Texas vs. El Paso?

From left: Texas vs. the Nation chairman Kenny Hansmire, Western Refining's Gary Hanson, El Paso Mayor John Cook, County Judge Anthony Cobos and Pro Football Hall of Fame marketing director David Motts in happier times...Like, just a few months ago.

So, I finish my stint as the Man in the Box, walking out of the cramped PA booth toward the promise of a beautiful El Paso winter's day, sunshine and mountains and the always-inspiring view from the Sun Bowl resonant, along with some decent football in the fourth annual Texas vs. the Nation Challenge.

Life was good as I walked down the hall of the Sun Bowl's press box. And then I walked into the KROD booth.

My KROD friends were wrapping up their broadcast of TvN, but the mood was a little shocked and sheepish. Sideline reporter Lou Romano had gotten the low-down from the field after interviewing El Paso mayor John Cook and TvN CEO Kenny Hansmire -- the Mayor was ashamed of his town and Hansmire alluded to other Texas cities laughing sarcastically at El Paso, and that he was ready to ship the game east next year.

The missing 10,000-or-so folks who could have put the game attendance over 35,000 to keep it here (you heartless bastards!) had not bothered to show up on a beautiful day. 

And so, El Paso, according to our mayor and a Dallas promoter who lives here for about a month leading up to this game, it's suddenly Texas vs. El Paso. We're losers again while those covetous big-timers in Dallas and San Antonio and Austin yuk it up at our expense.

Who the...? 

What the...? 

No, that's not me asking those questions. That's Dallas and San Antonio and Austin upon hearing Kenny Hansmire is moving his game their way.

Saying other cities in Texas have been chomping at the bit for a game featuring players who've never been finalists for any of the major college awards reeks of something we've smelled from other promoters who've been here and split.

Who do you think you're kidding, Kenny Hansmire? This same game (as in the same players) in Dallas wouldn't draw flies. 

Maybe it draws bigger names because it's in Dallas, in which case it might have a shot. But ask SMU and TCU what selling college football tickets in a pro town is like.

Seriously, Kenny. Do you think your patter about how Jerry Jones wanted this game in his new Cowboys Stadium but that you were sticking with El Paso really convinced anybody of Dallas' desire or your loyalty?

I'm sure there are elements of truth in what you say, but to what degree?

I will readily admit this is a knee-jerk response to Hansmire's knee-jerk response -- we'll all learn a little more over the next few days.

UTEP and El Paso gave Texas vs. the Nation a good deal. We want to nurture new events that take a chance on this city.

Yes, getting the Pro Football Hall of Fame as title sponsor really did raise the stakes. Give credit where credit is due -- Hansmire worked his tail off to donate to charity, stroke the community by bringing in ex-Dallas Cowboys out the wazoo, putting time and energy into creating something here.

But...

...To be yelled at by the director of a still-young game who hasn't brought one big-time college football talent to play here, who promised fans the Pro Football Hall of Fame would give El Paso dibs on the list of next summer's new inductees (a list we eventually found elsewhere), and who, most importantly, didn't bother telling anyone that they could lose the event if they didn't put out?

This is like getting a Dear John letter after a first date. 

It's burning a bridge that was still under construction.

There seem to be a couple of factors at work in creating the low attendance. First, I'm not sure the fact that Canton, OH, had come calling really sunk in. 

Also, UTEP is top of Conference USA in basketball with the biggest game of the season being played that same night in front of a sold-out crowd.

Not only did the Miners basketball team probably siphon some money that might otherwise have been spent that afternoon in the Sun Bowl, they almost certainly siphoned attention and momentum.

Don't get me wrong -- Texas vs. the Nation is a great concept and has been a wonderful event. Hansmire had it just right, too -- bringing a new game to a city that likes football but hasn't seen a whole lot of winning football played, outside of the Brut Sun Bowl.

Who's to say Hansmire wouldn't outlast the other senior all-star games and get a shot at having a Tim Tebow or a Colt McCoy play here?

Not after this rant. Now, too many people who had no stake in this to begin with can say, "Who cares?"

Comments

[ProElPaso]

I remember Kenny promising Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy on KROD a few months back....Colt got hurt...yes...but what about his pal Jordan?

[shyminer]

It wasn't marketed right... pretty lame if you ask me, what incentive did the people of El Paso have to attend? Especially when a BIG UTEP game was later that evening...

[ElPasoCat]

Hey Kenny, marketing genius, scheduling a game so it doesn't conflict on the same day as the community's most darling brand (UTEP basketball, ya know Kenny, the one movies have been made about?) is about as basic of a marketing move in this community as it gets if you really want a slam dunk (pun intended). As one of my favorite KLAQ morning show spots says, Kenny, "You're a freakin' genius, ya idiot..."

[RocketScientist]

It's also an all star game. I've been to a couple and have had fun, but its just not exciting! Glad to see the game here though and there could be a more aggressive marketing campaign to get people to show up. We don't care that the NFL will be there we care about the players. I honestly don't even know who the players were in this game.

[Jay Koester]

I've enjoyed having the game in El Paso, but Hansmire came off bad in the paper. He must really be moving, because after his comments, he probably doesn't have much support left in El Paso.

[epnews]

hey el paso cat, there were 42,000 people at the game last year AND utep played a basketball game in the don that night, i know, i went to both, and spent the time in between in the cincinnati street area. it was a beautiful day yesterday, there was no excuse for the pathetic showing by el paso. btw, i am a life long el pasoan, but i hate to say it, this game would go over big in san antonio, or austin, but not the houston or dallas area. smu, and u of h do not draw well at all, very few in those cities care, with the nfl in town. hopefully, it will be back, but el paso, you blew it again with your apathy!

[elpasosportsfan]

there is a rule, duke keith, that these players can only participate in 1 all star game, so that means there is only a third of a chance that any big name player would come here. also, no one who will be a 1st round pick plays in these, and why should they, these are for the unknowns to get noticed and make a name for themselves. now my question is, why no one in this town that knows john skelton, and eddie britton (sp?) did they not get them into this game, instead of watching john play in orlando's game, and i don't think eddie played in any of them. does anyone know why, 2 kids from our high schools, that might have nfl careers were not here participating??

[Duke Keith]

Great question, elpasosportsfan! Where were John Skelton and, even moreso, Eddie Britton?

Maybe the answer has more to do with what they think of TvN,as opposed to what TvN thinks of them.

I say this because I understand John Skelton has been invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis -- he may not need or want the exposure.

Britton's another story. He probably could have used the opportunity, if it had been presented.

Bet'cha my man Joe Fan gets the scoop on that.

It sure would have been a good way to get more fans to TvN. I think Skelton would have been the best arm on the field last Saturday. Keep an eye on him. The former Burges QB rewrote Fordham's record book and is thought to have a good shot at being drafted.

[Al]

Hey Epnews are you aware that San Antonio did have the East/West shrine game for two years, and they only drew around 10k each year! Houston had it as well and drew around the same. For EP to average around 27k for a game that was created only four years ago is incredible.

[Duke Keith]

Thanks, Al! VERY interesting stats, and I agree. The game is where it needs to be if he has any hope of getting a bigger crowd.

[somethink2say in El Paso, TX]

Kenny Hansmire owes El Paso an apology...Mayor Cook? Well, I've come to expect this sort of behaviour from him.

http://somethink2say.blogspot.com/

Where's my stinking apology?

[Duke Keith]

FYI, John Skeleton played in the East-West Shrine game, which left him unable to participate in TvN.

And here's another name for you -- former Franklin QB Scott Grantham. This game would have been perfect for him.

[in-the-know]

Attendnace in college sports is an interesting thing. Attendnace is guaged by the number of ticket issued. The number through the turnstiles was closer to 14,000 for TvN. Now that is bad.

The other issue is the "NFL is in town". Well not really, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was in town. For our bonehead guitar-strumming mayor to say we blew our chances at getting an NFL franchise, well, what chance was that?

We (El Paso) would need a new stadium from the ground up. Our beloved Sun Bowl will not cut it for the NFL; lack of seats and lack of luxury boxes.