The Future of Cajun Nation

[Duckster]

The future of Cajun Nation is bright IF a course correction is made on a couple of fronts. Presently, its not looking too bright because we have way too many football and basketball fans in the transfer portal! But it doesn't have to be this way. If we're only grading facilities we are in the upper echelon. Our baseball experience, to me, is pretty darn good. A great place to take in a game, chill out. I don't attend softball games, but hear that's an excellent environment, too. The Cajundome is a nicer environment since the remodel, very comfortable. And in a couple years we will have one of the finest college G5 sized football stadiums and probably will turn out nicer than many P5 stadiums. From a facility standpoint we have a few things to poke our chests out with lots of Cajun pride. The university does not have a complacency problem when it comes to either athletic facilities or for that matter, academic facilities. Appreciate the leadership in this area. Just gonna post on a couple areas of chronic complacency but are big ones affecting everything IMO. Its been posted here and in sports media many times that football 'drives the bus'. If football weren't the crown jewel of college athletics then there wouldn't be so many FCS move ups the past 25 years. Look at the Sunbelt. Every Sunbelt member save for UL and USM are 21st century FCS move ups with Marshall, Ark St., ULM moving up in the 90's.
Some of the recent move ups were successful but it should have been evident to university leaders several years ago our fanbase is not enthusiastic about our Sunbelt home football schedule. Granted we can applaud the SBC has come a long way. But as along as we're in the SBC, its obviously difficult convincing new fans, young fans, old fans, or existing Cajuns fans attend games at higher price point to watch more SBC football. Its not working. The SBC football schedule is a hard sell to get new fans in the door here. Maybe not in other SBC markets where the fanbase feels they've arrived. Nothing wrong with that. But its very obvious our Cajuns fanbase is not on board. Realignment has watered down the AAC but IMO it will take UL moving into the AAC to give our fanbase a massive jolt. No, its not a cure all but continuing our current path guarantees similar results down this same fur lined rut. Otherwise we are stuck with the perception we are comfortable competing nearer the lower rung of college FBS football. That is unserious considering Cajuns football, in all aspects, should be treated like our crown jewel program. Other than conference affiliation our fan recruitment problems are rooted in our athletic department's inconsistent or barely existent communications, declining customer service and complacency. The department was making strides in customer service/outreach but that has fallen off. The fans (customers) are not at fault, the fanbase is not the problem. As hard as coaches work to recruit the best players, administration needs to work just as hard recruiting and re-recruiting its fanbase.

[fanof71]

I am not sure that the East Side sunshine is the only problem, or even the biggest. For me, personally, the biggest issue is that I am being asked to move to seats inferior to what I now have, at an unknown price, and with no guarantee of any price or even opportunity to return to seating comparable to what I have had for many years once construction is complete.

I refuse to pay the same amount for end zone or east side seats as I have been paying for 50 yard line chairback seats; especially if I have no price guarantee and no opportunity guarantee to regain my current seating.

Contrary to the University's belief, it is not entitled to any of my money, nor that of any other fan. It must earn that money EVERY YEAR by treating all of us with respect and transparency. Every person who is being displaced should receive from the University a guaranteed opportunity [at a guaranteed price, including the required RCAF donation, the premium required to purchase his seats and the actual ticket cost] to return to the seating he is being displaced from BEFORE he is asked to buy his displaced seats for this coming season.

Well said!

[JamesTheJeweler]

You are correct. But the alumni association is not going to do an event for a watch party in Abbeville and then another at the very next game at the same place in Abbeville. They need to be moving around to different communities.

Oh.....so they hosted one at a different location that next week? LoL! Although that would fit Martin Hall logic.
"Hey, would yall like to do another watch party like last one?"

"No, we already did one there last week. We need to move around to different locations."

"Oh, so yall are doing one somewhere else?"

"No, but we're just not gonna do it in the same place."

""Well, that doesn't make sense...last week was very succesful."

"We know....but still.....no. Because reasons."

[BabbForHeisman]

Oh.....so they hosted one at a different location that next week? LoL! Although that would fit Martin Hall logic.
"Hey, would yall like to do another watch party like last one?"

"No, we already did one there last week. We need to move around to different locations."

"Oh, so yall are doing one somewhere else?"

"No, but we're just not gonna do it in the same place."

""Well, that doesn't make sense...last week was very succesful."

"We know....but still.....no. Because reasons."

It’s almost like you were in the room

[moorecajun]

Very good post and I agree 100%, but I don't understand the need for reseating for next year. All seating should be general admission with GA prices, and the department should focus on reseating for '25. If you want 50 yard lines seats next year just show up 30 minutes before kick, no problem.

I agree with you 100%. IMO, this (having all GA seating for the displaced season ticket holders next season). I don't know or particularly care where I sit next year, except we would like to keep our group together. And who knows, having GA seats may generate some excitement; people getting into the stands earlier to get better seats. If you sit in someone's seat who has season tickets, just move when they arrive and show your their tickets, not a big deal.

[KajunKrazy]

I am not sure that the East Side sunshine is the only problem, or even the biggest. For me, personally, the biggest issue is that I am being asked to move to seats inferior to what I now have, at an unknown price, and with no guarantee of any price or even opportunity to return to seating comparable to what I have had for many years once construction is complete.

I refuse to pay the same amount for end zone or east side seats as I have been paying for 50 yard line chairback seats; especially if I have no price guarantee and no opportunity guarantee to regain my current seating. I have no problem this is a positive change no matter how you look at it.

Contrary to the University's belief, it is not entitled to any of my money, nor that of any other fan. It must earn that money EVERY YEAR by treating all of us with respect and transparency. Every person who is being displaced should receive from the University a guaranteed opportunity [at a guaranteed price, including the required RCAF donation, the premium required to purchase his seats and the actual ticket cost] to return to the seating he is being displaced from BEFORE he is asked to buy his displaced seats for this coming season.

Where were your seats? If in the lower bowl sections you should have no problem getting a comparable seat. If you were in U___ fill in the blank like me you won't have the same seat. But you also won't be in an out dated dinosaur any more either.

Obviously next year is a construction year so hopefully folks will understand your old seats just won't be there and there will be some give and take. Season ticket holder next year will have first dibs 2025.

[CoolCajun123]

No, the unnamed restaurant in Abbeville who put on a watch party and then wanted help from the university to do another.

Chili’s or Hai Nam??

[cajun4life]

Where were your seats? If in the lower bowl sections you should have no problem getting a comparable seat. If you were in U___ fill in the blank like me you won't have the same seat. But you also won't be in an out dated dinosaur any more either.

Obviously next year is a construction year so hopefully folks will understand your old seats just won't be there and there will be some give and take. Season ticket holder next year will have first dibs 2025.

Majority of the UD chair back season ticket holders will be permanently displaced. Those new seats will be for the corporate folks. Since we are going to rival the upper tier P5 programs for pricing.

[Esqueleto]

Majority of the UD chair back season ticket holders will be permanently displaced. Those new seats will be for the corporate folks. Since we are going to rival the upper tier P5 programs for pricing.

$3k per seat for G5 football. LOL. Hope they sell em out.

[VObserver]

$3k per seat for G5 football. LOL. Hope they sell em out.

Is that the actual number, or just a number you threw out there?

[Esqueleto]

Is that the actual number, or just a number you threw out there?

The number

[cajun4life]

The number

So it’s $3k a seat to sit in the club seats. Not the suites, but the open air upper deck chair backs?

I guess I would’ve known if they ever called me back in January. But, for that amount it wouldn’t matter anyway.

I’ll just pay for Star Link and watch from the camp.