Lambeau Field enters Big Ten football title-game hosting sweepstakes - I favor Chicago, but Green Bay would be cool (cold), too

I can't see this happening because the venue is so tied to the NFL. But then again, Chicago's Soldier Field, Detroit's Ford Field, Cleveland Browns Stadium and Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium are NFL venues. So what's the difference?

Yes, the Green Bay Packers want to host a Big Ten football championship game at their Lambeau Field.

This ESPN.com story tells the tale. Excerpts:

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy told ESPN.com on Thursday that the team already has contacted the Big Ten office to express its interest. ...

"We'd be very interested," Murphy said. "The Big Ten has got such history and tradition, and to have a championship in Lambeau Field would be tremendous. It'd be good for our community and good for college football to have it in such a historic venue." ...

Weather could factor into the Big Ten's decision for a championship game site, as leagues like the SEC and Big 12 usually hold their football championship games at indoor facilities.

"Early December, that's balmy in Green Bay," Murphy joked. "To me, that's part of the attraction of college football, to play in the elements. We're going to have a Super Bowl in New York in February, so it's not that much different."

Good for Murphy for saying that. I think the Big Ten is missing a golden opportunity if it doesn't have at least some of its football title games in outdoor venues like Soldier or Lambeau. You put a Big Ten title game on in the great outdoors the first Saturday of December, and you'll win over a lot of hearts of casual college football fans in other areas of the country.

Who really cares about seeing college games in the Georgia Dome or Dallas Cowboys Stadium? Indoors. Sterile. Every Big Ten team plays all its home games outdoors. They and their fans can handle the wind off Lake Michigan a week or two later.

That's why Chicago's Soldier Field is my No. 1 pick. And I'll put Lambeau second, ahead of Indy. Yes Indianapolis is a more centralized location than Green Bay, which might be hard-pressed to house thousands of fans from two different teams. But for atmosphere and excitement, I'd take Green Bay over Indy every time.

But Chicago would be better. Easier to reach, plenty of hotel rooms. The Big Ten has surrendered its basketball tourneys to Indy. Chicago is one of the world's great cities. Play the football title game there.

I have spoken.