It's the Lounge. It's literally the only unique thing we have to hang our hats on. Stereotypes be damned, we get all kinds of good exposure with more games on national TV now. Reckon that might help with recruiting? There have been ******** out there for decades, but if you think the people running those rigs don't earn the right to be a little exclusive on big weekends with all the money and effort to feed and liquor up the thousands of people out there, go 17 yourself. Besides, it's first come, first serve from RCF to the RF foul pole. If you want to pay $10 to get in and set up your own experience, you can do it. Tons of my friends do it. Most of those folks show up when the gates open every damn weekend and are there until long after the game ends. It's tailgating INSIDE of the stadium. Where else can you do that? You just gonna waltz up to the Junction an hour before kickoff and setup your ****? Hell no. Like many people have said, if you want to get in on the party, be nice and strike up a conversation with someone out there. It might not work at the first rig you roll up on, but I guarantee you someone out there will show you a good time if it isn't a Super Regional cluster17.
The new stadium will be great, but the charm of the Lounge will die. I guess all you whiners have something to look forward to.