Live Game Talk: Louisiana 17, Georgia State 20

[ZoomZoom]

Well, problem #1 is RCAF, the UL Foundation and now Krew Allons are all fishing in the same pond.

[Big Buds]

The family of 4 going to Tiger Stadium and spending $500 plus when all is said and done are doing so because it meets a need for them. Whether it's the brand, experience, opponents, and/or winning championships it appeals to them and therefore they spend $$$. This isn't a problem unique to UL or Lafayette, it happens across the state.

Our focus needs to be on building brand loyalty with students year over year. A student that is loyal to UL athletics is more likely to become a loyal alumni. The university missed out on making a large number of UL alumni loyal to UL athletics by simply ignoring them. I started going to UL football games as a freshman at UL not because the university marketed to me but because I love football. I'm the outlier, not the norm.

Finally, we need to show the community that we have a higher ceiling for UL football. That will require time. The excitement of our first New Orleans Bowl in 2011 was high but after a few years the excitment decreased. Why? The community believes our ceiling is a potential conference championship and a minor bowl game. THe community wants to see more and we have to figure out how to do that.

Nailed it

[Cajunsmike]

I have to say this. My original reply was about attendance, not financials.

Every game available on TV is a major reason our attendance is down.

[JMV JustMyView]

Every game available on TV is a major reason our attendance is down.

The TV isn't effecting Texas State and App.

[Duggie35]

Every game available on TV is a major reason our attendance is down.

Ragin Cajun Football is being watched by more people than ever before. But, as Mike said, most are watching on TV rather than inside Cajun Field! Obviously, no one has a definitive solution. All I can do is to keep showing up just as I have been doing for decades. I can only control what I do, and refuse to beat my head against a wall trying to convince those that just don't get it to come and enjoy the games in person.

[RaginCajun77]

Every game available on TV is a major reason our attendance is down.

I don't believe this is a major reason. Reasons that stand out to me:
1. Failure to create new loyal fans via the student pipeline.
2. Current fans getting older and are no longer physically able to get out to games or they don't want to attend games for 4 hours, especially with 7PM kickoffs.

Data analytics on ticket utilization should let us know the number of students, season ticket holders, and casual fans attending games. This should give leadership insight on where to target marketing.

Games on TV via cable or streaming won't change.

[jaxmc1023]

Finally, we need to show the community that we have a higher ceiling for UL football. That will require time. The excitement of our first New Orleans Bowl in 2011 was high but after a few years the excitment decreased. Why? The community believes our ceiling is a potential conference championship and a minor bowl game. THe community wants to see more and we have to figure out how to do that.

That's VERY unlikely to happen. We strung together our two best seasons in team history (consecutively) and it netted us the same result-- conference championship and a minor bowl game.

In my opinion, you have to convince the community that UL has a higher ceiling for ENTERTAINMENT. GameDay should be like any other festival this town puts on. Close/high scores, good music, good food, good tailgating, people slugging $2 nattys and getting rowdy in the game, students making life hell on opposing players

Our current approach of "gahhh lee! we're a real football team too!" isn't working. To most of Acadiana we are the Ice Gators or the Cane Cutters -- low stakes sports that costs too much and has highschool production value

[fanof71]

...To most of Acadiana we are the Ice Gators or the Cane Cutters -- low stakes sports that costs too much and has highschool production value...

Yea you rite,!

[JamesTheJeweler]

That’s not funny. An accurate passer would cut them up.

Dude, I normally respect your takes, but that was a terrible take. I get it, you were all in on Ben. But saying we win by three scores is myopic...and I'm being kind there. Ben gets sacked 10 times in that game. At best, we have the same record this season, regardless of who the QB is, Ben is gone, and now we're starting a green QB next season all over again. Ben is a mediocre QB at best.

[CajunJack55]

That's VERY unlikely to happen. We strung together our two best seasons in team history (consecutively) and it netted us the same result-- conference championship and a minor bowl game.

In my opinion, you have to convince the community that UL has a higher ceiling for ENTERTAINMENT. GameDay should be like any other festival this town puts on. Close/high scores, good music, good food, good tailgating, people slugging $2 nattys and getting rowdy in the game, students making life hell on opposing players

Our current approach of "gahhh lee! we're a real football team too!" isn't working. To most of Acadiana we are the Ice Gators or the Cane Cutters -- low stakes sports that costs too much and has highschool production value

With 12 team playoff this will change. With SBC being best G5 conference this will change. Next year 2 G5 will get a shot at it. After that will be back to one. We will have the best chances ever to be on national stage after this season. I bet we don’t market that at all…but you know who will…the Tulanes, Boises, SDSU, Mamphis of the world…