Interesting football scheduling

[cjr3888]

I think another reason for the low sales is the fact that many people use tickets from people they know. I will be using the company's seats for the UL/LSU game.

[BirdofParadise]

_ That's what I've been screaming. It's just not logical to think they will bring that many people when they don't support it at home. Like you said, the "events" that they bring tons of people are areas with large alumni bases and they are in itself "events" usually against another SWAC team for which they have an interest in defeating. I've been skeptical of their ability to bring that many people and I hope they do not. I do not want to play a home game where the visiting crowd and especially their band, will be louder than the home crowd. _

Zeph, it isn't logical....but it's true. Southern fans would rather travel to an away game than go to one at home. They brought 30000 fans to Jackson State last year. They'll probably bring 10000 or more to Cajun Field. I talked with a sports show host in BR. They'll bring a lot more people than you're expecting.

[bballholic]

_ I think another reason for the low sales is the fact that many people use tickets from people they know. I will be using the company's seats for the ULSU game. _

Another valid point. At least 6-8 of our season tickets will end up being used by UL fans. This is one of those games where you can easily score tickets for less than face value on campus the day of the game. For instance, none of my family from Houston comes in for the in-state non-conf games and I know a lot of other out of towners with the same mindset. If this game were the home opener, there would be more interest.

[Just1More]

_ is this true? i hear the jags are bringing 20K to cajun field, but the cajuns won't buy 6K tix to tiger stadium? _

The Jags won't be bringing 20k. And as Zephyr pointed out, there are a lot of Cajun fans that unfortunately won't have anything to do with Baton Rouge and Tiger Stadium. For many, the reality and/or perception of how LSU fans act is a big turn-off.

To add to our ticket sales issue for this game, a lot of Cajun fans get their tickets from vendors who have LSU season tickets. A lot of vendors unload the instate school game tickets, and I know Cajun fans who get them. Those tickets don't tally up through our allotment.

I'm not trying to imply the Cajuns travel huge. But, the largest "away game" crowd I've ever seen in our history was the UL Tulane game in the Superdome. New Orleans, the Superdome, knowing it would be a competitive game, and the fact that no UL fan would ever be caught wearing Tulane colors, made for a very vermillion Superdome. LSU just hasn't been a highly attractive game for many UL fans to attend... but nonetheless... we do bring a pretty big group. The first 2 times UL and LSU played, me and my group attended on LSU season tickets.

I'm not expecting it... although I shouldn't say it on here... but it is very difficult for UL to make a competitive football game with LSU. It will take the moon and stars aligning for us, and misaligning for LSU. But... if ever it happens... the next match up will be a shocking amount of vermillion.

[bballholic]

_ The Jags won't be bringing 20k. And as Zephyr pointed out, there are a lot of Cajun fans that unfortunately won't have anything to do with Baton Rouge and Tiger Stadium. For many, the reality and/or perception of how LSU fans act is a big turn-off.

To add to our ticket sales issue for this game, a lot of Cajun fans get their tickets from vendors who have LSU season tickets. A lot of vendors unload the instate school game tickets, and I know Cajun fans who get them. Those tickets don't tally up through our allotment.

I'm not trying to imply the Cajuns travel huge. But, the largest "away game" crowd I've ever seen in our history was the UL Tulane game in the Superdome. New Orleans, the Superdome, knowing it would be a competitive game, and the fact that no UL fan would ever be caught wearing Tulane colors, made for a very vermillion Superdome. LSU just hasn't been a highly attractive game for many UL fans to attend... but nonetheless... we do bring a pretty big group. The first 2 times UL and LSU played, me and my group attended on LSU season tickets.

I'm not expecting it... although I shouldn't say it on here... but it is very difficult for UL to make a competitive football game with LSU. It will take the moon and stars aligning for us, and misaligning for LSU. But... if ever it happens... the next match up will be a shocking amount of vermillion. _

Good post, UL has had a good turnout since the series has resumed. When it's all said and done, they will have 6,000 in Tiger Stadium on Sept 19th.

[cjr3888]

I think another interesting option would be for LSU to play an in-state school in the Superdome once a year. This could be a neutral site game in addition to their 8 home games.

[zephyr]

_ Zeph, it isn't logical....but it's true. Southern fans would rather travel to an away game than go to one at home. They brought 30000 fans to Jackson State last year. They'll probably bring 10000 or more to Cajun Field. I talked with a sports show host in BR. They'll bring a lot more people than you're expecting. _

Understood. That's why I differentiate between "events" that will feature things outside of just a normal football game and a weekend of cultural events to be enjoyed. Here, I see a football game and there doesn't seem to be the attachment by Southern fans to playing UL vs another SWAC team. I think they are going to bring some people but I just can't think you're going to see 20,000. I would hope the university wouldn't do that since we will have as many Jag fans as Cajun fans.

[zephyr]

_ I've had some miserable experiences with opposing fans in Athens (in your face barking as we left the stadium), Auburn (tons of Katrina references fresh after the storm), Gainesville (hit in the face by water bottle), etc but that doesn't keep me from making these trips. However, these trips wouldn't be as attractive if LSU consistently got drilled by 40+ points. While I'm sure your theory does hold some water, I think a lot of it has to do with how poorly UL has played in Tiger Stadium. I believe the average score in the series is 45-1. If UL starts to field more competitive teams, then I think you will see the UL attendance increase. Our tailgate for the last few games has been 50/50 and nobody has had any problems. In fact, 2 of my 4 tickets are used by UL fans and we've had no incidents in the stadium. Having said that, I know there are isolated incidents that do ruin the experience for certain fans and I'm sorry for that. _

You are absolutely right.I have no doubts that the trip was obviously salted by the play on the field. Except for me personally, even if UL was more competitive, I still wouldn't attend the game. How's that? I've sat in great seats during my tenure as a grad student at LSU and seen opponent's fans be treated ruthlessly and it happened to me twice when we played. In 2006, I wasn't far from being in situation that would have likely led to jailtime if I wouldn't have stepped away. We can compare those situations all day but I choose to not put myself in a postion to have to make judgement calls all day in regards to enjoying a football game.

[4LSU]

_ I have had bad experiences too, but not for the reasons you are alluding to. My bad experiences are associated with watching our team get their arse kicked up and down the field. I have never been able to stomach more than 3 quarters.
I will be going again this year, only because I got free tickets. Judging by ticket sales I think the novelty of paying $50 to watch LSU embarrass us has worn off. _

Thanks for your frankness and objectivity.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I would feel much the same as you.

There is never a good excuse for poor sportsmanship, so I hope you have a safe trip, the game is injury free, you are not harassed too much, and both teams play well. After that, may the team who plays better on that nite win.

[bballholic]

Nothing wrong with that. Some of my family members don't travel to other SEC venues for those exact reasons. I'm very cautious on the road but I still can't always avoid the bad apples.

You are absolutely right.I have no doubts that the trip was obviously salted by the play on the field. Except for me personally, even if UL was more competitive, I still wouldn't attend the game. How's that? I've sat in great seats during my tenure as a grad student at LSU and seen opponent's fans be treated ruthlessly and it happened to me twice when we played. In 2006, I wasn't far from being in situation that would have likely led to jailtime if I wouldn't have stepped away. We can compare those situations all day but I choose to not put myself in a postion to have to make judgement calls all day in regards to enjoying a football game.

igeaux.mobi