A failed quest by a Seattle entrepreneur to land the Army-Navy game led to Air Force playing a season-opening “home” game Saturday in Seattle against Washington.
For making the switch, Air Force will get a $1.5 million paycheck, out of which the academy must pay for travel costs.
After failing to land the historic Army-Navy game, entrepreneur Bob Walsh talked to Air Force officials three years ago about trying to get the Falcons to play in Seattle.
“We approached the Air Force Academy and found enough interest to enter into discussions,” said Inky Berge Baker, vice president of Bob Walsh Enterprises.
While Air Force nixed the idea of moving a home game against Army or Navy to the Northwest, the talks turned to the Washington game, said Mike Saks, Air Force’s senior associate athletic director. Air Force officials also had an inkling that Washington might opt out of the game if it stayed at the academy.
“I knew Washington had the financial ability to pay the penalty for breaking a contract,” former AFA athletic director Randy Spetman said. “We hadn’t received anything official from Washington, but we heard that its coach at the time, Rick Neuheisel, wasn’t interested in playing at our place.
“We thought we would experiment with it.”
Coach Fisher DeBerry agreed with the move.
“Our players actually like to play on the road,” DeBerry said. “Obviously, we’d prefer to play in our own stadium, but this gives us a chance to give our program some exposure in a part of the country where we seldom play.”
Saturday’s game is at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, a neutral site for Washington as well. The Sporting News recently rated it the best stadium in the NFL.
“I think we’ve had more positive reaction than negative,” Saks said. “Our players get the chance for an unbelievable experience playing in a stadium that is rated No. 1 in the NFL.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
