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Viva Las Vegas: Football Economics Led to the End of the Pac-12, but not College Football in the Silver State

A conference's collapse opens new opportunities as Vegas positions itself as college football's premier destination

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By Patrick Rishe · Allegiant StadiumBig 10College FootballLas Vegas Sports
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Key takeaways

01

Las Vegas hosted the final Pac-12 championship at Allegiant Stadium.

02

The Pac-12's decline is marked by the loss of key universities to the Big Ten.

03

Las Vegas is positioning itself as a key market for future college football events.

Las Vegas emerges as a burgeoning hub for college football, highlighted by successfully hosting the final Pac-12 championship at the $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium and growing interest in the city as a potential site for future major events, including College Football Playoff games and conference championships. Still, the Pac-12's loss of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon to the Big Ten leaves some uncertainty in the short term.

How does the evolving landscape of college football impact traditional conferences and their future prospects?

Patrick Rishe, the Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis, provides insightful commentary on the shifting dynamics in college football, mainly focusing on the media revenue-driven decisions influencing major conference realignments. He states, "It's all about those media dollars, massive, massive media dollars, those schools, the markets, the prestige of those programs, it was too much to pass up the media dollars that the Big Ten was offering."

It's all about those media dollars, massive, massive media dollars, those schools, the markets, the prestige of those programs, it was too much to pass up the media dollars that the Big Ten was offering.
— Patrick Rishe, Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis

One thing is sure: Sports interest in the Las Vegas market is expanding, and it will assuredly play a future role in college football, no matter the conference.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

I am Patrick Brish with Market Scale, and tonight, behind me, at Allegion Stadium in Las Vegas. We're going to see history. It's the last patent twelve football championship game, as we know it. And in the immediate term, there's a lot on the line as Washington and Oregon Duke out for a spot in the final four of the college football playoff final four in a few weeks. Well, this story tonight is more than just about college football. It's also about the fact that Las Vegas has turned into one of the sports mechanisms in this country. They're gonna be hosting this year's Super Bowl, February. And tonight, we're going to cover Asper mix of Las Vegas as a super host, sporting events, the PAC twelve and what's gonna come of the teams left out of the PAC Washington State Oregon State, Oregon State, and of course tonight's game, all from Allegian Stadium in Las Vegas. The Washington huskies and the Oregon duck made a count in their final season at the Back twelve conference. The huskies undefeated and ranked third the nation, playing the ducks, break in the nation, and the winner of this game will be going through college football playoffs without question. And now you'll be safe, bossy, throughout beginning their warm ups for about two hours before the contest. And remember, why is Washington and Oregon, along with UCLA and USC going to the big teams? It's all about those media dollars, massive, massive media dollars, those schools, the markets, the prestige of those programs, it was too much to pass up the media dollars that the big ten was offering. So those were just a few hours away from the back twelve championship game between Washington and Oregon. One of the side stories has associated with this college football season is this is the last year or the fact twelve. So we wonder about the other state schools in those two respective states, Washington in state, an Oregon state as they will be the lone pac twelve members starting next year. Apparently, news has been announced that they have a schedule that they will play against many of the Mountain West teams in twenty twenty four. Couldn't this eventually lead to what some people are talking about as a reverse merger where Oregon State, Washington State joins the Mountain West Schools to essentially become one conference. At some point down the road, and then they take the PAC twelve name. That is on the table that something that's been discussed. I think it would be the right way to go because the PAC twelve name has more value and more brand cache than the Mount West. As we said earlier tonight, this is going to be a historic game because it's the last, back twelve football game taking place. Everything on the line tonight for the ducks and the huskies is they're trying to get a spot in that college football playoff. But as we admire this wonderful field, wonderful stadium, great night lines everywhere in this venue. Normally, this field that when the Raiders play here, this field is rolled out enrolled back in. They play out natural grass. Mhmm. But tonight, my understanding is they're actually playing on turf. Part of this is because the raiders wanna make sure that the turf doesn't get chewing up. What things that stands out at the stadium apart from the Raiders Hall of Fame that they honor is just how they do a wonderful job of blending in at silver, and black color into everything, including signs for concessions. But this is one of the really marquee areas the venue, or they have the cauldron. Yep. A brainer's cauldron is something to be We see us, he's duck man. Here we go. Thank you. Thing to take into consideration as we go through this tour of the stadium is now it is located right off of the strip, but this is one of the reasons why this has become one of the best locations for sport events in this country. We're starting to get an appreciation for why Las Vegas believes its stadium is going to rate so much tourism dollars to the Las Vegas community for decades to come. Behind me, you see the cauldron, the Raiders cauldron, Just Quinn Baby, Al Davis's mantra. Now his team is led by his son, Mark Davis, in behind the cauldron, you see Mandalay Bay, the Delano, two of the marquee hotels here the Las Vegas strip. And then we just turn just a little bit this way, and you've got this beautiful facility behind us hosting tonight's lap final hand titled football championship game between number three Washington and number five Oregon. One of the other amazing things of Leesen Stadium is how they pay homage to the Raiders and the Hall of Fame. Such great branding in this facility, and you got the famous legendary John Maden. James Loughton. Marcus Allen. Ronnie Lot. So the finish, the silver, the black, howie long, of course, now, a long time Fox sports commentator, Eric Dickerson, and then the legendary Al Davis. I love your brother. Team owner inducted in nineteen ninety two. So the NFL Hall of Fame. One of the things that makes the Leeslett Stadium stand out are there many premium areas. Here, we're in the Twitch lounge, and this is premium on so many different levels. First, we've got this premium Hawaiian rum lounge, which sounds delicious. And then let me show you the rest. Really upscale bars. Let me walk you out to the fifty yard line. Cool, sweets. And here we are. Fifty yard line. And in the first quarter, The fax won't championship game. And now we're in the champion squad at Allegiance Stadium. Was it truly unique, premium areas and all of North American sports values. We have a superb carving station over here. First red bar over here. And then you walk right to field level.

About the author

Patrick Rishe
Patrick RisheDirector, Sports Business Program

Dr. Rishe is the Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University and the Founder/CEO of Sportsimpacts. He has conducted 80+ economic impact studies for major sporting events, written 600+ OpEd pieces for Forbes.com, and appeared on CNBC, CNN, CBS, FoxBusiness, and Bloomberg.

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Patrick Rishe

Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Patrick Rishe is the Director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University in St. Louis. He is an expert in sports business, providing insights on industry dynamics such as media revenue-driven conference realignments. His commentary focuses on the behind-the-scenes economic factors that keep sports organizations thriving.