POLL: Where do you want the Big Ten 2011 football title game to be held?

But first, I have a little reading material. Nothing heavy.

We have four candidates I would consider to be viable possibilities to host the first Big Ten football championship game , next December 2011. They are Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Indianapolis.

Here are some of their pitches:

INDIANAPOLIS:

“Indianapolis would be a very strong candidate,” said Bill Benner, spokesman for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, in this Indianapolis Star story.

 "We know how to do big events, as evidenced by the Final Four. We would never take anything for granted, and we never do, but I think we'll pursue it vigorously.

“It would be another demonstration of what we built this city to do - host big events.”

Indy has the Lucas Oil Stadium. Domed. Virtually brand-new. Built for December in the Midwest. And it's as central a location as the Big Ten can claim.

CLEVELAND:  “We have certainly been discussing this and plan to pursue this for Cleveland,” said David Gilbert, president of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, in this Morning Journal story.

Gilbert said he expects the title game to be rotated among cities. Cleveland Browns Stadium is open-air.

“(Cleveland) is well-positioned geographically for something like this,” he said. “As far as the weather and playing outdoors, this is not SEC football. This is Big Ten football. The weather is part of the game.”

Indy has the Lucas Oil Stadium. Domed. Virtually brand-new. Built for December in the Midwest. And it's as central a location as the Big Ten can claim.

DETROIT:  “A number of markets are capable of hosting it,” said Dave Beachnau, the Detroit Metro Sports Commission executive director in this Detroit Free Press story.

“I would think that it would be an event they would want to hold in an indoor facility (because of the weather), so that limits the opportunities for others.”

Ford Field is an indoor stadium. It has hosted a men's basketball Final Four. Detroit is an easy city to reach by air from just about anywhere in the U.S.

CHICAGO:  "We'll take a very strong look at it and put together a proposal," said Soldier Field general manager Tim LeFevour in this Chicago Tribune story.

LeFevour said his group "absolutely" has interest in hosting it.

Soldier Field is open-air.

Later this week, I'll give my favorite. Right now, you can vote for your pick.

MINNEAPOLIS: Where did I say Minneapolis was a viable candidate? It isn't. Not for location or for venue.

The University of Minnesota skipped out on the Metrodome, which doesn't compare to Ford Field or Lucas Oil Stadium as indoor stadiums go.

So let's not misuse our time discussing impossibilities when we have weighty issues like this to ponder.

Now for the poll:

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