When I saw this my first thought was "no way". Then I thought maybe I should look it up. I owe Scott Malkinson an apology.The Parishes of the Acadiana Region account for a population of 642,673 according to the 2022 census count. That is about double what I thought it was.
Lafayette Parish 247,866
Acadia Parish 56,744
St. Martin Parish 51,236
Vermlion Parish 56,952
Iberia Parish 68,327
St. Landry Parish 81,773
Evangeline Parish 31,986
St. Mary Parish 47,789
We are currently drawing 2.6% of the people of our region, and that includes students at the university. I would also say that if you believe that there are 16,700 people actually at the football games then I would like to sell you some high dry land in the middle of the swamp.
In order to sell out our new, reduced seating stadium we will need to have 4.8% of our citizens go to the games. That would be 1 out of every 21 people in Acadiana choosing to go to a fairly priced venue. Once they are there they will be overcharged for poor quality food, and drinks that cost 3.5 times what you pay in a convenience store. The other option is to not buy food at the game and tell the children that you will leave when they start complaining, meaning you will be gone by the end of the first quarter. Why? because there is zero gameday experience for children.
We can go on and on about why people do not go to the football games, but for many it is simply because the quality of the product does not meet the price of attending a game. A family of four will drop $200 to go to a game, IF NOT MORE.
Don't say it costs more to go to an LSU game. They are always ranked in the top 25, and have had 2 recent Heisman winners. I'm not LSU fan, but I also know that their product on the football field and basketball court(s) is far better than ours.
Drop the prices, give free refills on $6 soft drinks, and put a decent product on the field and you will fill up your new stadium.