Sugarland is a BRILLIANT idea, here's why..

[FlabLoser]

This thing is a lot bigger and more important than just having a spring football game. Here's why.

They are country. Currently the most wide appealing genre of music that is also selling the most live tickets (country music that is). A very dedicated fan base.

They arent obscene or objective. Very family friendly.

They have hits.

Country = Chicks. Chicks = Guys that will pay whatever to go hang out with hot chicks. If you haven't seen a country show in a while, just go to a Jason Aldean, Eric Church or Sugarland show. These shows put anything Crue or Poison did back in the day to shame. It just aint right the amount of talent.

Mississippi = Poor and country. A perfect demographic for this type of act.

Marketing. This isnt about football. It is about getting new people to MSU. $25 to see sugarland, by market price, is a DAMN good deal. Damn good. You will have people from Alabama, Tenn and all over our state coming to OUR spring game to watch a concert. Ole Miss fans, Bama, everyone. We have a chance to impress these people and also pick up a ton of new sidewalk fans that only want to see a country concert.


The only cons are the following:

sugarland costs. They are usually 250kish (ballpark) minimum when they are on tour but this is a one off. I wouldnt be surprised if the school had to at least pay double that since they arent on tour. Factor in stage, lighting, sound and security, this is a half million dollars quick.

My estimates are that we will have 5k - 10k state fans that are coming no matter what. Id say Sugarland will be good for another 15k or so seats. So if they sell 20k at $25, we should come out ahead, not including concessions.

This is a no-brainer and a very smart move by our athletic department. Sure, some people will be butt-hurt because they have to pay to watch the spring game. Be honest. Have you EVER stayed past half-time of a spring game? No. They suck to watch. At least this year there will be a buzz around town and we will actually have more people in the stands for the game, whether they are football fans or not.

 

[FlabLoser]

This thing is a lot bigger and more important than just having a spring football game. Here's why.

They are country. Currently the most wide appealing genre of music that is also selling the most live tickets (country music that is). A very dedicated fan base.

They arent obscene or objective. Very family friendly.

They have hits.

Country = Chicks. Chicks = Guys that will pay whatever to go hang out with hot chicks. If you haven't seen a country show in a while, just go to a Jason Aldean, Eric Church or Sugarland show. These shows put anything Crue or Poison did back in the day to shame. It just aint right the amount of talent.

Mississippi = Poor and country. A perfect demographic for this type of act.

Marketing. This isnt about football. It is about getting new people to MSU. $25 to see sugarland, by market price, is a DAMN good deal. Damn good. You will have people from Alabama, Tenn and all over our state coming to OUR spring game to watch a concert. Ole Miss fans, Bama, everyone. We have a chance to impress these people and also pick up a ton of new sidewalk fans that only want to see a country concert.


The only cons are the following:

sugarland costs. They are usually 250kish (ballpark) minimum when they are on tour but this is a one off. I wouldnt be surprised if the school had to at least pay double that since they arent on tour. Factor in stage, lighting, sound and security, this is a half million dollars quick.

My estimates are that we will have 5k - 10k state fans that are coming no matter what. Id say Sugarland will be good for another 15k or so seats. So if they sell 20k at $25, we should come out ahead, not including concessions.

This is a no-brainer and a very smart move by our athletic department. Sure, some people will be butt-hurt because they have to pay to watch the spring game. Be honest. Have you EVER stayed past half-time of a spring game? No. They suck to watch. At least this year there will be a buzz around town and we will actually have more people in the stands for the game, whether they are football fans or not.

 

[BehrDawg]

 

[Coach34]

and it's a progressive move. It's called Super Bulldog Weekend- and they are providing entertainment for the entire family.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I won't say brilliant, but I do think it shows our AD is willing to go against the norm. I agree with many of your points about chicks and people other than your normal MSU fan attending. I also agree about being family friendly. Many of the people against Sugarland probably thought it was a great idea to have a fat Janet Jackson and a white-trash Justin Timberlake perform at the Super Bowl (anybody with half a brain could see a potential problem coming a mile away).

 

[patdog]

But requiring a family of 4 to pay $100 to see the spring game is a terrible idea. They should either have the concert first then the game or start the concert an hour after the game and have people leave and reenter. Sell tickets to Sugarland for $30 and for the spring game for $5 (free with a Sugarland ticket).

 

[Bigedawg23]

If you are going this route, why not get Buffett, Kenny Chesney, etc.? These are the type of acts that have the capability to actually sell out the venue not just draw a decent crowd. If I was going to have a stadium concert, I would get a band that could fill that stadium. I am sure these guys would be much more expensive, but if you want a major event, imagine a throng of Parrotheads descending on the Junction from all over the country. Just my two cents.

 

[aTotal360]

Watch it rain...

 

[RebelBruiser]

So it could be worse.

 

[Maroon90]

and Chesney prefers the baseball MS logo on the football helmets.

 

[ckDOG]

nm

 

[ckDOG]

Beginning of Spring - Parrotheads everywhere. I'm not even much of a Buffett fan, but that would be a good time.

That said, I think most are underestimating the draw that Sugarland actually has. They're kindof a big deal.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

Wife likes sugarland, I like SBW. Wash


Act like not interested in sugarland and don't wanna go when I was going anyway.


Wife hates Van Halen. I Like Van Halen. Van Halen in Nashville a week or two before SBW.


Compromise made to go to Van Halen and Sugarland.


Stricklin again helps out the individual fan.

 

[Hanmudog]

Seems like I remember us having concerts on that same weekend back years ago but making it a part of the spring game is flat out stupid.

I have no issue with Sugarland.Not my favorite band by a long shot but they do have large market appeal. Face it, no matter how goodbands like Son Volt or Ryan Bingham and Dead Horses are, they are not going to draw a crowd. Buffett is way out of our league anyway because he would bring crowds from all over the country.

 

[Maroon90]

"Eli's Comin'"
"Old-Fashioned Love Song"
"Eli's Comin'"
"One" (not the U2 song)
"Eli's Comin'"
"Joy to the World" (not the Isaac Watts/George Friedrich Handel song)
"El's Comin'"
[collect check, get on bus]

 

[vhdawg]

Wife likes sugarland, I like SBW. Wash


Act like not interested in sugarland and don't wanna go when I was going anyway.


Wife hates Van Halen. I Like Van Halen. Van Halen in Nashville a week or two before SBW.


Compromise made to go to Van Halen and Sugarland.


Stricklin again helps out the individual fan.

I wonder if having Van Halen at Bridgestone Arena is secretly an attempt to market Predators season tickets to you, the casual Van Halen fan?

 

[MemphisMaroon]

They'll play 5-6 songs and head out of town. It's a stretch to think that indifferent or non-MSU people will travel in droves to watch Sugarland for 25 bucks, then somehow become huge fans of MSU or something. I've heard the word progressive thrown around a little too much on this board when referring to every single move our athletic department makes. Is it possible they make a wrong move everyone once in a while? Or are we just going to assume everything they do is brilliant? Sugarland blows, its a freaking practice and no one should have to shell out 25 to watch either.

 

[GulfCoastDawg]

if you are a true fan, pay the damn 25 dollars, watch the game and leave.. if you're not a true fan then don't 17in go. Tired of people complaining on this issue. The only ones that might have some sort of argument is those with little children.

Edited to add: Seriously, what do you people normally do for entertainment these days that costs less that 25 bucks for close to 4 hours?? Surely not a movie, or go out to eat, to a bar, or a casino.. those would be close to... OH HOLY HELL $30 or more!!

 

[BMCougar]

But, 75% of female population in the south like, if not Love, Sugarland. This means that all men who were coming will now have to bring thier wives. Women will come in droves from all around to see them (Especially at the rate of $25 a head). Great Marketing! I see the potential to make a pretty good chunk of money. I am willing to bet that the amount of women that venue will bring to the stadium will offset the few disgruntled men on this board and then sum. Hell, look on the bright side. If you were normally coming to SBW anyway, sit in the Junction, drink Beer, let the wife go into the concert, and you watch all the tail that the concert brings to Our Campus walking in and out!!! Sounds like a WIN WIN to me.

 

[futaba.79]

and $25 to see an act with sales figures they've produced is a bargain. So basically what we've got is a concert and the warm-up is a bulldog practice. I thought it was stupid at first, but after checking out Sugarland's numbers, it now seems pretty shrewd. I don't care for that type of music so I'll pass, but I'm not at all worried about missing a glorified practice.

 

[TheCosmoKramer]

I just don't see this concert as being a huge draw from people who aren't already exposed to State through other means. I guess it might draw in some people who wouldn't normally to go the practice, but I think it'll keep a similar number away. I enjoy going to the spring "game" for a little while when it's free (or even $5 or $10), but I don't care about seeing Sugarland in concert and don't care enough about a scrimmage to pay $100 for my family to see it. With two kids and a 2+ hour drive, this charge plus the fact that SBW is on a weekend withno Sunday baseball gameis probably going to keep me from going this year. I assume I'm not the only one.

That said, maybe enough people love Sugarland and will come to Starkville who would not normally be in town to offset people like me. I just kind of doubt it and think even those people who do come are people who already have an opinion (positive or negative) about MSU. I hope I'm wrong, and I'll be curious to see the numbers after that weekend.

 

[vhdawg]

if you are a true fan, pay the damn 25 dollars, watch the game and leave.. if you're not a true fan then don't 17in go. Tired of people complaining on this issue. The only ones that might have some sort of argument is those with little children.

Edited to add: Seriously, what do you people normally do for entertainment these days that costs less that 25 bucks for close to 4 hours?? Surely not a movie, or go out to eat, to a bar, or a casino.. those would be close to... OH HOLY HELL $30 or more!!

I've wasted the last eleven years of not missing a single football game since I don't want to pay $25 for entry to a concert I wouldn't normally go to in order to see the opening act, which is typically free.

I wish I'd consulted with GulfCoastDawg before the 2000 season, I'd have saved a lot of time and money over the years.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

...considering that Sugarland seems to be popular (though I don't know of a single song they've done).

In 1990, I saw the Beach Boys perform after the San Jose State - Stanford game at Stanford Stadium and that was fun (which is why I'm not sold on the idea that this move is progressive).

Incidentally, I likely will not go to the spring game. I've not been to one since Rockey was head coach.

 

[DerHntr]

nm

 

[GulfCoastDawg]

Point taken, perhaps "true fan" was a poor choice of words, but you understand my premise. If people care enough about going to the spring game to watch our boys play then $25 shouldn't stop them, concert or not. If some want to complain about the principle of it and miss the game then that's their problem. But save .20 cents everyday from now till SBW and you have your entry fee. Hope to see you there.

 

[DerHntr]

[No message]

 

[cytubb]

or more for each one of you that is not going.It is a good move by the a.d. to bring in a different crowd that just might get them to support the bulldogs. </p>

 

[TheCosmoKramer]

but I suspect you're not. I just don't think this is going to draw people who have no view about State. It might draw in different people, but I think it will be people who already have an opinion about MSU, and I don't think going to a concert at a school you're already familiar with is going to create any long term fans.

 

[thatsbaseball]

nm

 

[Forrest4Moore]

If you are going this route, why not get Buffett, Kenny Chesney, etc.? These are the type of acts that have the capability to actually sell out the venue not just draw a decent crowd. If I was going to have a stadium concert, I would get a band that could fill that stadium. I am sure these guys would be much more expensive, but if you want a major event, imagine a throng of Parrotheads descending on the Junction from all over the country. Just my two cents.

 

[Tds &amp; Beer]

FlabLoser wrote:
Currently the most wide appealing genre of music that is also selling the most live tickets (country music that is).

That's a great measuring stick for ****** music. Just saying. FWIW I think the concert is a good idea. I just don't appreciate the school perpetuating the stereotype even more. I wouldn't be caught dead at that concert. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

nm

 

[vegasdawg]

I think it's a great move. First off if you don't want to go to the concert and don't want to pay $25 for just the game, I understand, but it's a practice. Why are you so upset that you will be missing a practice? I just graduated last year and even when I lived in the frat house, 400 yards from the stadium, I rarely went to the game, I'd go for like the first quarter or half. It's just a practice, it's not the end of the world if you don't go to the game. I bet the ppl who are complaining are also the same ppl that didn't like or understand the twitter hashtag in the end zone of the egg bowl. But having sugarland at the game is great publicity. And well worth $25, at a stand alone concert tickets would be $50+. Quit complaining, if you don't go to the game, you'll have more time to spend in duty noble.

People that go to the game and don't care about the concert, if they allow ppl to leave and come back in, I'm sure you will be able to sell your ticket to someone after the game outside the stadium who is just wanting to go to the concert and make some of, if not the full $25 back.

ETA: I'm not a big sugarland fan, but still think its a great idea and will be a fun concert.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

on a message board half filled with idiots. Are yall really bitching about $25 for the spring game? Even if Sugarland wasn't playing, that cost really isn't that absurd in today's SEC. With the level of coverage and fanfare surrounding SEC football these days I am surprised more schools arent charging a premium just to see the game. Now, I don't really have a particular affinity for Sugarland, but I will go and hear them play because I like all kinds of music and I hear they put on a good show - AND because I want to see the spring game. For every one of you that claims attendance numbers will suffer because of this, you either have no business sense at all, or are just generally ignorant. <div>
</div><div>This will get people in the stands THAT DON'T NORMALLY GO TO THE SPRING GAME. It is that simple. We know you hacks that come on here and ***** about this and that were going to go anyway, and if you don't go we really won't miss you, because we know you are at least a big enough fan to go to games next year. You aren't the target here. The same people have been going to the spring game for years. Even if the numbers are the same as last year, but it is an entirely different group of people, it is a win. I guess we will wait and see how the numbers look.</div>

 

[saltslugs]

It's really fun to just make **** up to support your argument. Obviously, EVERYONE loves country music! Especially blacks, hispanics, asians, northerners, musicians, etc.

 

[vhdawg]

Behold....the spring game admission prices from 2011 for all 12 SEC teams:

Alabama - Free
Auburn - $5 / students free
Arkansas - Free
Florida - $5 / students, boosters, alumni free
Georgia - Free
Kentucky - Free
LSU - Free
Ole Miss - $10 / $40 club level / students free
MSU - Free
South Carolina - Free
Tennessee - $5 / students free
Vanderbilt - Free with donation of a children's book for charity

So out of 12 schools, seven were absolutely free, three were $5 with students and others free, one free with a donation, and of course Ole Miss is really desperate for that paper right now, y'all. Got coaches to feed.

 

[dawgbydesign]

but you are in the minority. They will lose less of you than they gain in paying "customers". As usual it is a business decision.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

I still think it is a great idea. Again, my point is that the same people have been going to the spring games since they have been open to the public. This brings in a different crowd. If 30k went last year, and 15k of them don't go because it costs $25 and they don't like Sugarland, I am confident they will be replaced by another 15k that wouldnt normally go to a spring game. <div>
</div><div>And who knows, maybe next year they bring in a different genre, like The Black Keys, an R&B artist, or something like that. </div><div>
</div><div>I would be surprised if we don't obliterate the previous spring game attendance record this year. </div>

 

[patdog]

I'm not going either way. But I did present a plan that would raise just as much money and excitement without pissing off several thousand loyal fans. But now I see how its better to piss off those fans needlessly.

 

[Spotdawg]

a quick look at the top grossing concert tours of 2011 will tell you that the only country acts in the group is Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. 2 out of 25. Quite a long way from being the most popular and "everybody loves it" music genre.

If MSU pays Sugar-whatever anything close to what is projected in this thread, then there will be a deficit that will have to made up from another budget. I will apologize if I am wrong.