Attendance!?

[CajunVic]

None of the 2020 games are in either window discussed

Slow down my friend. Don’t become BWK . . . less is often worth more . . .

[Geaux]

Here are a few suggestions.

1. Bring the greek organizations and student tailgate as close to Cajun Field as possible.

2. Reduce the cost of kids under 12 until we can command full cost.

3. Create Cajun Football Ambassadors. They should hold court by having breakfast with fans at some of Acadiana's most notable spots. I.E., Poches(Breaux Bridge), Victor's Cafe (New Iberia), Cannata's (Morgan City). Even if people don't show up initially, be consistent, they will come.

4. Capture the 35-45 year old demographic. Get serious about a younger RCAF group. Put a few on the board. Create a "Stay & Play" package for those outside of Acadiana.

Hilton Cajundome, game tickets, alumni tailgate access.

5. Dr. Maggard is doing a great job, but we all may have to pitch in and accept volunteer roles to get this thing going. Dr. Maggard is making this happen with a skeleton crew. He should be applauded. He'll need as many of us as he can get.

Geaux Cajuns

[LouisianaB]

I was discussing 4 and 6pm windows. I offered no other conclusion. Just the data

[JMV JustMyView]

Here are a few suggestions.

1. Bring the greek organizations and student tailgate as close to Cajun Field as possible.

2. Reduce the cost of kids under 12 until we can command full cost.

3. Create Cajun Football Ambassadors. They should hold court by having breakfast with fans at some of Acadiana's most notable spots. I.E., Poches(Breaux Bridge), Victor's Cafe (New Iberia), Cannata's (Morgan City). Even if people don't show up initially, be consistent, they will come.

4. Capture the 35-45 year old demographic. Get serious about a younger RCAF group. Put a few on the board. Create a "Stay & Play" package for those outside of Acadiana.

Hilton Cajundome, game tickets, alumni tailgate access.

5. Dr. Maggard is doing a great job, but we all may have to pitch in and accept volunteer roles to get this thing going. Dr. Maggard is making this happen with a skeleton crew. He should be applauded. He'll need as many of us as he can get.

Geaux Cajuns

Good ideas.

[ZoomZoom]

Stanford last two home games are free in an attempt to get new fans.

[Duckster]

Just realized I am missing some times for 1998-2000. I will limit it to 2001 to present. Games started at 41 different times. Found some other errors but the conclusion is the same.

Games starting between 4 and 410pm: 23-14, average 18,021
Games starting between 6 and 610pm: 32-12, average 20,677

Here is the list

2001 Nicholls State W 2:00 p.m. Saturday 13707
2001 Southern Mississippi L 5:00 p.m. Saturday 14132
2001 Middle Tennessee L 7:00 p.m. Saturday 12102
2001 UL Monroe W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 17353
2001 New Mexico State L 2:00 p.m. Saturday 9321
2002 Minnesota L 7:00 p.m. Saturday 20512
2002 UAB W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 19616
2002 North Texas L 4:05 p.m. Saturday 8413
2002 Idaho W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 12621
2002 Arkansas State W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 14117
2003 Louisiana Tech L 7:00 p.m. Saturday 24211
2003 Houston L 7:37 p.m. Saturday 11127
2003 UL Monroe L 4:00 p..m. Saturday 13540
2003 New Mexico State W 6:05 P.M. Thursday 12308
2003 Idaho W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 9213
2003 Florida International W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 13571
2004 Northwestern State W 7:00 P.M. Saturday 22117
2004 Middle Tennessee W 6:07 p.m. Saturday 25083
2004 Arkansas State W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 23121
2004 North Texas L 9:20 p.m. Friday 21608
2004 Troy L 2:36 p.m. Saturday 15077
2005 Northwestern W 7:05 p.m. Saturday 17,341
2005 UCF L 7:00 p.m. Saturday 18,262
2005 Florida Atlantic L 7:05 p.m. Thursday 14,208
2005 Troy W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 21,204
2005 Florida International W 6:07 p.m. Saturday 16,942
2006 North Carolina A&T W 4:45 p.m. Saturday 15,041
2006 Eastern Michigan W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 15,923
2006 Middle Tennessee L 4:00 p.m. Saturday 21,485
2006 North Texas L 4:00 p.m. Saturday 13,621
2006 Arkansas State W 4:00 p.m. Saturday 10,212
2006 UL Monroe L 4:00 p.m. Saturday 10,814
2007 Ohio L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 22,186
2007 McNeese State L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 33,828
2007 Troy L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 14,091
2007 North Texas W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9,464
2007 Florida Atlantic L 4:08 p.m. Saturday 12,290
2007 UL Monroe L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8,045
2008 Kent State W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 18,241
2008 Arkansas State W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 23,684
2008 Florida International W 4:00 P.M. Saturday 29,031
2008 UT El Paso L 6:08 p.m. Saturday 21,065
2008 Middle Tennessee W 6:08 p.m. Wednesday 15,321
2009 Southern University W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 41,357
2009 Kansas State W 6:02 p.m. Saturday 16,431
2009 North Texas W 6:07 P.M. Saturday 12,141
2009 Florida Atlantic L 4:00 p.m. Saturday 21,135
2009 UL Monroe W 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8,689
2009 Troy L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 12,245
2010 Arkansas State W 2:30 p.m. Saturday 15,103
2010 Middle Tennessee L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 17,249
2010 Oklahoma State L 8:05 p.m. Friday 25,881
2010 Western Kentucky L 4:00 p.m. Saturday 15,641
2010 Florida International L 6:00 p.m. Saturday 13,041
2011 Nicholls State W 6:08 p.m. Saturday 28,741
2011 Florida Atlantic W 6:08 p.m. Saturday 26,339
2011 Troy W 6:04 P.M. Saturday 29,775
2011 North Texas W 4:08 p.m. Saturday 32,823
2011 UL Monroe W 2:39 p.m. Saturday 28,176
2012 Lamar W 6:08 p.m. Saturday 25,803
2012 Florida International W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 21,109
2012 Tulane W 4:07 p.m. Saturday 29,758
2012 Arkasnas State L 7:01 P.M. Tuesday 19,873
2012 Western Kentucky W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 20,314
2012 South Alabama W 4:07 p.m. Saturday 20,333
2013 Nicholls W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 28,871
2013 Texas State W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 23,108
2013 New Mexico St. W 4:04 p.m. Saturday 30,028
2013 Troy W 6:32 P.M. Thursday 22,562
2013 UL Monroe L 6:06 P.M. Saturday 25,309
2014 Southern U. W 6:04 P.M. Saturday 36,170
2014 Louisiana Tech L 6:04 p.m. Saturday 25,607
2014 Georgia St. W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 24,616
2014 Arkansas St. W 7:04 p.m. Tuesday 21,760
2014 South Alabama W 4:05 P.M. Saturday 25,861
2014 App State L 1:04 p.m. Saturday 20,638
2015 Northwestern St. W 6:05 p.m. Saturday 26,824
2015 Akron L 6:04 P.M. Saturday 24,679
2015 Texas St. W 6:05 p.m. saturday 21,377
2015 UL Monroe W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 17,410
2015 New Mexico St. L 4:04 p.m. Saturday 17,023
2015 Troy L 4:05 p.m. Saturday 22,264
2016 Boise St. L 11:06 a.m. Saturday 22,661
2016 McNeese W 6:05 p.m. Saturday 26,891
2016 South Alabama W 6:05 p.m. Saturday 19,208
2016 App State L 7:05 p.m. Wednesday 16,960
2016 Idaho L 4:04 p.m. Saturday 21,387
2016 Arkansas St. W 11:06 a.m. Saturday 14,259
2017 Southeastern Louisiana W 6:05 p.m Saturday 18,289
2017 UL Monroe L 4:05 p.m. Saturday 18,318
2017 Texas St. W 6:32 p.m. Thursday 13,106
2017 New Mexico St. W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 16048
2017 Ga. Southern L 4:05 p.m. Saturday 12993
2018 Grambling W 6:06 p.m. Saturday 28866
2018 Coastal Carolina L 6:05 p.m. Saturday 17125
2018 New Mexico St. W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 18131
2018 Arkansas St. W 6:05 p.m. Saturday 17068
2018 Georgia St. W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 14945
2018 South Alabama W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 15168
2019 Liberty W 6:35 p.m. Saturday 16,231
2019 Texas Southern W 6:35 p.m. Saturday 18,183
2019 App State L 7:05 p.m. Wednesday 20,012
2019 Texas St. W 4:06 p.m. Saturday 21,063
2019 Troy W 4:05 p.m. Saturday 14,262
2019 UL Monroe W 6:33 p.m. Saturday 14,227
2020 Ga. Southern W 11:01 a.m. Saturday 5,585
2020 Coastal Carolina L 6:35 p.m. Wednesday 5,585
2020 Arkansas St. W 11:02 a.m. Saturday 5,585
2020 South Alabama W 1:06 p.m. Saturday 5,585
2021 Nicholls W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 25,417
2021 Ohio W 7:05 p.m. Thursday 17,709
2021 App State W 6:35 p.m. Tuesday 20,066
2021 Texas St. W 11:02 a.m. Saturday 28,794
2021 Georgia St. W 6:36 p.m. Thursday 16,007
2021 ULM W 3:02 p.m. Saturday 18,447
2022 Southeastern Louisiana W 6:03 p.m. Saturday 16,812
2022 Eastern Michigan W 6:04 p.m. Saturday 18,079
2022 South Alabama L 4:02 p.m. Saturday 20,671
2022 Arkansas State W 4:03 P.M. Saturday 15,017

Thanks for sharing. Very sobering look at our attendance regardless of kick off time. Attendance, not that we were ever consistent, ticked down somewhat after the 2016 through 2019 fans not even returning when Napier restored a winning record. The 2020 season attendance was an anomaly and 2021 was a partial pandemic year. But 2022 everything is open everywhere, and coming off a championship season seeing the stubbornly low attendance/fan apathy is surprising. Granted hyper inflation is taking a big bite out of disposable income this year but people are getting out and about again. Still we need to step up marketing to coax our fickle fan base to pay a visit to next home game. And the University needs to focus group with students to recruit them back to games. That aspect seems completely broken but can be revived with consistent effort.

[Ragin9221]

Here are a few suggestions.

1. Bring the greek organizations and student tailgate as close to Cajun Field as possible.

2. Reduce the cost of kids under 12 until we can command full cost.

3. Create Cajun Football Ambassadors. They should hold court by having breakfast with fans at some of Acadiana's most notable spots. I.E., Poches(Breaux Bridge), Victor's Cafe (New Iberia), Cannata's (Morgan City). Even if people don't show up initially, be consistent, they will come.

4. Capture the 35-45 year old demographic. Get serious about a younger RCAF group. Put a few on the board. Create a "Stay & Play" package for those outside of Acadiana.

Hilton Cajundome, game tickets, alumni tailgate access.

5. Dr. Maggard is doing a great job, but we all may have to pitch in and accept volunteer roles to get this thing going. Dr. Maggard is making this happen with a skeleton crew. He should be applauded. He'll need as many of us as he can get.

Geaux Cajuns

USLJim is right on the money. I want to take a poll and I bet at least 80 To 90% are 55 and older who are on this forum. My parents generation make up the majority of Cajun Fans .they are the heart and soul of this university.

The University better do something because they manage to cut out the 40 and younger crowd.

Now with Maggard! What has he done? He found a great football, softball, and baseball coach . Okay I give him that and that is his job .

Where he is lacking is fan support, and renovations.

He needs to focus now on fan interaction, fan engagement, and fan support, and renovation and amenities inside Cajun Field. Whether he likes that job or not that is his job.

Personally I think that part would be the greatest part of the AD job. Figuring out how to build a University to become the premier football experiences in all of college sports.

Something needs to be done because in 10 yrs we gonna have 5k people show up on game day.

[no1cajunfan]

I decided to look at G5 attendance numbers from last week. Keep in mind this is all from ESPN. I did not verify with individual box scores, and I did not triple check my work.

27 G5 home games: UL (21st overall)

Average Attendance by Conference:
1. American 27,592
2. SBC 22,477
3. MWC 20,722
4. MAC 17,698
5. CUSA 17,026

Home Games in the State of Louisiana (Average 21,139):
1. Tulane 30,100
2. LA Tech 18,300
3. UL 15,017

We finished below the average in all conferences and last in Louisiana. The SBC is the only conference where we have the lowest attendance. So basically: we look bad nationally, we look bad in Louisiana, and we are dragging those around us down.

Poor facilities, Poor opponent and poor game day experience. This is the recipe for poor attendance.

[CajunNation]

Our attendance, to this day, is tied at the hip to the Oil industry. In the history of Cajun Football, our 2 greatest attendance spikes both occurred during Boom times for local oil business, late 70's, early 2010's.

Apart from that, we have done a very poor job of retainment of fans due to poor gameday experiences and periodic knee capping of the program by you know who.

1-The RCAF must be independent like the TAF.

2-Gameday experience must be fixed permanently. (Concessions, music, restrooms, etc)

3-Youth programs must be expanded and made permanent.

4-Community outreach to local working class families is paramount.


We do all of the above, I promise you that we will see exponential growth of attendance and fundraising.

[Geaux]

USLJim is right on the money. I want to take a poll and I bet at least 80 To 90% are 55 and older who are on this forum. My parents generation make up the majority of Cajun Fans .they are the heart and soul of this university.

The University better do something because they manage to cut out the 40 and younger crowd.

Now with Maggard! What has he done? He found a great football, softball, and baseball coach . Okay I give him that and that is his job .

Where he is lacking is fan support, and renovations.

He needs to focus now on fan interaction, fan engagement, and fan support, and renovation and amenities inside Cajun Field. Whether he likes that job or not that is his job.

Personally I think that part would be the greatest part of the AD job. Figuring out how to build a University to become the premier football experiences in all of college sports.

Something needs to be done because in 10 yrs we gonna have 5k people show up on game day.

I agree. Most 35-45 year olds are in their peak earning years.

They're past the "party" stage of life and they can appreciate a good family friendly event.

Most UL graduates in this demographic also attended school with half of our coaching staff.

We have to get this group re-engaged.

[fanof71]

Poor facilities, Poor opponent and poor game day experience. This is the recipe for poor attendance.

Simple and yet powerful....I would add poor in game experience, pre-game outside CF is solid...

Let me leave a hint for Evan Roberts and Sam DeMuzio...start calling around, or even better, visiting schools that have developed solutions, real solutions to the problems we face with attendance. Go to Utah, Go to App, Capitalize on the assets we have as a community and a culture. There is no sin in stealing an idea...which we obviously lack as the proof or the efforts are seen each home game. Schools that have loosing records and reputations have better attendance than UL. The school is on a 2 year, 17-4 run...and you can't draw any students or create excitement during the week for a Saturday game...Oh, Oh, Alice Shu had a home game...big whoop. Ever seen a billboard for an airport asking you to fly the local port instead of driving an hour away to fly? Same principle, local airport gives REASONS to fly local. But....and this is a big but...UL football and athletics has too , I said has too, stay visable year round. Easy enough to do with digital products, reaching students is so easy now days anyone can do it. This situation is really no different than a service or a retailer whos looking to increase traffic. Its really that simple...I just don't get it when all the resources are already available to tackle this issue.

[Hudsheen#Fired]

Speaking of young fans, what ever happened to letting little kids run on the field before the game. Maybe go to all the elementary schools and offer free tickets to the students and say they are allowed to run on the field pre-game. I'm sure they will have numerous kids begging their parents to go to the game to run on the field and the parents would then have to buy tickets.