What is behind UL football's attendance woes? Numerous obstacles keep fans from Cajun Field

[fanof71]

Props to Foote for at least recognizing the issue at hand...That's a better job than the rest of the UL Blow Buddy's in the local "media"...

[CajunEXPRESS]

We absolutely have to repair the relationship between the school and the students, especially this overblown worry about alcohol. Get a few more Acadian ambulance with alcohol overconsumption specialists if an emergency happens.

Ultimately that’s about all you can do to people who have reached majority age for everything except alcohol, gambling, and maybe firearms. Nonsense all three

[cajun4life]

You can’t market to something that doesn’t exist. Start building your base now! Market to on campus students and high schools. 2 decades of that and maybe, we might see some support start to grow.

[jaxmc1023]

Definitely need a place for walk up first come first serve tailgating like every on campus has. It needs not be where current tailgating takes place.

The normal tailgate spots need to be first come first serve and free until they are full every Saturday (with some areas closest to stadium being premium/paid)

Look at the videos of TX St, App State, Marshall that have been shown recently..

Light shows, music people recognize and sing along to, no goofy ass PA..

Nobody posting "had a great time at Texas St game! The seat backs were full sized!"

Maggard sounds like he's listing things that will allow him to justify current prices (and probably future increases) by calling them "premium" experiences

[jaxmc1023]

Ultimately that’s about all you can do to people who have reached majority age for everything except alcohol, gambling, and maybe firearms. Nonsense all three

UL's GameDay alcohol policy reeks of being scared of litigation and liability if one of those students has to use those ambulances.

[Balanced_view]

I want to acknowledge what many on here refer to as the student/Greek broken Relationship with the admin. With that stated, how many students are we even talking about? What is our highest estimated student turnout? 8k maybe? Let's call it 10k. If the focus is heavily leaning to the students for attendance, everyone needs to get comfortable with 20k or less until we can pump out a few graduation classes to create non student fans. Revenue considerations can be had because student tickets are free? Is that correct? Anyway, patience sounds like it is needed from everyone who wants higher attendance. Student path, renovation path, or some other path will take time, like years. Enjoy yourself while we wait for it all to come together

[cajun4life]

I want to acknowledge what many on here refer to as the student/Greek broken Relationship with the admin. With that stated, how many students are we even talking about? What is our highest estimated student turnout? 8k maybe? Let's call it 10k. If the focus is heavily leaning to the students for attendance, everyone needs to get comfortable with 20k or less until we can pump out a few graduation classes to create non student fans. Revenue considerations can be had because student tickets are free? Is that correct? Anyway, patience sounds like it is needed from everyone who wants higher attendance. Student path, renovation path, or some other path will take time, like years. Enjoy yourself while we wait for it all to come together

10k in student attendance would have roughly 70% of the on campus student in attendance. That ain’t ever going to happen.

The broken relationship has to do with what the Greeks represent. How they are essentially the cardiovascular and nervous system of the student population. There isn’t any greater indication of what the engagement and connection the students have to the university than the relationship/engagement of the Greeks.

Deliberately reducing or eliminating the Greek organizations is the epitome of cutting your nose if to spite you face. They are you future donors, future fans and legacy students.

Step 1. Grow undergrad on campus population to 20k

Step 2. 40% on that student population should be Greeks

Step 3. More on campus promotion for athletics.

Step 4. High school participation and marketing/recruiting.

Step 5. Create an entertainment district centered around the new Heymann Center and Cajun Field.

Step 6. Block off Cajun Dome Blvd at 10am, food truck vendors in the medians and a DJ. Create a UL Block party every home game.

I could keep going, but that’s a start.

[Big Poppa]

The normal tailgate spots need to be first come first serve and free until they are full every Saturday (with some areas closest to stadium being premium/paid)

Look at the videos of TX St, App State, Marshall that have been shown recently..

Light shows, music people recognize and sing along to, no goofy ass PA..

Nobody posting "had a great time at Texas St game! The seat backs were full sized!"

Maggard sounds like he's listing things that will allow him to justify current prices (and probably future increases) by calling them "premium" experiences

The new stadium will cure the light show hopefully the sound system as well.

[KajunKrazy]

10k in student attendance would have roughly 70% of the on campus student in attendance. That ain’t ever going to happen.

The broken relationship has to do with what the Greeks represent. How they are essentially the cardiovascular and nervous system of the student population. There isn’t any greater indication of what the engagement and connection the students have to the university than the relationship/engagement of the Greeks.

Deliberately reducing or eliminating the Greek organizations is the epitome of cutting your nose if to spite you face. They are you future donors, future fans and legacy students.

Step 1. Grow undergrad on campus population to 20k

Step 2. 40% on that student population should be Greeks

Step 3. More on campus promotion for athletics.

Step 4. High school participation and marketing/recruiting.

Step 5. Create an entertainment district centered around the new Heymann Center and Cajun Field.

Step 6. Block off Cajun Dome Blvd at 10am, food truck vendors in the medians and a DJ. Create a UL Block party every home game.

I could keep going, but that’s a start.

Agree with you especially number 6. If we are to grow to a 30k fan base as we would all like see you have to spread people out and have more options. That area would be a great area for the walk up fan first come first serve TG area.

[KajunKrazy]

The normal tailgate spots need to be first come first serve and free until they are full every Saturday (with some areas closest to stadium being premium/paid)

Look at the videos of TX St, App State, Marshall that have been shown recently..

Light shows, music people recognize and sing along to, no goofy ass PA..

Nobody posting "had a great time at Texas St game! The seat backs were full sized!"

Maggard sounds like he's listing things that will allow him to justify current prices (and probably future increases) by calling them "premium" experiences

I disagree with your first thought. What will happen is people who are in the RCAF for the sole purpose of buying a TG spot and a parking pass for football, and there are many, will quit buying there TG spot and TG 50 yards away for free. Nothing should be free inside of CF gates. If you want to talk about price reduction or having better options on a per game bases, I am all for that but giving it away for free will create a negative effect financially speaking.

[Winning]

Anyway, patience sounds like it is needed from everyone who wants higher attendance.

Is 52 years of stagnant attendance not enough patience? 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s…etc. had attendance figures rivaling what we see today. This is this fan base. Is what it is.

[CajunRage]

I disagree with your first thought. What will happen is people who are in the RCAF for the sole purpose of buying a TG spot and a parking pass for football, and there are many, will quit buying there TG spot and TG 50 yards away for free. Nothing should be free inside of CF gates. If you want to talk about price reduction or having better options on a per game bases, I am all for that but giving it away for free will create a negative effect financially speaking.

I disagree with your take, spend money to make money. Have to play the long game here. Although free, people like their spots and will show up earlier to stake their claim. Others will go earlier and earlier. Next thing you know, people are waiting for the gates to open. Tailgating atmosphere created. Some of that atmosphere spills inside. Keep winning and the cycle begins. Pandering to the 2000 RCAF members that exist now will only keep that number at 2000. It's time to take some chances and if the RCAF members are "real fans" as many of you like to believe, they won't go anywhere. If they do, you have a group of new fans that can take their place.

Edit: I don't think it should ALL be free, but carve out a section at a premium and then make the rest first come first serve.