Did you see Orlando Sentinel colleague Edgar Thompson’s story on Friday in which he reported that UF’s season-ticket sales are down a whopping 9,000 from last year despite the buzz new coach Dan Mullen has tried to create?
RELENTESS OR REJECTD?!
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Kentucky is down 10%. Ole Miss is down. State hasn't announced their so that leads me to believe we are down.
Discussion we had yesterday in a GroupMe. It's just too expensive. Now that every game is tv and most are now 6 PM or after - it's a pain in the *** if you don't have a place to stay. For me personally, I struggle driving late at night. So you either get a hotel room and every weekend is $500 for a family of 4 or you sit at home and watch on TV.
There's an 11 AM, 2:30 and 3 PM game before 6. Everything else is 6 or later. 11 AM and 3 PM are usually crappy games. So add in the cost - they are making it more enticing to stay at home especially for games that I don't care to watch in person at the stadium.
Discussion we had yesterday in a GroupMe. It's just too expensive. Now that every game is tv and most are now 6 PM or after - it's a pain in the *** if you don't have a place to stay. For me personally, I struggle driving late at night. So you either get a hotel room and every weekend is $500 for a family of 4 or you sit at home and watch on TV.
There's an 11 AM, 2:30 and 3 PM game before 6. Everything else is 6 or later. 11 AM and 3 PM are usually crappy games. So add in the cost - they are making it more enticing to stay at home especially for games that I don't care to watch in person at the stadium.
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My entertainment dollars are spent elsewhere. Too much nickel and dime **** from the university. Not enough value from the dollars invested to justify the pain in the *** that the trip up has become. I am not alone in my assessment. Many have voted with their asses and wallets. My last three trips up were same day travel, 2 hours before kick, make a free space somewhere south, walk straight to stadium, no concessions, watch, and return home on same tank of gas. Maybe get a caffeine boost in Louisville.
It's a universal problem affecting all teams and all sports. People have been priced out of going to games and are staying home and watching on TV (or not watching at all). MLB attendance this year is going to be the lowest since 2003. We saw lots of half (or more) empty NFL stadiums last fall and I'm sure we will again this fall. I agree with you that we're probably down too. Just the fact we're even still selling season tickets coming of a 9-win season with 18 starters returning and the excitement of a new coach tells me that we're down. A decade ago, we would be sold out of season tickets by now.
I used to go to every game for a long time, then quit entirely for Jackie's last year and the Croom years. I've been getting the 3 or 4 game packages since then, but I've wound up skipping at least one of those games every year. It's just too easy to watch on TV than take a full day to go see in person.
I used to go to every game for a long time, then quit entirely for Jackie's last year and the Croom years. I've been getting the 3 or 4 game packages since then, but I've wound up skipping at least one of those games every year. It's just too easy to watch on TV than take a full day to go see in person.
I am an idealist in my love affair with MSU, so I'm the oddball here. I usually go to the crappy games, and sit at home and watch the good games on TV. I get cheaper tickets, or if a friend has a better ticket here or there, there are more likely to have that availability. Less crowded (although that's sort of a dumb point, because a football game is crowded no matter what). Plus, I get to feel like I'm helping the university by putting butts in seats during games where there are less. Plus we walk around campus and do all that type of stuff, with kids and what not.
AND....most importantly, I always see a win (usually).
But, every now and again you have to just sack up and go watch a big time game like Auburn in 2014, no matter the price.
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I understand why a family that lives hours away wouldn’t make the trip. Me personally, I love being there live in the junction soaking up the gameday atmosphere. My tune might change when I have kids but for now I’ll never miss a home game.
I live in Starkville and go to pretty much all the games, but 11 a.m. games in September are too hot with a young person in tow. Unfortunately, 6:30 games may be too late for the 5 year old. We will find out Saturday.
The issue I have is that parking is always an issue. Getting off campus from tailgating is an issue. My house has AC, a Couch, Beer Fridge, and if we suck I can always go outside and mow the grass or something.
With all that being said, I still prefer to be at the game than not. I prefer to pregame at the house and then get to campus an hour prior to kickoff. I usually do not have that possibility due to people visiting my house and wanting to do the Campus thing all day.
As fans, we have to support our team. Sold out crazy *** crowds is what gets the better talent to notice us. If we beat the bagman Ponzi Scheme guy from the north that is. We have to do our part, and the most part we do. Our atmosphere is okay to great most games.
Cost, time invested and being able to watch other games on tv are my reasons for staying home. I do go every now and then as tailgating and just getting back on campus is always fun. But I'm also an old geezer so I'm getting lazier as I age.......if that's possible.
This is what happened to me. It's damn near impossible for me to drive 3 hours, go to the game, and drive back with young kids. So either I have to pay out the nose for a place to stay or just stay home and watch on TV. We will be back when they get a little older
I love going, no matter the opponent. But football gets tough when you have multiple small children.
On the other hand, my 5 y/o daughter has loved the women's basketball games. She told me the other day that she wanted to play "girl basketball at Mississippi Stake." (This was shortly after she heard Ole Miss mentioned on a podcast while we were driving through campus and said, "Silly radio, this is not Ole Miss.")
On the other hand, my 5 y/o daughter has loved the women's basketball games. She told me the other day that she wanted to play "girl basketball at Mississippi Stake." (This was shortly after she heard Ole Miss mentioned on a podcast while we were driving through campus and said, "Silly radio, this is not Ole Miss.")
While I will be there Saturday to see JoMo start things off, I agree with many of the others. It's a problem everywhere not just there. It's just too expensive. All schools are about to see a decline if they haven't except for the high profile ooc games and conference games. It is much more cost effective to sit at home and watch on tv these days. I don't have to drive and fight traffic nor sit on an uncomfortable bleacher for 3 hours. I'm also a big guy so it's just a hassle fitting into that tiny space on the bleacher. I have to buy gas and food for the day. If I stay at home, I can watch our game and multiple others and grill out or whatever at home. Yes it's not the same as being live at the game and in the environment, but it's so much easier just to watch on tv. The TV deals have helped the programs tremendously with financing and exposure but killed attendance. I think the money grab in college football is about to hit a stop unless they fund it completely through TV deals and advertisement. Everyone is asking for too much money for tickets, facilities, food, and coaches salaries. Eventually, that inflation will come down. They already reduced concession stand prices. I think eventually it will go down further. And the hotels are just too high right now for just a weekend trip. It's much easier to stay out of the heat also in September than attend games. I imagine our SEC games will be sellouts especially if we win throughout the season.
It’s the cost to stay that makes it so difficult for me. I would much rather watch live as well, and we have been lucky to find a house to rent when it’s only my wife and i that we split with 3 other couples making it affordable. But if my kids want to go, it is a whole different ballgame. I feel like i get my money’s worth with tickets, driving to town, and eating at some favorite spots, but the hotel gouging is ridiculous. 2 night minimum so you’re looking at $600 for a weekend? That’s absurd. Yet, it’s hard as hell to get a room so supply and demand and all. They’ll keep getting it.
Absolutely. If you live within 3 hours, it is still fun to go. But the minimum night stay and doubling of regular rates at hotels is the issue. And yes, I realize it is supply and demand, but they may end up killing the golden goose.
I agree. Could this eventually lead to SECN/ESPN only airing a limited number of games, or blacking out games like the NFL to encourage attendance? I doubt it, but just wonder.
11 a.m. games are the absolute worst. Not only does it affect having to get up at the crack of dawn to get to Starkville in time, but that early time greatly affects the crowd atmosphere and then the university absolutely wants you gone by 4 p.m. They essentially close everything on campus by that time which I think is ridiculous. You can't even go and watch the other big afternoon games on the big screens in the Union because they shut down everything. That sucks.
What should really be scary to universities is that for a lot of people, it's not even the cost.
The cost matters to me, but even if cost were not an issue, I probably wouldn't want to go to more than a couple of games a year. We watch games on TV and usually have 10 to 20 of us watching together. Can't compare to a stadium atmosphere in the biggest games, but for probably 4 if not 5 of the home games each year, it's not any different to me.
Throw in not having to drive, not having to pack up for the tailgate and clean up, and not being dog *** tired on Monday, and it gets damn appealing. I'd be willing to forgo the stadium experience all together honestly. The only thing that gets me to go to any game is tailgating and seeing people I don't otherwise get to see, and then having the night before in Starkville to check things out. When the kids get older, I'll probably go to games more regularly so that they are connected to Starkville and MSU, but until then, I go when I get offered tickets and can arrange childcare so that we can act stupid. That's anywhere from zero to two games a year, and I barely miss it.
If you throw in the cost, for what it costs me to go to Starkville for a weekend, I can also do something like a weekend golf trip with guys or a beach trip (or combo), and spend about the same amount of money but have a relaxing weekend, play a couple of good rounds of golf and still see all the games I want to see on TV.
I may be atypical, but I really believe we're about to see a sharp decline as a lot more of the marginal guys like me (who used to make 5 or 6 home games a year) figure out it's not as indispensable as they thought.
You're not atypical, and the decline has already started everywhere. It's going to get worse though.
Lots of estrogen posts in this thread, lol. I wonder how Alabama manages to get butts in the seats?
It may have to do with the population size of Birmingham
Tuscaloosa, Hoover and Montgomery and the ease of the interstate/highway system from those cities. And the higher population in the state. And the constant national championship implications that each game brings.
I don’t know, just spitballing
Tuscaloosa, Hoover and Montgomery and the ease of the interstate/highway system from those cities. And the higher population in the state. And the constant national championship implications that each game brings.
I don’t know, just spitballing
I'm guessing 5 national titles in 10 years might have something to do with that. Even there, they've had well documents issues with empty seats in the student section.
I bought season tickets from 1992 until 2003 and stopped when my son was born. I stared buying again in 2013. All that time I said I would rather watch it on TV but I was basing that on my 2003 experience. It has all change. I would rather be in the stadium anytime. That place is rocking and is fun to be at the games.
I live 8 hrs away in South Carolina. I attend 4-5 games a year. All SEC games and the extra power 5. This year 5, just cause it could be special. My wife and I take Friday off and stay somewhere near Starkville, and as soon as the horn sounds, we are out of there and drive to bham or Pell City to cut the Sunday drive down. We met at MSU and both love it. Though our son just graduated from MSU, so that will be a little sad, he was either with us or there for years.
You do realize Alabama is going to cut its capacity down with its newest renovation?
By a negligible amount, but they are in one of the best stretches of football in history and have an MSA starting in the next county with 1M plus people.
I think that would be the tail wagging the dog now. Before, the ticket money was more important than the TV money. I assume that's no longer the case?
We have two tickets in Club Level. Each weekend is about $1000 all told ... one night hotel in Columbus (and many hotels are 2 night minimum for a huge price), seat fee, tickets, parking, gas. If you count 50 cents a mile on the car, it's a lot more than that.
This will likely be my last season for season tickets, not so much because of the cost but the trip is getting tougher and tougher on the old bod.
This will likely be my last season for season tickets, not so much because of the cost but the trip is getting tougher and tougher on the old bod.
I think they're taking out 10k seats or so, installing fewer premium seats to replace. Reducing by at least 5,000 seats I think.
Instead of getting up so early for 11 a.m. games, we just stay Friday night in the hotel, then go home after the game instead of waiting until Sunday morning. In the past we've gotten up early, but we have to leave by 5 a.m. to get there, allow for unexpected delays, park and walk to the stadium.
Alabama has twice the population of Mississippi, only two major schools, and about a 10-1 sidewalk-fan-to-real-fan ratio. Let the start having 8-4 seasons and they'll drop back like everybody else. They really never fill up their stadium ... always a few empties in the upper reaches. And now they're planning on a capacity reduction.
Tuscaloosa is also somewhat centrally located, and Alabama has 4 cities larger than the largest in Mississippi. It all adds up. And of course, there's Nick Saban and a very high chance of a national championship, and a near 100% chance of making the playoffs.
Less than that. About 2000 fewer is what I've heard. Still north of 100K capacity. Or so I've heard. I'm not sure anybody really knows until they make the changes. Then they can just move the seat numbers in the bleachers a half inch or so closer together to maintain >100K.
i live in Texas and bought a place in place in Starkville as it just makes it easier... .I also attend all home football games and most men's and women's basketball games ...I have been disappointed in the men's attendance the last few years and hope this year is different....
There really isn't a lot of intrigue. AL, Clemson, GA and Oklahoma will all probably make the playoff again. Aub, OH State and Wash may have a shot. It's getting boring having the same teams in the playoff all the
time.
