What is behind UL football's attendance woes? Numerous obstacles keep fans from Cajun Field

[KajunKrazy]

10k in student attendance would have roughly 70% of the on campus student in attendance. That ain’t ever going to happen.

The broken relationship has to do with what the Greeks represent. How they are essentially the cardiovascular and nervous system of the student population. There isn’t any greater indication of what the engagement and connection the students have to the university than the relationship/engagement of the Greeks.

Deliberately reducing or eliminating the Greek organizations is the epitome of cutting your nose if to spite you face. They are you future donors, future fans and legacy students.

Step 1. Grow undergrad on campus population to 20k

Step 2. 40% on that student population should be Greeks

Step 3. More on campus promotion for athletics.

Step 4. High school participation and marketing/recruiting.

Step 5. Create an entertainment district centered around the new Heymann Center and Cajun Field.

Step 6. Block off Cajun Dome Blvd at 10am, food truck vendors in the medians and a DJ. Create a UL Block party every home game.

I could keep going, but that’s a start.

Agree with you especially number 6. If we are to grow to a 30k fan base as we would all like see you have to spread people out and have more options. That area would be a great area for the walk up fan first come first serve TG area.

[KajunKrazy]

The normal tailgate spots need to be first come first serve and free until they are full every Saturday (with some areas closest to stadium being premium/paid)

Look at the videos of TX St, App State, Marshall that have been shown recently..

Light shows, music people recognize and sing along to, no goofy ass PA..

Nobody posting "had a great time at Texas St game! The seat backs were full sized!"

Maggard sounds like he's listing things that will allow him to justify current prices (and probably future increases) by calling them "premium" experiences

I disagree with your first thought. What will happen is people who are in the RCAF for the sole purpose of buying a TG spot and a parking pass for football, and there are many, will quit buying there TG spot and TG 50 yards away for free. Nothing should be free inside of CF gates. If you want to talk about price reduction or having better options on a per game bases, I am all for that but giving it away for free will create a negative effect financially speaking.

[Winning]

Anyway, patience sounds like it is needed from everyone who wants higher attendance.

Is 52 years of stagnant attendance not enough patience? 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s…etc. had attendance figures rivaling what we see today. This is this fan base. Is what it is.

[CajunRage]

I disagree with your first thought. What will happen is people who are in the RCAF for the sole purpose of buying a TG spot and a parking pass for football, and there are many, will quit buying there TG spot and TG 50 yards away for free. Nothing should be free inside of CF gates. If you want to talk about price reduction or having better options on a per game bases, I am all for that but giving it away for free will create a negative effect financially speaking.

I disagree with your take, spend money to make money. Have to play the long game here. Although free, people like their spots and will show up earlier to stake their claim. Others will go earlier and earlier. Next thing you know, people are waiting for the gates to open. Tailgating atmosphere created. Some of that atmosphere spills inside. Keep winning and the cycle begins. Pandering to the 2000 RCAF members that exist now will only keep that number at 2000. It's time to take some chances and if the RCAF members are "real fans" as many of you like to believe, they won't go anywhere. If they do, you have a group of new fans that can take their place.

Edit: I don't think it should ALL be free, but carve out a section at a premium and then make the rest first come first serve.

[ecajuns]

You will never grow if you give away your prime spots. Go see if you get free prime TG spots at any other campus. We have our best spots going for as little as our bad spots. This has to change to succeed. Its like the court side basketball seats. Those seats cost as much as other seats not on the court and so many were getting them dirt cheap and at a bargain. We have to give our priority merchandise a priority price such as is done in all other markets. If we want to compete, we need to compete in all aspects. Your higher donors should be given preference. if you want preference, donate more. College athletics thrives in this model.

Yes we need more students/greeks, but there are far more Lafayette/Acadiana residents than students and our locals are not showing up at all.

[JMV JustMyView]

Is 52 years of stagnant attendance not enough patience? 1970’s, 80’s, 90’s…etc. had attendance figures rivaling what we see today. This is this fan base. Is what it is.

Bingo.

[KajunKrazy]

I disagree with your take, spend money to make money. Have to play the long game here. Although free, people like their spots and will show up earlier to stake their claim. Others will go earlier and earlier. Next thing you know, people are waiting for the gates to open. Tailgating atmosphere created. Some of that atmosphere spills inside. Keep winning and the cycle begins. Pandering to the 2000 RCAF members that exist now will only keep that number at 2000. It's time to take some chances and if the RCAF members are "real fans" as many of you like to believe, they won't go anywhere. If they do, you have a group of new fans that can take their place.

Edit: I don't think it should ALL be free, but carve out a section at a premium and then make the rest first come first serve.

See your edit. Doing it your way you will have people dropping their prime high dollar spot and move to the free spot. Lose, lose situation. Nothing for free is perceived to have value and it cheapens your product. Once you make those free as soon as you start to sell them again no one will be happy.

I agree with you 100% on growing the walk up TG. See C4Life post number 19, the number 6 at the bottom. That is the place where TGing needs to be expanded. You could make the whole area from Fraternity row to Blackham another big party. Lots more room there. If we want to get to 30k plus on average we have to have a paradigm shift away from what people see as the norm at CF. Need to grow outside the gates.

[CajunNation]

10k in student attendance would have roughly 70% of the on campus student in attendance. That ain’t ever going to happen.

The broken relationship has to do with what the Greeks represent. How they are essentially the cardiovascular and nervous system of the student population. There isn’t any greater indication of what the engagement and connection the students have to the university than the relationship/engagement of the Greeks.

Deliberately reducing or eliminating the Greek organizations is the epitome of cutting your nose if to spite you face. They are you future donors, future fans and legacy students.

Step 1. Grow undergrad on campus population to 20k

Step 2. 40% on that student population should be Greeks

Step 3. More on campus promotion for athletics.

Step 4. High school participation and marketing/recruiting.

Step 5. Create an entertainment district centered around the new Heymann Center and Cajun Field.

Step 6. Block off Cajun Dome Blvd at 10am, food truck vendors in the medians and a DJ. Create a UL Block party every home game.

I could keep going, but that’s a start.

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[KajunKrazy]

10k in student attendance would have roughly 70% of the on campus student in attendance. That ain’t ever going to happen.

The broken relationship has to do with what the Greeks represent. How they are essentially the cardiovascular and nervous system of the student population. There isn’t any greater indication of what the engagement and connection the students have to the university than the relationship/engagement of the Greeks.

Deliberately reducing or eliminating the Greek organizations is the epitome of cutting your nose if to spite you face. They are you future donors, future fans and legacy students.

Step 1. Grow undergrad on campus population to 20k

Step 2. 40% on that student population should be Greeks

Step 3. More on campus promotion for athletics.

Step 4. High school participation and marketing/recruiting.

Step 5. Create an entertainment district centered around the new Heymann Center and Cajun Field.

Step 6. Block off Cajun Dome Blvd at 10am, food truck vendors in the medians and a DJ. Create a UL Block party every home game.

I could keep going, but that’s a start.

For the life of me I cannot conceive the fact that no one in the administration has ever thought of doing your number 6. I just make to much sense.

[CajunRage]

See your edit. Doing it your way you will have people dropping their prime high dollar spot and move to the free spot. Lose, lose situation. Nothing for free is perceived to have value and it cheapens your product. Once you make those free as soon as you start to sell them again no one will be happy.

I agree with you 100% on growing the walk up TG. See C4Life post number 19, the number 6 at the bottom. That is the place where TGing needs to be expanded. You could make the whole area from Fraternity row to Blackham another big party. Lots more room there. If we want to get to 30k plus on average we have to have a paradigm shift away from what people see as the norm at CF. Need to grow outside the gates.

You don't have enough people willing to pay to fill up inside the gates. Until inside the gates fill up, you'll never expand outside with any kind of atmosphere. And you'll also have people willing to pay once they have to show up an hour before the gates open to get their spot. Create a demand.