I came across this commentary by Rolfe McCollister in the Baton Rouge Business Report. I have absolutely no dog in this issue, but I thought it might be an interesting discussion for the Tiger baseball fans:

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I can only assume Nolan Ryan hasn't been to Livingston parish before...:thumb:

In all seriousness, he would be great for BR. He owns the new Double A team in Corpus Christi, which starts up this year, and looks like they'll have a stunning facility (sponsored by Whataburger.) And it's going to be right by downtown. For BR, right where the shanty town is! Maybe they could reopen the Bengal!

Oh yeah, Tulame plays football (at least that's what THEY call it! :rofl: ) in the Superdome......now that's a wonderful college atmosphere isn't it?

I would not enjoy going downtown for a LSU baseball game. Heck, I hardly enjoy going to downtown BR for *anything*, no matter how much they try to promote it as of late.

I prefer to be on LSU's campus for game days and enjoy the on-campus atmospheere - there is nothing like it!

Livingston Parish???? What a joke!!!!!

I don't know all of the economics of minor league ball (especially at the A/AA level), but I can't see it surviving in Baton Rouge. That being said, I see many A/AA teams in cities/towns that I couldn't imagine would be able to garner enough financial support to justify a team there.

Baton Rouge has failed at every attempt to bring a professional franchise to the city. Ice hockey, indoor soccer, arena football (I assumed it failed, but have no idea). Baton Rouge is a one man town...and that man is LSU. :lsup:

I would imagine that LSU would be against any professional team moving in on its turf. A professional baseball team downtown will only hurt LSU attendance at various sports b/c now people have another quality choice for athletic events (that WILL coincide with some LSU sports in the spring and fall). It might be good for the summer months, but I can't imagine many in BTR going out and sitting at an outdoor baseball stadium rooting for a minor league team while baking/melting with the heat/humidity.

Maybe Nolan Ryan can make it worth LSU's time by cutting them a great deal on facilities cost/revenues and also throw in some of that Nolan Ryan beef from his herd! Then Dandy could inspect the meat while going to the games! j/k

I agree, the baseball stadium need to be on campus, if they want to let a minor league team share it that would eb ok I guess, but don't build anything like this off campus. It becomes someone else's stadium if that happens and instead of being called the Box it will have some darn corporate logo.

Dude, don't play the corporate card. It's such a tired argument.

LSU is pimping itself in every way possible EXCEPT renaming the stadiums/arenas. Signage/advertising everywhere. I agree that you shouldn't (and I don't think you can) have naming rights on college venues, but let's not fool ourselves about the corporate sponsorship that is a huge breadwinner for the university. It makes the athletics no more or less enjoyable or "pure."

I'll play it if I want to. Naming the education building after Cox is one thing, naming the Box or Tiger stadium after a corp. is quite another and I don't want it. You have your opinions, I have mine.

By the way, Nolan Ryan needs to do some visit Ascension Parish instead of Livingston....

Come on RayLSU, you know college sports are as pure as mountain spring water! Those dirty corporate dollars are the last thing an educational institution needs, since money is so abundant in the Louisiana budget! And can you imagine the sheer horror of having a company's name on a stadium? Luckily, BR doesn't have a major company headquartered there so that shouldn't be an issue.

Now where can I get more LSU Nike gear?