[Turbine]

I'm not a fan of the free volleyball model.

You don't know who your fans are or where efforts should be directed.

Charge the cost of printing tickets

[Swamp]

I'm not a fan of the free volleyball model.

You don't know who your fans are or where efforts should be directed.

Charge the cost of printing tickets

I'm on board with this.

[Louisiana84]

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 paid, Charlie. And I didn't mind. In fact, we had to make them take our money, remember?

[Turbine]

I remember when Eauque members went to Schexnayner and proposed 'take our and other tailgaters money'

[Louisiana84]

But when it stopped being affordable, our kids stopped going. And we lost a generation of under-40 customers who began to view UL football as anti-student, anti-affordable, anti-young family. Pretty much a real buzz-kill for the young folks. And some of us older folks, too.

The kids found something else to do that didn't cost as much. None of the hot-shot marketers and experts never figured out what they did wrong. Insert the right marketers in a crowd of $30k tailgaters and you could pick up a plenty of $$$ every game. But this administration doesn't know how to sell; they only know how to market/raise funds in a traditional way.

Now that they've ruined the product and have to start all over again, they need to know it begins with the (free) tailgate experience. And how do you move people from the parking lot to the stadium? By making it more fun to come in than to stay out... and the administration never figured out how to do that. They ruined it for the Greeks, they ruined it for the campus housing kids, they ruined it for all the on-campus organizations.

The only thing they didn't ruin was the annual alumni Mardi Gras Ski Trip because it sucked from the get-go. That's the kind of lame marketing these folks do. It's time to start all over.

[Turbine]

Many tiers

$5000 RCAF and perhaps more to tailgate.

$1500 RCAF and $200 to tailgate.

Just give the certain tier RCAF memvers the right to tailgate if they so chose to claim thir location.

[Cajunsmike]

I remember when Eauque members went to Schexnayner and proposed 'take our and other tailgaters money'

David Walker and Scott Farmer were the AD and Associate AD in those days.

[Cajunsmike]

I remember when Eauque members went to Schexnayner and proposed 'take our and other tailgaters money'

Also, they did sell game to game stadium parking passes last season.

[Turbine]

David Walker and Scott Farmer were the AD and Associate AD in those days.

2002-2003 near the start of the Bustle era.

If you recall, part of the reasoning was to secure the Eauque from first come first serve groups that were laying claim.

I wasn't a member but I spent more than a few minutes with you guys.

[Reddot]

Came here to get info on the interim AD.
Are we getting him for free…lol

[Ragin9221]

The problem isn’t that you have to pay for tailgating the issue is that if I want to sit by my car, as long as I’m not blocking anyone or causing problems, I’m being told I can’t do that. I’ve seen it happen, and people just pack up and leave.

If I’m paying for my own parking and minding my own business, it shouldn’t be a problem for me to set up a small grill and a chair and enjoy a simple tailgate. If UL is going to restrict that, then there needs to be a designated area where fans can do it properly. People will point to the oak tree area or the space by the baseball field, but those spots don’t offer easy access for someone who just wants to bring a chair, a cooler, and a small setup.

If the university wants to move or limit tailgating, then they need to provide real accommodations seating, shade, vendors, restrooms, and clear space for fans who aren’t bringing a full RV setup. Tailgating is supposed to be welcoming, not something that feels like you’re being pushed out unless you have a big rig or a large group.

UL could make tailgating better by creating a fan‑friendly zone with:

• Permanent seating or shaded areas for people who don’t have tents
• Small‑grill‑friendly spots with proper spacing and safety rules
• Vendors and food trucks so fans have options if they don’t want to cook
• Clear signage and easy access so people know where they’re allowed to set up
• Family‑friendly areas with games, music, and activities
• Better parking flow so people can unload chairs and coolers without walking half a mile

Tailgating is part of the culture. It’s part of the experience. If UL wants to regulate it, then UL also needs to invest in making it better not harder for everyday fans who just want to enjoy the game day atmosphere.
.
Yall want to know why people drive 50 miles to go to a LSU game.

LSU is famous for letting fans:

• set up right next to their car,
• bring small grills,
• pop open folding chairs,
• cook jambalaya, boudin, burgers — whatever,
• and enjoy the day without being pushed into a designated areas.

1. Parking‑lot tailgating is fully embraced

LSU doesn’t force you into a special area unless you want to be there.
If you park, you can tailgate. Simple as that.

No “you can’t sit by your car.”
No “move to the oak tree area.”
No “you need a permit for a chair.”

2. They mix casual fans with big setups

LSU has:

• RV lots
• tent villages
• family areas
• AND regular fans sitting by their car with a grill and two chairs


Everyone fits. Nobody gets pushed out.

3. Easy access is the priority

LSU’s layout is built around convenience:

• You park.
• You unload.
• You tailgate right there.


No hauling gear across campus. No long walks. No “designated zone” that’s far away.

4. Vendors and amenities are nearby not forced

LSU has:

• food vendors
• merch tents
• music
• fan zones


But they’re optional. You can stay by your car and still be part of the atmosphere.

5. It keeps regular fans involved

LSU proves that letting people tailgate by their car increases participation.
Families, older fans, casual fans they all stay because it’s easy.

I am not an LSU fan by any means, but this is partly why we have lost the regular fan, and forcing the older fans out.

[Turbine]

Vendors and food trucks so fans have options if they don’t want to cook

I love all the ideas (make it happen) but this one caught my eye.

Cajun basin needs to be a GrubLot

Not all the time, just on game days.

If someone wants to set up a small chill spot contraption that operates out of their trunk (walk to a grub truck and back) that should be an option.

ps Along with a game day food festival.

[Ragin9221]

I love all the ideas (make it happen) but this one caught my eye.

Cajun basin needs to be a GrubLot

I dont want to post this twice but i feel like this needs to be its own thread.

[Ragin9221]

If we were serious about it

• Food trucks + local vendors to give fans easy meal options without needing a full tailgate setup.
• Designated “small‑setup zone” where fans can sit by their car with chairs, coolers, and small grills without being pushed out.
• Shaded seating areas for fans who don’t bring tents simple covered structures or portable shade.
• Walk‑up drink stations for water, sodas, lemonade, and possibly a licensed beer tent.
• Game‑day music (DJ, Cajun/Zydeco playlist, or live band) to create atmosphere without overwhelming the space.
• Family‑friendly activities like cornhole, ladder toss, inflatables, or a kids’ play zone.
• Clear signage showing where fans can set up, where vendors are located, and where foot traffic flows.
• Easy unloading access so fans can drop off chairs/coolers without long walks. I know alot of people
do not like leaving there stuff there, or hauling it back, but if it could be where most people park would make it easily accessible.
• Pop‑up UL merch booths for shirts, hats, and game‑day gear.
• Game‑day food festival section featuring Lafayette restaurants, pop‑ups, and specialty Cajun dishes.
• Trash and cleanup stations to keep the area clean and easy to maintain.
• Lighting for night games so the area stays safe, visible, and welcoming.
• Student‑friendly hangout zone with cheap food options and a social atmosphere.

These are my ideas that we could do. Thats why i always proposed it in the NEZ parking lot.

you could keep RV parking close to the stadium, but if you park in Cajun Field, or have to park across from Cajun Field and travel across Congress, then that whole area can be that. Thats why the setup needs to be there. Its a good middle
ground to the stadium.

Also if i am passing on Congress on a Saturday all those cars will wonder what is going on there and might decide to join, even if they do not go to the game.

accessibility and convience is the key and everything else will handle itself.

[Ragin9221]

I love all the ideas (make it happen) but this one caught my eye.

Cajun basin needs to be a GrubLot

Not all the time, just on game days.

If someone wants to set up a small chill spot contraption that operates out of their trunk (walk to a grub truck and back) that should be an option.

ps Along with a game day food festival.

This is what I would do if i had it my way. I would do something like this. Keep the RV area close to the stadium, At Texas A&M you can reserve spots for free, but can not sell your spot if you do you are banned from the small setup area forever. You could give it away, and those spots would be at a first come first serve basis, that you could reserve on a per game basis. We talking about a small spot we not talking about big spots, like 2 chairs and a small grill area. like thats it that is all the space you are getting. keeping it simple and fair for everyone. If they want to get dirty no coolers, you could have to get your drinks from the beer garden section, with coke, lemonade, water, and of course 2 dollar Nattys.

you could do the small free group tailgate area first seeing how it goes first before doing something like this to test the waters, see if this is a good idea with essentially no cost the university.