How to Increase Attendance?

[RayneCajun]

My thoughts on how to start improving the atmosphere.

Scheduling - I know someone said on here they don't go to watch the other team, me either. But everyone wants to be a part of a big game and FCS and the EMU's ain't cutting it. Can't do anything about conference games, but having USM and Marshall coming to Cajun Field will help. We know that Ga Southern or whoever might be a big game for us that week, but doesn't move the needle for the casual fan. Can't beat a P5 if you don't play them. It's how you generate excitement!

Then, I would get Dr Savoie, Dr Maggard, SGA president, 1 head of every greek organization, Coach Des and whoever is captain of team (if we have that or Des can chose leader) and the 337DJ guy in a room and brainstorm on what can they do help each other create a better atmosphere. Whether it's something like the Va Tech entrance or Wisconsin 4th quarter jump or whatever it takes to make the students feel like they have ownership of game day atmosphere! And us old people can join in and help! It's where traditions start!!!

And yes, the administration needs to do a better job of game day management. It's the students responsibility for atmosphere!

Geaux Cajuns!!

[Jacob81]

I agree. Any idea that could run off the long time die hard fans shouldn’t really be considered unless a necessity.

[Jacob81]

Also. If you make tailgating too much fun they don’t go to the game. Been down that road. That place used to be packed with tents and 6,000 people went inside.

[RaginCajun309]

Also. If you make tailgating too much fun they don’t go to the game. Been down that road. That place used to be packed with tents and 6,000 people went inside.

First step, get ‘em in the gate. I’d rather them partying in the lot than sitting at home.

[Ragin9221]

Is Lot C paved or grass? We could put it right there tailgate park, and have it run to the baseball stadium ?!

Our tailgating for the commoners needs to be more organized.

You paid 20 bucks to park and you had to walk across to the field and and had to fight traffic you ain’t leaving

It use to be a free for all back in the day this is more organized

[RedTails]

Maybe offer a first year introductory TG3 spot for $100 ($500 the following year onward) for entire season.

Reasoning: I’d love to have my own spot, but hard to justify $500 on my own. Give me a season to try and invite some friends and family and see if they want to get onboard and split costs for the next season(s).

This can help diehards try and organically build the fanbase moving forward, by trying to get people to the athletic grounds for a party.

[RaginCajun77]

I’m not knocking you man. I’ve said it a bunch of times in here. All solutions to the table. Your 20+ year fans paying $1,000+ bucks to be in those spots though? IMO probably not the people to F.

I appreciate those 20+ year fans paying $1,000+ for tailgating spots, however we need to build attendance and look to the future. None of us are getting younger and we need to create a new generation of fans. That means we're going to have to think and do things outside of the box. The atmosphere at Cajun Field can be better. That means there will be some growing pains.

[JMV JustMyView]

When we consider attendance, we need to start setting annual goals. We aren't going to go from averaging 15,000-18,000 in attendance annually to 25,000 to 30,000 overnight. Seating capacity at Cajun Field is 41,426, we're currently averaging less than 50% capacity. 18,000 in attendance is 43.45%. I attached a map of Cajun Field below, currently we have a lot of space allocated to tailgating and premium parking that goes unused. The casual or potential fan passes by Cajun Field and the visual message they receive is this isn't a place to be. If you want to build excitement and attendance, you must start at Cajun Field and get people within the fences. That means reallocating tailgating and parking in a way that gets space filled. I'd be willing to bet a substantial portion of this unoccupied space doesn't generate revenue, so we need to think carefully about the value of this space and what the average individual is willing to pay to park/tailgate. Again, you must look at it from the aspect of $0 in revenue. We're in a long game here, where we start is going to be less than what we would like to charge and then over time and with demand we increase accordingly. Again, the visual you want to create within the fences is a full house.

Move student tailgating back behind the student side of the stadium. Make the Red Zone sections P, Q, and R and allow students to buy up to 20 escort tickets. Make the students and their guests front and center. We must market games via TV, radio, and social media and do it consistently. Get players and coaches out there promoting this program.

Hold Sodexo accountable to get concessions in order. If they continually fall short, then we need to pivot to another option.

Attachment 16824

Great post.

[ULvictory]

I’ve been reading this thread all day, and I like that there’s a consensus that there’s some things that could be done better. A few things to note.

Now with streaming and ESPN+, the battle to bring the fan to the game creates a challenge unlike before. Even Nick Saban gets asked if easy non conference games enable their stadium to not be completely full in Tuscaloosa. That’s a challenge, but it shouldn’t cause our attendance to be only ~15k with the longest win streak in America.

But here is the big issue. The old administration allowed us to park next to stadium for free for decades, offered cheap tickets, didn’t have RCAF to increase surcharges, and basically allowed us to tailgate for free. Now, charges have been added to all of these amenities. Add in the gameday issues inside the stadium of long concession lines and crazy logistics, and you have people just throwing their hands up and staying home. Basically, we have been sold products of no value for so long that we got used to it. So now, everyone wonders why they have to pay up out of nowhere. At the same time, the administration has invested a lot of money into Athletics from coaches salaries to facility enhancements.

The big challenge moving forward will be to bridge the gap between being used to the old ways and understanding why changes were made. To me, that’s the responsibility of getting message out thoroughly and effectively. Help people understand why the value has been added to the amenities. Unless we get the communications and messaging out the right way, we will continue to have these same issues. But also, when people start paying premiums for these things, you can’t fumble the ball and have people wait in line for a Diet Coke for a half hour either.

[zeppelincajun]

I appreciate those 20+ year fans paying $1,000+ for tailgating spots, however we need to build attendance and look to the future. None of us are getting younger and we need to create a new generation of fans. That means we're going to have to think and do things outside of the box. The atmosphere at Cajun Field can be better. That means there will be some growing pains.

Growing pains absolutely, but I can’t see any logical reason to displace the folks in TG1 when as much between those gates is vacant as it is.

[BeauCajun]

Is Lot C paved or grass? We could put it right there tailgate park, and have it run to the baseball stadium ?!

Our tailgating for the commoners needs to be more organized.

You paid 20 bucks to park and you had to walk across to the field and and had to fight traffic you ain’t leaving

It use to be a free for all back in the day this is more organized

Limestone. No thanks on tailgating there.

[CajunNation]

First, tailgating was free. Then, we charged for tailgating. Then, we required season tickets for Tailgate spots.

The product we are selling is not just a football game. It is also the entire Gameday experience. The game. The cooking. the drinking. The baseball park access. The band under the oak. The Cajun Walk. Etc. Etc.

All of that is within the fenced area around the stadium. The answer is to make your Game ticket a Golden Ticket to the Cajun Football Experience.

No Golden Ticket, no access to The Experience. Solves the attendance issue and makes the value of that ticket real.

You want the milk? Buy the cow.

[Jacob81]

First, tailgating was free. Then, we charged for tailgating. Then, we required season tickets for Tailgate spots.

The product we are selling is not just a football game. It is also the entire Gameday experience. The game. The cooking. the drinking. The baseball park access. The band under the oak. The Cajun Walk. Etc. Etc.

All of that is within the fenced area around the stadium. The answer is to make your Game ticket a Golden Ticket to the Cajun Football Experience.

No Golden Ticket, no access to The Experience. Solves the attendance issue and makes the value of that ticket real.

You want the milk? Buy the cow.

Tailgating has been packed before. For free bring all your own stuff. The school made nothing and the stadium was still empty.

[Ragin9221]

Bad thing is TG1 is the best spot Period.

Now to me the best idea is to have open tailgating with vendors and chairs and tents.

People are not bringing there chairs or ice chest inside Cajun Field. You definitely not bring it back to your car.

So people will have to pay for beer and food. Where do we put something like that?

It has to be big and accommodating. I love the baseball stadium but we need to expand that idea.

Look I get it we have one, but it needs to be bigger and better and inviting.

I https://supertailgate.com/top-25-small-school-tailgates

[RaginCajun77]

Growing pains absolutely, but I can’t see any logical reason to displace the folks in TG1 when as much between those gates is vacant as it is.

TG1 isn't a major area of concern. TG2, TG3, LOT B, C, D, E, F, M, and RV Parking are my areas of concern and how we can better utilize these areas.