Football Attendance Comparison

[ULGrad@HOU]

Another factor that leads to a lack of fan engagement is not having a spirit leader. What are those called again?? Oh yeah, a MASCOT. Something every university and professional sports team has, but not UL. Here’s something that is a proven good and effective thing to have, but we drag our feet on it because of the trauma related to the laughably bad other attempts. Having a bad mascot is better than none. I don’t think that’s IMO. I think that’s a fact. The Flyers’ Gritty looks weird but he’s iconically weird. They are GREAT brand ambassadors; plus they are just fun to have at a game!

Agree, we need a mascot and improved gameday experience. We need so much. It's exhausting year after year to hear all these things said, but it never really improves. The stadium, the band, the game atmosphere, the concessions, the home schedule...etc.

[JMV JustMyView]

Who is in charge of the total game experience?

[SMD7636]

Good question because our opinions should be shared with this person.

[cajun_lannister]

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.

Those traditions have to happen organically. Schools that try to force tradition seem cheesey. Problem is we have sucked for 40 of the last 50 years if we keep winning those traditions will develop.

[CouillonCinema]

Those traditions have to happen organically. Schools that try to force tradition seem cheesey. Problem is we have sucked for 40 of the last 50 years if we keep winning those traditions will develop.

I agree things come best when they come organically BUT nothing organic is going to grow if students aren’t tantalized and incentivized come to the games. An analogy for the sit and wait thought is like, having good and fertile soil but sitting a chair and saying "something will grow eventually." Which would be correct, but it might be weeds, when you need crops. Instead, seeds should be planted, and then nourished. Some seeds will take, some won’t . But at least at the end of season, you’ll have something to harvest.

[SMD7636]

The words to our fight song, alma mater, and crowd cheers can to displayed on the Jumbotron like karaoke for fans to sing together.

[Cajunsmike]

We only average what, about 20,000 per game? That is terrible for a program that has accomplished what it has over the past 4 years, with an enrollment of almost 20,000 and for the number of people in Acadiana. Why won't people attend our games? Why don't we have more season ticket holders? Why don't more students attend and get more engaged in UL athletics? This is about football, but can extend to all sports. That is the subject of this thread. UL needs to recognize and address this problem.

The folks who still follow the program but prefer to do so on TV are a major reason for our support level. Were the team to have had the current success back in the 80's and 90's, the stadium would have been packed in those days. Once again, that is a factor throughout all of college sports other than the blueblood programs. It does show how much of a challenge we have to improve the gameday experience.

[SMD7636]

It’s hard to use the excuse that other programs are suffering too when this whole discussion started because our eastern conference mates, like App State & Marshall, are setting football season ticket records. These universities have the same television deal as UL.

UL has the right environment to increase ticket sales and attendance records despite neighboring programs. We do it in baseball and softball consistently. With baseball & softball, fans were sold a dream and vision with the methods to make it a reality. It was known that Cajun fans were needed to build our program. We had charismatic, hard working leaders, who we knew personally and supported. They shared our Cajun values and left the results on the field, but UL needed the fans to win.

UL must have a fan cULture of pride for our teams. This can be communicated via a dynamic leader. This person can come from our administration, coaches, alumni association, or fans. Our Athletics Director of External Operations is a very articulate, excited visionary. Our coach could write a “call to action” letter to Cajun Nation or use social media to sell us the vision for the fans in the stands. We also have excellent opportunities to set fan expectations with our school and fan Podcasts. Let’s do this and more!

Yes, we need a mascot for fall! Let the fans and students vote on 3 options: bull gator, crawfish, or Cajun man & woman.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Yes, we need a mascot for fall! Let the fans and students vote on 3 options: bull gator, crawfish, or Cajun man & woman.

I like this idea.

[JMV JustMyView]

It’s hard to use the excuse that other programs are suffering too when this whole discussion started because our eastern conference mates, like App State & Marshall, are setting football season ticket records. These universities have the same television deal as UL.

UL has the right environment to increase ticket sales and attendance records despite neighboring programs. We do it in baseball and softball consistently. With baseball & softball, fans were sold a dream and vision with the methods to make it a reality. It was known that Cajun fans were needed to build our program. We had charismatic, hard working leaders, who we knew personally and supported. They shared our Cajun values and left the results on the field, but UL needed the fans to win.

UL must have a fan cULture of pride for our teams. This can be communicated via a dynamic leader. This person can come from our administration, coaches, alumni association, or fans. Our Athletics Director of External Operations is a very articulate, excited visionary. Our coach could write a “call to action” letter to Cajun Nation or use social media to sell us the vision for the fans in the stands. We also have excellent opportunities to set fan expectations with our school and fan Podcasts. Let’s do this and more!

Yes, we need a mascot for fall! Let the fans and students vote on 3 options: bull gator, crawfish, or Cajun man & woman.

Great post. I wish the school would get behind the fans podcast. RaginReview, Melrock and Roarman do a great job but get no support from UL.