Detroit, it's as close as you can get to being centrally located and is also indoors.  While I have no problem being in the cold, it does do a number on attendance.

Probably Detroit for a lot of reasons.  It's indoors; it's a major hub, so it's easier to get to from most places; and for the time being it helps to balance the location of the basketball championship games -- the East is where the basketball powers are concentrated and Cleveland gives the East "home court" while the West dominates in football and Detroit gives them "home field."  As for Michigan teams getting a home field advantage, that's true -- when they're there.  I'd venture to guess that Ohio teams have been in more MAC football championship games than Michigan teams have.

All in All, I am fine with Detroit and you are assured of perfect playing conditions which does not benefit a run oriented team vs. a passing team in the event of bad weather.

If we considered an outdoor stadium, Columbus would probably be the best fit in terms of location and a little better weather than Cleveland.  Some college team in Columbus has had their spring practice game at Crew Stadium in the past (during their stadium renovation) and there have been several high school games there as well.  The seating capacity of 22,555 is perfect to avoid showing a stadium with 30,000 empty seats. 

I think a location like Columbus really opens up the opportunity for more alumni to drive from more locations than Detroit or Cleveland.  I have friends in Richmond with Ohio and Columbus ties who went to MAC Schools. I might have flown to Columbus to stay with my family or even driven at the last minute.  The cost of flying into Detroit, the hotel or the extra drive if I flew to Columbus to meet family and then travel to Detroit just seemed to be a bit too much in terms of cost and logistics although I did do that in 2006.

Another idea for Columbus or any other location for that matter might be to have some type of coaches clinic for high school coaches that was conducted by the MAC with head coaches from any or all of the MAC Schools particpating.  Would be great publicity and help elevate the entire conference.

Again, I am fine with Detroit, but wanted to throw the idea of Crew Stadium out.

Crew Stadium is a much better option than Cleveland, IMO, because you lose the chance for big lake-effect snowfall.  I still think indoors makes more sense, though, which leaves Detroit, because I don't think you'll see Indy want to flip the stadium in under 24 hours for the Big Ten Championship (I'm sure they'll actually be using the facility the day before the game for walkthroughs, media, etc.).

As far as Columbus being better driving for alumns, I think that is very OU-centric thinking.  I once calculated the geographic center of our conference, and it was pretty close to Detroit.


EDIT: Just redid it, with the 12 full members, the center is right around Perrysburg.  Add the two east-coast members (doesn't make sense not to include UMASS in planning), and it moves a touch East on I-90.  Toledo would be the best option, if it offered a stadium viable for the event.  http://www.geomidpoint.com/?ml=41.501416&mn=-83.41496...

I also decided to do a weighted calculation based on how many times current conference members have appeared in the game (including this year's).  Result?  Pretty similar: http://www.geomidpoint.com/?ml=41.5292407&mn=-83.7963...

I agree overall that Detroit is probably the best option and agree it is the central point for the locations of the school campuses.  I was factoring in the entire eastern seaboard for alumni, students or even family of players from other states such as personally "centric thinking" Virginia.  Most people would actually be traveling from their home in December and not from the actual campus.

I only want it in Detroit.  My wife has no interest in sitting outside for this game, and frankly I like the indoor forecast for Friday as well.  The weather in early December anywhere in the MAC is not very pleasant so playing the game indoors is an appealing draw for all the fans.  Until there is a roof on Cleveland Browns Stadium, I am OK going to Detroit for this game.

I don't know that the owner would be okay with another conference's title game being held there, even if its name does suggest that its ours

I like Detroit for the championship -  I think the Bowl should move.

Idiocracy.

Agreed that the Horseshoe is simply too large.

Good idea! I'd love to take the opportunity that Thanksgiving could provide. How many football fans have NO interest in Dallas or Detroit? Seems like an easy sell.

The reason for doing "kick-off" classics back in the day was that you were allowed to play an extra game (back when the limit was 11 games). This year, every MAC team DID open play as early as they were allowed. Its not like there is an untapped/un-played-upon weekend there that everyone is just missing: the thursday before labor day IS the start of the season.

EDIT: Plus, Canton is only the cradle of the fairly boring version of football that is predominately played on sundays.

The game should be in Los Angeles.  Great weather.  New stadium to be built and prime attraction needed.  Plus, the 'Cats are huge in Southern California and the national exposure would boost recruiting.