By Tim Parry
UPDATE: Rumor of the FCIAC Championship Game getting moved to Boyle Stadium has been, apparently, greatly exaggerated.
But it’s still a possibility, as the FCIAC has filled out paperwork for the game to be moved. But it is still New Canaan’s home game, and I’ve been told they have the right to keep the game at Dunning.
So as of now, prepare for kickoff at Dunning Stadium.
Here’s what I reported at 9 a.m.:
It appears the FCIAC Championship game between Darien and New Canaan on Thanksgiving Day will not be the Rams home game after all. According to sources, the day and time will be the same, but the site will instead be Boyle Stadium in Stamford.
I kid you not.
Now, the numbers below are still factual. And the opinion I have still remains:
There were 4,000 advance tickets given to Darien and New Canaan to sell, and 3,400 of those have been sold. Since that would make the game a possible sellout at Dunning Stadium, a bigger facility is needed. And paperwork was apparently filled out this week that would allow the game to be played at Boyle Stadium.
More to come – when we officially get word that the game is moved, we will let you know.
But honestly, did the FCIAC see this coming? I was unable to attend the FCIAC rivalry/title game played by Greenwich at Staples, but that one obviously had to be a sellout. Seating-wise, the Stadium at Staples has to be a little smaller than Dunning Field. Standing room, there is plenty at Staples (and no sideline control along the visitor’s sideline, since the fence surrounding the field is not fully enclosed).
So why did the league put in that rule that the FCIAC Championship Game contestants are playing on Thanksgiving Day, then a separate FCIAC Championship Game will not be played?
Because now, a regular season game between Darien and New Canaan, with undefeated records and seeding in the Class MM playoffs on the line, is a neutral site game. Which is what a true FCIAC Championship should be in the first place… And sad enough, the rest of the league still won’t get a chance to see the title bout.
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November 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I grant you that some foresight would have helped put this game on an open night at Boyle, but given where things now stand schedulewise across the FCIAC, the best thing to do is play this game on Thanksgiving morning at Boyle. It would be a needless shame to turn fans away at this point due to Dunning being unable to accommodate more than 4000 fans (which is a lot, of course, and it’s a beautiful stadium, but Boyle is simply bigger). If you’re at that number now, you’ll likely double it by Thursday.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
this is rediculous. the FCIAC can’t change the rules less than a week before the game when the same thing happend last year. this whole system is a little crazy, with the week five wackiness that was thrown in. the turkey bowl is simply switched every year, and its tradition. you also have to think about how many people bought the tickets and if they move it Stamford will not be able to attend. Darien and New Canaan are right next to eachother, but think about all of the mothers and grandparents who might have a harder time trecking up in the cold weather. also, even if Darien doesn’t want to play at NC, no team wants to take a longer bus ride. for the blue wave, youre there in five minutes and have your whole town there anyway. it is more convenient for both schools and only right to keep it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
footballfan03, distance really isn’t going to be a factor. Yes, New Canaan now has to get on buses, too, to get to its game. And DHS to Boyle is about as quick a trip as DHS to NCHS. Not like they’re bringing it to Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport…
Which brings me to justafan… If there’s going to be that many people wanting to go to the game, maybe Kennedy Stadium is a better option? Boyle holds maybe 5,000 fans. I know in the FCIAC championship archives there’s stories on 10,000 attending games, but they also brought in temporary seating a lot of seasons.
From the press view, I like the Boyle Stadium press box better than Kennedy, which is about a mile high. And I only like Boyle over Kennedy based on tradition (though a lot of FCIAC tradition has gone out the window anyway).
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I don’t get the distance argument from footballfan03: I mean, better that those “mothers and grandparents” can gets tickets for Boyle than be squeezed out entirely by a shortage at Dunning. Now, if you want to argue that it’s an NC home game and NC wants that homefield advantage, then that’s a perfectly legitimate argument (I don’t agree with it, but it’s a fair point).
My own feeling is that given the traditional competitiveness of the the NC-Darien Turkey Bowls regardless of whichever team came in as the clearly superior squad, homefield advantage is virtually a non-factor.
As for Tim P’s suggestion of Bridgeport’s Kennedy Stadium: A) it’s way farther from both Darien and NC than Boyle, and B) isn’t it the old carpet-style Astroturf? Ugh. That seems a non-starter to me.
I say, Boyle on Thursday or Wednesday night.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Yeah, but Boyle has the same old-school Astroturf as Kennedy Stadium. I agree though with the distance. Why have both teams travel 20-25 miles away to play a game that can be played in each other’s back yards.
Could be a moot point anyway, based on the latest info I got, which is that the game is staying in New Canaan.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
“As for Tim P’s suggestion of Bridgeport’s Kennedy Stadium: A) it’s way farther from both Darien and NC than Boyle, and B) isn’t it the old carpet-style Astroturf? Ugh. That seems a non-starter to me.
I say, Boyle on Thursday or Wednesday night.” — Actually Boyle Stadium is astroturf too…
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
And I don’t want to seem like im ranting Tim, but I have to agree with footballfan03 here, it is not fair to those 3,400 people who have already purchased their tickets thinking it will be in NC. Also, who does the FCIAC suppose to inform some of these people of the location change. If it is indeed changed to Boyle, then where would the Turkey Bowl be played next year?
I disagree with justafan because some FCIAC fans will be watching the other thanksgiving day games for their towns, etc.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
this is very true. also, as said, this game was scheduled as a home gain for NC. that is how it was scheduled and it would be very unfortunate if it were changed. I believe that NC had 6 straight away game, which was and fciac record, and this would only be the fourth home game for the Rams. that is a big factor for the seniors’ last year, and would be very unfair for them
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I’m almost certain (emphasis on “almost”) that Boyle was converted to the better “fieldturf” style turf over the old abrasive carpet. If that’s so, the NC- Darien game should be played at Boyle on Thursday morning. Just my opinion.
Clearly the NC fans are clinging to the homefield angle, and that’s fine. But honestly there’s no reason not to move the game to Boyle given that it’s a bigger-capacity venue and totally open on Thanksgiving morn.
And come on you NC fans, be honest at least. if you want the homefield “advantage,” fine. But don’t get on a high horse about caring about the poor fans who are expecting the game to be at NC rather than at Boyle. We’re talking about five minutes’ drive time between the two. Oops, excuse me. Maybe ten minutes.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
wait so tim, did you change this article from the original? so now it is staying in NC?
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
football03, yes, it’s an update… You must have taken Mr. Benedict for English
justafan, the new turf never happened at Boyle. I was just there on Thursday. I think it had to do with the mercury levels and the field being shut down in the spring. With budgets and such now, who knows if a replacement field will ever happen.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 am
who is mr. benedict?
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I don’t know if an fciac championship game between new canaan and darien and then another thanksgiving day game would be the best way to decide besides what if one wins the championship and the other wins the next game. Because of the way championship games work the team that won the thanksgiving game would get the playoff points… But I don’t like how no one else gets to watch the game because it would be played when everyone else is. The only possible scenario that I see working is maybe playing the game the night before thanksgiving.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Staples08, I take it you played in the FCIAC Championship Game last season. How was the crowd? Average for a Staples-Greenwich game? Larger? Keep in mind I was recovering from surgery when that game was played (a year ago yesterday) and didn’t get out to any of the games.
I agree – it would be great to have the whole league be able to get out and watch the game. It made the SWC title game, Thursday, a great experience for both sides. And I remember seeing tons of kids from other schools at the New Canaan-Greenwich game 2 years ago.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The crowd for last year’s Staples Greenwich game was still quite large if i were to guess something like 3500 or 4000 which is about average for staples greenwich games even though the last two before that have been in inclement weather, on thanksgiving where other teams play as well, and as well have been aired on television so that too may have hindered some other people going to the game. But last year’s would have been muchh bigger in attendance if other teams were not playing that day also, obviously. I think there needs to be a schedule change of some sort to deal with the weird scenarios that have been occurring such as the week 5 debacle, and thanksgiving championship games, maybe a change to divisions would make things easier?
November 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
just a note
boyle holds a hell of a lot more than 4500 fans…maybe that number on each side
the temporary seating was only in one end zone and it was for maybe 1000
November 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
The game should be moved. Not fair to fans/parents who will not be able to park or sit the entire time. Both being 5 minutes away it’s just the right thing to do. they could get 6-7000 there and where are u going to put them?? This isn’t hoops where people know not to show up due to a tiny gym indoors. It’s ludicrous. Move the game.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am
this game is for the kids, not the fans….. not fair to the seniors of both teams who dream of playing in this game, whether its home or away, all of these players, from the time they just started playing football in Darien and New Canaan dream of playing in the Turkey Bowl….. we need to remember that this game, as fun as it will be to watch, it’s for the kids, it’s their experience and it should stay within tradition… not to mention, it’s supposed to be a home game for New Canaan…. if i were them, i wouldn’t move it either.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Well maybe this piece of news will make some people take a different perspective.
Official notice from DHS and NCHS:
“Turkey Bowl ticket sales are currently suspended.
Both Darien and New Canaan have already sold 2000 tickets respectively.
We do not know, at this time, if the FCIAC will provide more tickets for sale.
As soon as we know anything concrete, we will notify you.”
So 4000 tickets sold and at this point they are not selling anymore tickets. I would think at this point even people from New Canaan would sacrifice a FCIAC Championship home game, so more of their family and friends can attend.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
The decision regarding venue has nothing to do with NC. It is an FCIAC decision which must be based on safety concerns. If they hold it at NC and several hundred people are not permitted to enter, it will not be pretty.
Imagine travelling several hundred miles as an Alum and being turned away at the ticket counter. Not a good result.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
From the website http://www.ncrams.com
The Thanksgiving Day game has been moved to Boyle Stadium in Stamford. We will once again be selling advanced sale tickets tomorrow (Tues Nov 25). Tickets will be available for sale from 7:30am – 5:00pm in the Athletic Office
November 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Is there any reason why the game could not have been moved to Wednesday night?