Funding UL Spring Sports

[DaddyCajun]

How much would you be willing to add to each game ticket for any and all University of Louisiana Sports? I know we now add 2 dollars to some and 1 dollar to other smaller sports, but if we were to up it again not for facility enhancement but for budgets and recruiting, how much would you be willing to pay?

DaddyCajun

[Hammer58]

How much would you be willing to add to each game ticket for any and all University of Louisiana Sports? I know we now add 2 dollars to some and 1 dollar to other smaller sports, but if we were to up it again not for facility enhancement but for budgets and recruiting, how much would you be willing to pay?

DaddyCajun

I don't know what kind of figure to put to that question but ticket prices definately need to be raised a reasonable amount to increase the budget. If nothing else they need to be raised just to keep up with inflation. Our ticket prices are way too low. And our fans need to get out of the Doc A mindset that we can have quality programs on a shoestring budget and ticket prices that match.

[shof]

Small rise in ticket prices shouldn't deter folks from buying them. I'd definitely support a rise; but at different rates for the "smaller" sports. Baseball/softball, women's basketball; maybe $2 up; but men's basketball and definitely football; $4-5 up. Not sure what that would do to your estimates of increased income. The only sport I hold season tickets to is football; and I'd have no problem with a slight increase there; especially if we see a direct return into the athletic department.

[derf]

I believe that we should keep the ticket price raise to a minimum. I do support a raise, but no more than a dollar. What we need to do is put more butts in the seats. If we could get a 25-30 % increase in attendance (local population/ not student. No revenue from extra students. But they should be there anyway) and couple that with a small price hike, the budget rise a good bit. But in order to do this we need to get on the ball with radio and t.v. . Let everyone know what's going on and when. Make people aware that there is more than the Purple and Gold in this state. No such thing as oversaturation of publicity (good publicity that is) in college sports. Also SGA needs to get with the program. I know that they have done some good things to promote the school and athletics. But rather than say look what we have done, they should ask themselves "What other things can we do?". Regardless, I'll be at the games....spring and fall.

[RaginFan2]

How much would you be willing to add to each game ticket for any and all University of Louisiana Sports? I know we now add 2 dollars to some and 1 dollar to other smaller sports, but if we were to up it again not for facility enhancement but for budgets and recruiting, how much would you be willing to pay?

DaddyCajun

I would be glad to pay an extra $4 per ticket per event if it will raise an additional $1M for the athletic dept. We need to do something to help raise our budget dramatically. This would be just one small step. But it is a very doable one.

[RaginCajun77]

How much would you be willing to add to each game ticket for any and all University of Louisiana Sports? I know we now add 2 dollars to some and 1 dollar to other smaller sports, but if we were to up it again not for facility enhancement but for budgets and recruiting, how much would you be willing to pay?

DaddyCajun

I'm just curious as to how you arrived at those numbers for the poll?

[Mineshaft]

Absolutely not one cent.....

[RonMexico]

Absolutely not one cent.....

you dont have any extra money anyway.

Dont make me out you on this board.

[DaddyCajun]

I'm just curious as to how you arrived at those numbers for the poll?

I used some hypothetical numbers, some we have done before some we will do in the near future!

I remember using 20,000avg X 5 games for Football
Mens Basketball I used I think 5,000avg x 13 games
Lady Basketball I think was 750avg x 13 games
Baseball 2000avg x 30games
Softball 750avg x 25games

Nothing scientific, it was quick, early in the morning at work, but close I think none the less!

DaddyCajun

I think the price increases should mimic those that have been implemented for facility improvement and expansiion! Now it is $2 for Football and basketball $1 for softball, baseball and Lady Basketball!!

I think we should also wait till after a Championship/Bowl game type season that we also see great seasons in some of the other fore mentioned sports!

I can see lets say, after this football season, if it ends with another championship and bowl, the Football tickets going up $3. Basketball if they go to the Dance, bump them up $2, Baseball to the Super Regionals $1, Softball World Series $1(Champs $2), Womens Basketball the Dance $1!!!

DaddyCajun

[Hammer58]

I think we should also wait till after a Championship/Bowl game type season that we also see great seasons in some of the other fore mentioned sports!

I can see lets say, after this football season, if it ends with another championship and bowl, the Football tickets going up $3. Basketball if they go to the Dance, bump them up $2, Baseball to the Super Regionals $1, Softball World Series $1(Champs $2), Womens Basketball the Dance $1!!!

DaddyCajun

I understand where you are coming from in waiting for more success before raising ticket prices. But fans also have to realize that it takes money to build a successful program. I used to look at this as a chicken/egg situation but now I firmly believe that we must raise the money before we will see the success we want on the field and the court.

[DaddyCajun]

I understand where you are coming from in waiting for more success before raising ticket prices. But fans also have to realize that it takes money to build a successful program. I used to look at this as a chicken/egg situation but now I firmly believe that we must raise the money before we will see the success we want on the field and the court.

You could be right, big man, you could be right. Can not just look to the big money people for money, it must come from all sources. Season ticket holders are one of the sources that needs to be tapped somewhat harder to continue elevating our programs.

The next area to be tapped will be TV revenues when the programs reach that next level on a consistant basis!

DaddyCajun

[TillmansNumber1]

I used some hypothetical numbers, some we have done before some we will do in the near future!

I remember using 20,000avg X 5 games for Football
Mens Basketball I used I think 5,000avg x 13 games
Lady Basketball I think was 750avg x 13 games
Baseball 2000avg x 30games
Softball 750avg x 25games

Nothing scientific, it was quick, early in the morning at work, but close I think none the less!

DaddyCajun

I think the price increases should mimic those that have been implemented for facility improvement and expansiion! Now it is $2 for Football and basketball $1 for softball, baseball and Lady Basketball!!

I think we should also wait till after a Championship/Bowl game type season that we also see great seasons in some of the other fore mentioned sports!

I can see lets say, after this football season, if it ends with another championship and bowl, the Football tickets going up $3. Basketball if they go to the Dance, bump them up $2, Baseball to the Super Regionals $1, Softball World Series $1(Champs $2), Womens Basketball the Dance $1!!!

DaddyCajun

These numbers are slightly enhanced. Even during the successful Evans years, were the Cajuns averaging 5,000 for men's basketball? When have the Cajuns averaged 20,000 for football? The women's basketball program is the most successful of the basketball programs and they're getting only 400, which is great, and can be improved, but is nowhere remotely close to the average claim of 750.

The attendance numbers for the Cajuns aren't great, but they're improving. Are they going to skyrocket if the prices go up? How many people choose not to attend Cajuns game because the tickets aren't expensive enough?

The goal of raising money for the program is noble and is something every fan and administrator wants. But, aren't there other ways than raising ticket prices on a fan base that is already fickle as it is? After viewing the numbers for football and basketball, it's apparent the attendance fluctuates too greatly to justify an increase.

If the Cajuns were consistently, regardless of record, drawing 20k for football year in and year out, then raising the price wouldn't be a bad idea because the sales of tickets are not performance sensitive, at least in that case. But, basketball, especially under Lee, is all over the map, and indicates the Cajun fan base is not reliable enough to justify an increase.

Wouldn't raising prices, along with the bad press about raising prices, discourage people from purchasing season tickets? What have the Cajuns done on the field of play to justify raising ticket prices?

A few ways the Cajuns could raise money.

1. A brick campaign. It's easy, simple and cost effective. Might not raise a ton, but it wouldn't be as destructive, from a PR standpoint, as raising ticket prices.

2. Parking spaces next to Cajun Field. As it stands, there are about 200 parking spots directly next to Cajun Field on either side (about 100 per side). Why not reserve that spot and put a sign with the company or individual's name for say, 100 bucks for 6 games?

3. Student Athletic Fee. If the state only permits this fee to be used for buildings, then assess it and build one of two things: an Honors/Athletics dorm, which would appease both sides and help with increasing the graduation rate possibly OR build an academic athletic facility, where athletes and non athletic students would be able to go to get tutored.

There are other ways to raise money for the program, but raising ticket prices seems a little uncalled for.