Enhancements for Football Game Day Experience

[DieHard1280]

We are not alone in trying to do things like this. Even UT here in Austin announced a new "Bevo Boulevard" to enhance the game day experience for fans and their families.

It does end 30 minutes before the game starts, but I applaud our efforts to do something to attract as many people as possible. When the product on the field and the opponents improve, more and more of these people will begin watching the actual game.

[CharlieK]

Agree. The only thing harder than getting people into Cajun Field is to keep them there. With no natural rivals and few marquee games this is what UL has to do. I really hope the enhancements for students pays dividends. We need more of them at games.

Just about every school has this issue, at different scales. Even LSU. Half empty after halftime unless it's Alabama or Florida.

It's the nature of the current attention span of people, not a UL issue.

[CharlieK]

Guess I'll be spending my time in the kids area, as my kids will want to be there, instead of watching the product on the field.

Just a thought from a grizzled parent veteran. Learn to tell them no, or limit the time in that area. It won't kill them.

[fanof71]

Just a thought from a grizzled parent veteran. Learn to tell them no, or limit the time in that area. It won't kill them.

Amen brother...I get kids wanting to have some fun, but lets not turn that end zone into Lafayettes largest day care on game days...especially after the game starts!

[CrazyCajun]

Amen brother...I get kids wanting to have some fun, but lets not turn that end zone into Lafayettes largest day care on game days...especially after the game starts!

It already is..if they can play games at the top
Instead of sliding/flipping/rolling/tumbling down the hill, I’d rather that.

[CharlieK]

Amen brother...I get kids wanting to have some fun, but lets not turn that end zone into Lafayettes largest day care on game days...especially after the game starts!

We brought kids to the game from the age of 3 to 15, and never watched a game on the hill. I'd take them there for a little while before, and some during the spring game. But when the real game was happening we were in our seats. It's OK for kids to not be completely entertained in their preferred fashion at all times. Sure sometimes they made it hard for me to watch the game when they got figety. But that's part of the parent job description. It's in the fine print.

[MetryCajun]

Just about every school has this issue, at different scales. Even LSU. Half empty after halftime unless it's Alabama or Florida.

It's the nature of the current attention span of people, not a UL issue.

Agreed. It’s why all this talk of adding more seats is nonsensical. The younger generation is not sitting throug 4hour games. Heck, I can’t sit through these 4 hour games. Watch how empty LSU games are this year. At least for them their empty seats were bought by someone. Ours are not.

[CharlieK]

Agreed. It's why all this talk of adding more seats is nonsensical. The younger generation is not sitting throug 4hour games. Heck, I can't sit through these 4 hour games. Watch how empty LSU games are this year. At least for them their empty seats were bought by someone. Ours are not.

Right now all discussions about the stadium modifications are theoretical. So discussions about more, less, different or whatever seating is totally "sensical". There is a best choice for how to get from what we have, transition and then get to where we need to be. And we have to make the best estimate of where we need to be LONG term. Being Louisiana, we only get to do this every 40 years it seems.

I fall somewhere in the 40K range, stressing improving all the quality of life things like consession and bathrooms, and making sure the 40K seats are WELL positioned. And that a appropriate number are suites. 40K is PROBABLY more than we need NOW but not by orders of magnitude if we are going to continue to invest what we are into the program. But to say TALKING about more is nonsensical, is in of itself nonsensical. We should talk the hell out of this thing, we only get to do it once (or once in a very long time).

[shof]

Right now all discussions about the stadium modifications are theoretical. So discussions about more, less, different or whatever seating is totally "sensical". There is a best choice for how to get from what we have, transition and then get to where we need to be. And we have to make the best estimate of where we need to be LONG term. Being Louisiana, we only get to do this every 40 years it seems.

I fall somewhere in the 40K range, stressing improving all the quality of life things like consession and bathrooms, and making sure the 40K seats are WELL positioned. And that a appropriate number are suites. 40K is PROBABLY more than we need NOW but not by orders of magnitude if we are going to continue to invest what we are into the program. But to say TALKING about more is nonsensical, is in of itself nonsensical. We should talk the hell out of this thing, we only get to do it once (or once in a very long time).

I’m probably in the minority here, but I agree with you that 40K is a good target number. And “where” those seats are is vital. Most would agree that upper deck seating on press box side should be reduced (general admission specifically), replacing it with suites, club seating, etc. I don’t recall off hand the number of seats there now, but we probably lose 5K seats when that comes down. Walking to the top of that area wasn’t fun when I was young!
Anyway, we’d need to make some of that up, most likely in north end zone. That said, I do like some of the ideas presented in the survey for the end zone area.

[AstroCajun]

How cool would it be to have a military fly over for the first game......

There will be, just not for the first game. I know that one is in the works.

[VObserver]

There will be, just not for the first game. I know that one is in the works.

If the FAA and the Army would allow it (they won't), I know a Blackhawk pilot who would deliver the game ball to mid field. Lol