Traveling Fanbase and Location

Despite its modest football success, Iowa State is sought out for its traveling fanbase.

Just last year Iowa State leapfrogged Missouri in being selected by the Insight Bowl committee. While never explicitly stated, conjecture is that the committee recognized this fact and wanted the Cyclones back in Arizona. They knew first hand since these same Cyclone fans flocked to an earlier Insight Bowl. The committee was not disappointed.

You'll find similar stories from the Las Vegas CVB after recent games at UNLV or from Minneapolis-St Paul CVB after NCAA basketball tourney regionals in those cities. Do a quick Google search about the Cyclones, Kansas City, and Big 8/12 basketball tourneys and you'll see what the merchants in that city think of our traveling fanbase.

What does this mean to Big Ten? We've already mentioned geographic proximity to the current member institution. This traveling fanbase has shown it will be in the those cities, in the stands for those games, and spending money in the bars/hotels/restaurants for the long term.

Not to mention, since ISU's campus is a mere 30 miles from the crossroads of Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 - it will be easy for fans of all Big Ten schools to get to Ames to watch their teams compete in Cyclone Country.

Thanks to SpinningBird on CycloneReport.com for the tip