Game Day Experience

[Herbert's Taco Hut]

Good job Justin! And thanks to all that are on this committee.

The CSC staff are too strict. They have impeded on my gameday experience a few times.

If we consolidate tailgating to Lot 4, will that open up the east side to paid parking?

 

[JustinS09]

The map below is from the presentation. Sorry for the resolution, it was a screenshot.

"D" on the map below is where "Donor Lot 4" has been located for the past few years. It's also where student tailgating used to be located before they moved it to the west side of the stadium.

Lot 4 and Tailgate Central are just switching places under the new plan. On the map below, you can see where the donor lots will be located and "D" is where Tailgate Central will be moving forward.

 

[TheRevSWT]

And now I'll do the Debbie Downer routine:

- I love that they are looking at consolidating the tailgates. I think that's a great idea. However, I would also hope that they provide some tailgate locations that are out past the fringe of the "mixed use" (student and alumni) tailgate area. I know a group of alumni that like to tailgate, but in a far more "laid back" manner and not in the party like we're on Sagewood type manner.

- I like the idea of no tailgating DURING the game, but not sure about how to handle that. I dislike the "pack up before the game is starts" approach, but it's not terribly realistic to expect the university to make sure nothing is stolen if nobody packs up their tailgate and just goes to the game. That's one I can't reconcile from a procedural standpoint yet.

- It's great to be considering opening up the pavilion to the "tailgate but not really" group. They need an area like that, even if it ends up NOT being in the Pavillion. And making being a member of the BC wouldn't be a bad idea. Could help with membership.

- The beer garden is another great idea. Not sure I understand where they are moving the kid zone to, but regardless, I think that's a great move.

- moving towards a more targeted marketing plan for students/locals/alumni is WAY past due. Glad to see they are looking at that.

- Don't see the parade/party on the square being anything that's going to attract locals in any significant way. Back when I prowled the square, weekends there were NO locals down there. Can't fathom it being much different these days. So a community party on a weekend on the square shouldn't help attract many. A parade? ehhhh, maybe. Depends on the size and student involvement. I'd almost want to see them try a pied piper type of deal where the band/strutters/spirit clubs do a march from downtown to the stadium, with the idea that fans would fall in line to lengthen the parade the whole way there. Again, not sure of the effectiveness, but with a decent buy in, could be a neat little tradition.

I know it was covered in the article that Trauth created this committee, and she's committed to making some changes... But I just don't know who much would actually be implemented. I guess it's more of a "I'll believe it when I see it" type thing.

 

[JustinS09]

@TheRevSWT,

Lots E and F are day of only tailgating. They are both in the grass and I would imagine they will be much more laid back than the "party like we're on Sagewood type" tailgate.

Were you at the spring game? If so, they had the kids zone set up in the new location that day. Basically it's up against the end zone complex right next to the tunnel where the players enter the stadium.

 

[KatyStationed]

Would love an intro song (and corresponding tradition) that isn’t just a hack ripoff like playing a Metallica song and jumping up and down.

I mean, I love me some Metallica, but something more in tune with our culture would be great.

Let’s start with a Texas blues/heavy metal mashup of Take Me to the River and see where it goes. Talking to you, people who know how to do music stuff.

 

[DrumCat]

Let’s start with a Texas blues/heavy metal mashup of Take Me to the River and see where it goes. Talking to you, people who know how to do music stuff.

Now that's an idea. How do we make this happen?

 

[carmanjello325]

I think another interesting thing is their 15K average attendance goal. We should be able to blow that out of the water if we are halfway decent. I think we were at 22-24K average in 2014 when we were 7-5 to end the season.

But do we average 15K butts in seats Q1-Q4 on the regular or even 10K for that matter? Even ESPN.com the Ocho's crummy camera angles don't lie sadly. I was ready to build out the third deck to the stadium and turn the horseshoe into a bowl until this 2015-2019 plague but that doesn't look like it's happening within the (honest) foreseeable 5-10 years even though there was an asterisk for it in the proposed plans some time ago.

 

[JustinS09]

Attendance is measured in tickets sold, not butts in seats. It includes all season ticket holders whether the attend the game or not.

Last year, we might have averaged 3K in actual butts in seats. It was pretty bad for sure.

 

[JustinS09]

Also, I don't think it will take that many wins to get back in track. I forget the actual number, but we were around 22k average in 2014 when we had just 7 wins.

In fact, I bet we could win just 3 games again this year and hit that 15k number based solely on the excitement of a new head coach.

 

[Bobcat2013]

Sad thing is that we could go 10-2 but we wouldnt see a bump until the next season after an offseason full of hype. I think we averaged like 25 or 26k for our first 2 games vs PV and USM in 2015 before everyone realized we sucked again and then attendance plummeted.

 

[JustinS09]

I think we're going to see a bump next year regardless. They've made a concerted effort to increase season tickets and sales/marketing outreach. I think that will bring back some of the season ticket holders. Well, that and having a new coach. I don't think it will be the 25 or 26k numbers that you're referencing, but it will be higher than 13k.

If we go 10-2 though, your absolutely right. We'll see that reflected more in next year's numbers.

 

[_x_]

In a hypothetical world in which we were to go 10-2 attendance would be great at the end of that season. 2005 was proof of that for anyone that was around back then. Basketball attendance was very good late in the year this year while the record was really good too.

There are two things that bring TXST fans out. Lots of winning and a "big name" opponent. We just haven't done a lot of winning in football in so long that that's easy to forget.

 

[Bobcat87]

In a hypothetical world in which we were to go 10-2 attendance would be great at the end of that season. 2005 was proof of that for anyone that was around back then. Basketball attendance was very good late in the year this year while the record was really good too.

There are two things that bring TXST fans out. Lots of winning and a "big name" opponent. We just haven't done a lot of winning in football in so long that that's easy to forget.

‘05, a great example of our fans supportin’ some winnin.’ I believe that attendance numbers actually rose by Game as that season went on. Put a winner on the field, and they shall come and watch, and cheer, and spend cash, and all that “other stuff” that should put a smile on the face of any DECENT AD . . .

 

[Artycat]

I am a little disappointed I lost my season tickets to the student section. I understand the intent but lets be honest, student attendance (besides the first home game) is very low. I know everyone is excited with new coach, etc. but maybe first we try to put a winning team on the field, which might build excitement among students to actually attend, and then kick out your paying season ticket holders. The concessions need a lot of upgrades, both in selection and quality. Some murals/pics/logos along the inside of the stadium on the bare concrete walls would improve the look and atmosphere. After going to games in person for years and years I just might stay home and watch on ESPNplus this season but another part of me hates to "throw in the towel" now.

 

[Bobcat87]

Arty, Great Avatar !

 

[Artycat]

 

[Josh]

I hate that you guys lost your seats but I am of the mind that it is better to do it now than wait until later. If you wait until the team is doing well and tickets are in higher demand then you run the risk of upsetting season ticket holders even more. I wish there was a better way they could have gone about the move. The same thing happened to Richard and I know he was disappointed as well.

 

[Richard]

I am a little disappointed I lost my season tickets to the student section. I understand the intent but lets be honest, student attendance (besides the first home game) is very low. I know everyone is excited with new coach, etc. but maybe first we try to put a winning team on the field, which might build excitement among students to actually attend, and then kick out your paying season ticket holders. The concessions need a lot of upgrades, both in selection and quality. Some murals/pics/logos along the inside of the stadium on the bare concrete walls would improve the look and atmosphere. After going to games in person for years and years I just might stay home and watch on ESPNplus this season but another part of me hates to "throw in the towel" now.

I was super sad to lose my tickets too. I understand it though, and even welcome it.

What I did have a problem with was that season tickets renewals were open for months in every other section. I got 4 seats elsewhere, but definitely wont enjoy them as much as the ones i had. Hopefully the students fill the sections!

 

[Artycat]

Same here, it was more the manner in which it was handled, or in this case not handled. It just confirms that our athletic department is not very well ran and is very lackadaisical.

 

[tywebb]

Same here, it was more the manner in which it was handled, or in this case not handled. It just confirms that our athletic department is not very well ran and is very lackadaisical.

That's about the nicest way you can describe the ad under teis.