Schools earn big bucks playing in NFL stadiums

Iowa State and Kansas State each will forfeit a home game the next two years for $1.8 million and a healthy dose of exposure in Kansas City.

“They (players) are very excited about what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads said. “How many kids get an opportunity to play in a National Football League stadium?”

Kansas State and Iowa State will meet Saturday as part of the schools' two-game series at Arrowhead Stadium, with each choosing the visibility and financial reward of playing at NFL stadiums over a traditional home gate. This year, 14 Division I football games are scheduled for neutral sites, including 12 at NFL stadiums. All of them include a hefty guarantee, including $2.4 million for Oklahoma by moving its home date with BYU to Arlington, Texas.

The trend continues next year with Indiana receiving $3 million to shift a regular-season game against Penn State to Washington, D.C., and Army and Notre Dame playing in prime time at Yankee Stadium.

This week, Iowa State will make its second of three regular-season stops in Kansas City since 2002. To Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard, the move makes sense financially.

“The Chiefs approached us about the concept of playing in Kansas City, and the financial guarantees were very appealing,” Pollard said. “Additionally, Cyclone fans have supported our teams in Kansas City incredibly well in the past and enjoyed the experience. Providing our players the chance to compete in an NFL stadium, giving our fans a desirable weekend road trip to see the Cyclones and earning extra revenue was a great combination.”

The Chiefs are among the most aggressive organizations in pursuing college football games. Arrowhead Stadium will host a pair of Big 12 games and a Division II game this fall. Since 1998, the Arrowhead Stadium has played host to 13 Division I college football games.

The Chiefs see hosting college football as a revenue generator and a chance to boost its regional profile.

“There's always a financial aspect to it but as much as anything it's the desire to go ahead and host some big games here,” Kansas City Chiefs President Denny Thum said. “We blow both schools away as far as the money that they make having this event at Arrowhead Stadium. They can make more - each team playing at Arrowhead Stadium - with these types of crowds than they can ever think of hosting it at their home school.”

Iowa has played a pair of games this decade at a neutral NFL stadium. The Hawkeyes played Kansas State at Arrowhead Stadium in 2000 and faced Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in 2007.

Iowa Associate Athletics Director Mark Abbott handles most of the football contracts and said it's unlikely Iowa would move a home game to an NFL stadium. Iowa generated nearly $16.5 million in gate and concessions in 2007, an average of about $2.7 million a game.

“It's certainly not outside the realm of possibility, but it depends a lot on the financial package,” Abbott said. “Chicago is clearly a positive choice for us, but there may be others, St. Louis or Kansas City or some place like that. If the package was appropriate we might consider it, and if the opponent was appropriate as well.

“In order for us to give up a home game, it's going to have to be a pretty solid package.”