The fact that the inaugural CFP National Championship will be played tonight at AT&T Stadium hints at "the sort of collegiate Super Bowl this game can be," according to Erik Brady of USA TODAY. CFP selection committee Chair Jeff Long said, "From our standpoint, we are not looking at trying to rival the Super Bowl. Our focus is on doing the best thing for the collegiate model." Brady writes the Super Bowl "is known for corporate crowds and many ticketholders who care more about being there than who wins," while the CFP "aspires to a more rambunctious atmosphere." CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock said of previous championship games under the now-defunct BCS, "Our crowd has always been a collegiate crowd. Of course, sponsors are involved. Of course, Corporate America is involved. We wouldn't be successful without it. But our games have a collegiate feel and a passion in the stands that I have never seen at another top-level event" (USA TODAY, 1/12).
FAN EVENTS: In Eugene, Mark Baker in a front-page piece reports Playoff Fan Central, the three-day fan festival put on by the CFP, "was a decidedly corporate affair." An Oregon pep rally on yesterday "did not feature any live musical acts," speeches by former UO players or "even an apperance by head coach Mark Helfrich and the team." Baker: "That’s probably because this pep rally, like everything during the three-day festival, was staged by the College Football Playoff, not the UO. And it was all over in less than 30 minutes." There were "about 5,000" UO fans at the pep rally (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 1/12). Meanwhile, in Portland, Kerry Eggers reports locally-based marketing agency Etzel "has been contracted to stage the Championship Tailgate event in the parking lot outside AT&T Stadium" prior to tonight's game. It is a six-hour event "with a seven-figure budget, and an extravaganza that Etzel, CFP and ESPN executives expect to be attended for free by as many as 35,000 ticket-bearing fans on game day" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 1/12).
STARS' SOIREE: In Portland, Thomas Boyd wrote ESPN "threw an epic party" Saturday night at Centennial Hall in Dallas. More than 1,200 guests "including top athletes, celebrities, college administrators, industry VIPs and ESPN announcers" celebrated the inaugural CFP. Special guests included Pro Football HOFer Tony Dorsett, former NFLer Eddie George, former NBAer Spud Webb, recording artist Aloe Blacc and actress Melissa Rycroft (OREGONLIVE.com, 1/11).
PLANNING AHEAD: In Phoenix, Jeff Metcalfe reports '16 CFP National Championship Game Organizing Committee co-Chairs Brad Wright and Win Holden "are among 20" from the committee in Texas for tonight's game. Wright said the group is seeking "ways to activate sponsorship packages and to drive more value for our (sponsor) partners." Wright: "We want the best ideas we can bring back to make sure our event is terrific" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/12).
