The Event Experience

[moorecajun]

We are chasing our tail here. Most schools have trouble getting people to come to the stadium. We don't have that problem. Our issue has always been that a lot of these people refuse to enter the stadium.

We are not just selling a football game. We are selling an experience. That includes the game and the tailgating. The Game ticket should be the Gameday ticket. The fence around the stadium should be considered the outer wall of the Outer Stadium. No entry without Gameday ticket. Scan them there.

Official attendance would average near 30K most years. There would be no long lines of people cramming the entry to the Inner Stadium. People would be free to come and go from the Playing area to the Tailgating area as they please.

I like this idea. A lot.

[KajunKrazy]

We brought couches and tents and tailgated under the trees behind the score board for free until about 2010. Then moved to the Eauxk with the Eauxk boys for a few seasons until they let the spot go. Now, you can't even buy a spot in that area. It's full of trashcans.

Bread, eggs and milk went up 30-40% lately because of geo-politics, a pandemic, supply chain issues and incompetent legislation. Why did RV and tailgate prices go up? Because App St gets a certain dollar amount? South Al?

I understand (and agree whole heartedly with) setting a value to your product. But the reality is... We ain't App St. This is a program that has won at a highly consistent level for 40 years. We don't have an on campus stadium with limited space. In fact, the opposite. Lafayette isn't Boone, with limited events to do on Fall/Winter Saturdays. Again, quite the opposite. We're also not Mobile, AL. A major city in this country with many many wealthy alumni in a corporation-rich area.

We are our own. We are very unique. Something we take pride in and could take to market SO EASILY. But instead, we try to compare ourselves to "peer institutions" and arbitrarily raise prices on fans that came to the stadium PRECISELY BECAUSE it was a cheap (damn near free) option.

I used to joke about "the purge" and getting rid of the hangers on. Which, hey, looks like they listened to ole MAT. Problem is, they went about getting the correct type of fan into the stadiums, arenas and fields in the complete wrong way. Not only did we chase off fans, we chased of people in leadership in this admin that had the right ideas but were so hamstrung by people in Martin Hall clinging to control that they just gave up. Can't say that I blame them.

As far as growth south, it's pretty simple: Growth takes families with them. There are many more things to do for families in 2023 than in 2005 in this area. New parks, more youth sports, trampoline parks, fun zones, etc. And now, they're living 30 minutes from CF rather than 10. So not only do you have more competition, it's more of a hassle to get to the field. I'm not saying this is THE reason. I'm saying it's one of several we're dealing with. And still, no evolution by Athletics.

I have to disagree with the growth and people moving to the smaller towns out side of Lafayette. That happens all across America. If it were a reason for people to not go to games it would happen every where. People have just lost interest and they need to figure out how to get them to drive from not only outer Lafayette parish but Iberia, Vermillion, Acadia….and so on. There is nothing close to Troy Alabama and they draw decent crowds even when they are down.

[CajunVic]

There is nothing close to Troy Alabama and they draw decent crowds even when they are down.

There my friend is your answer . . . way too much to do here . . .

[ManAboutTown]

I have to disagree with the growth and people moving to the smaller towns out side of Lafayette. That happens all across America. If it were a reason for people to not go to games it would happen every where. People have just lost interest and they need to figure out how to get them to drive from not only outer Lafayette parish but Iberia, Vermillion, Acadia….and so on. There is nothing close to Troy Alabama and they draw decent crowds even when they are down.

Have you been to Troy, AL? There is more to do in Opelousas.
And it's surrounded by absolutely nothing.

[KajunKrazy]

Rearranging the student tailgate area resulted in a substantial drop in student attendance and participation. Why? I'm not really sure, but the results were clear.

Cheap or free tailgating (and listen, y'all have to understand, I'm speaking relative to the demographic that typically fill seats at CF) is a numbers game. If you get 40k inside the CF fences, you'd hope to get 25k (at very least) in the game. During Hud years, I'd argue it was closer to 50k on the grounds and 28-30k in the stands. Closer proximity customers are to your product, higher the probability they'll buy something. It's the foot traffic for coffee shops and retail model.

Dang I am sorry I meant 8. I do agree and have always said there needs to be better options for the casual fan who may only attend a game or 2 for tailgating even if that means creating a whole other TG area.

[KajunKrazy]

Have you been to Troy, AL? There is more to do in Opelousas.
And it's surrounded by absolutely nothing.

Yes. 3 times. That what I am saying most people drive from at least an hour or more to go to the games there. Much of their fan base lives in the Dothan area where there is plenty to do much like Lafayette, but they leave Dothan to drive to Troy. There is no place to park. All 3 times I paid someone to park in their yard and walked a mile.

[SlickRick]

Ok...so since we are known for our food, around the world, we should have a Cajun Food Cook-off for every home game. Each game would have a designated food category to be in the contest. For example, my six choices would be Gratons, Jambalaya, BBQ, Seafood, Crawfish Etouffee' and Gumbo...probably in that order or possibly switching Gumbo and Etouffee' depending on crawfish crop. Boudin may be too hard to pull off, no pun intended, for most folks not having the equipment to process the links. All food prep (except marinating meat) and cooking to be done on gameday.

All entries would be judged at Russo Park, 3 hours before Kick-off with a hefty cash prizes for winners, could even include parking passes! LOL!

Seriously, the food aspect of our culture is the attention grabber of the event day. We already know this, but we could put way more emphasis on our favorite dishes/heritage with a Cajun Cook-off to bring more attention to the games. There would have to be some ground rules established and entries would have to be limited by timing to submit and total number.

Other events to include on a game by game basis:
-Boudin eating contest
- Battle of the Bands contest
- Cajun half or quarter Marathon that includes a circuit around Cajun field, Greek area,
Blackham Coliseum and the main campus
- Classic Car / four wheeler contest
- HS 7 on 7 competition before the real game. Organized to include up to 16 teams over
2 game dates. 20 min run time games played on CF.

[fanof71]

Have you been to Troy, AL? There is more to do in Opelousas.
And it's surrounded by absolutely nothing.

And they sold out of their season ticket allotment of 10k, which will probably be moved up to 12 or 15k, promoted heavily, well be reading about sold out Troy games, while the Maggard crew does nothing and are rewarded by being allowed to keep their jobs...

[SlickRick]

And they sold out of their season ticket allotment of 10k, which will probably be moved up to 12 or 15k, promoted heavily, well be reading about sold out Troy games, while the Maggard crew does nothing and are rewarded by being allowed to keep their jobs...

Troy football games ARE the only big thing to do there.

[KajunKrazy]

Troy football games ARE the only big thing to do there.

And people actually leave places where there are other things to do and drive over an hour to get there.

[Big Poppa]

Troy football games ARE the only big thing to do there.

Curious how many Saturday games in the fall are there big events that rival a Cajuns game? I think I recall one gulf brew festival? Festival Acdadian happens every year not always a home game though. I don’t know of anything in September.

[ULvictory]

I have to disagree with the growth and people moving to the smaller towns out side of Lafayette. That happens all across America. If it were a reason for people to not go to games it would happen every where. People have just lost interest and they need to figure out how to get them to drive from not only outer Lafayette parish but Iberia, Vermillion, Acadia….and so on. There is nothing close to Troy Alabama and they draw decent crowds even when they are down.

Well for one, actually showing face in those parishes would be a start. And not just once, but a few times during the year and creating fan clubs/chapters within those parishes to watch games and whatnot.