When Manhattan-based MSL Sport and Entertainment announced that they were going to plan simultaneous live concerts at over 15 college stadiums across the country, the idea was highly intriguing. Massive unused stadiums hosting live performances the day before popular spring scrimmages. Not only does that add to the plethora of spring scrimmage activities the schools already offers, but offer the opportunity to raise a few more bucks in the process.

When 92,000-plus fans filled Bryant-Denny Stadium last April for coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide debut, they caught the attention of Garrity, an event promoter who lettered in football at Syracuse in 1986, and his friend, former Cal All-American running back Chuck Muncie. The two of them had been searching for a way to raise awareness and funds to support Cal’s attempts to renovate Memorial Stadium and build a new football building.

That is all good and well until you realize that the money now is no longer going towards the renovation projects at Cal nor is it going to sponsor any form of scholarship program to help the schools involved. Granted there is the $1 million grand prize for the ‘winning’ school’.

The Bash for Cash Series winning school will receive a $1 million contribution to its general scholarship fund, with second- and third-place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000, respectively. USA TODAY is a sponsor of the Bash for Cash Series.

But $1,750,000 is a drop in the bucket when it comes to the money that will be raised from the Gridiron Bash. This is nothing but another money making scheme that will only evolve into a bigger monster if it is successful this year. The following are the announced acts, the stadium capacities and the ticket prices charged for the performance. Granted, there will be stadiums filled to the brink and others where fans will be scarce so we’ll be calculating the estimated ticket profits using only 35% of the overall capacity thereby balancing packed stadiums with empty ones.

$35: Texas A&M (82,600 Kyle Field) ZZ Top = $35 x (82,600 x 0.35) = $1,011,850

$35: Colorado (53,750 Folsom Field) Counting Crows = $35 x (53,750 x 0.35) = $658,437.5

$37.50: Iowa (70,585 Kinnick Stadium) Kelly Clarkson = $37.50 x (70,585 x 0.35) = $926,428.125

$38: South Carolina (80,250William-Brice Stadium) Black Crowes = $38 x (80,250 x 0.35) = $1,067,325

$38: Rutgers (41,500 Rutgers Stadium) Fall Out Boy = $38 x (41,500 x 0.35) = $551,950

$38: Tennessee (102,037 Neyland Stadium) Taylor Swift/ Montgomery Gentry = $38 x (102,037 x 0.35) = $1,357,092.1

$38 / $44: Kansas State (52,200 Bill Snyder Family Stadium) Goo Goo Dolls = $38 x (52,200 x 0.35) = $694,260

$39: Alabama (92,138 Bryant-Denny) Alan Jackson = $39 x (92,138 x 0.35) = $1,257,683.7

$41: Penn State (107, 282 Beaver Stadium) Fergie = $41 x (107,282 x 0.35) = $1,539,496.7

$42: Kentucky (67,606 Commonwealth Stadium) Dierks Bentley = $42 x (67,606 x 0.35) = $993,808.2

$46.50: Utah (45,017 Rice-Eccles Stadium) Maroon 5 =$46.50 x (45,017 x 0.35) = $732,651.675

So the grand estimated total from the 11 announced concerts? $10,239,584.95

Now there are artist fees, logistic fees and the such, but $10 million will cover all that and some. The $1,750,000 in scholarship money? That accounts for 17% of the entire potential ticket revenue. All schools have to do is sell 35% of their available seats and they will have made a hefty profit. Now tell me, is the Gridiron bash an opportunity for schools to win scholarship money? Or should we just rename the event Gridiron Cash and be done with it?

Schools are always out for every nickel and dime, that isn’t new so why are we so bent up over this. The spring football scrimmage has always been a time for fans to get together and enjoy their favorite team on the field. With the introduction of the Gridiron Bash this year, organizers and schools are testing out the waters and if it becomes a smashing success whats to stop them from charging entrance fees and more hoopla into a once free event? There is absolutely nothing wrong with a concert in Beaver Stadium, but when it can become an excuse for the school to make even more money from their football loving fans, it makes me sick.

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