[JMV Just My View]

Yes, they do. I owned a Mexican restaurant. Some people go in and eat entire meals and leave without paying. Instead of thinking about all the people that would end up in the game, you choose to focus on the people that stay at the spot. You have the same mentality as the university.

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?

[Turbine]

Just saw three home games parking passes have gone up in price by 25%. $25 to park in..... wait for it.... the parking lot of Cajun Field. Ever look at the amount of vehicles parked outside the Tigue? Yep, not much less than CF Gameday.

No concept of how to grow the base.

Even less grasp on supply and demand facits.

[Turbine]

Idea ...

"AFTER" sold out prime tailgating..... area can be expanded as the season progresses

Game Ticket (in hand) at entrance to Cajun Basin gets you parking in non tailgating area... First come first serve.

Up to two hours in advance of game ... Game Tickets (in hand) matching the number of people in car (four or more) gets you secondary after prime tailgating... (if so desired) No weekly set location.

Nothing is free.

[JMV Just My View]

I'm still waiting to hear a suggestion, instead of completely missing the mark and suggesting everyone wants Free, Free!

Hopefully the new AD has suggestions. This site has listed plenty of suggestions that nobody at MH listened to. You want a suggestion maybe promotional specials on concessions and ticket packages. Free isn't the answer, maybe a reduced price is better. It really doesn't matter unless they fix a ton of stuff.

[Swamp]

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

I'm still waiting to hear a suggestion, instead of completely missing the mark and suggesting everyone wants Free, Free!

[Swamp]

Just saw three home games parking passes have gone up in price by 25%. $25 to park in..... wait for it.... the parking lot of Cajun Field. Ever look at the amount of vehicles parked outside the Tigue? Yep, not much less than CF Gameday.

[JMV Just My View]

That model is working fantastically so far.

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

[CajunRed]

So let them in the tailgating for free and then when the game starts they leave or they watch the tsab game at the tailgate spot. Great idea.

Yep

[Swamp]

The reflexive response to any of this seems to be "everyone just wants free tailgating, free parking, free entry, free food." If you're genuinely interested in our Program, we're the ones who'll pay no matter what. A reduction in cost will always be a popular option but proves my point - cost is king.

Tailgating has long been one of CF's most valuable assets. It's the first thing anyone asks about, whether they're at the game, or simply driving by: "How's the turnout? Is tailgating solid?" Too often lately, the honest answer is "nah, thin af." Tailgating is an event in its own right. Two hours before kickoff, nobody's thinking about the score [we are], there isn't one yet. A full lot draws more people. Even when the local bars are packed because the matchup looks unappealing on paper, a strong showing at CF is what shifts that mindset. More souls on Louisiana grass, posting about turnout.

It's also worth noting how far the facility itself has come. Getting food and drink now takes 20-30 seconds: a hot Cajun Philly cheesesteak, freshly wrapped in a fancy sandwich basket, straight out of a heated environment behind a glass door (think "Hail Mary"). You then self-checkout. Staff are stationed at checkout to handle ID verification or resolve any issue with the machines, and in practice, issues rarely come up. One more thing, every damn beer you can think of is in 16oz cans in glass door coolers ready for you to open the door. Beer in hand, literally in seconds.

Charging a premium for tailgating locations is nothing new; a great spot has always come at a price. But requiring a flat $20 to park in a lot that's only 40-50% full is harder to justify. Removing that barrier would fill those spots vs parking all over creation and directly reduce the "how many people are out there?" narrative. Spaces with a clear line of sight from Bertrand and Congress would fill fastest and move inward, converging on die hard territory. This is a shift in perception through the #1 marketing tool of all time: word of mouth (this includes texts, message board posts, phone calls and people at local bars (whose parking lots are full of Cajuns fans).

Additionally, the Ole Miss Grove concept addresses this on two fronts: it introduces shaded tailgating spots that can be sold as a premium upgrade, and, more importantly, it reduces the overall footprint. A smaller footprint fills more completely, which reduces [only a % reduction] the never ending "how many people are out there squawk." In this case, less space is genuinely an improvement.

Only ideas, potential improvements, measurable gains to souls physically closer to CF are stated here.

[Turbine]

My point is that we are in August 2026, and nothing should be free. Especially anything to do with college athletics.

I heard some 2026 car dealers let you test drive a car for free.

[crazycajun]

My point is that we are in August 2026, and nothing should be free. Especially anything to do with college athletics.

That model is working fantastically so far.

[JMV Just My View]

Yes, they do. I owned a Mexican restaurant. Some people go in, eat entire meals, and leave without paying. Instead of thinking about all the people that would end up in the game, you choose to focus on the people that stay at the spot. You have the same mentality as the university.

My point is that we are in August 2026, and nothing should be free. Especially anything to do with college athletics.

[Redbug58]

Possibly, but I do understand his point. I remember reading an article a few years ago about a minor league baseball team in a smaller town and all of the extra effort they put in to get people to come to the games. They knew that they couldn’t draw like the major league teams, so they made each game like an event. Special promotions, entertainment, giveaways; anything that would help draw people in….and it was working. Something special at each game. And advertise it loudly to the general public. I’ve mentioned before to have a band night. Invite the 2 largest high school bands in the area (say Lafayette High & Acadiana). Let them play in the stands and each do their regular show at halftime. That would bring in about 400 band members and about another 800 parents and grand parents. Just an idea, but certainly “doable” and results oriented.

[crazycajun]

A group never goes into a restaurant and eats the chips and salsa and nothing else. Terrible example.

Yes they do, I owned a Mexican restaurant. Some people go in and eat entire meals and leave without paying. Instead of thinking about all the people that would end up in the game you choose to focus on the people that stay at the spot. You have the same mentality as the university.

[Turbine]

A group never goes into a restaurant and eats the chips and salsa and nothing else. Terrible example.

Cajun Heartland State Fair.

For different individuals the main event (for them) can be different.

For most or at least where the most individuals gather at the same time is the concert.

If a few or many opt out of the concert ... no big deal.

Get them into Cajun Basin and the odds of additional attendees to main event goes up.