We must remember that travel costs are related to the entire athletic program, not just football. All of our teams (how many do we have now?) must travel to Florida and Alabama...it's ridiculous. I would like to see the travel costs for the entire program this next year compared to 5 years ago. It will be like comparing night and day. And, for the midmajors, there is no way to recover those expenses by raising ticket prices. There is a ceiling on how much the consumer is willing to pay...a consumer that is already getting plastered from every direction.

When ADs are forced to cut staff because of travels costs, then you will begin to see the Houston pres call the UNT pres and say, "If ya'll are tired of flying to Florida, we're tired of flying to West Virginia and the East Coast...let's do something about this!"

Green Jackal · June 11, 2008

What do gas prices have to do with UNT football? Please stop diluting the content of this site.

the real grad88 · June 11, 2008

What do gas prices have to do with UNT football? Please stop diluting the content of this site.

Uhhhhh...how is talking about possible conference realignments not related to football? Read man, read!

NT80 · June 12, 2008

BCS schools will just add a fuel-surcharge to their already inflated ticket prices and their fans will still pay. Travel costs will be a concern to budgets at UNT and lower leagues more so than for the moneypit schools. If higher air fares and travel costs cause RV to look at alternatives to playing FIU and FAU then I hope he's on the phone to Western CUSA schools now!