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re: Question for all SEC fans: Are you having trouble with football attendance?
Posted on 10/15/13 at 9:46 pm to IAmReality
Posted on 10/15/13 at 9:46 pm to IAmReality
quote:
1. Make an effort to sell tickets to people who actually go to the games, rather than just whoever's been on a list longest.
There are 100 Alabama-Arkansas tickets for sale below face value on StubHub right now, and 500 for under $85, which is likely equal to the face value of the ticket plus prorated donation amount. People just aren't buying.
But on the flip side, the schools by and large are selling out. Sure, they would like full stadiums, but as long as the tickets are sold, do they really care that much if the stadium is only at 95+% capacity?
1
Posted on 10/15/13 at 9:46 pm to sec13rowBBseat28
I actually think going to an Alabama game is one of the 'easiest' in the SEC. If you're from out-of-town, hotels are plentiful in Birmingham, and you have I-20 to take into games.
The parking is actually pretty easy, and the shuttle from downtown unclogs a lot of congestion around the stadium.
However, like most folks, coming in town is usually a trip around 2 hours. I have no problem fueling up the SUV and heading to ttown for an SEC game, but now that I'm not a student, it's hard to justify a $400 trip (gas, food, parking, booze) just so I can go to a half of football at 11:30 in the morning against Georgia State, and stumble back to Gallettes up 35-0.
I think the college football is evolving in the right way: conferences will move to 9 game conference seasons, teams will add 1-2 more BCS level teams to their schedule to improve their SOS, and we'll be left with several good things. 1) Only one BS home game a year, and more reason to come out for gameday 2) Less teams will get to 6 wins, and there will be better bowl match ups. Gone are the days where a team can feast on 4 cupcakes and hang on for 2 conference wins to go bowling. (Looking at you, Dan Mullen)
I think even fans of aforementioned schools such as State would rather have a home schedule filled with BCS quality teams on campus, than have 3 games worthwhile, just so you can pack up the van and head to friggin' Shreveport.
The parking is actually pretty easy, and the shuttle from downtown unclogs a lot of congestion around the stadium.
However, like most folks, coming in town is usually a trip around 2 hours. I have no problem fueling up the SUV and heading to ttown for an SEC game, but now that I'm not a student, it's hard to justify a $400 trip (gas, food, parking, booze) just so I can go to a half of football at 11:30 in the morning against Georgia State, and stumble back to Gallettes up 35-0.
I think the college football is evolving in the right way: conferences will move to 9 game conference seasons, teams will add 1-2 more BCS level teams to their schedule to improve their SOS, and we'll be left with several good things. 1) Only one BS home game a year, and more reason to come out for gameday 2) Less teams will get to 6 wins, and there will be better bowl match ups. Gone are the days where a team can feast on 4 cupcakes and hang on for 2 conference wins to go bowling. (Looking at you, Dan Mullen)
I think even fans of aforementioned schools such as State would rather have a home schedule filled with BCS quality teams on campus, than have 3 games worthwhile, just so you can pack up the van and head to friggin' Shreveport.
Posted on 10/15/13 at 10:12 pm to BamaGradinTn
quote:
but as long as the tickets are sold, do they really care that much if the stadium is only at 95+% capacity?
my thoughts exactly.
LSU has sold-out its season tickets for 10 years in a row now (68k)...interested to see if next year is different. my guess is that it won't be, for all the talk about fan apathy...but we'll see.
if it was, surely the pencil pushers would take notice, especially with the south endzone expansion to be completed.
Posted on 10/15/13 at 10:19 pm to ATLabama
quote:
I actually think going to an Alabama game is one of the 'easiest' in the SEC.
Off on a bit of a tangent, where do most visitors sit in BDS? Contemplating going next year. I know most Aggies were in a corner last year, but was it KK, LL, MM, or B, C, D?
Posted on 10/15/13 at 10:21 pm to AdamDeMamp
quote:
That game at 7:00pm would have been a completely different scene.
From all accounts, the experience of sitting in the east stands was brutal due to the sun.
Posted on 10/15/13 at 10:21 pm to Smoke Green
As a long time A&M season ticket holder I feel guilty after reading this thread. Small town with 85,000 plus at every game and we have minimal traffic, a ton of parking and maybe I am lucky but I can not remember the last time I waited in line behind more than ttwo people for concessions in the end zone area.
I go to lots of road games and traffic alone would stop me from going regularly to most stadiums. At Arkansas a coupl weeks ago we moved 4 car lenghts in an hour. I fell aslepp at the wheel twice and woke up and we had not moved. Luckily i was in park. That is no fun.
I have been to a dozen LsU games and it is the worst hands down but I keep on going.
I go to lots of road games and traffic alone would stop me from going regularly to most stadiums. At Arkansas a coupl weeks ago we moved 4 car lenghts in an hour. I fell aslepp at the wheel twice and woke up and we had not moved. Luckily i was in park. That is no fun.
I have been to a dozen LsU games and it is the worst hands down but I keep on going.
Posted on 10/15/13 at 10:34 pm to LSUdm21
IMO two things need to happen to improve for attendance to increase.
1st- cut out most or all early season cupcake games. Obviously the coaches aren't gonna go for this to protect their chances for good bowl games. I think soon coaches will be forced to schedule harder by their AD's and Conferences. This is probably the only area where the B1G is better than the SEC currently. From what I understand, they are trying to cut out the crappy early season game. Lets be honest, what would you rather watch? Tennessee vs. Oregon, or Tennessee vs. Austin Peay?
2nd- Decrease ticket prices and concessions. tickets are too expensive. I would love to see college football turn into the poor man's NFL. Try to appeal to alumni and Blue Collar workers. AD's may find a small drop in profit but will see a huge increase in support. This will increase long term stability. Then, simultaneously, develop top of the line, 5 star facilities and staff for the luxury boxes and jack up the prices of those. Many companies and rich people use these to woo clients moreso than to watch the games. They will probably be even more popular the nicer they get, even if the price increases astronomically.
1st- cut out most or all early season cupcake games. Obviously the coaches aren't gonna go for this to protect their chances for good bowl games. I think soon coaches will be forced to schedule harder by their AD's and Conferences. This is probably the only area where the B1G is better than the SEC currently. From what I understand, they are trying to cut out the crappy early season game. Lets be honest, what would you rather watch? Tennessee vs. Oregon, or Tennessee vs. Austin Peay?
2nd- Decrease ticket prices and concessions. tickets are too expensive. I would love to see college football turn into the poor man's NFL. Try to appeal to alumni and Blue Collar workers. AD's may find a small drop in profit but will see a huge increase in support. This will increase long term stability. Then, simultaneously, develop top of the line, 5 star facilities and staff for the luxury boxes and jack up the prices of those. Many companies and rich people use these to woo clients moreso than to watch the games. They will probably be even more popular the nicer they get, even if the price increases astronomically.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 12:55 am to aggiegreen
quote:
I have been to a dozen LsU games and it is the worst hands down but I keep on going.
Going to LSU games is fine. You just have to get there on Thursday night.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 7:42 am to LSUdm21
quote:
Their HDTV at home is a better experience
I honestly don't care to make the trip because I like watching from the comforts of home. I'll go to maybe 1 game a year.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 9:01 am to MMB5DAP
quote:
If the A&M/LSU game isnt sold out it will absolutely be ticket prices. I want to go but Im not gonna drop 1000 dollars for a regular season college game with no NC implications.
+1
Not to mention the rest of the gouging on game day.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 9:02 am to LSUdm21
quote:
Are you having trouble with football attendance?
Only with students leaving early
Posted on 10/16/13 at 9:05 am to Stonehog
quote:
Texas A&M's expansion is incredibly shortsighted and outdated
Not at all.
Our state and school populations are fricking exploding.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 12:59 pm to LSUdm21
I make it to 2-3 games a year but I've been finding reasons to miss more lately. Most of it has to do with my kids playing sports on Saturdays during the fall but I think the gameday experience isn't what it used to be.
Here's my string of consciousness:
- Tailgating- every year Auburn makes it more difficult to park and you can't tailgate like you used to. Asspain level (APL) 8.5
- piped in music sucks and I hate it. APL 3
- concessions suck and require too long to purchase. APL 6
- the ref with the redhat (commericials) sucks and kills the game APL 5.5
- Hotels jacking rates and require 2 night min. APL 7.5
-Lack of beer during game and unable to leave/return to JHS APL 6
TiVo, cold beer and HDTV for the win.
Here's my string of consciousness:
- Tailgating- every year Auburn makes it more difficult to park and you can't tailgate like you used to. Asspain level (APL) 8.5
- piped in music sucks and I hate it. APL 3
- concessions suck and require too long to purchase. APL 6
- the ref with the redhat (commericials) sucks and kills the game APL 5.5
- Hotels jacking rates and require 2 night min. APL 7.5
-Lack of beer during game and unable to leave/return to JHS APL 6
TiVo, cold beer and HDTV for the win.
Posted on 10/16/13 at 1:29 pm to LSUdm21
The problem is bad at A&M.
1. Not enough seats.
2. Too many fans.
The students leaving early began when they added frats. "Rent a friend, join a frat"
1. Not enough seats.
2. Too many fans.
quote:
Only with students leaving early
The students leaving early began when they added frats. "Rent a friend, join a frat"
This post was edited on 10/16/13 at 1:32 pm
Posted on 10/16/13 at 1:44 pm to agswin
A lot of people have said these things but I'll echo them cause they are true.
1. A lot of people, particularly young people (students) are basically addicted to their phones. Having spotty or no cell service in the game is a major negative for them. I have no idea why people would want to play on their phone so much during a game, but this is a realy thing. If you're their with your gf and she gets bored and can't check facebook, she may start asking to go, etc. They really need to make an effort to get cell service working during a game. That will help a lot.
2. Concessions, there aren't enough concession stands, the lines are long, the service is slow, the food and drinks are bad, and they are overpriced. They need to put a concerted effort into making concessions good, not just there to exploit a captive audience.
3. Stop making parking and tailgating expensive and inconvienent. People should be encouraged to go to the games and to tailgate. Pretty much every major SEC school I've heard of has made tailgating and parking more of a pain in the arse over the last decade.
4. Improve the comfort of the seats. I'd rather the stadium hold 90k comfortably than 105 uncofmortably. These hundred million dollar stadiums have flat metal bleacher seats? That's absurd. Focus on comfort and space, not maximizing capacity.
1. A lot of people, particularly young people (students) are basically addicted to their phones. Having spotty or no cell service in the game is a major negative for them. I have no idea why people would want to play on their phone so much during a game, but this is a realy thing. If you're their with your gf and she gets bored and can't check facebook, she may start asking to go, etc. They really need to make an effort to get cell service working during a game. That will help a lot.
2. Concessions, there aren't enough concession stands, the lines are long, the service is slow, the food and drinks are bad, and they are overpriced. They need to put a concerted effort into making concessions good, not just there to exploit a captive audience.
3. Stop making parking and tailgating expensive and inconvienent. People should be encouraged to go to the games and to tailgate. Pretty much every major SEC school I've heard of has made tailgating and parking more of a pain in the arse over the last decade.
4. Improve the comfort of the seats. I'd rather the stadium hold 90k comfortably than 105 uncofmortably. These hundred million dollar stadiums have flat metal bleacher seats? That's absurd. Focus on comfort and space, not maximizing capacity.
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