Football Attendance Comparison

[ManAboutTown]

I have been to Boone and spent 4 different weeks working all over the state of NC. One thing App has going for it is all other schools are clean across the other end of the state. They don’t have a school 45 minutes away drawing 100k on Saturdays. Boone, oxford, Starkville, Manhattan Ks and Auburn all very much alike as towns if you take the university out. Population really has nothing to do with it because those schools all draw well. It’s all about pride in your school and making that connection.

I am sure Elon brought at least 5 to 10 thousand of that 3rd largest crowd. Because there is nothing about Elon that would have made the App base overly excited, to show up more than the average crowd. And there is no doubt Wake traveled very well to Boone to make that crowd. Probably much like SU here except they were all in the same colors.

Do you think 11k is a good number of season tickets to sell? App st this week just announced they are sold out of season tickets at 11k.

Our biggest problem is turning students into good alumni, if we had every SLI USL UL alumnus that are in Baton Rouge every weekend that still live in the state of LA, to start coming home our problems would be solved. These are people that love football but could care less about their own school. That is the puzzle that has to be figured out if we are ever to fix it.

Well considering 11k season tickets would either be a record or close to it for UL, yea, I’d say it’s a good number.

I’ve been to Boone 3 times now. Great little town. It’s remote af. Very little industry there. More tourism than anything else. Saying population doesn’t matter is nonsense. That’s like saying foot traffic for a coffee shop should never be considered when choosing location.

While App doesn’t have an LSU right “down the road”, I’m pretty sure NC has more D1 football programs in P5 conferences than LA does. People are attracted to winners; distance really isn’t the deciding factor in interest. We have always been a program that uses the word “can’t” way too often. Makes excuses way too often. App St has been FBS for less than a decade and look what they’ve accomplished. Juxtapose that with what we’ve accomplished.

The fact remains, we’ve done very little to excite, engage and be consistently conscientious with our support base. We’ve enjoyed unprecedented success in the last decade within our athletic program. What have we done to cultivate, expand and codify our support base?

[fanof71]

I have been to Boone and spent 4 different weeks working all over the state of NC. One thing App has going for it is all other schools are clean across the other end of the state. They don’t have a school 45 minutes away drawing 100k on Saturdays. Boone, oxford, Starkville, Manhattan Ks and Auburn all very much alike as towns if you take the university out. Population really has nothing to do with it because those schools all draw well. It’s all about pride in your school and making that connection.

I am sure Elon brought at least 5 to 10 thousand of that 3rd largest crowd. Because there is nothing about Elon that would have made the App base overly excited, to show up more than the average crowd. And there is no doubt Wake traveled very well to Boone to make that crowd. Probably much like SU here except they were all in the same colors.

Do you think 11k is a good number of season tickets to sell? App st this week just announced they are sold out of season tickets at 11k.

Our biggest problem is turning students into good alumni, if we had every SLI USL UL alumnus that are in Baton Rouge every weekend that still live in the state of LA, to start coming home our problems would be solved. These are people that love football but could care less about their own school. That is the puzzle that has to be figured out if we are ever to fix it.

Elon 5 to 10k fans? Elon doesn't draw that for their home games...

If you read the press release about the season tickets, it was capped at 11k to accommodate students, visiting teams, special guests , and a few walk ups....

The only factual information concerning App in your post is your take on App and these other schools not having an Alice Shu 45 miles down the road...

[RedTails]

Others have acknowledged this fact, but what they have is tradition. Outside of the last decade, our success on the football field has been sporadic at best. You don't build tradition off of one successful decade.

Your point concerning the small population in Boone is also poignant. They are representative of the small college football towns like Troy, Ruston and others that have had success in the lower classifications for many years. That can't be replicated here in Lafayette at this point. It's not happening.

Finally, let me say that I have stayed out of the discussion for the most point up until this point and have read through a number of the post. It's total bs that Dr. Maggard and this administration has not tried to improve the game experience at Cajun Field. While it is true that they haven't always been successful in the actions they've taken, they have been the most progressive administration in trying to add some value to our game experience beyond the product on the field in my memory of attending games at Cajun Field. They reached out to season ticket holders and RCAF members with surveys. The problem is anytime you enhance activities with college football there is a cost associated with it. And our fan base has already proven that when that cost is passed down to the consumer, they aren't happy. See the change in parking fees for further illustration of my point.

This administration also return the student tailgating area to Cajun Field after foolishly moving it. The students were also given input on the events. Has it changed the number of students in attendance?

Like a number of people here, I agree there are a few things that may reasonably change or enhance the in person game experiences at Cajun Field. And a mascot and a more entertaining band doesn't move the needle in that direction. But it does make for more entertaining conversation on this board.

For me, it's do the simple things well and enhance what you can. Don't over promise improvements that you can't deliver. And most importantly, keep winning!

Geaux Cajuns!

Good points. I feel as though moving tailgating back to Cajun Field helped with student attendance a bit. They just don’t stay the whole game.

[John Cocktolstoy]

Well considering 11k season tickets would either be a record or close to it for UL, yea, I’d say it’s a good number.

I’ve been to Boone 3 times now. Great little town. It’s remote af. Very little industry there. More tourism than anything else. Saying population doesn’t matter is nonsense. That’s like saying foot traffic for a coffee shop should never be considered when choosing location.

While App doesn’t have an LSU right “down the road”, I’m pretty sure NC has more D1 football programs in P5 conferences than LA does. People are attracted to winners; distance really isn’t the deciding factor in interest. We have always been a program that uses the word “can’t” way too often. Makes excuses way too often. App St has been FBS for less than a decade and look what they’ve accomplished. Juxtapose that with what we’ve accomplished.

The fact remains, we’ve done very little to excite, engage and be consistently conscientious with our support base. We’ve enjoyed unprecedented success in the last decade within our athletic program. What have we done to cultivate, expand and codify our support base?

I agree with you. Especially your last paragraph. I am of the belief if you don’t cultivate that excitement and make that life long fan while they are here in school then you have lost them for life. Most of your average joe blow citizen non UL attendee around here are going to be a wal-mart lsu jersey wearing fan. That is what it is.

When you say we’ve done very little to excite our fan base I agree 100% long term in past history. We had Ray Authument as president for over 30 years. That is a self afflicted probation to athletics. But if the last 4 years isn’t enough to excite someone into buying a season ticket, who calls themself a fan, then they are not a fan.

[John Cocktolstoy]

Elon 5 to 10k fans? Elon doesn't draw that for their home games...

If you read the press release about the season tickets, it was capped at 11k to accommodate students, visiting teams, special guests , and a few walk ups....

The only factual information concerning App in your post is your take on App and these other schools not having an Alice Shu 45 miles down the road...

Yep. For Elon it was similar to the cajuns going to NOLA. It was their bowl game. Cajuns can bring 40 plus there. You know how that goes family and friend connections in the 2 schools several get together who typically don’t go to games. The classic in state match up.

Yes. I saw the release to. Dumb marketing. You keep what you need for student, player and visitor allotment then you sell the rest. Why wait for walk ups 2,3,and 4 months from now if you can sell the seat today.

[RaginDave]

Elon 5 to 10k fans? Elon doesn't draw that for their home games...

If you read the press release about the season tickets, it was capped at 11k to accommodate students, visiting teams, special guests , and a few walk ups....

The only factual information concerning App in your post is your take on App and these other schools not having an Alice Shu 45 miles down the road...

Yeah, last season Elon's entire attendance combined for 6 home games was under 8K. Roughly 1300 per game and that included one game that they played Gardner Webb that they had 2700 at that one. So I doubt Elon brought more than a few hundred if that many. Elon is a Christian private school just outside of Burlington, NC about 20 minutes outside of Greensboro (I know you know that 71, this is for others). They have about 7K students in total.

[JamesTheJeweler]

Oh, hey guys! What are yall talking about?

[John Cocktolstoy]

Yeah, last season Elon's entire attendance combined for 6 home games was under 8K. Roughly 1300 per game and that included one game that they played Gardner Webb that they had 2700 at that one. So I doubt Elon brought more than a few hundred if that many. Elon is a Christian private school just outside of Burlington, NC about 20 minutes outside of Greensboro (I know you know that 71, this is for others). They have about 7K students in total.

First of all the game in question was 12 years ago. A lot can change in 12 years. It could be like comparing cajun crowds when jake played vs baldwins worst crowds. We don’t know what was going on 12 years ago at Elon.

[Skinnycajun]

Others have acknowledged this fact, but what they have is tradition. Outside of the last decade, our success on the football field has been sporadic at best. You don't build tradition off of one successful decade.

Your point concerning the small population in Boone is also poignant. They are representative of the small college football towns like Troy, Ruston and others that have had success in the lower classifications for many years. That can't be replicated here in Lafayette at this point. It's not happening.

Finally, let me say that I have stayed out of the discussion for the most point up until this point and have read through a number of the post. It's total bs that Dr. Maggard and this administration has not tried to improve the game experience at Cajun Field. While it is true that they haven't always been successful in the actions they've taken, they have been the most progressive administration in trying to add some value to our game experience beyond the product on the field in my memory of attending games at Cajun Field. They reached out to season ticket holders and RCAF members with surveys. The problem is anytime you enhance activities with college football there is a cost associated with it. And our fan base has already proven that when that cost is passed down to the consumer, they aren't happy. See the change in parking fees for further illustration of my point.

This administration also return the student tailgating area to Cajun Field after foolishly moving it. The students were also given input on the events. Has it changed the number of students in attendance?

Like a number of people here, I agree there are a few things that may reasonably change or enhance the in person game experiences at Cajun Field. And a mascot and a more entertaining band doesn't move the needle in that direction. But it does make for more entertaining conversation on this board.

For me, it's do the simple things well and enhance what you can. Don't over promise improvements that you can't deliver. And most importantly, keep winning!

Geaux Cajuns!

Someone mentioned earlier having a swamp(Air Boat) leading the cajuns entering the field prior to the game ala the Oklahoma sooners covered wagon. The roar alone of the props would dictate the beginning of the contest and would certainly be unique. Adjustments to the bottom of the boat(if needed) would prevent damage to the turf. Firing it up after TDs and such would add juice to the crowd experience.

[ragin50]

And App announced this morning it has sold out of its season tickets...11,000 with 6 home games...

Why would they only sell 11000 season tickets and stop?