Alabama and LSU Will Pay Around $1 Million Combined For Bands To Perform at BCS Title Game

Enjoy the school bands at the BCS Title Game. It will cost the schools about $1 million dollars combined to send them. The Superdome recently expanded seating near the field, forcing the bands to sit in the stands (and the schools to each buy more than 500 premium-priced tickets, $350 a ticket for the title game. That could mean $1,400 per tuba. They also must feed, house and transport them, running total expenses near $500,000. Alabama’s expenditure would have been about enough to give every faculty member a $400 per year raise.

Michigan and Virginia Tech are in the same boat for the Sugar Bowl, though their bands, 447 and 461 tickets respectively, are smaller and top-tier tickets are cheaper.

Schools could not be so callous as to put a sensible price-tag on student-dorks being the “toast of the town,” though those fight songs better be crisp and those Bon Jovi covers better be epic.

[Photo via Getty]

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13 Responses to “Alabama and LSU Will Pay Around $1 Million Combined For Bands To Perform at BCS Title Game”

roastbeast Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 1:22 PM

just leave the damn band cart far away from the back of the EZ!

Full Point (1000) Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 1:23 PM

As long as LSUs Golden Girls are shown early and often, everything is good

squawkbox Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 1:45 PM

Haven’t we seen this show before? I generally don’t watch re-runs and in this case, will stick to that rule. Gotta go to work the next day anyway.

roastbeast Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 1:58 PM

sometimes it bums me out how much money and fuel are spent on sports

most of the time it doesn’t tho

vezina Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 1:59 PM

sometimes it bums me out how much money and fuel are spent on sports

most of the time it doesn’t tho

mmonast Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 2:21 PM

Alabama’s expenditure would have been about enough to give every faculty member a $400 per year raise.

I’m sure they would appreciate that generous $15.38 extra in their paycheck (assuming bi-weekly, $16.66 if its semi-monthly)

vezina Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 2:27 PM

I’m sure they would appreciate that generous $15.38 extra in their paycheck (assuming bi-weekly, $16.66 if its semi-monthly)

that’s a pair of corduroy pants, mister. or a set of 4 elbow patches

/stereotype’d

Jim Harbaugh Scramble Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 2:44 PM

hools could not be so callous as to put a sensible price-tag on student-dorks being the “toast of the town,”

Duffy, I think your CFB coverage has been rather good this season and a definite upgrade over last season, but that line, WOOF.

cassino Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 2:52 PM

Alabama’s expenditure would have been about enough to give every faculty member a $400 per year raise.

Actually, it would be enough to give every faculty member a 34 dollar raise (rounded up), as they don’t just get to keep what they don’t spend. It goes to the conference and gets divided 12 ways. It doesn’t make sense for teams to not spend on this kind of thing because if they spend it, they get 100%. Keep it and you get a lot less.

tyduffy Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Actually, it would be enough to give every faculty member a 34 dollar raise (rounded up), as they don’t just get to keep what they don’t spend. It goes to the conference and gets divided 12 ways. It doesn’t make sense for teams to not spend on this kind of thing because if they spend it, they get 100%. Keep it and you get a lot less.

No, the money Alabama pays to buy BCS title game tickets does not get divided by 12 between the SEC teams. Try reading the post next time.

cassino Says:
December 26th, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Is that what I said? No. Each bowl team sets a budget for their expenses, and if they go over the conference is billed. If they go under the excess goes to the conference to be divided among all members. The money that Alabama pays to buy its tickets comes out of their Bowl Revenue, and if they don’t use the money it goes TO THEIR FUCKING RIVALS. Try doing some research next time.

Student_dork_parent Says:
December 29th, 2011 at 8:26 PM

Student-dorks? You are so wrong. They have earned the right to be in those seats. Are you even aware that they are the first in the stadium and the last to leave the stadium? Not to mention 2 hour daily practices. Game day is ALL about practice and playing…NOT tailgating …it’s hot and humid. This is, of course, in addition to attending classes and studying all week. Being a part of the band is a huge commitment. (BTW, the fans love their band.) The band is huge part of the football program. Without the football program these schools just wouldn’t be as attractive (to prospective students and instructors)as other schools… so how nice of you to name-call and make assumptions about 2 GREAT BANDS comprised of a great group of hard, working individuals, without realizing what they give up to add to the excitement and pageantry of what is college football. You sir are a blog-dork. …and you bet your A$$ those songs will be crisp as F.

pattidowie Says:
December 30th, 2011 at 2:18 AM

If you were at the last BCS game in NOLA, the bands were on the floor, taking up no “premium seats”. Since the Superdome has now been reconfigured there is no floor space for the bands. However, the capacity of the stadium is about 3000 more seats now so the bands aren’t displacing as many seats as assumed! Besides, a college football game, especially LSU and ALABAMA wouldn’t be the same without their bans! It’s all part of the whole college game experience!