Where to put the Big Ten Championship

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When Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany welcomed Nebraska as the conference’s 12th member June 11, he also said a conference championship game soon would be in the works.

The game would not be played until the 2011 season, as Nebraska doesn’t officially join the conference until then, but as possible locations for the game are being discussed, here are my top five options for the Big Ten Championship.

5. Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

Since it opened in 2002, Ford Field has become almost as much of a tourist attraction as it has a football stadium. An impressive-looking and large building, it has an open concourse with plenty of areas for selling merchandise and concessions.

The building’s size, however, might take away from the atmosphere typical at a college football game, especially one surrounded by as much excitement as the future Big Ten Championship will be.

4. Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.

Home of the Green Bay Packers for more than 50 years, Lambeau Field has more tradition than most other stadiums. Many college football players, especially in the Midwest, have dreamed of playing in stadiums such as Lambeau when they were growing up.

And if Delany and others involved in deciding where the game will be played want an open-air stadium — which I believe they should — then Lambeau is a logical option. Cold temperatures and bad weather are a large part of Big Ten football, and playing in the snow would make the game unique compared to other conference championship games.

However, the potential subzero temperatures might also deter the Big Ten from playing the game at Lambeau, as fans might not want to sit through another “Ice Bowl.”

3. Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

Just two years old, Lucas Oil Stadium is the newest of the sights being talked about for the championship game. Like Ford Field, Lucas Oil Stadium is a massive indoor structure that is a sight to see, and seems to be the favorite choice being discussed.

Indianapolis also is a city with a variety of entertainment and has hosted other major college events, such as the Final Four and the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, proving it is capable of supporting the Big Ten Championship.

2. Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

Big Ten football is a Midwest staple, and Chicago, the home of Soldier Field, is centrally located in the area of the country that loves the Big Ten the most, making it the perfect spot for the conference’s championship game. The city also happens to be the headquarters of the Big Ten and its lucrative television network, another reason it would be the perfect fit.

Chicago usually is seen as the Midwest’s greatest city, and it arguably has the most attractions and lodging for fans traveling for the championship game.

As for Soldier Field itself, the stadium is not very big, with a capacity of 61,500, but it provides a chance to play an outdoor game without being as far north as Lambeau Field.

1. Rotate

Every major venue in the Midwest is going to want a chance to host the Big Ten Championship game, so why not give it to all of them?

Hosting an event such as the championship game and bringing in thousands of people for a weekend can do wonders for a local economy. Instead of limiting that economic boost to Chicago or Indianapolis every year, the Big Ten instead should distribute it throughout Big Ten Country.

Rotating the game would give all Big Ten fans a chance to enjoy the championship game some years without having to travel great distances. And, if after a few years changing the location is not working, conference officials will know by then which venues are the best for hosting the game.

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