Neyland Full Capacity Reduced?

[CA_Vol]

They need to keep it above 100k.

 

[b_gann]

Those are bygone days. A reduced seating capacity makes sense for a number of reasons.

I used to like it too but the older I get, the less that 1/2 a normal seat appeals to me in Neyland.

 

[Boca Vol]

The north end zone still just had a grandstand

It was filled in before the 80 season. The N. Endzone upper deck was 96.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Anytime someone in charge calls for a „study“, you can be certain that they have already made up their mind and are merely looking for cover to carry out their decision.

 

[james_govols]

Besides terrace or club seating, does anyone actually enjoy going to Neyland?

You have no leg room. You have to sit completely upright to not have knees in your back.

With the rising rates of obesity, this will only get worse.

Maybe people who take up two seats should have to buy two seats?

 

[USAFgolferVol]

It was filled in before the 80 season. The N. Endzone upper deck was 96.

Thanks. Someone already corrected me.

Regardless, I'm all for renovation that reduces size and increases comfort. Being the biggest isn't as important anymore

 

[tennesseecoyote]

You know what surprised me last week when we played the Gators, how truly empty their stadium was, especially the upper deck. If a top ten team can't sell out for a "rivalry" game, then maybe the days of giant stadiums are a thing of the past. Perhaps a little like the astroturf baseball stadiums of the 70s with 60-70k seats. If you think they're 73,000 people who want to go to a last place Cleveland Indians game on a Tuesday night, you're crazy! I used to be a 100k or nothing kinda guy, but now after visiting a number of stadiums, I realize, as I get older that the feeling on my behind after sitting on a cold aluminum seat for 4+ hours, just doesn't cut it, besides seeing our half empty 100k stadium , looks terrible on TV. I'd say reduce the seating by 10-15k, give us our plastic seats and new bathrooms please.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

Did you see the stands when florida played bama and tennessee. When Tennessee starts winning big your can bet on 100,000 at least on big games. But I could see them making more room and reducing to around 94-95 thousand. The south end of the stadium for sure needs the upgrade and could use more room. I think we could lose a little seating and still make more room. We need more room while not giving away too many seats. This place will still pack 90-95 easy on average if we start winning big time.GBO!!!!

There will always be exceptions when mega stadium sellouts will happen, but by and large I expect to see smaller in person crowds at most all sporting events. So do you build your stadium to meet the very much every now and then peak capacity or for what can realistically be expected for most events? I would opt for the latter.

 

[FlVols]

Stop making the experience generic and like every other stadium already out there. If I wanted to go to an NFL game I'd go to an NFL game. People aren't skipping Neyland because you don't blast enough canned music. Which brings up number two-

Stop blasting me with canned music. You have a band. Get the band involved. Make it bigger, make it louder. It feels like the Pride is smaller these days. Beef it up. Maybe liven it up a little. Southern Cal does this neat thing where the band gets on the field and jams out for a half hour after games. They play all sorts of wacky stuff, obscure bits from their repertoire, etc. People love to hang around and listen, and you get the added bonus of waiting out out the traffic jams. How about you try that? Or at least take inspiration from that?

The real kicker is that a lot of this feels like trying to answer the question "how do we get people to come when the team isn't competitive on the field?" You can't buy your way out of that one, I suspect. You can't beat home. Make it different than home. Bring value. Focus on making a better experience on the field, and better value off the field. I said value. That doesn't mean assaulting me with flashing lights and constant music and whatever the heck else.

Although I will say I would like them to keep the ol' 12 inch pinch intact. Something about crowding everyone in closer makes it more intimidating to me, and I've never had a problem with it. My "I've been around here too long" hill to die on, I guess.

Stop making the experience generic and like every other stadium already out there. If I wanted to go to an NFL game I'd go to an NFL game. People aren't skipping Neyland because you don't blast enough canned music. Which brings up number two-

Stop blasting me with canned music. You have a band. Get the band involved. Make it bigger, make it louder. It feels like the Pride is smaller these days. Beef it up. Maybe liven it up a little. Southern Cal does this neat thing where the band gets on the field and jams out for a half hour after games. They play all sorts of wacky stuff, obscure bits from their repertoire, etc. People love to hang around and listen, and you get the added bonus of waiting out out the traffic jams. How about you try that? Or at least take inspiration from that?

The real kicker is that a lot of this feels like trying to answer the question "how do we get people to come when the team isn't competitive on the field?" You can't buy your way out of that one, I suspect. You can't beat home. Make it different than home. Bring value. Focus on making a better experience on the field, and better value off the field. I said value. That doesn't mean assaulting me with flashing lights and constant music and whatever the heck else.

Although I will say I would like them to keep the ol' 12 inch pinch intact. Something about crowding everyone in closer makes it more intimidating to me, and I've never had a problem with it. My "I've been around here too long" hill to die on, I guess.

I was embarrassed at the band we brought t Gville last week. We need a lot more showing off what we’ve got not making it less appealing. Come up with some zinger tunes to play like gators have. Neyland experience is so hot let’s not wuss it out.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Besides terrace or club seating, does anyone actually enjoy going to Neyland?

You have no leg room. You have to sit completely upright to not have knees in your back.

With the rising rates of obesity, this will only get worse.

Maybe people who take up two seats should have to buy two seats?

I don’t go to Neyland to be comfortable. I go to Neyland to be part of something big.

 

[payton83]

Would you rather have a 3/4 full 100,000 seat stadium, or a totally full 95,000 stadium?

This is completely my opinion but I'm not married to the idea of 102,455. Is it a great talking point? of course. But when was the last time it was full?
Give me 90 - 95,000 and better stadium experiences and amenities.
I'd love to hear yall's opinion. I know this is a hot button issue in the fanbase, so let's keep it civil.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Would you rather have a 3/4 full 100,000 seat stadium, or a totally full 95,000 stadium?

This is completely my opinion but I'm not married to the idea of 102,455. Is it a great talking point? of course. But when was the last time it was full?
Give me 90 - 95,000 and better stadium experiences and amenities.
I'd love to hear yall's opinion. I know this is a hot button issue in the fanbase, so let's keep it civil.

Can't say I much care. Just install anti-bipedal whale seats, and I'd start attending home games again. Not willing to spend money being squeezed out of my seat, or having half an ass in my lap.

 

[Voldawg1970]

and I thought everyone liked to Neyland Dance Party!!! The added 3rdddddddddd down scream is a bonus!!!!!!

 

[MCVol 1665]

Besides terrace or club seating, does anyone actually enjoy going to Neyland?

You have no leg room. You have to sit completely upright to not have knees in your back.

With the rising rates of obesity, this will only get worse.

Maybe people who take up two seats should have to buy two seats?

Yeah I watched a couple of extremely obese people walking up the steps this last game and wondered if they were going to make it out of the stadium alive.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

They need to keep it above 100k.

Not really. In 2021 it's a completely arbitrary number. Recruits don't go anywhere because of the stadium seating capacity. Neyland was loud when it was 92,000 too. I'd much rather take seating capacity back and have a more comfortable stadium to sit in.

 

[dobre_shunka]

What I hear from Danny White is how do we maximize dollars and improve the experience.

That shuts a lot of families out, doesn’t mean I won’t follow and support the team, but I just can’t afford it and haven’t been able to in a long time. That’s okay, but not at the expense of the band, canned music needs to be…well…canned.

Tradition is a thing, and we’re lucky to have some long running traditions. I don’t think that giving those up is worth losing seats to a skybox, but I understand the dilemma.

Maybe it would serve the administration well to sit in the upper deck, go to concessions, bathrooms, etc…

They just announced a new pricing plan for season tickets that lowers or removes donation requirements for large areas of the stadium. The AD is making the game more affordable not less.

 

[bigdaddy]

I think having a club on the ground level would be awesome for recruits. Like Dallas has where you have a bar/restaurant the team runs through then out the T.

 

[USAFgolferVol]

They need to keep it above 100k.

Why?

 

[savannahfan]

According to Danny White, with the new projects to Neyland, it's looking like capacity may potentially dip below 100k.

Personally I have a lot of pride knowing that our stadium is one of the biggest in the country and I do feel like it's special to be over that 100,000 mark. I was at the oklahoma game in 2015 with 100k strong and I don't know if I've ever been in an environment like that.

I'd be curious as to everyone else's thoughts. How would you feel if Neyland was smaller than 100k?

Here's Danny's quote:
"One of the things I keep saying in our meetings, ” White said, I don’t want to be the person that determines how important being over or under 100,000 is. That’s going to be a topic of conversation as we engage in survey work and focus groups with football season-ticket holders.
“I’d like to know what our fans think about that. I need more analysis of what attendance looked like when we were good. We certainly don’t want to reduce too much and wish we had more seats when we get good again because we have every intention of doing that and competing for SEC and national championships."
“But there’s kind of a give and take there for the types of amenities we know fans want. The North end zone party deck and lower West club, there is seat reduction there. How much … is something we’ll be working on in coming months.’’

Source: Jimmy's Blog: Two projects will reduce Neyland Stadium capacity next year

Build another deck!!!!

 

[Savannahbayvol]

I wish it would burn down. Could care less about Rupp Arena

That's a brilliant response. I believe if UK can downsize their BB arena we could downsize our stadium. They have won a few more NCs in basketball than we have in football.

 

[Delmar]

I do think a study would be in order. JMHO, but I am not sure, going forward, college football games anywhere will regularly draw the kinds of crowds they used to. The TV experience has just gotten so good, for one thing. Ticket prices continue to escalate. Parking is a chore. Concessions are absurdly overpriced. Covid has changed attitudes toward mass events too.

Cramming 105,000 people into a stadium, where they get a 12" by 12" section of aluminum bench to sit on, and someone else's knees in their back for 3 or 4 hours, is not appealing to a lot of people.

Lowering the capacity but providing a more comfortable, quality experience, would be a good thing.

Absolutely agree. Seats are way too skinny. And I’m not a big guy. Always made me wonder about the plight of the 250 pound man or woman trying to fit in those seats and the poor, unfortunate soul next to them. Kind of like when I get on a plane and I always get the 300 lb sweaty guy next to me in the middle seat. Taking up his and part of mine too.

 

[Sara Clark]

Having the "BIGGEST" stadium doesn't matter if you can't fill the seats. Not a good look to see so many empty seats on t.v. For me, if capacity dropped just below a 100k, I wouldn't care. GBO!!!

 

[Volunteer08]

Make it whatever is necessary for all fans to have a great gameday experience - I don't care about 100k capacity. I want money flowing into the athletic department so that we can get football right and sustain success in other sports. If that's more seats, awesome. If less, awesome. Danny knows what he is doing.

 

[lukeneyland]

You people?

Damn

There’s few things that I’m as protective over as Neyland stadium

 

[OrangeTsar]

Build another deck!!!!

AMEN! keep adding decks until the bedrock will not support any more. And then reinforce the bedrock. Add decks until we reach an altitude at which oxygen become a limiting factor. Then add oxygen masks! I envision something like the galactic Senate model