Football Attendance Comparison

[CrazyCajun]

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.

App state also has 3 national titles and 22 conference championships. 4 losing seasons in 40 years. Their stadium capacity until 2017 was 24k and now is 30k. Their current attendance record would be 5th on our list…just for some perspective. This isn’t suggesting we can’t do much better, just some things to think about.

[moorecajun]

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.

This I believe.

[fanof71]

App state also has 3 national titles and 22 conference championships. 4 losing seasons in 40 years. Their stadium capacity until 2017 was 24k and now is 30k. Their current attendance record would be 5th on our list…just for some perspective. This isn’t suggesting we can’t do much better, just some things to think about.

Having been to a ton of App games, its a program that has been built on success and tradition. App state athletic does a much better job with fan engagement through out the year, particularly with football. In reality, App is a one sport school, football. The biggest advantage they have is the stadium is on campus. It makes a huge difference. Games at App are a happening...fans and students don't want to miss any of it. Students pack their spots hours (limited seating) before kick. There is a ton of tradition inside the stadium, it is hollowed ground to App fan. Important games are given thier own brand names, like the Miracle on the Mountain, it is steeped in lore. Honestly, in comparision, App does a lot right that we get wrong. Yet, the pre-game isn't that different than UL's. They do a better use of the jumbotron, play a ton of Luke Combs, since he's an App guy, etc. They leverage what they have that makes them unique. We don't do that, and when we do it isn't done well. It's just a more professional production. Lots of new bells and whisles at the stadium that were paid for by App alums or by Public/private deals. App just does a better job cultivating "school pride" with current and past students. Of course, they are the only game in town, they don't have the 500 pound gorillia 40 miles down the road. This year, they open at home against UNC, we have Southeastern...there's the proof...

[moorecajun]

Having been to a ton of App games, its a program that has been built on success and tradition. App state athletic does a much better job with fan engagement through out the year, particularly with football. In reality, App is a one sport school, football. The biggest advantage they have is the stadium is on campus. It makes a huge difference. Games at App are a happening...fans and students don't want to miss any of it. Students pack their spots hours (limited seating) before kick. There is a ton of tradition inside the stadium, it is hollowed ground to App fan. Important games are given thier own brand names, like the Miracle on the Mountain, it is steeped in lore. Honestly, in comparision, App does a lot right that we get wrong. Yet, the pre-game isn't that different than UL's. They do a better use of the jumbotron, play a ton of Luke Combs, since he's an App guy, etc. They leverage what they have that makes them unique. We don't do that, and when we do it isn't done well. It's just a more professional production. Lots of new bells and whisles at the stadium that were paid for by App alums or by Public/private deals. App just does a better job cultivating "school pride" with current and past students. Of course, they are the only game in town, they don't have the 500 pound gorillia 40 miles down the road. This year, they open at home against UNC, we have Southeastern...there's the proof...

I think your post is an excellent starting point for discussion! I am going to try and disect your post into individual points for comparison in order that we may clarify what our problem is here, because many posters say everything is bad here.

I, along with most of our posters, want the best we can get as fans of the university. So, let's compare ourselves to App St.

Item 1. App State is a program that has been built on success and tradition. Their succsess (taken from an earlier post; 4 losing seasons in 40 years). We have basically the opposite; 4 winning seasons in 40 years. It is very hard to build tradition until you are winning. We are in the winning phase of our program now.

Item 2. Fan engagement. I would like more specifics about this as we don't need to reinvent the wheel, just get it rolling.

Item 3. App is a one sport school, football. We are capable of running several winning programs and are doing so now. I think this is in our favor. If we are comparing football average attendance , they are first in the conference and we are in the top five. Let's see how this plays out as we ahve begun a good rivalry with them.

Item four. The App State stadium is on campus. Big advantage and no way to change that. However, with our stadium off campus we have been able to create a tailgating experience that is rivaled by our peers. We do need to get students to the games. There are more students living on campus now that when I was in school but we brought more to the games.

Item five. There is a ton of tradition inside the stadium. This goes back to item one. IMO, tradition is created from winning. We are in our infancy. Let's be creative out there. Our baseball traditions took time to develope.

Item six. App just does a better job cultivating "school pride". If this is so, we all need to own up to this. This is more than a university employee issue, this is on all of us fans. Now there are things that can be / should be done. I would love to see student pep rallies, yell practice, etc.

Itme seven and last. This year, they open at home against UNC, we have Southeastern. lsu does not need to come here and probably never will in my lifetime. They are the spoiled brats of this state. Tulane and la tech want to be uppity but we are movin' on up!

So, let's fix it! I do believe there are some great ideas out there!

[John Cocktolstoy]

Apps biggest crowd was 35K against Wake Forest an in state ACC school. They drew 31k against in state FCS Elon equivalent to our SU or McNeese. Those were 2 of the to 3 biggest crowds. The other was against the university of Miami.

The cajuns drew 31K against FIU on a Saturday in October when they brought no one here. And that wasn’t a top 5 crowd.

[RaginCajun309]

This is exactly why we need no more than 25-30k seats. Yes, Apps best is barely in our top five of all time, but their average is within our top ten attendance. Make it a ticket that people want.

[Turbine]

There is a HUGE disconnect.

When you have a former football player Richard 'Dicky' Haik saying Desormeaux is the new coach at 'USL' you have a community disconnect.

[fanof71]

Why is the thread closed?

First time in program history...https://appstatesports.com/news/2022...-sold-out.aspx

[HoustonCajun]

Why is the thread closed?

First time in program history...https://appstatesports.com/news/2022...-sold-out.aspx

What happened to our posts?

[BeauCajun]

What happened to our posts?

I see all the posts.