Tailgate spot wanted

[RaisingCajun08]

If the lot would be open to general parking with a fee, what would be the principal?

The principle is: we used to get a parking pass with our RCAF membership. Since they took the only perk that I used, I reduced my membership. This is because there was already most of Cajun Field empty at that time. Now there is even more because I believe a lot of people feel the same as I do.

Its simple supply and demand. There was not a supply problem. We always had plenty of parking area unused at Cajun Field. Now we have even more. I would completely understand going up or taking away the RCAF parking pass perk if there was not enough room for parking. But that is not the case.

Again, supply and demand. We were one of the 1st groups in line during the Bustle days when they started charging for tailgating. At that time, it was a fight each week to get the spot that we wanted to tailgate. The demand was high. Now, not so much.

I dont have the exact numbers but I would be willing to be that RCAF memberships have dropped in total. Have no idea if the RCAF revenue is up or down.

[BabbForHeisman]

This shouldn't be that hard. Passes are $60, or $10/game. You don't want to buy a whole season pass? Fine, but single games are $20.

The question is how to manage the parking lots filling up. Again, easy...you put a disclaimer on there that says "if you haven't entered the parking lot 45 minutes before game time, your spot is not guaranteed and no refunds will be given."

[JayWalker]

It won't. If there even is a small subset of "fans" that are claiming those two incidents as to why they have pulled support, I fully believe that it's merely a convenient excuse for them to stay home and watch the game on ESPN+.

COVID + ESPN+ has made it easy to stay home, barbecue and get Cajun Sports for 10 bucks a month.

The other opinions are valid. But COVID forced people to stay home in 2020.

We never recovered

[BabbForHeisman]

COVID + ESPN+ has made it easy to stay home, barbecue and get Cajun Sports for 10 bucks a month.

The other opinions are valid. But COVID forced people to stay home in 2020.

We never recovered

https://www.d1ticker.com/2022-fbs-attendance-trends/

Interesting data here. We had the largest drop attendance between 2021 and 2022 in any school in FBS. We have the 7th largest drop compared to 5 year attendance average (which, the 5 year numbers are abnormal based on the covid year, but still worth something for trend tracking).

It wouldn't make sense to say that the drop from 2021 to 2022 had something to do with covid (2020), FDJT videos (20...17?), or BLM (2020).

[JayWalker]

https://www.d1ticker.com/2022-fbs-attendance-trends/

Interesting data here. We had the largest drop attendance between 2021 and 2022 in any school in FBS. We have the 7th largest drop compared to 5 year attendance average (which, the 5 year numbers are abnormal based on the covid year, but still worth something for trend tracking).

It wouldn't make sense to say that the drop from 2021 to 2022 had something to do with covid (2020), FDJT videos (20...17?), or BLM (2020).

Of course it makes sense. Compare 2019 to 2021. 2021 was our best year ever. Then we lost our coach… And a ton of players… Which precipitated another decline.

Other schools survived Covid plus television. We have not.

[KajunKrazy]

COVID + ESPN+ has made it easy to stay home, barbecue and get Cajun Sports for 10 bucks a month.

The other opinions are valid. But COVID forced people to stay home in 2020.

We never recovered

You would know better than me as you travel with the team. How did the rest of the league recover from covid. Were most able to bounce back to pre covid numbers or are they experiencing the same. I know App st from the facebook page are always listing sell outs. They were in the same covid boats. How about the rest?

[BananaHammock]

We need to stop worrying about people tailgating and not coming inside the stadium. At every school there are people that do this and that's their prerogative, we need to stop trying to police every aspect of gameday. Having a bigger tailgate crowd will draw more people to attend tailgating and/or the game. When an event looks to be underattended the avg person will keep on driving. When an event looks to be well attended the avg person will be intrigued and attend.

I'm totally fine with a small area of the parking lot being available for first come-first serve to non-RCAF or season ticket holders. Make tailgating more accessible, make parking a tad bit more friendly for the casual fans and I believe you see better attendance as a whole. Perhaps not a sold out stadium but it should be better.

[JayWalker]

You would know better than me as you travel with the team. How did the rest of the league recover from covid. Were most able to bounce back to pre covid numbers or are they experiencing the same. I know App st from the facebook page are always listing sell outs. They were in the same covid boats. How about the rest?

In my opinion, we have been hurt more by that than any other team in the league. I think the reasons are twofold… Our Fanbase is not as passionate as some other schools… Combine that with a stadium that has absolutely no amenities whatsoever and you’ve got a lot of reason to stay home.

[CajunNation]

Of course it makes sense. Compare 2019 to 2021. 2021 was our best year ever. Then we lost our coach… And a ton of players… Which precipitated another decline.

Other schools survived Covid plus television. We have not.

Correct. COVID did a number on attendance. Then, Billy gutted the program with NIL and the Portal helping with the plunder.

The miracle is that we made a Bowl game last year. The next miracle will be getting back to 10 wins and 20k+ avg. attendance with a new stadium.

Not many people see it, but I do. We are on the precipice of a Cajun revival. What Martin Hall has to do is not F this up with harassment or overpricing of students or fans.

[Turbine]

... Having a bigger tailgate crowd will draw more people to attend tailgating and/or the game. When an event looks to be underattended the avg person will keep on driving. When an event looks to be well attended the avg person will be intrigued and attend.

Which is why, I hope the upper deck is quickly filled.

I feel as you do besides parking, for decades passers by have looked at a mostly empty upper deck so their perception is sort of "nothing worth seeing."