[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.

[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.

[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.

[Swamp]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[JMV Just My View]

FREE is the answer. It creates a party, or at least it used to until greed set in. You can keep posting your lame response that free isn't the answer, but until you come up with a solution that worked the way free used to at the tailgate, you're just being wrong again. You have an answer?

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.

[Louisiana84]

Free isn't the answer. A different vision is the answer. Maybe the new AD will have that vision.

FREE is the answer. It creates a party, or at least it used to until greed set in. You can keep posting your lame response that free isn't the answer, but until you come up with a solution that worked the way free used to at the tailgate, you're just being wrong again. You have an answer?

[Turbine]

Maybe the chips and salsa weren't good, so they figured the food wouldn't be good and left? Maybe the service was bad before ordering? Maybe the chips and salsa are worked into the food cost and spread out over the entire menu?

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 changes behavior.