Could a Division 1 sports University benefit the South Puget sound area? (Seattle: home, high school)

[DevanXL]

Growing up as a big sports fan I always very why Tacoma never had a sports team to cheer for. There was the Tacoma Rainiers, but being from a big area, minor league baseball just didn't interest me. Growing up and watching the explosion Gonzaga Basketball contributed to the growth and attention the city of Spokane received, it got me think why none of the smaller universities in Tacoma area tried to qualify to Division 1 or Sub Division 1 standards. As of right now University of Puget Sound meets all the regulations for a division 1 institution. Universities in mid size cities have proven to provide entertainment and and help benefit a community as a whole even for those with no affiliation to the University. Just look at how Gonzaga has become such a phenomenon in Spokane, treated to the equivalent of a Professional sports team based on the random and zeal around town during basketball season.

Could this effect happen to Tacoma if a University of Puget Sound were to shift to division 1?

Alot of inner city kids in Tacoma would finally have athletes close to home to Idolize and stride for. It could also provide entertainment to help build community pride and get more people downtown (If they would play at the Tacoma dome)

What do you think, Do you think a Division 1 sports team could positively benefit the community of Tacoma as a whole?

[elkotronics]

DevanXL - by all means. I'll be only an hour and a quarter away from Spokane if my wife and I do relocate to Soap Lake - Ephrata - Moses Lake. I would think it very cool ta head over, not to WSU to see a Cougar game, but to Gonzaga ta see one of their BB games. That would be great.

I think UPS should push for Div.1 status, for sure. What does anyone else from Washington think? I'm a native Washington stater living in New Mexico who might return to Washington. I love the idea.

[Smitty211]

It's an intriguing concept. UPS has always been an under-the-radar school in my mind, but then again I live in eastern WA. But I think moving UPS to DI could certainly have its benefits--Gonzaga has clearly made a huge splash over here, so I don't see why a place like Tacoma can't have something similar.

Especially considering the fact that, while Tacoma may not be too far from Seattle, let's face it...the two are worlds apart, or so it often seems. All the more reason for Tacoma to finally start creating its own unique identity.

[CrazyDonkey]

I'd guess the reason why it hasn't happened, even if only for sports other than football, is the cost of upgraded facilities and staff, as well as added scholarship and travel expenses. They currently play in the Northwest Conference, which is in Division III.

Seattle U would be the obvious parallel. Too bad UPS probably won't consider changing its name to Tacoma University - that could be quite the rivalry (with University of Portland and Portland State also thrown into the mix).

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

I'd guess the reason why it hasn't happened, even if only for sports other than football, is the cost of upgraded facilities and staff, as well as added scholarship and travel expenses. They currently play in the Northwest Conference, which is in Division III.

Seattle U would be the obvious parallel. Too bad UPS probably won't consider changing its name to Tacoma University - that could be quite the rivalry (with University of Portland and Portland State also thrown into the mix).

I think University of Puget Sound is a solid name, Tacoma University kinda gives me bad vibes. Maybe UW-Tacoma could eventually become "University of Tacoma". Yeah Facilities is always the kicker. Maybe if the University went to actively seek soon endowments they could make it. Travel expenses most likely will not be that different depending what conference they would be in. Would be the end goal. Big Sky would be the preferable stating point, the WAC would be the reality in the beginning. Maybe the Big West.

But I think the community of Tacoma would rally around them like they often do with there High School Sports. It could potentially be wildly popular and offset the initial expense.

[BellevueNative]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

I'd guess the reason why it hasn't happened, even if only for sports other than football, is the cost of upgraded facilities and staff, as well as added scholarship and travel expenses. They currently play in the Northwest Conference, which is in Division III.

Seattle U would be the obvious parallel. Too bad UPS probably won't consider changing its name to Tacoma University - that could be quite the rivalry (with University of Portland and Portland State also thrown into the mix).

Originally Posted by DevanXL

I think University of Puget Sound is a solid name, Tacoma University kinda gives me bad vibes. Maybe UW-Tacoma could eventually become "University of Tacoma". Yeah Facilities is always the kicker. Maybe if the University went to actively seek soon endowments they could make it. Travel expenses most likely will not be that different depending what conference they would be in. Would be the end goal. Big Sky would be the preferable stating point, the WAC would be the reality in the beginning. Maybe the Big West.

But I think the community of Tacoma would rally around them like they often do with there High School Sports. It could potentially be wildly popular and offset the initial expense.

University of Portland is Division I and is in the WCC (same as Gonzaga). Seattle U. is reportedly trying to join the WCC, and it would probably be a good fit for it. They're all small private universities with a religious affiliation. Although UPS is not religiously affiliated now, it used to be. Does UPS have all the sports teams required for WCC competition? Keep in mind it's not just about basketball, and in fact most of the WCC schools do not have football.

[Votre_Chef]

Having a major public university, especially if it's a research university, in either Tacoma or Olympia would be good for either city, regardless of whether it has sports teams or not.

As for the sports themselves, meh. I went to UW, so I'm a Husky fan, and I live in Tacoma. I've been in the traffic following a Husky football game and personally, I'd like to keep that out of Tacoma.

In reality, if we're talking football, in the medium-term, a school in someplace like Tacoma or Olympia, if it were to become an FBS school, would probably be like one of the Michigan directional schools (Central, Eastern and Western Michigan, all in the MAC), but the traffic would be more acceptable than at the bigger schools. If we're talking PAC 12 size and stature, forget it, you don't build that kind of thing overnight and I personally wouldn't want it in Tacoma if we could.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by DevanXL

I think University of Puget Sound is a solid name, Tacoma University kinda gives me bad vibes. Maybe UW-Tacoma could eventually become "University of Tacoma". Yeah Facilities is always the kicker. Maybe if the University went to actively seek soon endowments they could make it. Travel expenses most likely will not be that different depending what conference they would be in. Would be the end goal. Big Sky would be the preferable stating point, the WAC would be the reality in the beginning. Maybe the Big West.

But I think the community of Tacoma would rally around them like they often do with there High School Sports. It could potentially be wildly popular and offset the initial expense.

Their current conference, the Northwest Conference involves only travel to one other state, Oregon. The Big Sky would include travel to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, N. Dakota, California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The WAC would involve travel to California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Missouri. In either case, they'd be flying, instead of busing it in the Northwest Conference - travel expenditures would increase substantially.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by Votre_Chef

Having a major public university, especially if it's a research university, in either Tacoma or Olympia would be good for either city, regardless of whether it has sports teams or not.

As for the sports themselves, meh. I went to UW, so I'm a Husky fan, and I live in Tacoma. I've been in the traffic following a Husky football game and personally, I'd like to keep that out of Tacoma.

In reality, if we're talking football, in the medium-term, a school in someplace like Tacoma or Olympia, if it were to become an FBS school, would probably be like one of the Michigan directional schools (Central, Eastern and Western Michigan, all in the MAC), but the traffic would be more acceptable than at the bigger schools. If we're talking PAC 12 size and stature, forget it, you don't build that kind of thing overnight and I personally wouldn't want it in Tacoma if we could.

I'm more talking about Mid-Major Basketball. Football takes along time to develop a program while basketball takes alot shorter period of time, plus has great appeal as alot of Mid-Majors in College Basketball match up against the power conference schools, and the dynasty programs.

Personally, I think they need to Rebuild a new arena in Tacoma anyways. The Tacoma Dome is a visual disgrace inside and out, and does not function well for any event outside of monster jam and High School Football.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Their current conference, the Northwest Conference involves only travel to one other state, Oregon. The Big Sky would include travel to Oregon, Idaho, Montana, N. Dakota, California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The WAC would involve travel to California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Missouri. In either case, they'd be flying, instead of busing it in the Northwest Conference - travel expenditures would increase substantially.

True, but I think we are forgetting UPS still is a school with a 300 Million dollar endowment. Thats higher then Gonzaga. Im sure a good team will create enough revenue to offset team expenses.