This week our own Pete Mundo released his top seven options for the Big 12 to consider playing the conference championship game at. This comes on the heels of Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan saying that he would be interest hosting the game if the team decides to move to a domed stadium in the near future.
While Pete did provide some interesting options for the Big 12, the one thing I noticed is that there was only one current domed stadium on the list, which was the Alamodome in my neck of the woods in San Antonio. No offense to the city of San Antonio, but it isn’t what I would call an ideal destination, and the Alamodome is an old stadium in desperate need of a facelift.
Comparing the Alamodome to AT&T Stadium would be like comparing a juicy ribeye steak to a tofu. And sorry for you tofu lovers out there but it just isn’t the same thing. Now if the Kansas City Chiefs decided to build a domed stadium that would be interesting. Kansas City is already home to the Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball tournament and that has worked out quite well despite some criticism from newer conference members.
As much as I enjoy Kansas City (I think it’s a top five most underrated major city in the country), it may be a little bit of overkill to bring the football championship game there too. Plus, with some of the stadiums Pete provided on his list, they are in areas where weather could be an issue in the month of December. In fact, just this past year in Arlington, it was in the 40s and rainy. I don’t think that would be ideal weather for a conference championship game so that’s why keeping the game indoors is the best option.
Now, keep in mind that the Big 12 extended its agreement with AT&T Stadium through the 2030 season. So, we are still a ways away from the Big 12 making a decision. But when I saw Pete’s list, I felt like it was missing one city in particular.
That city is none other than Las Vegas. Now I know the Big 12 hosted media days last year, which caused an uproar from people, including myself. But while AT&T Stadium is convenient for me and many others, that doesn’t mean it’s convenient for everyone.
But the more I thought about moving it to Vegas, the more I understood it. The Big 12 is no longer just a regional conference. Very few conferences are regional nowadays, and that is the case for the Big 12. The conference has a national footprint that spans 10 states and four time zones.
I am sure some people will be skeptical about going to Las Vegas, but I am not one of those people. I love going to Vegas. In fact, I go every single year for a few days. Sure, I leave with less money and a bit of a hangover, but it’s always a great time.
The Pac-12 held their conference championship game the last three years before blowing up. And who knows where their conference championship game will end up or if they will even have one so the opportunity for the Big 12 to move in could work out well.
What I like about Las Vegas it’s that is has a little something for everyone. If you like to gamble on anything between sports or what color Brett Yormark’s suit will be at the game, you can do it. And if you aren’t into gambling, there is no better place to catch a show or find somewhere to grab a bite or a drink. Whether you are looking for a dive bar or a five star restaurant experience, Las Vegas has everything to offer.
The sights and scenes are as unique as anywhere in the country. From the sphere to the incredible water fountains at the Bellagio, there is always something to see. And I didn’t even mention the Statue of Liberty at New York-New York, the Eiffel Tower, or even downtown Freemont Street, which is an experience within itself.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Jerry World, and I totally understand why the Big 12 wants to be there. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is their backyard. It’s where the Big 12 headquarters are located, and it’s important to protect your backyard in today’s world of college football. But if, for some reason, the conference decides to venture out, I think Las Vegas should be, at the very least, an option on the table.
People always say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But when it comes to the Big 12 championship, that is something that you will go back home with you. No matter where this game is played, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.
