The Event Experience

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I don’t see like you. I see the 500 dollars as a donation to help the program and the 60 dollars as purchasing a parking pass for the year. It’s not I have to donate so I can park.

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I have been an RCAF member since it's inception.
I too see my RCAF donation & season tickets as helping the program.

I also run a business.
I have customers who do business with my company.
I sometimes bring them donuts, boudin, king cake, etc.
I give them tickets to UL events, send them Christmas cards, etc.

I know my customers appreciate my occasional small efforts to acknowledge them. I know without customer loyalty, my business will have a greater potential to fail.

Taking people's money without showing any appreciation does not build relationships. Without relationships, people won't think twice about spending their money elsewhere.

SUMMARY: People want to feel appreciated and it only takes a small investment to show them appreciation.

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Originally Posted by GreatestStory

I have been an RCAF member since it's inception.
I too see my RCAF donation & season tickets as helping the program.

I also run a business.
I have customers who do business with my company.
I sometimes bring them donuts, boudin, king cake, etc.
I give them tickets to UL events, send them Christmas cards, etc.

I know my customers appreciate my occasional small efforts to acknowledge them. I know without customer loyalty, my business will have a greater potential to fail.

Taking people's money without showing any appreciation does not build relationships. Without relationships, people won't think twice about spending their money elsewhere.

SUMMARY: People want to feel appreciated and it only takes a small investment to show them appreciation.

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I too work in sales and bring my customer little tokens of my appreciation. However I don’t see my RCAF donation as I see my clients or vendors. I see it as I see my other charitable donations where I don’t really expect any thing back for my donation. I equate it more to my donations to St Jude than I due to my business. Although I do appreciate a good football, baseball, and basketball team to watch and I hope my small donation helps in building those.

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Originally Posted by GreatestStory

Requiring an RCAF donation for everything was what kicked off this decline we are currently experiencing. RCAF donations could have possibly worked IF an RCAF donation had any kind of ROI.

The RCAF used to a few little have perks like license plates, parking passes, get togethers, etc. Sure they were small things, but at least you got SOMETHING.

These days, if you make an RCAF donation of $2,999 or less (I'm sure most of us are in this boat), here is what you receive:

1) Priority Points (which rank you for 3, 4, & 5 listed below)
2) RCAF Membership packet (includes membership card & RCAF sticker)
3) Opportunity to request* priority seating to home, away, post season games
4) Opportunity to request* baseball season tickets
5) Opportunity to request* football/basketball parking passes
*request means "spend more money"

SOURCE: https://myrcaf.org/assets/pdf/2022-2...s-chart-v4.pdf

For $2,999 you get no t-shirt, no baseball cap, no 1% off Ragin Cajun attire coupon, no single use voucher for a free popcorn, no Maruchan ramen noodle meet & great with the Sodexo assistant manager, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT THE RIGHTS TO SPEND MORE MONEY.

To be fair to the RCAF, when I was in 2nd grade they had a shot at reeling me in with a sticker, but not so much these days.

I donated $50 to Festival International and received a t-shirt and 10% off all Festival merchandise. Isn't it amazing how they could still afford to put on Festival International after giving donors a free t-shirt? Wouldn't that 10% off Festival International merchandise send them spiraling into bankruptcy? How is it possible to give these small perks to someone who only donated $50?

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Correct the whole program needs to be restructured.

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Originally Posted by GreatestStory

I have been an RCAF member since it's inception.
I too see my RCAF donation & season tickets as helping the program.

I also run a business.
I have customers who do business with my company.
I sometimes bring them donuts, boudin, king cake, etc.
I give them tickets to UL events, send them Christmas cards, etc.

I know my customers appreciate my occasional small efforts to acknowledge them. I know without customer loyalty, my business will have a greater potential to fail.

Taking people's money without showing any appreciation does not build relationships. Without relationships, people won't think twice about spending their money elsewhere.

SUMMARY: People want to feel appreciated and it only takes a small investment to show them appreciation.

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This guys gets it. Sounds like he is a good boss to work for.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I too work in sales and bring my customer little tokens of my appreciation. However I don’t see my RCAF donation as I see my clients or vendors. I see it as I see my other charitable donations where I don’t really expect any thing back for my donation. I equate it more to my donations to St Jude than I due to my business. Although I do appreciate a good football, baseball, and basketball team to watch and I hope my small donation helps in building those.

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Then you are in the very extreme minority. The vast majority look at donating to athletics as an investment. And in my opinion, they are correct in that view.

Collegiate Athletics is a business. Louisiana Athletics plays a substantial role in the health of our University, our culture, our economy and our way of life. There is a reason why RCAF members are referred to as "Investors." You're investing in so much more than student-athletes. And when people invest, they expect ROI. As they should.

This is not a charity. It is a business. And we should treat it as such. As a board of investors, we should also be given the courtesy of transparency, respect and accountability within leadership.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Then you are in the very extreme minority. The vast majority look at donating to athletics as an investment. And in my opinion, they are correct in that view.

Collegiate Athletics is a business. Louisiana Athletics plays a substantial role in the health of our University, our culture, our economy and our way of life. There is a reason why RCAF members are referred to as "Investors." You're investing in so much more than student-athletes. And when people invest, they expect ROI. As they should.

This is not a charity. It is a business. And we should treat it as such. As a board of investors, we should also be given the courtesy of transparency, respect and accountability within leadership.

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Another awesome post!

I agree with MAT that college athletics is more of a business these days than a charity. Since RCAF was founded, investors have received membership guides mailed to their home, but this stopped in 2020. These annual report included revenue ranking among Sunbelt members and other G5 programs, academic & scholarships, capital campaigns, and more.

the small tokens I get from RCAF each year are appreciated and in line with my level of giving. I can only assume that higher donors get more perks for their dollars and it is shown in a graph on the rcaf site. I don't expect seats on the plane or special parties for the little I give. I do expect the promo pieces I get each year like my key chain or my rcaf license plate. I give at the level I give at to ensure an easy parking spot to the tailgate section and really expect nothing more.

Do I think that the RCAF should be more aggressive in bringing in new members, yes, but that comes with an organized season ticket push and that takes volunteers or employees both of which are in short supply in todays business market

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Then you are in the very extreme minority. The vast majority look at donating to athletics as an investment. And in my opinion, they are correct in that view.

Collegiate Athletics is a business. Louisiana Athletics plays a substantial role in the health of our University, our culture, our economy and our way of life. There is a reason why RCAF members are referred to as "Investors." You're investing in so much more than student-athletes. And when people invest, they expect ROI. As they should.

This is not a charity. It is a business. And we should treat it as such. As a board of investors, we should also be given the courtesy of transparency, respect and accountability within leadership.

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What part of I appreciate good teams did you not understand. What is ROI on an investment to an athletic foundation? In my view it is getting to the the conference championship 4 years in a row. It’s going 13-1 with a conference title. It is winning conference championships in baseball and going to regionals and winning. Like Deggs’ first stint here. It’s winning the conference tournament in hoops and making the dance. That is ROI.

I don’t need hats, shirts, a party at the casino, and for the university to stroke my ego and tell me how great I am for being a donor. Just win. Thats why we field a team and play the game. It is the whole reason for the RCAF’s existence, to build champions and win championships. Thats the only ROI I care about.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

What part of I appreciate good teams did you not understand. What is ROI on an investment to an athletic foundation? In my view it is getting to the the conference championship 4 years in a row. It’s going 13-1 with a conference title. It is winning conference championships in baseball and going to regionals and winning. Like Deggs’ first stint here. It’s winning the conference tournament in hoops and making the dance. That is ROI.

I don’t need hats, shirts, a party at the casino, and for the university to stroke my ego and tell me how great I am for being a donor. Just win. Thats why we field a team and play the game. It is the whole reason for the RCAF’s existence, to build champions and win championships. Thats the only ROI I care about.

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I'm making a macro-point here. I'm not talking specifically about you. I said as much at the beginning of my message. Nobody is looking to get stroked by the RCAF. Any good foundation or charitable organization knows they have to work just a little bit harder to keep growing a business model where gift giving is their primary revenue stream. You may not 'need' a hat, shirt or whatever... But how does that not help spread the word about RCAF? You make the donor feel appreciated and free advertising? It's basic business. I still to this day have people ask me what the RCAF is when they see my sticker.. in Lafayette. That's a shame.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

I'm making a macro-point here. I'm not talking specifically about you. I said as much at the beginning of my message. Nobody is looking to get stroked by the RCAF. Any good foundation or charitable organization knows they have to work just a little bit harder to keep growing a business model where gift giving is their primary revenue stream. You may not 'need' a hat, shirt or whatever... But how does that not help spread the word about RCAF? You make the donor feel appreciated and free advertising? It's basic business. I still to this day have people ask me what the RCAF is when they see my sticker.. in Lafayette. That's a shame.

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With you on the marketing standpoint. And definitely see how the bumper stickers and license plates… basically equal free marketing and advertisement. They have definitely done a less than stellar job of promoting the foundation. Probably because since Jim Harris and maybe someone before him that position has been a revolving door. Who is in that position now? Said thing is I have been a member since day one and couldn’t tell you.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

With you on the marketing standpoint. And definitely see how the bumper stickers and license plates… basically equal free marketing and advertisement. They have definitely done a less than stellar job of promoting the foundation. Probably because since Jim Harris and maybe someone before him that position has been a revolving door. Who is in that position now? Said thing is I have been a member since day one and couldn’t tell you.

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Technically, the new guy is Trey Frazier. But the responsibilities have changed. Maggard (and formerly Nico) have more input and control than previously. And I've been told there is a complete restructuring coming of RCAF. Whatever that means...

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

What part of I appreciate good teams did you not understand. What is ROI on an investment to an athletic foundation? In my view it is getting to the the conference championship 4 years in a row. It’s going 13-1 with a conference title. It is winning conference championships in baseball and going to regionals and winning. Like Deggs’ first stint here. It’s winning the conference tournament in hoops and making the dance. That is ROI.

I don’t need hats, shirts, a party at the casino, and for the university to stroke my ego and tell me how great I am for being a donor. Just win. Thats why we field a team and play the game. It is the whole reason for the RCAF’s existence, to build champions and win championships. Thats the only ROI I care about.

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But what you're expecting in ROI does not make it a donation or charitable giving. You're investing in the success of our athletic programs on the field. Big difference there.

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Originally Posted by ULvictory

But what you're expecting in ROI does not make it a donation or charitable giving. You're investing in the success of our athletic programs on the field. Big difference there.

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I said in my very first statement I give because I want good teams on the field not because I want a bunch of trinkets in return.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I said in my very first statement I give because I want good teams on the field not because I want a bunch of trinkets in return.

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I think he's saying the good product on the field is the ROI.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

I think he's saying the good product on the field is the ROI.

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I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

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We'll just have to disagree on that. Giving to a cause is different than giving for a result. I don't need trinkets and stroking either. But I do expect my (and your) donations to produce good leadership, upward mobility for student-athletes, updated facilities, communal experiences for residents, better educational opportunities for regular students, academic advancement, world class research, healthier endowment, funding scholarships, etc etc etc.

Success in athletics is a unique catch-all to accomplish all of these goals. Which to me, is a result, not a cause.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I get what he is saying. But for instance St Judes Hospital is a charity my wife and I give to every year. We expect nothing in return. We give because they do good work and produce a good product. I they didn't we wouldn't give. That is a charity with ROI also. Same for Tunnel to Towers. All charity's have some ROI or expectation attached to them or you wouldn't give.

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Like MAT said, my version of ROI is good play on the field like you mentioned when it comes to conference championships and competing at a high level. So technically, you are expecting something in return in that regard. You're expecting success.

If we treated UL athletics like a charity, the success on the field wouldn't matter. It wouldn't matter when a coach doesn't win even though part of your donation may go to his/her salary.

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Originally Posted by ULvictory

Like MAT said, my version of ROI is good play on the field like you mentioned when it comes to conference championships and competing at a high level. So technically, you are expecting something in return in that regard. You're expecting success.

If we treated UL athletics like a charity, the success on the field wouldn't matter.

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St Jude is a 100% charitable organization are you suggesting their success does not matter? Their ROI is a hell of a lot more meaningful than sports. UL could only dream of running it's athletic department like that charitable organization.

Tunnel to Towers is another. The word charity isn't a bad word in this case and many are successful and put out a great product. UL should try and model themselves after these fundraisers.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

St Jude is a 100% charitable organization are you suggesting their success does not matter? Their ROI is a hell of a lot more meaningful than sports.

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Not even close to the same thing. Again, St. Jude = Cause. RCAF = Result.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Not even close to the same thing. Again, St. Jude = Cause. RCAF = Result.

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Last I checked curing sick kids is getting results. If they weren't successful at getting those results, they wouldn't continue to get the donations they do.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Last I checked curing sick kids is getting results. If they weren't successful at getting those results, they wouldn't continue to get the donations they do.

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You can choose to look at it however you like.
Even if their results dipped, you'd continue to give because you believe in the cause.
If you continue to shell out thousands with expectation of a good product on the field/court, facilities, etc, and no return, you're just not a good steward of your money. I bet you weren't giving much, if anything, during the toothpick years. No one was. Why? Because the product and subsequent result was abysmal. That would never happen with St. Jude.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

We'll just have to disagree on that. Giving to a cause is different than giving for a result. I don't need trinkets and stroking either. But I do expect my (and your) donations to produce good leadership, upward mobility for student-athletes, updated facilities, communal experiences for residents, better educational opportunities for regular students, academic advancement, world class research, healthier endowment, funding scholarships, etc etc etc.

Success in athletics is a unique catch-all to accomplish all of these goals. Which to me, is a result, not a cause.

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OK. Agree with every thing you are saying here. Better things for the student athletes. But my comments were made because people were complaining about the tangible things they did not receive as RCAF members. Those are the things that aren't important to me. Facilities, coaches, support staff, nutrition, supplements, things that make the athletes better is what I care about. Not me getting gifts for my donation. That was my point.

The reason I equated it to a charity for example is just this morning I wrote my annual 132 dollar check to Tunnel to Towers. 11 dollars per month as they ask for. I don't receive anything physically for that, but I can see the smart houses they are building for our disabled vets. Just like I don't need anything physical for my RCAF donation but I like to see winners and new facilities and so on.... That was my only point when making the charity comparison, I don't have to receive any physical trinkets but I do like to see the results of my donations. Hope that's more clear.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

You can choose to look at it however you like.
Even if their results dipped, you'd continue to give because you believe in the cause.
If you continue to shell out thousands with expectation of a good product on the field/court, facilities, etc, and no return, you're just not a good steward of your money. I bet you weren't giving much, if anything, during the toothpick years. No one was. Why? Because the product and subsequent result was abysmal. That would never happen with St. Jude.

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There was no foundation during tooth pick years. I did have my 4 season tickets and my tailgating spot knowing that he was temporary.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

OK. Agree with every thing you are saying here. Better things for the student athletes. But my comments were made because people were complaining about the tangible things they did not receive as RCAF members. Those are the things that aren't important to me. Facilities, coaches, support staff, nutrition, supplements, things that make the athletes better is what I care about. Not me getting gifts for my donation. That was my point.

The reason I equated it to a charity for example is just this morning I wrote my annual 132 dollar check to Tunnel to Towers. 11 dollars per month as they ask for. I don't receive anything physically for that, but I can see the smart houses they are building for our disabled vets. Just like I don't need anything physical for my RCAF donation but I like to see winners and new facilities and so on.... That was my only point when making the charity comparison, I don't have to receive any physical trinkets but I do like to see the results of my donations. Hope that's more clear.

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This is pretty much how I would've answered your previous question to me. We want to see results based on what we give. Like MAT said (and it was a good point), the Cause vs. Result distinction is what matters here.