Businesses are doing great, student affinity at all time high!

[The Dude]

Student: 'Just skip' Vols football games | ajc.com

Tennessee student Kristin Childrey just assumed she and her friends would attend every home football game last season.

That’s not the case this year.

“It’s not a priority anymore,” said the 19-year-old sophomore who’s been to two of three home games. “If you’ve got something else to do, you just skip it.”

"It’s almost like a boycott,” said Evan Baddour, a 21-year-old senior who skipped Saturday night’s game against Northern Illinois because of a prior engagement. “At first, it was kind of rebelling against having to pay for tickets, but within my group of friends, (coach Phillip) Fulmer is really the source of what people see as the problem.”

Concessions have taken a slight hit so far this season — not enough for Hamilton to be concerned but something that could hurt the athletic department if the trend continues.

Fans’ attitudes also have taken a toll on local businesses who depend on strong sales during football season to survive when students are away during the summer.

Katie Campbell, an assistant manager of McAlister’s Deli near the campus, said sales at the restaurant were down about $1,000 the day the Vols beat Northern Illinois.

“Normally on a game day, we’re busy all day long,” she said. “We actually ended up closing early on Saturday because the place was empty.”

Baddour noticed it too when he went out on the town after the game with friends. The crowds at the bars were much thinner than usual after a night win. He thinks students have lost interest in Fulmer and the Vols after seeing the excitement and success in Tennessee’s basketball program under energetic coach Bruce Pearl.

This isn't going to help Fulmer's cause, if Cumberland businesses can't make money.

[doozer]

from Saturday's game, right before kickoff:

[JZVOL]

Sodexho already pays UT on concessions I believe so that isn't a concern for them.

[TheTennesseeTom]

A picture is worth several thousand words! wow, never thought I would see Neyland look empty.

[Vols N Shocks]

Already been posted...

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by TheTennesseeTom

A picture is worth several thousand words! wow, never thought I would see Neyland look empty.

It was actually a lot better than I thought once the game got underway.

[JZVOL]

Originally Posted by justingroves

It was actually a lot better than I thought once the game got underway.

Yea, I thought it was better than the UAB or at least close.

[doozer]

Originally Posted by justingroves

It was actually a lot better than I thought once the game got underway.

the student section was still pretty thin.

[TheTennesseeTom]

Originally Posted by JZVOL

Sodexho already pays UT on concessions I believe so that isn't a concern for them.

but there contract is based on having sales from 107,000 on game day. You take 27,000 people at an average of $15 per person and your talking about losing $405,000. Thats a big hit.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by doozer

the student section was still pretty thin.

Yes it was.

[dimera23]

Students should have free tickets to UT home games. It is their University and their team, afterall.

[Vol Mania 21]

can someone post a pic of the 3rd quarter against florida

[UTLCA]

There's no reason to pay for this product, plain and simple.

And for some reason I still do.

[Godfatha]

Probably a lot of folks outside waiting for desperate scalpers to give away their tickets at gametime.

[superdave1984]

That's about how the stadium look for the UAB game too. Lots of empties.