I don't know what it's like now, but when I was in the band back in the 80's, we made 1 trip for a major ballgame every season, including Alabama and Florida. The director at that time made sure the alumni association was providing enough funding for our travel, at least that's what I understood at the time.
Typically we take smaller bands to away games. My freshman year we had pep bands go to A&M and Ark state. Then the next year we took bands to Bama and ULM. The next year though we only had the funds to take the whole band to New Orleans to play against Miss St. They had to start playing it smart after we went to Orlando unexpectedly. On a normal year, we would definitely go to Texas, but funds may be the reason we wouldn't.
I definitely think our band being there is important. If we new how much it would cost maybe we could start a go fund me account for it. Some may think it is "small time" to do something like that and maybe they are right. But I think it is "smaller time" to not brig them; this is a big event for our school on an national stage.
OK...for sake of argument....Buses would cost around 6,000.(1200X5) Budget 20 per person for a meal coming and going. That's $4000. And tickets would cost you another 16,000.
You're talking roughly 26,000 to travel the 200 piece band. Do the math accordingly if you take fewer members.
Currently the Alumni Association finances are pretty poor. The RCAF has 1493 members. The alumni association has significantly less paying members than that and the donations per member are quite a bit less. If alumni want more engagement activities from the Alumni Association, please donate to our loyalty fund or scholarship fund. Here is a link to do so - https://give.louisiana.edu/give-now/alumni - any help will be appreciated. Also, the Alumni Association along with the RCAF and Athletics is having a social at the Sheraton Capitol hotel in downtown Austin Friday September 23rd and a tailgate tent at the stadium on the day of the game. Looking forward to having a large crowd at those events.
How much is football getting for this game? I would guess 1.5 - 2.0M. We are a Top 20 team that will be prime time on Fox before a crowd of 110,000 vs Texas and the Big 12, a conference we aspire to one day join. If there was ever a game in which we put our best foot forward, this is it. We can't afford not to send our band and sell out our ticket allotment. Given the big payday and the exposure this will bring to the university, this is a must do.
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