This empty student section thing is an epidemic

[af102]

http://blog.al.com/tuscaloosa/2013/10/university_of_alabama_reviewin.html#incart_2box

The difference with Bama is all f the students are bailing in the second half when they are up 30+ points. I remember someone saying that reserved block seating for the greek community would help combat the problem at MSU, but it doesn't look like it is helping at Bama. Sounds like they all show up right before the window for their reserved seats end (45 mins prior to kickoff), and then bail with the rest of the students in the second half.

 

[thatsbaseball]

College football is about to change when the football programs have to depend on this generation for financial support. And that might not be a bad thing...spending is absolutely out of control right now.

 

[johnson86-1]

You'll probably see tv money become even more important. Just like in the NFL, the TV experience is getting so good, and the gameday experience so expensive, that the decision on whether to go to the game is getting a lot tougher. I'd rather be at the game than watching it on TV, but not counting tickets and donations, it's a few hundred dollars every game I go to for gas and lodging and comes with the hassles of traveling. If I didn't enjoy the tailgating and the opportunity to be back in Starkville and see friends, it'd be a know brainer to cookout, watch our game on TV as well as all the other games and spend that money on something different.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

The LSU/Florida game probably had 10,000 empty seats. The announcers talked about it, said it's becoming common. The tickets are sold but people are staying at home more. And that was a big game.

 

[coach66]

All the night games we have now to accomodate TV are taking a toll, especially

on older folks. I prefer night games but many folks don't like the idea of getting home at 2:00am when they can watch it on TV and be in bed at 10:30.

 

[LandArchDawg]

I've mentioned it before, but I think it is mostly a Millennial problem. They simply can't sit still and pay attention to anything beyond two hours.

 

[thekimmer]

A similar thought crossed my mind too......

College football is about to change when the football programs have to depend on this generation for financial support. And that might not be a bad thing...spending is absolutely out of control right now.

That a sizeable number of today's college aged folks just might not be wired the same when it comes to sports and probably a lot of other things too. And yes I agree that if it eventually reigns in the 'arms race' that would be a silver lining.

 

[DerHntr]

The big question is whether this is a trend that will continue into adulthood or are these students going to graduate and somehow start acting like most fans by staying at games. Sadly I think it will continue.

The entertainment needs are changing drastically. NFL teams are putting in areas for Fantasy football, increasing wifi capabilities, etc. They see the issue coming too.

So how does college football react to keep the future donating fans interested? The video board sure isn't doing the trick.

 

[dickiedawg]

I've mentioned it before, but I think it is mostly a Millennial problem. They simply can't sit still and pay attention to anything beyond two hours.

What a ridiculous assertion.

 

[gtowndawg]

Add parking, gas and meals to the equation

I have to admit it's hard to justify an extra $100 for parking, gas and two meals (plus tips for the water vendor) for every single game. On top of the BC fees and ticket cost - all for mediocre football.

That's why I think 61,000 seats should be our max for a long time.

 

[LandArchDawg]

What a ridiculous lack of explanation and contrary evidence.

 

[dickiedawg]

You didn't offer any evidence to refute. Just your run of the mill generation-bashing. Let me guess, "kids" today just don't know how good they have it, right? How many miles did you walk to school barefoot?

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

You didn't offer any evidence to refute. Just your run of the mill generation-bashing. Let me guess, "kids" today just don't know how good they have it, right? How many miles did you walk to school barefoot?

you want him to prove a negative? and it was 6 miles. uphill. both ways. in the snow.

 

[LandArchDawg]

The lack of attention span and commitment is well documented. As well as extended adolescence. Google yields plenty of resources on it from sociology and psychology.

Anecdotally, I'm 35 years old, and my brother is 28. He manages kids and he constantly complains about how lazy and inattentive they are, and he wasn't a paragon of a go-getter himself. So I know if he says they are bad, they are *really* bad.

 

[dickiedawg]

I have to admit it's hard to justify an extra $100 for parking, gas and two meals (plus tips for the water vendor) for every single game. On top of the BC fees and ticket cost - all for mediocre football.

That's why I think 61,000 seats should be our max for a long time.

I definitely agree with this, and one reason focusing on the premium seating for the expansion makes more sense than just "adding seats." (Obviously the added revenue is the main reason for this.) Making a "club"-type experience accessible to more fans is just a great idea. The typical stadium experience will continue to lose market share, so to speak, to the at-home experience or even the tailgate experience.

 

[dickiedawg]

The lack of attention span and commitment is well documented. As well as extended adolescence. Google yields plenty of resources on it from sociology and psychology.

Anecdotally, I'm 35 years old, and my brother is 28. He manages kids and he constantly complains about how lazy and inattentive they are, and he wasn't a paragon of a go-getter himself. So I know if he says they are bad, they are *really* bad.

That makes him one of these Millennials you're bashing. You missed the cutoff by 4 years, so congrats I guess. And I contend that these lazy and inattentive kids are most likely just that, kids. Same as kids from 30 years ago.

 

[LandArchDawg]

That makes him one of these Millennials you're bashing.

To me, that lends even more credibility to his testimony.

 

[00Dawg]

That makes him one of these Millennials you're bashing. You missed the cutoff by 4 years, so congrats I guess. And I contend that these lazy and inattentive kids are most likely just that, kids. Same as kids from 30 years ago.

I'll throw in my anecdotal evidence opposite your stance as well. If we get a new hire under 30 who will show up for work consistently, doesn't goof off constantly, and is willing and able to learn, we sing their praises to the moon. It's been that way since about 2005 or 6.
I also have 2 much-younger brothers. Identical deal there. One will turn 30 next year, and the only job he's held more than a few months involves a M4 and Afghanistan. The other was the same way until about age 26, and his current job infrequently requires a defined daily schedule.
There's a big difference with Millennials. It's palpable.

 

[thatsbaseball]

At that point it`ll be more of an NFL minor league than it is now. If that`s possible

 

[seshomoru]

This is the problem that needs adressing.

All the msu4life fun threads aside, one of the main problems is that college aged people just don't find attending college football games that interesting. And the blame only slightly falls on the product your chosen university puts on the field or the "atmosphere" created by music and jumbotrons. It's just that they find football boring.

 

[dickiedawg]

To me, that lends even more credibility to his testimony.

There's no question that the things we consume are trending to shorter and shorter snippets, to the point of absurdity. From 140-character news stories to six-second videos. Few people want to carry on an actual phone conversation, just send a text. And don't even bother spelling the words out. Attention spans are getting shorter- how could they not? But to lump nearly 20 years worth of people into a group and say they "can't sit still" long enough to watch a football game? That's absurd.
My point is every generation looks at those that come after it and says to itself "what is the world coming to?" The "greatest generation" said it when their kids turned into hippies, and their kids, generation x, were a bunch of slackers that all listened to the devil's music. Those groups all outgrew their stereotypes, right? Well the current 13-32 year-olds will too. A bunch already have.

 

[coach66]

Good post, I agree.

nm

 

[CoolDawg]

I cannot speak for the students, but blowout football games when your team is leading by 4 touchdowns are boring and not enjoyable to watch. Such games are absolutely awful if your team is losing by 4 touchdowns at that point in the game. Seeing your team drag around and give half-hearted effort while playing non-BCS teams, such as Bowling Green, are also not fun for me to watch. Since these type games are the only type that we have had this season, I don't blame the students for leaving early. I have a feeling that if we are playing an SEC team down to the wire in the 4th quarter of a game, the students will be there.

 

[121Josey]

The big question is whether this is a trend that will continue into adulthood or are these students going to graduate and somehow start acting like most fans by staying at games. Sadly I think it will continue.

The entertainment needs are changing drastically. NFL teams are putting in areas for Fantasy football, increasing wifi capabilities, etc. They see the issue coming too.

So how does college football react to keep the future donating fans interested? The video board sure isn't doing the trick.

This is the problem and solution. Fans today want to view multiple games or interact with the games. This was discussed recently I think on the last post-game show.

NFL stadiums is providing a free stream of NFL Red Zone to all mobile devices in the stadium. The SEC needs to provide a similar stream of the other SEC night games. The best option now is that there is a Bama and TSUN radio feed in Starkville.

The Grizz owner made his money in telecoms. He's planning to implement a broad-scale information and interaction overhaul of the FedEx Forum for mobile devices.

So, State has to keep up with these trends if they want to maintain attendance levels and enhance gameday experience.

 

[GloryDawg]

In today’s multibillion dollar industry called College Football those student seat are at an premium. I say get rid of the student section and make them buy tickets through the same process and price as everyone else. <o></o>

 

[EurekaDog]

Not so ridiculous.

Last week, I listened to a discussion about this very thing affecting MLB. Repeatedly, the panel members referred to the millennials' short attention span and their "inability" to sit through a 3 - 3.5 hour baseball game. The panel also noted that it's begun to affect football attendance as well. They specifically mentioned the Ole Miss/TAMU game, which lasted ~ 4 hours, as an example of more and more college games being on TV as well as the increased number of plays being "under review".

If the trend continues, soccer will pick up a few more fans simply due to the "shortness" of the event. 45 minute halves, 15 minute halftime, and usually no more than 10 minutes of stoppage time = 115 minutes... <2 hours from start to finish.

 

[DerHntr]

In today’s multibillion dollar industry called College Football those student seat are at an premium. I say get rid of the student section and make them buy tickets through the same process and price as everyone else. <o></o>

That on the surface sounds OK but you are making a giant correction for the symptom rather than the problem. One reason to provide students with good seating is to help create lifelong fans who start paying more and more over time so that they can get back into similar great seats like they had in college. I understand reducing the size of premium seating but not doing away with it.

Riddle me this: if you don't try to enhance the experience and instead cut the students' ability to attend and have good seats, then why would you expect for them to become season ticket holders in the future?

 

[patdog]

This is exactly what all the AD's are worried about. That they're in the process of losing an entire generation of fans.

 

[121Josey]

That on the surface sounds OK but you are making a giant correction for the symptom rather than the problem. One reason to provide students with good seating is to help create lifelong fans who start paying more and more over time so that they can get back into similar great seats like they had in college. I understand reducing the size of premium seating but not doing away with it.

Riddle me this: if you don't try to enhance the experience and instead cut the students' ability to attend and have good seats, then why would you expect for them to become season ticket holders in the future?

This assumes that the way to make fans is by attending games.

I agree that the experience needs to be consistently under review. But subsidizing student tickets when students don't value the tickets will help no one. If you put a good product on the field, people will follow the team and tickets will sell.

If State converts a student ticket to a premium ticket and nets say $30 @ $6,000/ that's $180,000 that could go toward a raise for an assistant coach.

Maybe they should solicit student ticket orders for the next home game after the game.**