[JMV Just My View]

It's guaranteed zero money if they never step foot on the property.

So just make everything free?

[Louisiana84]

No, not everything. Just the important things. If you're fighting a perception with the young folk that there's a fun tax, you have already unnecessarily kneecapped your product. Make tailgating fun again. Make parking free. Make it fun. Do everything you can to make it worth spending a Saturday at the stadium.

[Raginfan2]

As Marty Fletcher used to say, and Jay Walker is fond of quoting, you're partially correct. People want the old style free-for-all tailgating atmosphere. And that was, um, free.

Peak attendance/fun was probably during the Hudspeth years. This all went sour when the administrators started monetizing every little aspect of the product. You can't do that when your product is one hire away from sucking again, and it sucks as bad now as it did when Toothpick was the coach.

No one pays for mediocrity. And Maggard found out that only a handful of folks around here have the money to spend large on UL football, which once again, is mediocre.

I will tell you this much, though. Having 30k people who spend $1 to tailgate creates a better college football atmosphere than having 15k who spend $2. And it also creates more revenue at the concession stands, more buzz on social media, and more value for those who spend the money.

You're right, JMV. Nothing should be free. But the cost of a lackluster entertainment experience is mediocrity, and that is way more costly.

The team doesn't suck as bad as the Toothpick's teams, but the atmosphere is getting close to that era... 😪

[Fan of 71]

Turn the clock back to what tailgating cost before Maggard showed up. Change the dynamic! Build a huge list of tailgators, and if prices need to increase, no more that 15% a year. $5 to park too..make it EASY.

[Turbine]

71 brought up "Turn the clock back" that is what Walmart does with "Roll back" They also have greeters that they make no money off of just to make people welcome.

A parking lot full of tailgaters is the best possible greeter there can be.

[Louisiana84]

71 brought up "Turn the clock back" that is what Walmart does with "Roll back" They also have greeters that they make no money off of just to make people welcome.

A parking lot full of tailgaters is the best possible greeter there can be.

So right!

[Vobserver]

Tailgating should absolutely NOT be free.... but it should be reasonable. By that I mean that for those who wish to reserve a particular spot every week, they should be able to do so for $200-$500 per season. Total cost, not $400 plus you are required to have a minimum $500 RCAF general fund donation and season tickets. There should also be single game spots available for $50, which should be reservable in advance, and an area for free tailgating, first come, first served. When tailgating was at its peak, spots were not free; they were $200 per season.

[crazycajun]

So just make everything free?

No don’t make everything free, make a first come free area. I’ll gladly still pay for my spot to show up when I want but they should make an area for people Who want to go to games and tailgate but not necessarily can make an entire season. The current set up is all in or nothing.

[JMV Just My View]

No don’t make everything free, make a first come free area. I’ll gladly still pay for my spot to show up when I want but they should make an area for people Who want to go to games and tailgate but not necessarily can make an entire season. The current set up is all in or nothing.

I think the lack of game atmosphere, boring play on the field, terrible home opponents, lack of winning all have more to do with fans not attending than the actual price.

[ULGrad@Hou]

I think the lack of game atmosphere, boring play on the field, terrible home opponents, lack of winning all have more to do with fans not attending than the actual price.

I can see for some that it could be the price, but all those things you mentioned are also true.

[crazycajun]

I think the lack of game atmosphere, boring play on the field, terrible home opponents, lack of winning all have more to do with fans not attending than the actual price.

It’s simple math, you will never get more people in the stadium without getting more of them to the parking lot first.

[JMV Just My View]

It’s simple math, you will never get more people in the stadium without getting more of them to the parking lot first.

Sorry FREE still isn't the answer.

[Fan of 71]

Free is never the answer... we're trying to run a business here...

[crazycajun]

The most successful programs in America all have free first come first serve tailgate areas.

[JMV Just My View]

The most successful programs in America all have free first come first serve tailgate areas.

Let's just not charge to get in the game and give free food away. Sounds like a plan. If tailgating was free UL still wouldn't pack Cajun Field. The demand isn't there.