Peak Attendance

[Geaux]

I’ve said it before and I stand by that we should have 25k seats with the hill and SRO for overflow. Lots of amenities and there will be demand for seats. Heck, engineer it for future expansion if the need arises down the road.

I totally agree. Those routine SBC games with 28K will have a better atmosphere and create greater ticket demand.

We also need to realize in today's world, most college football stadiums are dowsizing and focusing on corporate suite/lodge sales over GA tickets.

[LaCajunsFan]

App State might have brought 800 people. That means over 30,000 Cajun fans were in attendance. I think THAT may be a record.

That is one of the most important things about yesterday….and I don’t think it gets mentioned enough. Virtually all of that attendance were UL fans. Bring in a team that has equal or better brand-name, plus also able to bring more fans and 35-40k is very doable.

[CajunFun]

The Cajuns drew 31K for a championship game that has never been played before. The weather was perfect and no LSU team was playing. With a 11 game winning streak and 11-1 overall record, have we reached our ceiling attendance wise? While we had a good crowd it should have been way bigger giving the circumstances and how everything lined up. Not trying to be negative but Acadiana really didn't show up like they should have. Maybe a 30K stadium is the answer?

If we focus on what we've accomplished, we'll be grateful, and continue working.

If we focus on our shortcomings, we'll be resentful, and resigned.

[Turbine]

The Cajuns drew 31K for a championship game that has never been played before. The weather was perfect and no LSU team was playing. With a 11 game winning streak and 11-1 overall record, have we reached our ceiling attendance wise? While we had a good crowd it should have been way bigger giving the circumstances and how everything lined up. Not trying to be negative but Acadiana really didn't show up like they should have. Maybe a 30K stadium is the answer?

The town of Erath had a parade that was planned long ago.

SBC Championship games haven't historically been marked on the calender.

[fanof71]

Common don't make it right, but there weren't thousands that stayed to watch chicken Q or gumbo boil while holding a beer and talking ____ ....

Agree, the crowd was really into the game, lots of noise. I think students are back if they don't d I c k around too much with next year's schedule too much.

I think a reason Acadiana and Lafayette don't fully support UL Football is that UL is an after thought period. Traditions need to be built, don't screw up concessions, etc.

[fanof71]

The town of Erath had a parade that was planned long ago.

SBC Championship games haven't historically been marked on the calender.

So did Broussard...at 3pm...i understand saving the date, but if you can parade at 3, you can parade at 11. Pretty selfish if you ask me...

[Rainman66]

Winning is the most important thing, and always should be, that will get you a solid base. Coach Napier wins, but it is old-style football, which isn't the attention grabber of other styles.

To draw the biggest crowds, at the G5 level, you need a winning program with an exciting offense, playing good competition. The UL offense was ranked 93rd in scoring this season.

The next level for the Cajuns is to keep winning 10+ games a season, win championships AND do so as a Top 25 offense.

[Duckster]

Cincinnati seats 37,978 in their stadium so yeah an oversized stadium doesn't contribute to a program's success. Renovated Cajun Field will work fine somewhere around 34-35,000 capacity including the new suites, club seating, picnic areas, etc.

[zeppelincajun]

Usually winning gets them in the stadium, but apparently not.

This is a great thread. I wouldn't be so sure the winning isn't working though. Hud's last year we never hit 19,000 for a game. Billy's first game we hit 28,866 for Grambling (huge number of non-Cajun fans), and the next highest crowd was Homecoming (18,131). 2019 we managed to top 20k once (on a weekday). This year we topped 25k 3 times, and 4/7 home games were above 20k. It's working. Just not at the pace or with the magnitude most of us would like.

This very well may be our peak, and that would be okay. The renovated stadium will suit us well and cut down on some unneeded seating. The difference between the renovated stadium and what we probably need is about 5k. I'm alright with that. I'm much more concerned with consistent rather than peak attendance. Mid twenties average would be a nice step.

[cajun55]

That is one of the most important things about yesterday….and I don’t think it gets mentioned enough. Virtually all of that attendance were UL fans. Bring in a team that has equal or better brand-name, plus also able to bring more fans and 35-40k is very doable.

Totally agree, it really hurts that we don’t get much attendance from visiting teams in the Sun Belt. Southern Miss should bring a good crowd hopefully. Also why do we never see visiting teams bring bands anymore. A band would have filled out that visiting corner. Seems like for a Championship game a band could travel. Too expensive I guess.

[CajunFun]

Totally agree, it really hurts that we don’t get much attendance from visiting teams in the Sun Belt. Southern Miss should bring a good crowd hopefully. Also why do we never see visiting teams bring bands anymore. A band would have filled out that visiting corner. Seems like for a Championship game a band could travel. Too expensive I guess.

Just curious, is there any school in the country who brings their band to more than 2 or 3 games? Anyone know?

[Crawfish]

Just curious, is there any school in the country who brings their band to more than 2 or 3 games? Anyone know?

My nephew is a senior in the Texas Aggie band. They usually bring a spirit band to most road SEC games, but they do not march.