A neutral site game is when two opponents are too far apart from each other, and the game has to be held at an unaffiliated venue for the game at hand. In HBCU football culture, it isn’t uncommon to have a neutral site game. These games have been around for decades at a time including at the pro level. However, sometimes universities, and HBCUs, in particular, tend to have “neutral “site games, yet the location is not neutral. Neutral means equal for both sides and sometimes, almost is never the case.
A prime example is the Southern football team having a game against Bethune Cookman this Saturday, and it is said to be a neutral site game. The game is taking place at EverBank Stadium, where the Jacksonville Jaguars play, instead of their home stadium, Daytona Stadium, where they play. The difference in time from Bethune Cookman’s campus or Daytona Stadium to TIAA Bank Stadium is one hour and twenty minutes down the road. However, the Southern University’s football team must travel approximately 8 hours and twenty-seven minutes. That is not a neutral site game because that might as well be a home game for Bethune Cookman. If it is a neutral site game, it would be almost close to even as far as the distance needed to travel.
With that being said, I think neutral site games are pointless due to the unfairness of how neutral the site is. Southern University’s fans would have to travel on a plane or a long road trip to show up and support the Jags. However, Bethune Cookman fans can travel an hour down the road and pack the stadium out. Furthermore, if it isn’t a “neutral” site game, the name should be changed or planned earlier, and a fair venue for it to be a neutral site game.
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Should Certain Neutral-site games be eliminated?
October 24, 2023
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