Texas A&M Football
“I think that turn out was one of the things that we’re thinking about in this bowl game, the quirks of the schedule. I know A&M had Vanderbilt late in the season, but that doesn't happen again for another 10-12 years. So I hope the fans come back knowing that, outside the bowl game, they won’t get to follow the Aggies to Nashville for another 10-12 years. We feel like A&M is a brand that is new to the SEC and we’re a big SEC market. Everybody is very excited for A&M and all the traditions and things they represent to come to town for a few days in late December.”
“We think this game has the right dynamics. We talked to Eric Hyman and a lot of the administration about the appetite for coming back. But, more importantly for us, this is a chance to have two football programs we have never had in our game during its 18 years and two fan bases we think are very excited to come to our city. I think the Music City brand plays well to both programs and it is a prime time game, unopposed on the 30th. I think that is a great slot to showcase both programs and our city of Nashville. I think all the events leading into it, and just naturally, our downtown Broadway, honky tonk area will be great. We’ve got a city that works well together, two Predators games on Saturday and Monday, then we’ve got the Texans/Titans game on Sunday. We’ll shut down Broadway on Tuesday and have both schools bands in an old fashioned battle of the bands. We usually have 10,000 people down there for that, with a concert following. The game is on in prime time, then there will be a New Years party in Nashville the next night that is as good as any in the country. So there is a lot of fun things to do. We’re excited for all the Aggies to get to town.”
“I hear the A&M band is really good. The Battle of the Bands has been our tradition. We started the game and knew that our music city and great downtown area could carry itself, but we wanted to do something unique. The college bands are a great piece of college football tradition in general, but to have one with the reputation of A&M’s will make it a truly special event for our local fans as well. It’s free, outside and is a great way to create an unbelievable atmosphere the night before the game.”
“We did get a little lucky with the Texans being here. We’ve had some home games either preceding or immediately following the bowl for a few years, but to have the Texans and A&M here, we got a little lucky. But, we’ll take luck every now and then. I do think it is a great way to kick off the week. I think there are a lot of things that will fit in with the fan base. The Country Christmas and light exhibit at the Opryland hotel is a destination in itself. Then our downtown is really special for hosting events.”
“To those listeners that haven’t been, our downtown and Broadway area, which are known as the ‘Honky Tonks’ have incredible music. They play for free or tips and are there to be found by the music row people that populate those bars and honky tonks. The talent that flows here to try and get discovered is incredible. We will announce a headliner for the concert to follow the Battle of the Bands. We haven’t announced it yet, but we will shortly. We set up a huge stage right by the river when we shut down the street and that will also serve as our stage for the New Years celebration. So if you stay after, you will have some free music.”
“You’ve got to be smart about the hot chicken temperature. The hot chicken has been a part of Nashville for a long time and is one of the unique elements we have here. We rolled in the chicken eating contest a few years ago and it is a little different than the brisket and ribs that other people do. It’s fun and I think we do some traditional stuff that people really enjoy. The coaches luncheon, the welcome party, where we have some contests to welcome them to the city. Also, we’ll have the professional folks eating hot chicken before the Battle of the Bands.”
“I think the bowl process has changed for the better in the last two years. It gave us a chance to sit down with all the conferences and I think the old draft process, where they tell you, ‘Here’s your slot, here’s where you pick,' had gotten kind of stale. You saw the same teams going to the same places and it was hard for bowls to get some teams they hadn't had in a while. I think the pool concept has really refreshed that process. It has certainly given us more flexibility and allowed us to create some match ups, instead of just working on separate tracks with the respective conferences. We do have a lot of input. I think Mark Womack and the SEC manage it, but they are hopeful that they don't have to make any decisions. They hope that things work out between where the schools feel like they want to go, who they want to play, and where they haven't been.
Then, from a cities perspective, it allows us to get some teams we haven't had. In the first two years, we’ve gotten A&M, Louisville, Notre Dame and LSU. Four teams we had never had. So I think it allows us to expose our city to some new fan bases and create matchups that we haven't had. We submit our preferences over the last few weeks, talk to all the ADs, then they submit their preferences. You’ve got to think of it in terms of matchups. We took Louisville, who played Georgia last year. So, obviously, it wasn't going to be Georgia again if we had Louisville. With A&M, they went to Memphis last year and started the season in Houston, so they didn't want to go back there. Tennessee opened up the season here, then went to Jacksonville last year. So within the pool, you start working the puzzle and we had this one circled for a few weeks. We’ve been excited about it, especially after the feedback we received after the Vanderbilt game.”
“I saw where A&M opened as a two or three point favorite, but we’re just hoping for a close game that boosts ratings and creates a great atmosphere for the game and the fans. I know that’s the easy way out, but we really do enjoy hosting all the teams and want them to have a great experience. Anybody who hosts a game wants a close game, especially when you are in an unopposed prime time slot, you’d love to hold the viewers for your sponsors and the city. I think we’ll do that.”
Music City Bowl CEO Scott Ramsey talks bowl game festivities
Key quotes from Scott Ramsey interview
“We’re looking forward to the bowl game. After A&M played Vanderbilt the town was abuzz and all they could talk about was how many A&M fans came to the game a few weeks ago. We hope everyone recharged their battery and is ready for a second dose of the Music City. We’ve got a lot of great stuff planned, and I think it will be a great three or four day trip for people to come up and not only follow the Aggies, but enjoy our great city.”“I think that turn out was one of the things that we’re thinking about in this bowl game, the quirks of the schedule. I know A&M had Vanderbilt late in the season, but that doesn't happen again for another 10-12 years. So I hope the fans come back knowing that, outside the bowl game, they won’t get to follow the Aggies to Nashville for another 10-12 years. We feel like A&M is a brand that is new to the SEC and we’re a big SEC market. Everybody is very excited for A&M and all the traditions and things they represent to come to town for a few days in late December.”
“We think this game has the right dynamics. We talked to Eric Hyman and a lot of the administration about the appetite for coming back. But, more importantly for us, this is a chance to have two football programs we have never had in our game during its 18 years and two fan bases we think are very excited to come to our city. I think the Music City brand plays well to both programs and it is a prime time game, unopposed on the 30th. I think that is a great slot to showcase both programs and our city of Nashville. I think all the events leading into it, and just naturally, our downtown Broadway, honky tonk area will be great. We’ve got a city that works well together, two Predators games on Saturday and Monday, then we’ve got the Texans/Titans game on Sunday. We’ll shut down Broadway on Tuesday and have both schools bands in an old fashioned battle of the bands. We usually have 10,000 people down there for that, with a concert following. The game is on in prime time, then there will be a New Years party in Nashville the next night that is as good as any in the country. So there is a lot of fun things to do. We’re excited for all the Aggies to get to town.”
“I hear the A&M band is really good. The Battle of the Bands has been our tradition. We started the game and knew that our music city and great downtown area could carry itself, but we wanted to do something unique. The college bands are a great piece of college football tradition in general, but to have one with the reputation of A&M’s will make it a truly special event for our local fans as well. It’s free, outside and is a great way to create an unbelievable atmosphere the night before the game.”
“We did get a little lucky with the Texans being here. We’ve had some home games either preceding or immediately following the bowl for a few years, but to have the Texans and A&M here, we got a little lucky. But, we’ll take luck every now and then. I do think it is a great way to kick off the week. I think there are a lot of things that will fit in with the fan base. The Country Christmas and light exhibit at the Opryland hotel is a destination in itself. Then our downtown is really special for hosting events.”
“To those listeners that haven’t been, our downtown and Broadway area, which are known as the ‘Honky Tonks’ have incredible music. They play for free or tips and are there to be found by the music row people that populate those bars and honky tonks. The talent that flows here to try and get discovered is incredible. We will announce a headliner for the concert to follow the Battle of the Bands. We haven’t announced it yet, but we will shortly. We set up a huge stage right by the river when we shut down the street and that will also serve as our stage for the New Years celebration. So if you stay after, you will have some free music.”
“You’ve got to be smart about the hot chicken temperature. The hot chicken has been a part of Nashville for a long time and is one of the unique elements we have here. We rolled in the chicken eating contest a few years ago and it is a little different than the brisket and ribs that other people do. It’s fun and I think we do some traditional stuff that people really enjoy. The coaches luncheon, the welcome party, where we have some contests to welcome them to the city. Also, we’ll have the professional folks eating hot chicken before the Battle of the Bands.”
“I think the bowl process has changed for the better in the last two years. It gave us a chance to sit down with all the conferences and I think the old draft process, where they tell you, ‘Here’s your slot, here’s where you pick,' had gotten kind of stale. You saw the same teams going to the same places and it was hard for bowls to get some teams they hadn't had in a while. I think the pool concept has really refreshed that process. It has certainly given us more flexibility and allowed us to create some match ups, instead of just working on separate tracks with the respective conferences. We do have a lot of input. I think Mark Womack and the SEC manage it, but they are hopeful that they don't have to make any decisions. They hope that things work out between where the schools feel like they want to go, who they want to play, and where they haven't been.
Then, from a cities perspective, it allows us to get some teams we haven't had. In the first two years, we’ve gotten A&M, Louisville, Notre Dame and LSU. Four teams we had never had. So I think it allows us to expose our city to some new fan bases and create matchups that we haven't had. We submit our preferences over the last few weeks, talk to all the ADs, then they submit their preferences. You’ve got to think of it in terms of matchups. We took Louisville, who played Georgia last year. So, obviously, it wasn't going to be Georgia again if we had Louisville. With A&M, they went to Memphis last year and started the season in Houston, so they didn't want to go back there. Tennessee opened up the season here, then went to Jacksonville last year. So within the pool, you start working the puzzle and we had this one circled for a few weeks. We’ve been excited about it, especially after the feedback we received after the Vanderbilt game.”
“I saw where A&M opened as a two or three point favorite, but we’re just hoping for a close game that boosts ratings and creates a great atmosphere for the game and the fans. I know that’s the easy way out, but we really do enjoy hosting all the teams and want them to have a great experience. Anybody who hosts a game wants a close game, especially when you are in an unopposed prime time slot, you’d love to hold the viewers for your sponsors and the city. I think we’ll do that.”
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