The 2020 and 2021 schedules both have openings marked for FCS games to be determined. Other options might exist. There might be teams still looking for money games, and willing to pay Ohio to show up, though that would mean a five game home slate those years, but it would have a huge financial impact.

The third option probable isn't really feasible, but let's pretend there is some G5 team out there looking for a home and home in 2020 and 2021. The result would be a 5 game home slate one year, and 6 games the other, and no FCS foe.

I'm not buying that figure.

Do we really get that many fans that come and stay in hotels (excluding homecoming)? Maybe I am uninformed, just doesn't feel like it. Sure some people go out for dinner or get gas in town as part of their trek to the game, but you have to consider how many locals would've done that eventually game or not.

Furthermore the accountant in me would argue revenue does not mean worth. If a guy fills up his tank for $30 on his way to the game, that did not bring $30 to the local economy. It brought $30 less the $25 it cost the gas station to get the gas.

A half mil would be about $25 spent outside the stadium/parking lot for every man, woman & child. Just speaking for my family of 5, the most Athens gets out of us in our game day visits is about a $30 bill at Larrys Dawg House or something of the like. I know the bars get some visitors and the book store sells some gear and such...I just don't see it adding up to any more than about 100-150k of bottom line worth.

Again, excluding homecoming.

I have friends in the local hotel business. You'd be surprised how much football drives their revenue - home game weekends were consistent sell-outs (at higher rates) when we were drawing good crowds to Peden.

Things slipped a bit in 2017, and many of the hotels were struggling for football weekends this year (only 3 Saturdays too). Saturday basketball games also help the hotels - but the last couple years have seen a huge drop-off there too.

So yes, hotel owners/managers pay big attention to what's going on with athletics. The last couple years have been hurting the bottom line from where things were.

Not everyone is a cheapskate. Pretty hilarious humble brag though dropping all that cash at Larry's. What's next, talking about that one time you broke the bank at Jack's Steak House on Route 33?

$4-500K not unreasonable estimate at all

Game Tics
Game day Peden outside pre-game & inside stadium Food & Bev
Hotels/Motels (many 2 nights)
Meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners - many multiple)
Bars (Alc Bevs - it's Athens, It's a lot of OHIO alums - you get the picture - this is a LOT of $)
Convenience stores including gas
Apparel
Other shopping

Oh - And parking fees/parking tickets/towing (and maybe legal fines-fees/court costs?)

Along those lines, I've always thought Ohio and Marshall should play every year.

RS - The discussion was about impact to the community, as in excluding the revenue for the University e.g. tickets, concessions, parking.

The decision was made that it was worth taking a break in the series to be able to schedule more of a variety in non-conference competition. That series signed by Hocutt may be why Ohio was forced into such weak non-conference scheduling for a while due to lack of available dates.