Hey Colorado! Thanks for the Denver Market
Today, the Pac-10 formally welcomed the Universtiy of Colorado into the “Conference of Champions”. Colorado was certainly not evaluated on their performance in revenue producing sports (mens basketball and football), but yet exposure provided by a large alumni base in a strong media market. The Denver market is the 18th largest in the nation and will give the Pac-10 a major media market east of the Rockies. With the addition of Denver, the conference holds 8 of the top 30 major media markets in the United States. If rumors turn to fact in the near future, the conference will be adding a few more major markets in the states of Texas and Oklahoma.
Pac-10 Media Markets
Los Angeles, California
Ranked #2 nationally. Los Angeles is home to both UCLA and USC, and they both often
steal the spotlight from the Lakers, Angels, Dodgers, and Clippers. The Trojans and Bruins are national brands that draws well on the road and bring in talent every year. Both schools are luckily stereotyped with the beauty, glitz, and glamor of the southern California scene.
2009 Enrollment: USC – 33,784. UCLA – 38,476
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, California
Ranked #6 nationally. The Bay area carries a high cost of living, and lifestyles full of liberation and history. Opposite in reputation, both Stanford and the University of
California Berkeley share the media spotlight with the 49ers, Raiders, Athletics, Giants, and Warriors. Stanford is a national brand based on respect, academic prowess, and responsibility, while California is known for free-minded, tree hugging, innovative students.
2009 Enrollments: California at Berkeley – 35,843. Stanford – 15,319
Phoenix, Arizona
Ranked #12 nationally. Phoenix is home to the Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals, and the campus of Arizona State in nearby Tempe. Known for the weather, women, and, senior
citizens, the Sun Devils have never been an athletic dynasty. The Tempe campus did nudge out Ohio State for the largest student enrollment in 2009.
2009 Enrollment: Arizona State – 55,552
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
Ranked #14 nationally. The Puget Sound metropolitan area is packed with people from Olympia to north Seattle. Known for coffee, airplanes, rain and yuppies the Seattle area has
always supported their Huskies until the end. Even during the down years of Washington football, fans would flock to 72,500 seat Husky Stadium on scenic Lake Washington. The Seattle media also devotes a great amount of time to the Seahawks, Mariners, and even Washington State athletics.
2009 Enrollment: University of Washington – 42,907
Denver, Colorado
Ranked #18 nationally. Commonly known as the center of fitness, outdoor activities, and unpredictable weather conditions. Home of the Colorado Rockies, Nuggets, and
Broncos whom all share large fan bases throughout the state. The University of Colorado is the most recognizable campus in the state and sits 25 miles northwest of Denver. Every season the Buffaloes and in-state rival Colorado State meet at Invesco Field.
2009 enrollments: Colorado – 30,196
Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, California
Ranked #20 nationally. The inland city lies 73 east of the Bay area and is home to
Sacramento State and the NBA’s Kings. While the Spartans do earn media attention, Stanford and California receive the majority of collegiate coverage and locals hold most of their alliances to Bay area teams.
Portland,Oregon
Ranked #23 nationally. Often referred as the little brother of Seattle, the Northwest city sits nearly 75 miles north of Corvallis, Oregon. The Rose City is home to the Portland
Blazers, and the majority of Oregon and Oregon State alumns flock to the only major city in the state of Oregon. Collegiate sports alliances and exposure are concentrated on the Ducks, Beavers, with brief side notes given to Portland State.
San Diego, California
Ranked #27 nationally. The warm southern California city holds the envy of lifestyle for most west coast residents. San Diego State does have a large following, but most locals
will follow USC and UCLA the majority of their free time. The San Diego Chargers have built a strong football community, and the Padres provide a great environment to watch baseball. Every December, Pac-10 fans yearn for a chance to visit San Diego to watch their respective teams in the Holiday Bowl.
Tuscson, Arizona
Ranked #68 nationally. Located 118 miles east of Phoenix, and in 2008 the
metropolitan area was home to over one million residents. With the absences of any professional teams, media coverage tends to focus of the hometown Arizona Wildcats.
2009 Enrollment: Arizona – 35,840
Spokane, Washington
Ranked #77 nationally. The Spokane media shares coverage of hometown Gonzaga University, and nearby Washington State. Located in the small town of Pullman, the
responsibility of Cougar coverage is handled by Spokane nearly 75 miles away. Without a collegiate football team, Gonzaga takes a back seat to Cougar football until basketball seasons begins.
Eugene, Oregon
Ranked #120 nationally. The Eugene media market includes Eugene, Corvallis and
surrounding areas. The lower Willamette Valley is blessed with two respected national universities, located just 40 miles apart. With the success of both programs over the last decade, the state of Oregon has become obsessed with Duck and Beaver athletics.
2009 Enrollment: Oregon – 22,386. Oregon State – 21,969
Notable West Coast Cities without a Pac-10 presence
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ranked #35 nationally. Local media coverage is split between Brigham Young, the University of Utah and the NBA’s Jazz. An intriguing market that was evaulated by the Pac-10, the city shares little in common with the conference in terms of lifestyle and academic standards.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Ranked #43 nationally. The majority of Las Vegas media coverage focuses on the
national sports scene. UNLV receives secondary attention to sports gambling, and the area is full of imported residents holding collegiate allegiances to other parts of the country.
Reno, Nevada
Ranked #110 nationally. The Reno/Sparks ares is home to the University of Reno and little else. With casinos and nearby Lake Tahoe, the city and media would do little increase exposure and revenue for the conference.
Boise, Idaho
Ranked #113 nationally. Home to Boise State University and saturated with an
abundant amount of Bronco football fans. Obsessed with football, Idaho residents provide a passion for athletics only displayed by major universities. Really, does any Pac-10 fan really want to travel to Boise?
Rankings provided by Nielson Media Research from the 2007-2008 television season with a total of 210 national media markets.
