How many people are tailgating inside of the fences? Hell we don’t have enough RCAF members to fill the paved lots. So we have swaths of empty space around Cajun Field on game day.
Everything isn’t always about generating money. That’s what this administration fails to grasp. We absolutely cannot compete with any P4 program financially. It’s a fricken pipe dream to think we can.
So how do you set yourself apart? You create the very best gameday atmosphere that exists outside of the P4. You can’t get there by price gouging the blue collar base that makes up Cajun Nation.
The charge is the $20/game to park inside the fence. The free tailgating is to get people inside the fences. It gives the appearance that this is the place to be on Saturdays in Lafayette.
Your line of thought about “free stuff” is exactly what’s wrong with this athletic program. They aren’t reserved tailgating, it’s first come first serve parking. Aka $20/game parking fee with tailgating included.
Nothing is free, just doesn’t need the fake premium pricing we are charging.