How to create excitement for UL Athletics?

[Crawfish]

I personally think if the people on both sides would discuss this stuff in a civil way, some people in the administration might actually read it and maybe even implement some of the suggestions. Instead of talking about what can happen to improve things, some of loudest voices on here spend more than half of their time pointing talking grade school smack at each other. I guess other fan boards are similar, but it IMO it really accomplishes nothing. I am sure that some members of the administration occasionally read this forum and maybe listen to RR, but if they are like me, as soon as the discussions devolve into "you suck- no you suck more" type of discourse, they close it off. Some of the people on here on both sides are stroking their respective egos more than trying to make a positive impact on anything. Now I am sure this message will bring out these people who will probably resort to name calling and that kind of stuff, but it is my opinion and I have heard the same thing offline from some other Ragin Cajun fans who I no longer see on this forum.

[Ragin9221]

Billboard advertising in Lafayette offers an effective way to promote your business and build brand awareness. Billboards in Lafayette usually cost around $1,620.56 for only a month.

Put up 10 for 12 months that’s 180,000 a year. Start with Lafayette, Opelousas, Crowley, Abbeville, New Iberia, Broussard, Youngsville, Jennings Delcambre, Maurice?

[Turbine]

Look at the comments on pretty much any stadium reno/demo post on social media.

Well that goes well with this thread. "How to create excitement for UL Athletics"

The job of explaining how this is paid for, structural necessity mandate, the value, the multi use capabilities, have not been comunicated at all.

For many the actual demolition starting was the first indication that anything was happening at all.

[cajun55]

Billboard advertising in Lafayette offers an effective way to promote your business and build brand awareness. Billboards in Lafayette usually cost around $1,620.56 for only a month

If that is it we could put up 20 billboards for 20k dollars all around Acadiana. Why can’t we do that ?

One of the best billboards I ever saw was when I moved back to Louisiana 5 years ago and drove in through Texas and after Lake Charles on i-10 there was a billboard that said entering Ragin' Cajuns country. Not sure if it's still there but my first thought was wow we are finally doing things the right way and promoting our athletics.

You could have the billboards spaced out into Lafayette going both directions from BR to Lake Charles, maybe promoting some of our athletic accomplishments on them as well as our upcoming games. I'm sure there is no budget for this type of stuff but there needs to be, we need to do things differently when it comes to marketing and reaching out to the larger Acadiana communities.

[ManAboutTown]

Look at the comments on pretty much any stadium reno/demo post on social media. The current buzz around the stadium project, I would say is pretty negative..

"Expansion!? They can't even fill the current stadium!"

"Waste of taxpayer and students' money!"

"Can't pay for good teachers but we can spend millions on a vanity project"

"Students shouldn't be forced to pay higher tuition to support athletics they don't care about"

If people aren't complaining about it being too expensive, then they are spouting off completely false information like the above.. and people see these comments and take them as fact. Why? Because nobody ever corrects them. The university sticks its head up and makes an announcement, then disappears into the ether, leaving a void to be filled with whatever nonsense the internet comes up with.

To further the restaurant analogy from earlier, I would say that UL football is comparable to something like Pete's. They still have enough loyal customers to keep the lights on, but that group is getting smaller every year. The food is not great, the prices are high, the atmosphere is bland compared to what it used to be. Then they keep renovating that restaurant, and reopening the same declining product in a new and improved building, when what the people really want is the old Pete's -- the dirty, dingy, poorly lit, "yeah it's a bar but there's arcade games for kids" Pete's that was a part of Lafayette culture.

The admin is trying to turn UL football gameday into Social/Chimes/Ruffinos, when what the public really wants is old Petes/Old Tyme/Judice Inn.

Absolutely perfect.

[Ragin9221]

We need to find volunteers to hand out pamphlets at high school sporting events. I am sure we have people that support the University in all the communities around Lafayette.

Get with the principal and ask if they can hand out flyers promoting UL events at high school sporting events.

How much is it to print out paper promoting a basketball game or baseball game?

Also if we had a mascot have the mascot show up to a high school basketball games and take pictures with the fans going to these sporting events.

This takes almost zero dollars to do. Just a little effort.

[Crawfish]

We need to find volunteers to hand out pamphlets at high school sporting events. I am sure we have people that support the University in all the communities around Lafayette.

Get with the principal and ask if they can hand out flyers promoting UL events at high school sporting events.

How much is it to print out paper promoting a basketball game or baseball game?

Also if we had a mascot have the mascot show up to a high school basketball games and take pictures with the fans going to these sporting events.

This takes almost zero dollars to do. Just a little effort.

Good suggestion

[Turbine]

We need to find volunteers to hand out pamphlets at high school sporting events. I am sure we have people that support the University in all the communities around Lafayette.

Get with the principal and ask if they can hand out flyers promoting UL events at high school sporting events.

How much is it to print out paper promoting a basketball game or baseball game?

Also if we had a mascot have the mascot show up to a high school basketball games and take pictures with the fans going to these sporting events.

This takes almost zero dollars to do. Just a little effort.

Many many things can be done with "almost zero dollars"

I think that is what they are trying to accomplish on social media.

I think social media is valuable but is akin to telling your wife you love her in the morning. Never stop doing it but don't expect to attract new acquaintances.

Consistent next to no cost outreach is a must do.

[CajunVic]

One of the best billboards I ever saw was when I moved back to Louisiana 5 years ago and drove in through Texas and after Lake Charles on i-10 there was a billboard that said entering Ragin' Cajuns country. Not sure if it's still there but my first thought was wow we are finally doing things the right way and promoting our athletics.

You could have the billboards spaced out into Lafayette going both directions from BR to Lake Charles, maybe promoting some of our athletic accomplishments on them as well as our upcoming games. I'm sure there is no budget for this type of stuff but there needs to be, we need to do things differently when it comes to marketing and reaching out to the larger Acadiana communities.

. . . they could also mix athletic and academic accomplishments in an attempt to attract the different audiences . . .

[Ragin9221]

Many many things can be done with "almost zero dollars"

I think that is what they are trying to accomplish on social media.

I think social media is valuable but is akin to telling your wife you love her in the morning. Never stop doing it but don't expect to attract new acquaintances.

Consistent next to no cost outreach is a must do.

Exactly, look social media has its place, but nothing is like actually seeing a face and meeting people. I promise you it would get more people talking than going on Facebook and people just scrolling through there Facebook post.

[Ragin9221]

Look at the comments on pretty much any stadium reno/demo post on social media. The current buzz around the stadium project, I would say is pretty negative..

"Expansion!? They can't even fill the current stadium!"

"Waste of taxpayer and students' money!"

"Can't pay for good teachers but we can spend millions on a vanity project"

"Students shouldn't be forced to pay higher tuition to support athletics they don't care about"

If people aren't complaining about it being too expensive, then they are spouting off completely false information like the above.. and people see these comments and take them as fact. Why? Because nobody ever corrects them. The university sticks its head up and makes an announcement, then disappears into the ether, leaving a void to be filled with whatever nonsense the internet comes up with.

To further the restaurant analogy from earlier, I would say that UL football is comparable to something like Pete's. They still have enough loyal customers to keep the lights on, but that group is getting smaller every year. The food is not great, the prices are high, the atmosphere is bland compared to what it used to be. Then they keep renovating that restaurant, and reopening the same declining product in a new and improved building, when what the people really want is the old Pete's -- the dirty, dingy, poorly lit, "yeah it's a bar but there's arcade games for kids" Pete's that was a part of Lafayette culture.

The admin is trying to turn UL football gameday into Social/Chimes/Ruffinos, when what the public really wants is old Petes/Old Tyme/Judice Inn.

Excellent point!! There has to be a way to mix in the old with the new. We can be a Ruffinos and an Old Tyme Grocery.

Right now we are a Old Tyme grocery trying to become a Ruffinos . With McDonalds food (Scheduling, Home Games W-L record etc.)

[Turbine]

. . . they could also mix athletic and academic accomplishments in an attempt to attract the different audiences . . .

Louisiana's world renown trampoline team use to do outreach demos when I was in H school.