Marshall University Athletics
This Will Be Marshall's Best Bowl Experience Yet
12/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 12, 2009
DETROIT - Marshall Fans who make the short trip to Detroit for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl this month will not be sorry. Mark my words; this will be the best bowl experience yet for Marshall Fans and the Thundering Herd.
No offense to the Fort Worth Bowl, GMAC Bowl or the previous Motor City Bowls, but what Marshall's fans and the team has in front of it this Christmas is like nothing Marshall has had the pleasure of playing in to date.
Today's Little Caesar Pizza Bowl is a much different bowl than it was under its former name and at its former address - the Pontiac Silverdome. This bowl experience promises to be the best yet for the Thundering Herd and all true green bloods will not want to miss it. Prior to Ford Field, most of the bowl activities, including the game, took place nearly 30 to 40 minutes away from the city itself. That's not the case today as the construction of Ford Field has changed all of that.
I accompanied several other Marshall Athletics officials on a site visit to Detroit on Friday and what we saw was eye-opening. The stadium, the hotels, and the downtown location all combine to make this a very impressive bowl.
Ford Field is a spectacular venue, by far and away, the most impressive stadium Marshall will have ever played in and its spectator amenities out-class any NFL stadium I have visited in my 12 years at Marshall. From the locker rooms, to the retractable roof, wide concourses, tremendous sight-lines and concessions offerings this will be an amazing venue to see a game and play in. It promises a perfect 65 degree temperature and ideal field conditions under its roof.
"This bowl has really grown in both quality and attendance since our move to downtown Detroit and Ford Field," Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Director of Media Relations Tim Moore said. "Obviously, Ford Field is one of the four or five newest, state-of-the-art professional football stadiums in the country. This really provides an experience that - each team that has been here - Big Ten or Big East or any other has said it's the nicest facility that they have ever played in (Purdue, Northwestern and Boston College have played in the game).
The team and fan hotels are all located within a short distance of the stadium, perfectly situated in downtown with a wealth of restaurants and activities nearby. They are also world-class and rival any hotel and will be some of the finest accommodations our football team has had the pleasure of staying at. Detroit offers the Greektown entertainment district, several casinos, museums and the NBA's Pistons and the NHL's Red Wings will also be in action during the bowl week. There is a wide array of accomodations to fit any budget and its all nearby.
"The advantage of being downtown is everything is in walking distance," Moore added.
Downtown Detroit offers a wide array of activities all bowl week and true Marshall Fans should seriously consider taking a holiday vacation to the Motor City to see this game. Detroit is only five hours away from the Huntington area by car (we drove it in only five hours and 15 minutes). In fact, with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 26, fans could easily drive up in the morning, see the game, and get back home before midnight. That is exactly what we did on our site visit this past Friday.
Without a doubt, Ford Field, the hotels, and bowl activities make this a must see bowl game that all Herd Fans should seriously consider being a part of. In addition to all of that, its Marshall versus Ohio and the opportunity for the Herd to post a winning season for the first time since 2003 and send our seniors out the right way.
Herd fans need to make sure to buy their tickets through the Marshall University Ticket Office so that all of the proceeds go to cover the Thundering Herd's travel expenses and if you can't make it to the game please consider buying a proxy ticket that will be donated to a charitable organization. They also make a great Christmas gift.
Tickets are $47 each, and these are lower bowl prime seats that will put you with other Herd fans, close to all the action. Call 1-800-THE-HERD or go online to Herdzone.com to order yours today.
See you in Detroit and Go Herd!
By Randy Burnside
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
