Louisiana Sports Talk

[dimebag1980]

I see quite a few Louisiana plates here in Florida. In no particular order:

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Those are the plates I see the most in Florida.

I was going to say it's odd that you see so many Louisiana plates in Florida, but I guess not considering it's not a bad drive down that way.

I'm surprised you don't see a lot of east coast plates down there, as well as Alabama and Mississippi.

[jax1906]

We can also add Southern University to the mix. I support Louisiana to the FULLEST. LSU, Southern, SAINTS, McNeese....doesn't matter.

I love La.

[byrde]

We can also add Southern University to the mix. I support Louisiana to the FULLEST. LSU, Southern, SAINTS, McNeese....doesn't matter.

I love La.

Jax good to see you over here... I take it you clicked the link I posted on TSPN.

[richyb83]

INDEPENDENCE BOWL in Shreveport 3:30 Today!

vs.

Oklahoma State has a Deaf football player, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT EARDRUMS...#7 Martel Van Zant; he starts at Corner Back; he's from Tyler TX;(same HS team w/ LSU QB- Matt Flynn) ; Les Miles recruited him while at OSU; Miles brother is also Deaf. Van Zant is a legit NFL prospect!

I still have to go with the SEC; Bama wins this one for Mike Shula who will be coaching his last game for the Tide.

[dimebag1980]

INDEPENDENCE BOWL in Shreveport 3:30 Today!

vs.

Oklahoma State has a Deaf football player, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT EARDRUMS...#7 Martel Van Zant; he starts at Corner Back; he's from Tyler TX;(same HS team w/ LSU QB- Matt Flynn) ; Les Miles recruited him while at OSU; Miles brother is also Deaf. Van Zant is a legit NFL prospect!

I still have to go with the SEC; Bama wins this one for Mike Shula who will be coaching his last game for the Tide.

I always go SEC with the Indy Bowl, even when they're the underdog.

I was there in '97 when LSU stomped Notre Dame, and I was there back in '00 when Mississippi State edged out A&M for the win during the SNOW BOWL. I actually left at halftime because of road conditions, but watched the remainder of the game from a friend's house.

One perk of my job is that I get offered Indy Bowl tickets every year. This year, however, I just didn't feel like going out there. I haven't been to a single sporting event this year, high school, college, or pro. I usually will go to an Evangel game or two, the Indy Bowl, and to see La. Tech when they have a game here.

Edited December 28, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[dimebag1980]

I forgot all about last night's I-Bowl Pep Rally down on the Boardwalk. That would have been an awesome opportunity for some good photos.

Oh well, here's a video of the event from The Times...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...8001/1084/VIDEO

[NCB]

Some awesome Shreveport skyline shots being shown on ESPN!

I think it's great that Shreveport hosts a bowl, and it's definately something the city should be proud of! And really, the whole state should be proud of the fact that it hosts 3 bowl games, while it has only one city of over 1 million. Most states the size of Louisiana host one bowl game, if any, and we're home to three.

[dimebag1980]

Some awesome Shreveport skyline shots being shown on ESPN!

I think it's great that Shreveport hosts a bowl, and it's definately something the city should be proud of! And really, the whole state should be proud of the fact that it hosts 3 bowl games, while it has only one city of over 1 million. Most states the size of Louisiana host one bowl game, if any, and we're home to three.

Man, you're teasing me. I'm stuck at work and all we have here are the basic channels. DAMMIT!!!!!!!

I'm proud that Shreveport is the only city in Louisiana, outside of New Orleans, to host a bowl game (for now, at least.)

I'm also proud that Louisiana also got the New Orleans Bowl a few years back. I was very surprised, even given New Orleans' size and tourism base, to hear you guys got a second bowl... but NOT disappointed in the least. More positive national sports exposure for Louisiana, who could ask for more?

Shreveport came very close to losing the I-Bowl recently, after it took 2-3 seasons to find a new sponsor. I really liked it when Sanford sponsored it, because they're the makers of Sharpie markers. At that point it was nicknamed the "Sharpie Bowl." I hated that we lost them, and I wasn't very fond of MainStay Investments. So far I'm pleased with PetroSun, though. And with their CEO, Rayfield Wright, being a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboy, I like 'em even more.

[NCB]

Man, you're teasing me. I'm stuck at work and all we have here are the basic channels. DAMMIT!!!!!!!

They're showing shots similar to this one, in that the skyline rises up out of the trees. However, one of the casino hotels is visible and looks to be right in with the rest of the towers, and the Chase Tower, or whatever tower that is with the large American flag flying on top of the roof, is directly to the left of the Amsouth Tower. So I'm thinking ESPN's camera is off to the right of where this picture was taken. I like this view, however, because it makes the towers in downtown Shreveport look much bigger, and it makes it seem like the city rises up out of nothing. Though ESPN's camera is at a higher elevation, so it makes the towers look much taller.

I'll tell you what, I've got my D40 out anyway, so if they show the skyline again, I'll try to snap a shot for you. But I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Shreveport has been getting some awesome name and skyline recognition today.

And BTW, I'm very proud that New Orleans has two bowls, as it is one of a very small amount of cities that can say that.

[richyb83]

Yes, grreat exposure for Shreveport. They have shown some skyline shots They showed the pep rally at the La. Boardwalk last night. They have also had commercials for Centenary and the Children's Visitor Safety Village?(forgot the name, help me out Brian) and Red Ball Oxygen of Shreveport too.

[dimebag1980]

They're showing shots similar to this one, in that the skyline rises up out of the trees. However, one of the casino hotels is visible and looks to be right in with the rest of the towers, and the Chase Tower, or whatever tower that is with the large American flag flying on top of the roof, is directly to the left of the Amsouth Tower. So I'm thinking ESPN's camera is off to the right of where this picture was taken. I like this view, however, because it makes the towers in downtown Shreveport look much bigger, and it makes it seem like the city rises up out of nothing. Though ESPN's camera is at a higher elevation, so it makes the towers look much taller.

I'll tell you what, I've got my D40 out anyway, so if they show the skyline again, I'll try to snap a shot for you. But I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Shreveport has been getting some awesome name and skyline recognition today.

And BTW, I'm very proud that New Orleans has two bowls, as it is one of a very small amount of cities that can say that.

I called my wife and told her to record the game for me. I've been keeping up online, but it won't hurt to watch it later for both the game and the views.

Your shot was taken from the Cross Lake bridge, and their cameras are most likely shooting straight out from the stadium... which would be off to the right of where your picture was taken. Not very far either, probably just 3-4 miles as the crow flies. The trees from the bridge level really hurt the look of the buildings, not to mention the downtown elevation also appears to be considerably lower than the elevation where that bridge is. The view from the stadium is MUCH better.

You said, "I'll tell you what, I've got my D40 out anyway..." HAH!!! You sound just like me. I get my camera out all the time and just fidget with it. If only my wife would let me bring it to bed with us... well, okay, maybe not... but if it were a 1Ds MkII I would!!!!

Edited December 28, 2006 by SBCmetroguy

[NCB]

You said, "I'll tell you what, I've got my D40 out anyway..." HAH!!! You sound just like me. I get my camera out all the time and just fidget with it.

Yep, that's me! I'll just whip the camera out when I'm bored, or watching TV, and just look it over, find something, and say, "hey, I wonder what this does?" And I'm occupied and interested for the next 20 minutes.

[jax1906]

Jax good to see you over here... I take it you clicked the link I posted on TSPN.

Yes SIR!!

[eastover neworleans]

This is a question for everyone in the New Orleans ok, we have a football team, basketball team(so far) but do you guys think that we need a baseball team? I think that it would be nice if we can get one. I haven't heard about the zephyrs in three years we need a major league team.

[NCB]

This is a question for everyone in the New Orleans ok, we have a football team, basketball team(so far) but do you guys think that we need a baseball team? I think that it would be nice if we can get one. I haven't heard about the zephyrs in three years we need a major league team.

It would never, never, never happen. There's no way a metro of 1.3 million football fans, and even an extended metro of 2 million if you include Baton Rouge, could get 50,000 fans in a stadium over 80 times a year to sell out an MLB home schedule. And even if we could, who is going to pay $750 million for a new baseball stadium? The smallest markets in the MLB are all over 2 million, and none of them do very well in terms of financial and fan support. You really need about 4 million people in your metro to really successfully support an MLB team, and I'm pretty sure the entire state of Louisiana wouldn't be coming down to games here.

New Orleans should just be very happy to have two proffesional teams, because there are tons of cities in the U.S. that would love to have on pro team, much less two. We've got a great NFL team in the Saints, a great NBA team in the Hornets, and a great AAA baseball team in the Zephyrs. The Zephyrs get very good attendance, but there's a HUGE difference between selling out an 11,000 seat AAA stadium a 10-15 times a year, and selling out a 50,000 seat MLB stadium 80+ times a year.

It would definately be cool, but I'd never live to see it.

[eastover neworleans]

Yea, I guess you're right but it's something to think about. We don't what will happen because, anything is possible.

[dimebag1980]

I mentioned the other day that back in 2000 I was in attendance at Shreveport's "Snow Bowl." I just found this gallery with a few shots someone took on their drive home from Shreveport in all that snow!

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2183882/1/116994704

[richyb83]

Wow, thanks for posting that Brian. That looks really nice. Something to enjoy every once in-a-while. I have never seen conditions like that on he road. Did they have any totals to the amount of snowfall in SBC??

[dimebag1980]

Wow, thanks for posting that Brian. That looks really nice. Something to enjoy every once in-a-while. I have never seen conditions like that on he road. Did they have any totals to the amount of snowfall in SBC??

I believe it ended up being 3-6 inches, depending on which town you lived in. I think the official measurement at Independence Stadium was about 4 inches.

A very rare sight in Northwest Louisiana, for sure!!

[dimebag1980]

Independence Bowl 2006 ecnomic impact is expected to surpass $5 million in the local economy. Eighty to ninety percent of local hotel rooms are booked through the holiday weekend.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...EWS01/612300323

[NCB]

That's great for Shreveport! I know bowls can have very large economic impacts, and that seems to be the case with the I-bowl. How many hotel rooms are located in the central areas of Shreveport-Bossier?

[NCB]

The Sugar Bowl is exptected to attract over 80,000 fans to New Orleans, and bring in more than $200 million to the city. Just about every hotel room is filled in New Orleans right now, and shops, bars, and restaurants are buzzing all around the city. This is fantastic for the city, but especially the small businesses which have been disucussed so much recently. The entire 1,100 room Sheraton is sold out, as is the entire 1,200 room Marriot, the entire JW Marriot, the entire Wyndham, all 400 rooms in the Ritz, both W Hotels, the 450 room Harrah's Hotel, the Bourbon Orleans, the Royal Bourbon, and most importantly, just about all of the privately run hotels and bed & breakfasts in the Quarter and throughout the city.

Tourism officials enjoy Sugar buzz

Article from the Times-Picayune

[dimebag1980]

That's great for Shreveport! I know bowls can have very large economic impacts, and that seems to be the case with the I-bowl. How many hotel rooms are located in the central areas of Shreveport-Bossier?

Yeah, for not being one of the main bowl games, the game does still have a huge impact on this area.

As far as the number of rooms, I've always wondered that myself. Let's see... in the downtown area you have the following:

Remington Suite Hotel (small, historic all-suite hotel) - 22 suites

Best Western Chateau Suites - 101 rooms & suites

Holiday Inn Downtown - 185 rooms

Boomtown Hotel - 188 rooms & suites

Eldorado Hotel - 403 rooms & suites

Sam's Town Hotel - 514 rooms & suites

Diamond Jacks Hotel (all-suite hotel) - 570 suites

Horseshoe Hotel - 606 rooms & suites

So that's a total of 2,589 hotel rooms all in the downtown area, which is actually more than I'd have thought. And if the two hotels are ever built at the Boardwalk, you would add another 300-400 rooms, bringing the total pretty close to 3,000 rooms.

Within a 10-minute drive of the downtown area, since it's centrally located to all of Shreveport-Bossier, you have tons of hotels in the 100-300 room range. Those being your run-of-the-mill Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Airport, Holiday Inn Bossier, a couple of Ramada Inns, a couple more Best Westerns, a couple Hampton Inns, etc. There are a total of around 10,000 hotel rooms in this area, at least half of which have been added in the last decade.

I will say, however, after seeing the Shreveport-Bossier tourism commercials on ESPN during the game, I think our city council needs to raise the Convention and Visitors Bureau's budget. Those were some LOW-budget commercials. Louisiana's commercial (which was basically a New Orleans commercial) with John Goodman was a very nice, well-made commercial.

[eastover neworleans]

The way that things are going now seems like carolina will be eliminated from the playoffs 20-7 giants halftime. So both teams won't have anything to play for tomorrow.

[richyb83]

Chuck Liddell WINS AGAIN!!! Remains Champion in UFC. He's one bad dude; he beat Tito Ortiz for the 2nd time. Tito was much more humble this time around, he said he "fought his A game" but it was not enough. Liddell almost put him away in the 1st round. The brutal beatdown went 3 rounds this time.

Edited December 31, 2006 by richyb83