[JMV Just My View]

Maybe you are grasping at straws.

Businesses give stuff away all the time and for one reason.

They want to change behavior.

People will go to Olive Garden even when it wasn't their initial thought.

Free bread and salad change behavior.

Just like "free lifetime oil changes"? It is all worked into the overall price.

[crazycajun]

You don’t say? So it’s like you take something really cheap (grass) and “give it away” to get people there to get their money on higher profit items? (Tickets and concessions) What a novel concept

[JamesTheJeweler]

Even when they let everyone in for free, and tailgating is free, Cajun Field still will not sell out. If you want everything for free, why have NIL, sports-specific funds, fundraisers, or season tickets? Brooks and Dunn is coming to the Cajun Dome; I shouldn't have to pay for tickets, parking, or food? You guys want to be big time but aren't willing to pay the price.

NOBODY is saying everything for free. NOBODY.

[Turbine]

Even when they let everyone in for free, and tailgating is free, Cajun Field still will not sell out. If you want everything for free, why have NIL, sports-specific funds, fundraisers, or season tickets? Brooks and Dunn is coming to the Cajun Dome; I shouldn't have to pay for tickets, parking, or food? You guys want to be big time but aren't willing to pay the price.

Big Time is a full parking lot.

However that happens (it needs to happen) it is a higher priority than a full stadium.

NIL demands a full parking lot.

Perception happens before reality.

Thats why big rally's pay people to show up.

Perception.

[Turbine]

Just like "free lifetime oil changes"? It is all worked into the overall price.

Great example of gateway enticement.

Free tailgating creates future donors and multiple other revenue streams

[ULvictory]

Perception and FOMO are the main keys to attract people. Like MAT used to say, the way to get people to show up to events in Lafayette is by telling them they can't come. People here do not like missing out on things.

The biggest issue UL has faced is they unintentionally threw off the public when increasing prices across the board on a product that either cost a lot less or was free. It wasn't just the price increase. The product never changed and there wasn't really a strong justification that was explained as to why.

Right now, in light of all of the negative news surrounding the university, we need fan support and people to rally around the place. In order to do that, people within the university will have to think outside of the box and change the paradigm of how they communicate with the public. The starting point would be for people to show up to their events.

[Vobserver]

84, tailgating has not been free since long before you stopped coming. In fact, when tailgating was really booming [Hud years] every tailgate spot was a paid spot. Maybe you weren't paying, but someone was paying for the spot under the Eauque where you tailgated. The problem isn't paid tailgate spots, though I do agree that some spots should be free and first come first served, and that some should be single game paid spots, in addition to the full season paid spots.
Having all that expanse of empty parking lot is a problem. They know how many preferred parking passes they sell; it would be easy to open up a significant number of first come first served $20 parking spots inside the stadium grounds.
Free is never the sole right answer.

[facelessjonmoon]

84, tailgating has not been free since long before you stopped coming. In fact, when tailgating was really booming [Hud years] every tailgate spot was a paid spot. Maybe you weren't paying, but someone was paying for the spot under the Eauque where you tailgated. The problem isn't paid tailgate spots, though I do agree that some spots should be free and first come first served, and that some should be single game paid spots, in addition to the full season paid spots.
Having all that expanse of empty parking lot is a problem. They know how many preferred parking passes they sell; it would be easy to open up a significant number of first come first served $20 parking spots inside the stadium grounds.
Free is never the sole right answer.

This. They need to figure out a way to charge for single game parking on site.

Having empty RCAF lots around the stadium is a bad look.

[Swamp]

https://olemisssports.com/news/2025/8/4/ole-miss-finalizes-grove-plans-for-football-season

[jric116]

84, tailgating has not been free since long before you stopped coming. In fact, when tailgating was really booming [Hud years] every tailgate spot was a paid spot. Maybe you weren't paying, but someone was paying for the spot under the Eauque where you tailgated. The problem isn't paid tailgate spots, though I do agree that some spots should be free and first come first served, and that some should be single game paid spots, in addition to the full season paid spots.
Having all that expanse of empty parking lot is a problem. They know how many preferred parking passes they sell; it would be easy to open up a significant number of first come first served $20 parking spots inside the stadium grounds.
Free is never the sole right answer.

I know this is not apples to apples, but free sure seems to be working for volleyball. They have managed to generate excitement for games with a team that has only been average.

[JMV Just My View]

Perception and FOMO are the main keys to attract people. Like MAT used to say, the way to get people to show up to events in Lafayette is by telling them they can't come. People here do not like missing out on things.

The biggest issue UL has faced is they unintentionally threw off the public when increasing prices across the board on a product that either cost a lot less or was free. It wasn't just the price increase. The product never changed and there wasn't really a strong justification that was explained as to why.

Right now, in light of all of the negative news surrounding the university, we need fan support and people to rally around the place. In order to do that, people within the university will have to think outside of the box and change the paradigm of how they communicate with the public. The starting point would be for people to show up to their events.

Exactly. I don't think the problem is cost but lack of effective promotion and not a long history of success in sports.

[JMV Just My View]

NOBODY is saying everything for free. NOBODY.

I'm ok with reduced prices but not anything free. Maybe charge $5 per vehicle to park inside Cajun Field. Something is better than nothing.

[Headcase33]

It will be even worse now that LSU has Lane Kiffin. Unfortunately he will win like crazy there and we will lose more people here to there. Sad reality but it’s 100% true. This whole damn state is behind LSUA&M. Cajun football is done, period.

[facelessjonmoon]

I'm ok with reduced prices but not anything free. Maybe charge $5 per vehicle to park inside Cajun Field. Something is better than nothing.

$10-20 per game would be reasonable IMO to park on site . Make it mobile pay only with a QR code etc. If you want free- across West Congress is still there

Gotta do something to get more cars into the gates around Cajun Field. Making RCAF membership a requirement doesn’t seem to be working

[Swamp]

Exactly. I don't think the problem is cost but lack of effective promotion and not a long history of success in sports.

$2 Natty gave us National Exposure in Football and Baseball. And a s&-+ load of people buying beer in CF and T.

Half of something is better than all of nothing.