Annual Home-n-Home vs USM

[DestinCajun]

I think this is where schools should look at the positives of scheduling nearby 1-a teams. The Cajun fans have sold out there allotment of tickets and are buying more.

The positives are relate back to who brings a large crowd of visitors. If the storm doesn't screw things up, take at look at the attendance numbers for Southern at Houston and for the two games they played against Tulane in the Superdome back a few years. Go back to last season and check the figures the figures for Grambling at ULM and the crowd we had at Cajun Field at the painful egg laying. LaTex can play Army at home/away but how many would Northwestern St. or Grambling bring in?

In any event one of the Eagle fans explained how they did the sales deal on their new suites and that's why USM will play 6 home games each season including from what I found, the likes of Virginia, Nebraska and Kansas.

I'd prefer your way but it's gonna be hard if not to impossible to make happen. If you look at our schedules beginning in 2009, it's 8 SBC games and 4 OOCs. If we continue to play 2 big money BCS games (because we have to) then forget about return visits. That leaves us 2 additional OOcs to work with and I'm saying goal #1 ought to be 6 homes games per season versus any of the other possibilities.

So what does that leave you to work with?

[GoEagles]

I think this is where schools should look at the positives of scheduling nearby 1-a teams. The Cajun fans have sold out there allotment of tickets and are buying more. There maybe up to 4000 or more UL fans there. Yet there are still 10,000 unsold tickets even with a new coach and new stadium. If USM had scheduled a 1-aa team how many tickets would be sold. If UL and USM would schedule home and home it would not cost very much for each school for transportation or guarentees with pretty good attendance for each school. If UL would get competitive with USM and a rivalry would develop then for little cost to each university and good attendance figures a good series could develop. Getting BSC schools is great but at what cost to the budget compared to having a home and home with UL. I sometimes think that mid-majors do a misservice to each other by not cooperating with each other and being to quick to try and appease BSC schools with 2 for 1's or 3 for 1's. Mid majors biggest leverage is cooperating with each, scheduling each other, and making BSC schools pay dearly for games with us.

We had just under 30k last year for the home opener against I-AA SE Louisiana. And that was in a driving rainstorm. USM has always had a huge walk up crowd on game day. Even if the 10,000 number is correct (which I seriously doubt that it is because ticket sales reps don't give out that kind of info), we will have an attendance of well over 30k.

USM and ULL will probably never have a home and home series. As has been stated here, we are going to play no less than 6 home games every year. This is our AD's OOC scheduling strategy. I don't see where ULL could fit in for a home and home series.

1 money game against a national power
1 home game with no return against IAA or lower-tier IA
1 home and home series with mid-level BCS program
1 home and home with an upper-tier non-BCS program

[billbeck451]

go eagles it continues to amaze me that you have come to our board and doubted any facts that are presented to you - it is very simple often if you ask the right question, you will get the answer you are looking for. I asked the rep the question because I was debating weather or not to purchase tickets today or wait till Sat. and watch what the storm is going to do. I must compliment the individuals in the ticket office, they have been most helpful each time I have called and ensured that Cajun fans have been placed in sections near each other and with the best seats that yhey could find.

Now lets hope for good weather good companionship, good food, drinks, and safe compitition among two highly capable teams and for this storm to go somewhere else as we all know all of us along the Miss gulf coast do not need another storm this soon after Katrina.

[CajunFun]

go eagles it continues to amaze me that you have come to our board and doubted any facts that are presented to you - it is very simple often if you ask the right question, you will get the answer you are looking for. I asked the rep the question because I was debating weather or not to purchase tickets today or wait till Sat. and watch what the storm is going to do. I must compliment the individuals in the ticket office, they have been most helpful each time I have called and ensured that Cajun fans have been placed in sections near each other and with the best seats that yhey could find.

Now lets hope for good weather good companionship, good food, drinks, and safe compitition among two highly capable teams and for this storm to go somewhere else as we all know all of us along the Miss gulf coast do not need another storm this soon after Katrina.

BB,

Please be nice to the USM fans... USM has helped us out of jams on numerous occasions, and they have backed us when we tried to get into C-USA and the old Metro 7.

This is a relationship we need to protect.

[billbeck451]

I have been nice - my comments are very nice - I even complimented the usm ticket staff.

[CajunFun]

I have been nice - my comments are very nice - I even complimented the usm ticket staff.

Thx

[GoEagles]

go eagles it continues to amaze me that you have come to our board and doubted any facts that are presented to you - it is very simple often if you ask the right question, you will get the answer you are looking for. I asked the rep the question because I was debating weather or not to purchase tickets today or wait till Sat. and watch what the storm is going to do. I must compliment the individuals in the ticket office, they have been most helpful each time I have called and ensured that Cajun fans have been placed in sections near each other and with the best seats that yhey could find.

Now lets hope for good weather good companionship, good food, drinks, and safe compitition among two highly capable teams and for this storm to go somewhere else as we all know all of us along the Miss gulf coast do not need another storm this soon after Katrina.

It's not that I doubt you, it's just that I know for a fact that sales reps don't even have access to that information. If she told you that, it was just a WAG.

[PR_Eagle]

_ go eagles it continues to amaze me that you have come to our board and doubted any facts that are presented to you - it is very simple often if you ask the right question, you will get the answer you are looking for. I asked the rep the question because I was debating weather or not to purchase tickets today or wait till Sat. and watch what the storm is going to do. I must compliment the individuals in the ticket office, they have been most helpful each time I have called and ensured that Cajun fans have been placed in sections near each other and with the best seats that yhey could find.

Beck, I'll pass the compliment's on to the guys I used to work with in the TO.

I can also tell you, from working there myself as a student last year, any number that someone over the phone gave you that was close to 10,000 is NOT correct. I don't doubt that what you are saying is true, but I do doubt that the student worker who gave you that information is very, very wrong.

The screens we see vs. what the actual total will be are off. That 10,000 number is probably for another game (most likely) OR it includes tickets for groups that haven't been allocated and dispersed yet (like Church groups, discount group tickets, and STUDENTS).

If the weather is good- this game is a very near sellout. I don't personally think you will see people crowding the top corners of the upper-deck, but anything is possible I guess.

[billbeck451]

pr you have been a level head and have tried to stir conversation, not bully and I thank you for that. All people like conversation with opponent, just not conceit from rock throwers.

I am sure it is going to be a good game and all are going to have a good time.

[cajun eagle]

_ I think this is where schools should look at the positives of scheduling nearby 1-a teams. The Cajun fans have sold out there allotment of tickets and are buying more. There maybe up to 4000 or more UL fans there. Yet there are still 10,000 unsold tickets even with a new coach and new stadium. If USM had scheduled a 1-aa team how many tickets would be sold. If UL and USM would schedule home and home it would not cost very much for each school for transportation or guarentees with pretty good attendance for each school. If UL would get competitive with USM and a rivalry would develop then for little cost to each university and good attendance figures a good series could develop. Getting BSC schools is great but at what cost to the budget compared to having a home and home with UL. I sometimes think that mid-majors do a misservice to each other by not cooperating with each other and being to quick to try and appease BSC schools with 2 for 1's or 3 for 1's. Mid majors biggest leverage is cooperating with each, scheduling each other, and making BSC schools pay dearly for games with us. _

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Here is your answer. Lower level team comes to the Rock, USM pays $200,000 guarantee, some will come for less. In return we sell 25,000 tickets (excluding students) @ an average of $25 for a game total of $625,000. Concessions profit of at least $150,000 gives total income of $775,000 LESS $200,000 guarantee for a net of $575,000. We do that each year with a no return game so in a 2yr period we have netted $1,150,00. If we did a one and one with any non bcs team, the Cajuns for example, we get a $625,000 gate, $150,000 concessions for a net of $775,000 for that year (didnt have to pay a guarantee). The next year, when we returned the game, we get nothing. So, two at home with no return nets us $1,150,000 minimum compared to $775,000 net for one and one or a difference of $375,000. Makes more money, makes fans happier, satisfies the people who buy the ads on the video board & programs, satisfies the people who have leased suites and club seats, and home games help cement the fan base. Nothing against the Cajuns or anyone else, its a matter of dollars and cents. Even if the Cajuns brought 2,000 more fans than the other visitors thats only $50,000 which still makes it impractical.

[DestinCajun]

_ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is your answer. Lower level team comes to the Rock, USM pays $200,000 guarantee, some will come for less. In return we sell 25,000 tickets (excluding students) @ an average of $25 for a game total of $625,000. Concessions profit of at least $150,000 gives total income of $775,000 LESS $200,000 guarantee for a net of $575,000. We do that each year with a no return game so in a 2yr period we have netted $1,150,00. If we did a one and one with any non bcs team, the Cajuns for example, we get a $625,000 gate, $150,000 concessions for a net of $775,000 for that year (didnt have to pay a guarantee). The next year, when we returned the game, we get nothing. So, two at home with no return nets us $1,150,000 minimum compared to $775,000 net for one and one or a difference of $375,000. Makes more money, makes fans happier, satisfies the people who buy the ads on the video board & programs, satisfies the people who have leased suites and club seats, and home games help cement the fan base. Nothing against the Cajuns or anyone else, its a matter of dollars and cents. Even if the Cajuns brought 2,000 more fans than the other visitors thats only $50,000 which still makes it impractical. _

That's the same rationale LaState for example has for their 7 home game schedules. By the way, we brought enough UL fans to LaState in 2006 that it was the highest OOC game attendance in their history. That was no coincidence.

What's the difference to you between an Alcorn or Southeastern La and Boise St. (who you play at home this season) in terms of game day profits? Both Alcorn and Southeastern are likely to bring more fans to your place and buy more concessions than Boise.

What other nonBCS OOC programs like Boise St. do you project bringing in under your 3rd and 4th scenarios below?

1 money game against a national power
1 home game with no return against IAA or lower-tier IA
1 home and home series with mid-level BCS program
1 home and home with an upper-tier non-BCS program

[GoEagles]

_ That's the same rationale LaState for example has for their 7 home game schedules. By the way, we brought enough UL fans to LaState in 2006 that it was the highest OOC game attendance in their history. That was no coincidence.

What's the difference to you between an Alcorn or Southeastern La and Boise St. (who you play at home this season) in terms of game day profits? Both Alcorn and Southeastern are likely to bring more fans to your place and buy more concessions than Boise.

What other nonBCS OOC programs like Boise St. do you project bringing in under your 3rd and 4th scenarios below?

1 money game against a national power
1 home game with no return against IAA or lower-tier IA
1 home and home series with mid-level BCS program
1 home and home with an upper-tier non-BCS program _

We don't have to pay an Alcorn or SEL as much as we pay a Boise St.

We have Virginia, Kansas, and Nebraska all coming to Hattiesburg the next few years. As of now, I don't know who our future non-BCS opponents will be.