Football Attendance Comparison

[HoustonCajun]

IMO, the first item of note will be our attendance, both with season ticket and individual game ticket sales. We have to grow our fan base (I don't have a solution, I just recognize it as a big problem). Having a growing fan base makes it more conducive to outside companies to invest in our athletics, IMO.

And I don't blame the administration, marketing, or anything UL. This is a community issue that we have to overcome to succeed, again IMO.

We have to make attending UL football games an event. Doesn't matter that we are winning. Our games are boring. The students don't attend, overall attendance is mediocre, the band doesn't bring any excitement and energy, and the overall atmosphere is lacking. People want to experience something special in attending Louisiana football and we aren't giving it to them. It doesn't matter that the actual on the field play is just as good. They would rather watch the excitement of a packed stadium and hear "Hold that Tiger" or "The Eyes of Texas" or "Boomer Sooner" or "Hail to the Victors" and all the pageantry that comes with P5 football than listen to "Respect" and a half-filled stadium and wonder why UL football isn't or can't be the same. So, they sit back and watch a game on TV that gives them more pleasure than watching a live game at Cajun Field. That is the big difference in P5 and G5 football. We've learn nothing from playing road games vs P5 teams as to what makes them successful. Until UL figures this out, nothing will change.

[Duckster]

One of Oregon States home games conflicted with the opening of squirrel season...

Signed,
Casual Fan

Its true, we live in the Sportmans Paridise. Dove opener in September, Squirrel/Rabbit in October, Deer openers in Oct & Nov, Ducks in November. Its been that way for most of our lifetimes. Those traditions are set. On the other hand, college football traditions are being upended by television/media money. All programs need more funding, many donors become tapped out, so conferences milk every dollar from media. The tradeoff is college football traditions getting shoved around leading to fans being treated to a wide array of kick off times or day of week kick off times and longer games for TV commercials to pay the bills. In the deep south a Saturday evening kick off is tradition. In the north they might prefer a 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. kick off so less are driving home in the snow in the dark. Seems there's no going back to the tradition of so many decades.

Obviously we just have to keep winning, keep the buzz going for fan attendance and at the same time get more eyeballs to watch us when on national TV. Not a fan of Friday night college games but if a national TV game maybe since the only game on, will be more eyeballs watching the Cajuns.

[HoustonCajun]

Its true, we live in the Sportmans Paridise. Dove opener in September, Squirrel/Rabbit in October, Deer openers in Oct & Nov, Ducks in November. Its been that way for most of our lifetimes. Those traditions are set. On the other hand, college football traditions are being upended by television/media money. All programs need more funding, many donors become tapped out, so conferences milk every dollar from media. The tradeoff is college football traditions getting shoved around leading to fans being treated to a wide array of kick off times or day of week kick off times and longer games for TV commercials to pay the bills. In the deep south a Saturday evening kick off is tradition. In the north they might prefer a 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. kick off so less are driving home in the snow in the dark. Seems there's no going back to the tradition of so many decades.

Obviously we just have to keep winning, keep the buzz going for fan attendance and at the same time get more eyeballs to watch us when on national TV. Not a fan of Friday night college games but if a national TV game maybe since the only game on, will be more eyeballs watching the Cajuns.

Last time I checked, LSU was in the Sportsman Paradise as well and their attendance isn't affected by hunting season. We can come up with all the excuses in the world, but we still have to make our games special that fans want to attend. See my previous post. We fail to capture fan interest and if they do attend, don't make the fan experience compelling enough to want to return, except for the diehard fans.

[shof]

I am thinking that you and others will be disappointed.

And I won’t be surprised. Didn’t get much of a “warm fuzzy” the last time I heard Dr Maggard speak on the topic.

[JamesTheJeweler]

We have to make attending UL football games an event. Doesn't matter that we are winning. Our games are boring. The students don't attend, overall attendance is mediocre, the band doesn't bring any excitement and energy, and the overall atmosphere is lacking. People want to experience something special in attending Louisiana football and we aren't giving it to them. It doesn't matter that the actual on the field play is just as good. They would rather watch the excitement of a packed stadium and hear "Hold that Tiger" or "The Eyes of Texas" or "Boomer Sooner" or "Hail to the Victors" and all the pageantry that comes with P5 football than listen to "Respect" and a half-filled stadium and wonder why UL football isn't or can't be the same. So, they sit back and watch a game on TV that gives them more pleasure than watching a live game at Cajun Field. That is the big difference in P5 and G5 football. We've learn nothing from playing road games vs P5 teams as to what makes them successful. Until UL figures this out, nothing will change.

I always laugh that anyone thinks enough people go to football games to hear the band play. Or that we could attract more people if only the band played with more excitement. Not trying to bust balls, but man, I don't think there's anyone under the age of 60 or 70 that cares about hearing the band play super cool songs. Sorry.

[SMD7636]

UL attendance increase when we had a charismatic leader, who coached the fans and community as well as the football team. He set attendance expectations and the community respond in droves. UL knows what works. It’s time for someone to step up!

[RaginCajun309]

I always laugh that anyone thinks enough people go to football games to hear the band play. Or that we could attract more people if only the band played with more excitement. Not trying to bust balls, but man, I don't think there's anyone under the age of 60 or 70 that cares about hearing the band play super cool songs. Sorry.

My neighbors both go to WVU games, and they have a group of about 50 others, that go to every home game just to watch their kids play in the band. I get your point but there are those fans that go just for the band.

[zephyr]

My neighbors both go to WVU games, and they have a group of about 50 others, that go to every home game just to watch their kids play in the band. I get your point but there are those fans that go just for the band.

That is a different situation. You are talking about family of band members rather than the average fan which is what he was addressing. Of course family and friends will attend to see a friend or relative perform but that is not the general point.

[JMV JustMyView]

UL attendance increase when we had a charismatic leader, who coached the fans and community as well as the football team. He set attendance expectations and the community respond in droves. UL knows what works. It’s time for someone to step up!

Hud drew a crowd.

[SMD7636]

Correct, Hud increased fan support for football and other sports, while winning. The game day atmosphere was fun! We need to stop making excuses for the community and acting clueless. UL knows a strong charismatic leader with a vision for the future can light the fuse.

This is not about the school across the basin. This is about our community and state going all in on supporting our university. When we work together or pull the rope in the same direction, UL can prosper despite LSU, La Tech, or any other university. This is our time to shine! UL needs a vocal leader to gather Cajun Nation in 1 unified voice. One Louisiana!

[HoustonCajun]

I always laugh that anyone thinks enough people go to football games to hear the band play. Or that we could attract more people if only the band played with more excitement. Not trying to bust balls, but man, I don't think there's anyone under the age of 60 or 70 that cares about hearing the band play super cool songs. Sorry.

If you have ever been to one of those stadiums or even seen them on tv, you would understand what those fight songs mean to fans and how they excite and help create a great environment. People don't go to the game for the band. The band is a major contributor to fan excitement and involvement in the game. Those fight songs played at the right time over and over make a huge difference in fan interaction. Fan interaction is the missing ingredient at UL games. I'm watching a replay of the Texas A&M vs Alabama game right now. The crowd involvement and interaction, spurred by the Aggie band, is electric. It is what is missing at Cajun Field and what fans want that would keep them coming back for more.

[RaginCajun309]

That is a different situation. You are talking about family of band members rather than the average fan which is what he was addressing. Of course family and friends will attend to see a friend or relative perform but that is not the general point.

I think the general point, which the poster I quoted was wrong about, is that the band doesn’t bring anything to the table. Some people go to see the band, especially at big time schools. Have you ever seen the Ohio I period before the game? It gets the crowd jacked! Have you ever seen the WVU band March out in the shape of the state? The crowd goes nuts. UL doesn’t have that energy from the band and that energy gets the crowd into the game way more than piped in music (which is either too loud or not loud enough or is too old or way too hip hoppy).

The posters point about the ATM v Alabama game is spot on, I watched that game and the crowd was absolutely nuts. A nuts crowd will draw more fans.

Some people go to see the band, there is an entire circuit of D&I concerts in the summer that lots of people attend.