The road to Glendale may always be remembered as having been paved with Trojans, but the Arizona city is hoping that Brent Musburger’s signature path will include a conference title game in the future as well.
Sure, the Pac-10 hasn’t even officially decided yet that they will split into two six-team divisions and decide a champion with a title game -- they will, ultimately, as additional dollars will do the talking -- but that hasn’t stopped Glendale from dreaming of adding another signature game to a collection that already includes a Super Bowl, BcS title game and multiple Fiesta Bowls.
According to the Arizona Republic, city officials are already discussing internally the possibility of holding a Pac-10 title game at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
“Absolutely,” Tom Sadler, chief executive of the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, said when asked if hosting the game has been talked about. “This is what we do. We’ve had some internal discussions relative to the possibility, but some of the ducks have to settle first. . . . In the event that they decide to add a championship game, we’re prepared to reach out and let folks know we’re interested and put our best foot forward.”
Of course, this is all predicated on the Pac-10 actually having a championship game. Conference spokesperson Jim Muldoon told the Republic that, while having a title game is part of two of the three options the conference is considering, not holding one is a third. With a conservative estimate of $10-$12 million in television revenue, and the additional revenue a title sponsor would bring, that third option mentioned by Muldoon is a choice only in theory.
Other sites mentioned as potential hosts include the Rose Bowl, Denver’s Invesco Field and Seattle Qwest Stadium. Additionally, the middle of the Muldoon’s options would have the team with the best record hosting the game at their home stadium.
