This Saturday three notable college football games will take place away from college campuses.

 

Two will take place at Major League ballparks (Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field) and the other at FedEx Field outside of Washington DC. Army and Notre Dame tangle at Yankee Stadium, Northwestern hosts in-state rival Illinois at Wrigley Field, and Indiana sold its home game against Penn State to FedEx Field. For each of these games a myriad of contractual issues had to be negotiated between various parties; including the schools, the professional teams that own the stadiums, and corporations that are sponsoring the games. For example, AllState is the official sponsor of what is called the Wrigleyville Classic - the game between Northwestern and Illinois.

 

For the game at Wrigley Field one issue has become apparent this week- Wrigley Field was not built to host football games. One of the end-zones has literally no room between the back line and the legendary ivy covered walls. Normal receptions in the end zone that require extra room to make a catch will now be extremely hazardous. In fact, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald commented that the offense in the red zone on the side of the field with the wall would need to be adapted for the lack of space.

 

If a serious injury were to take place, who would be liable for playing this game in an obviously unsafe venue? Northwestern ?, Illinois?, Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs? An argument can be made that all the parties will take some of the blame. Northwestern for moving to the game to Wrigley Field knowing the dimensions would be unsafe. Illinois for agreeing to play their away game with the unsafe end-zone. And the the Chicago Cubs ownership for providing the facility that they cannot make safe. Hopefully, there will no serious injuries because of the end zone and the matter will not come up. But, should the issue arise, you can bet the parties involved with putting on the game will have to seriously rethink if the game and the money to be made from it was worth it.




NFL players to join state federations

The AFL-CIO is working closely with the NFLPA in an effort to prevent an NFL lockout and reach an agreement on a new CBA for 2011 and beyond with the NFL. Here is a look at the AFL-CIO's take on the possibility of a lockout.