The Pac 12’s initial conference building move was to add five Mountain West schools.
After some flirting with Memphis and Tulane cooled off, Gonzaga joined as member in all sports but football.
There’s still more to come – perhaps Memphis and Tulane are still on the cards – but what do these new schools bring to the once mighty Pac 12? Let’s take a look.
Boise State
Stadium: Albertson’s (36,387)
Arena: Extra Mile Arena (12,480)
Positives: The blue turf! It’s one of a kind and known worldwide. The football program is strong, while basketball is a quiet achiever.
Negatives: Smaller TV market than you might think, with Boise barely cracking the top 100.
Road Trip Rating: 8/10. Good gameday experience, good Basque food.
Colorado State
Stadium: Canvas (36,500)
Arena: Moby Arena (8,745)
Positives: Has a relatively large enrolment and endowment. Does get you into the Denver media market.
Negatives: Arguably has the lowest national profile of the three major Colorado schools (CSU, Colorado and Air Force).
Road Trip Rating: 7/10. Fort Collins has over 20 breweries, including New Belgium, makers of the well-known Fat Tire ale.
Fresno State
Stadium: Valley Children’s (40,727)
Arena: Save Mart Center (15,554)
Positives: Best average football attendance in the conference and a rabid fanbase happy to be in the ‘big time.’
Negatives: The basketball program is no longer the power it once was.
Road Trip Rating: 5/10. Fresno is not exactly on many people’s bucket lists and the home crowd can be tough on visitors.
San Diego State
Stadium: Snapdragon (35,000)
Arena: Viejas Arena (12,414)
Positives: It’s not L.A. but it does get you back into the Southern California market. One of the best basketball programs in the conference.
Negatives: Underachieving football program.
Road Trip Rating: 10/10. It’s San Diego. No need to say anything else.
Utah State
Stadium: Maverik (25,513)
Arena: Smith Spectrum (10,270)
Positives: Hoops program has had just one losing season in the past 31 years. Although you’re fighting for space with Utah and BYU, it does get you into the Salt Lake media market.
Negatives: Scandal plagued football program is currently in flux.
Road Trip Rating: 6/10. Logan is lovely, but not exactly excitement personified.
Gonzaga (Non-football)
Arena: The Kennel (6,000)
Positives: Instant credibility from GU’s elite basketball program.
Negatives: No football program.
Road Trip Rating: 6/10. Spokane is nothing special and good luck finding tickets.
