re: Report: Miami in discussions to play against Alabama or LSU

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I have a good grasp of their expenses. Thanks.

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So you wouldn't rather bring in a guaranteed ~4 Million with no expenses over ~4 million (sometimes) with lots of expenses?

Listen, I understand your angle on the economic impact that LSU football has on Baton Rouge. I love Baton Rouge and Louisiana and want to see both thrive. The simple fact is, no matter how you slice it, the LSU AD wants to make money and they really don't owe Baton Rouge anything. LSU isn't a charity (though they still pump millions in the academic end and Baton Rouge every year). Making money = better facilities and coaches and, in turn, better recruits and a better team.

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An argument could be made for millions in local revenue that is lost as well.

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That local revenue isn't "lost". It's a gift to begin with. A gift that wasn't there at anywhere close to the level it is now through a great deal of LSU Football's history. If you want a winner and the best coaches & facilities, you have to have the money to pay for it. That is the Athletic Dept's #1 concern. If season ticket holders and private donors have issue with the neutral site games, stop giving them your money.

Great article here.

Keep in mind this is only people that live outside of Baton Rouge and doesn't include those that do..... (local economic impact is huge):

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A recent study, commissioned by the Tiger Athletic Foundation, found that LSU athletics had an economic impact of $397.5 million on the four-parish Baton Rouge area in 2012. The metro area is composed of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes.

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LSU athletics largest economic impact was in the arts, entertainment, and recreation categories, coming in at nearly $160 million. Food services and drinking establishments had nearly a $32 million impact on Baton Rouge metro, while real estate and rental and leasing firms, had about a $30 million impact.

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“Over a 7-game home season, total spending by fans from outside the metro is $62.8 million in Louisiana, with $47.7 million of that spent within Baton Rouge metro,” the study said.

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What about the millions in local and state revenue that we give up by having the game in Texas? That can't be ignored. To do so is taking a very narrow view of the actual impact of LSU athletics.

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That's not the AD's responsibility! NO public funds are going toward the athletics. They are run like a private business. They even annually give millions to the university! They are able to do that because of the way they manage their money.

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(local economic impact is huge):

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It is and will continue to be. 1 neutral site home game with a huge guaranteed payout for the LSU AD won't be the death knell of Baton Rouge.

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The simple fact is, no matter how you slice it, the LSU AD wants to make money and they really don't owe Baton Rouge anything. LSU isn't a charity (though they still pump millions in the academic end and Baton Rouge every year). Making money = better facilities and coaches and, in turn, better recruits and a better team.

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LSU is a state university. Taxpayer dollars go to keep it open (albeit less in recent years.. thanks to the horrible arse government we have). LSU athletics ONLY exists because LSU exists. Therefore they owe the university, the city and the state a little bit of thought when scheduling these games that have such a large economic impact on both the city and state. Especially if you're going to be moving that impact to another state.

With the new TV deal, we're going to be pulling in far more money than we've ever pulled in before. Couple that with a massive increase in premium seating and the AD will be rolling in money for years to come. The difference in taking a gamble the impact of rain on a home game and a smaller guaranteed payout on a neutral site game isn't worth the negative impact on the local economy.

It's absolutely something that should be considered when making those choices and it shouldn't be viewed as a "gift" or "not owing them anything" because it's CLEARLY not the case.

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a public university, that derives a substantial percentage of its funding from taxpayer dollars,

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What about the Athletic Department that is independent and 100% privately funded?

And let's ignore the millions that the AD gives every year to the academic end of LSU and the literal hundreds of millions that is pumped into the local economy through LSU football.

Christ almighty.

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a public university, that derives a substantial percentage of its funding from taxpayer dollars, owes the capital city nothing

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No, LSU Football which receives no taxpayer dollars and is self sufficient owes BR nothing.

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then perhaps they should secede from the university

see how much people care about them then

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Sadly more people in South Louisiana probably care about the AD more than the school itself actually.