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Michael Casagrande |
The annual spring barnstorming tour featuring Nick Saban will not occur this year.
The Crimson Caravan, which drew hundreds of fans at each event, will not take place in 2016.
"We're putting it on hold this year while we consider what we've done in the past and some possibilities for the future," said Alabama athletics director Bill Battle in a written statement to AL.com.
Tickets last year were priced between $60 and $75 with top donors getting access to a VIP room and photos with Saban. Other coaches made appearances at the various stops. Saban remained the headliner and appeared at each stop, arriving by private plane and returning to Tuscaloosa immediately following each stop.
At the podium, Saban gave the boosters a look behind the crimson curtain with insight not given when cameras and tape recorders are rolling. There were signs the event was heading for a change. After making as many as nine stops in the past, last year's series was down to four cities — Huntsville, Dothan, Dallas, and Atlanta.
"We've had great success with the caravans over the last eight years," said Sam Branch, the Alabama senior associate athletics director for development. "We are going to evaluate some different options from a development standpoint and we won't have the typical caravans this spring. It's the right time to look at new ideas and formats."
The Crimson Caravan began in 2008, partially because of a new recruiting rule. The NCAA passed what became known as the "Saban rule" that prevented head coaches from hitting the road to meet with recruits in the spring.
''That gives me a great opportunity to message what we're trying to do for our fans,'' Saban said in 2008. ''It also gives fans first-hand access to ask me face-to-face questions and allows me to develop relationships.''
There were six stops on the inaugural tour that started in Mobile before hitting Talladega, Huntsville, Atlanta, Tuscaloosa and Meridian, Miss. It expanded to eight stops the following year, starting in Huntsville before out-of-state appearances including Memphis, Jackson, Miss., Panama City, Fla., and Atlanta. By 2010, there were nine stops including Dallas, Nashville and New Orleans.
Saban's contract requires specific appearances in order to collect the majority of his annual pay. Along with the radio and television shows segments during the season, Saban is required to make 15 appearances to "University-related or affiliated booster clubs" or similar groups as part of the school's marketing efforts.
Those TV, radio and speaking engagement requirements make up the personal service fee that totals $5.4 million in 2016, according to his contract signed in 2014.
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The Crimson Caravan, which drew hundreds of fans at each event, will not take place in 2016.
"We're putting it on hold this year while we consider what we've done in the past and some possibilities for the future," said Alabama athletics director Bill Battle in a written statement to AL.com.
Tickets last year were priced between $60 and $75 with top donors getting access to a VIP room and photos with Saban. Other coaches made appearances at the various stops. Saban remained the headliner and appeared at each stop, arriving by private plane and returning to Tuscaloosa immediately following each stop.
At the podium, Saban gave the boosters a look behind the crimson curtain with insight not given when cameras and tape recorders are rolling. There were signs the event was heading for a change. After making as many as nine stops in the past, last year's series was down to four cities — Huntsville, Dothan, Dallas, and Atlanta.
"We've had great success with the caravans over the last eight years," said Sam Branch, the Alabama senior associate athletics director for development. "We are going to evaluate some different options from a development standpoint and we won't have the typical caravans this spring. It's the right time to look at new ideas and formats."
The Crimson Caravan began in 2008, partially because of a new recruiting rule. The NCAA passed what became known as the "Saban rule" that prevented head coaches from hitting the road to meet with recruits in the spring.
''That gives me a great opportunity to message what we're trying to do for our fans,'' Saban said in 2008. ''It also gives fans first-hand access to ask me face-to-face questions and allows me to develop relationships.''
There were six stops on the inaugural tour that started in Mobile before hitting Talladega, Huntsville, Atlanta, Tuscaloosa and Meridian, Miss. It expanded to eight stops the following year, starting in Huntsville before out-of-state appearances including Memphis, Jackson, Miss., Panama City, Fla., and Atlanta. By 2010, there were nine stops including Dallas, Nashville and New Orleans.
Saban's contract requires specific appearances in order to collect the majority of his annual pay. Along with the radio and television shows segments during the season, Saban is required to make 15 appearances to "University-related or affiliated booster clubs" or similar groups as part of the school's marketing efforts.
Those TV, radio and speaking engagement requirements make up the personal service fee that totals $5.4 million in 2016, according to his contract signed in 2014.
Continue reading...
