App State FB Season Tickets Sold Out

[ULvictory]

A few observations:

1. We have a community standoff that no one wants to talk about between the university and the locals. The locals here take the university for granted while the university takes the locals for granted. The locals know that the university is here, and they are happy with what the university does for the community. But they don't want to fly the colors in their businesses or support it like we would like them to. On the other hand, the university thinks that because they exist that the locals should just pay up and support without bringing any real message. Neither side wants to budge, so here we are. The university needs to give the "why," and the community needs to follow it if the message is on point. Win/Win for both.

2. The new stadium might fix some attendance issues early on, but if the gameday experience doesn't improve (product on the field, long concession lines, etc.), we will be back to the usual 12-16k crowd within the next 5 years after the stadium is renovated. Example: Basketball games at the renovated Cajundome.

3. We are Cajuns. It's in our blood to adapt since the days we settled here. Nothing needs to be manufactured for us to have a good time. As long as we have some music and people, there will be fun. We need to stop "manufacturing" fun. Create an organic environment (quit moving the student tailgating, quit constantly changing parking rules, etc.) where the locals can adapt and create a good time.

There's more I'm sure, but these are just a few things I have noticed over the years.

Also FWIW, the 2011 season saw the largest avg. attendance in Cajun Field history. In that same year, TSAB went undefeated and was ranked #1 in the country for most of that year until their loss to Alabama in the NC game. Also, Tiger Stadium is not completely full like it used to be unless Ole Miss and Alabama are in town which means not all of Lafayette is there like some of their fans like to claim. Until we start picking the low hanging fruit of fans with a message on the "why," we will continue to have these issues even with a new stadium.

[cajun55]

A few observations:

1. We have a community standoff that no one wants to talk about between the university and the locals. The locals here take the university for granted while the university takes the locals for granted. The locals know that the university is here, and they are happy with what the university does for the community. But they don't want to fly the colors in their businesses or support it like we would like them to. On the other hand, the university thinks that because they exist that the locals should just pay up and support without bringing any real message. Neither side wants to budge, so here we are. The university needs to give the "why," and the community needs to follow it if the message is on point. Win/Win for both.

2. The new stadium might fix some attendance issues early on, but if the gameday experience doesn't improve (product on the field, long concession lines, etc.), we will be back to the usual 12-16k crowd within the next 5 years after the stadium is renovated. Example: Basketball games at the renovated Cajundome.

3. We are Cajuns. It's in our blood to adapt since the days we settled here. Nothing needs to be manufactured for us to have a good time. As long as we have some music and people, there will be fun. We need to stop "manufacturing" fun. Create an organic environment (quit moving the student tailgating, quit constantly changing parking rules, etc.) where the locals can adapt and create a good time.

There's more I'm sure, but these are just a few things I have noticed over the years.

Also FWIW, the 2011 season saw the largest avg. attendance in Cajun Field history. In that same year, TSAB went undefeated and was ranked #1 in the country for most of that year until their loss to Alabama in the NC game. Also, Tiger Stadium is not completely full like it used to be unless Ole Miss and Alabama are in town which means not all of Lafayette is there like some of their fans like to claim. Until we start picking the low hanging fruit of fans with a message on the "why," we will continue to have these issues even with a new stadium.

Very accurate assessment but it's also about grabbing the casual fans attention again and the renovated new stadium will do that. Then we have to make sure the gameday experience is an event. We ruined the organic tailgate, chased away the frats/sororities and once you chase off fans it takes more than $1 dollar hot dogs and cheap beer to get them back. The renovated stadium gets their attention again like a new restaurant, but yes the experience has to be good.

[CajunVic]

Nice job Victory . . . now where do we go from there . . .

[anhil8tor]

no coincidence in 2011 we had Hud pushing hard on "Holding the Rope". The tailgate action was full of students and fans. Our first few years we had a frat tailgating next to us.. some of the best times we ever had tailgating. Hud told us we were big time and we bought in. Once we lost the lighting in the bottle.. we may never be able to get it again.

[RaginScotsman]

A few observations:

Also FWIW, the 2011 season saw the largest avg. attendance in Cajun Field history. In that same year, TSAB went undefeated and was ranked #1 in the country for most of that year until their loss to Alabama in the NC game. Also, Tiger Stadium is not completely full like it used to be unless Ole Miss and Alabama are in town which means not all of Lafayette is there like some of their fans like to claim. Until we start picking the low hanging fruit of fans with a message on the "why," we will continue to have these issues even with a new stadium.

Good point. Some have the opinion the Lafayette is a TSAB town. I think that's a silly declaration. It's easy to have that perception. You see their branding around town. They have fans here. It doesn't drown out UL, though. Far from it. And believe me. I'm hyper aware of stuff like that.

Can we do better? Oh, absolutely. I want to see our stuff in your face and everywhere. Look at USM. I just saw 2 of their billboards in Florida 2 weeks ago.

But when we had buzz, what TSAB did didn't matter. It's just another easy excuse.

[Cajun Monkee]

Two questions:

How many season tickets do we typically sell?

How many season tickets has App. State sold to say "sold out?"

I'm seeing a number of 11,000.

Just trying to see a fair comparison.

[RaginScotsman]

Need a promotion? Announce that you're going to HANG A BANNER and recognize the 2021 Sun Belt Conference champions. Do it game 1 when you know you can pull in fans. It's against an in-state opponent, many will be itching for tailgating/football and we're mostly likely going to win big. If people like the experience, they may come back.

I'd say wait for the conference opener, but we're at point to where we can't slow play things then show our cards weeks into the season.

We have admin staff from across the country at several universities with combined hundreds of years of experience. Come up with something. Look at peer institutions. It's not that hard to figure out.

[Turbine]

Need a promotion? Announce that you're going to HANG A BANNER and recognize the 2021 Sun Belt Conference champions. Do it game 1 when you know you can pull in fans. It's against an in-state opponent, many will be itching for tailgating/football and we're mostly likely going to win big. If people like the experience, they may come back.

I'd say wait for the conference opener, but we're at point to where we can't slow play things then show our cards weeks into the season.

We have admin staff from across the country at several universities with combined hundreds of years of experience. Come up with something. Look at peer institutions. It's not that hard to figure out.

Like it.

[Bandwagon King]

A few observations:

1. We have a community standoff that no one wants to talk about between the university and the locals. The locals here take the university for granted while the university takes the locals for granted. The locals know that the university is here, and they are happy with what the university does for the community. But they don't want to fly the colors in their businesses or support it like we would like them to. On the other hand, the university thinks that because they exist that the locals should just pay up and support without bringing any real message. Neither side wants to budge, so here we are. The university needs to give the "why," and the community needs to follow it if the message is on point. Win/Win for both.

2. The new stadium might fix some attendance issues early on, but if the gameday experience doesn't improve (product on the field, long concession lines, etc.), we will be back to the usual 12-16k crowd within the next 5 years after the stadium is renovated. Example: Basketball games at the renovated Cajundome.

3. We are Cajuns. It's in our blood to adapt since the days we settled here. Nothing needs to be manufactured for us to have a good time. As long as we have some music and people, there will be fun. We need to stop "manufacturing" fun. Create an organic environment (quit moving the student tailgating, quit constantly changing parking rules, etc.) where the locals can adapt and create a good time.

There's more I'm sure, but these are just a few things I have noticed over the years.

Also FWIW, the 2011 season saw the largest avg. attendance in Cajun Field history. In that same year, TSAB went undefeated and was ranked #1 in the country for most of that year until their loss to Alabama in the NC game. Also, Tiger Stadium is not completely full like it used to be unless Ole Miss and Alabama are in town which means not all of Lafayette is there like some of their fans like to claim. Until we start picking the low hanging fruit of fans with a message on the "why," we will continue to have these issues even with a new stadium.

Spot on observation, which is another reason someone like you needs to be heading the RCAF. Until UL gets local leadership with the desire & drive to do anything & everything to bridge these gaps, they will never be bridged. Just sitting around & letting the same tired old half ass half hearted ass holes do the same old job the same old way until they can find something better is a recipe for repeating the same results over & over & over. Until real changes are made at the highest level which will put the right people in place who have a passion & a real plan for the growth of UL sports then it's going to be the same old same old.

[KajunKrazy]

Does anyone have an update on our sales?

Any reason for optimism?

4 right here.