Stadium Attendance and Reality

[WoodsmanVol]

Been discussed more than once, but it's the offseason, and folks who love CFB will discuss/talk about almost anything. Anything, even Uncle Jerry losing his toe. That being grossly said, this post is really about game attendance. As rabid as Vols fans are about our team, we're not immune to declining attendance. Electronic access such as big screen TVs, wireless, high resolution projectors paired with 7ftX7ft (or larger) screens for viewing indoors or outdoors, the penalties of increasing travel costs, dealing with poor seating, and so on has more folks staying home. Then you add streaming, and better food than what you get at stadium concession stands. We will see increased declines as time goes on.

Tennessee could maybe combat this with bold unorthodox in stadium moves such as:
1. Establishing tailgate style concession booths run by genuine BBQ chefs
2. Phoned-in card paid orders, delivered to you. I'd suggest adding delivery only elevators to expediate deliveries.
3. For the enclosed upper deck folks, drone delivery of $pecial order meals.
4. Raised and underground Monorail service between nearby hotels and parking lots to and from the stadium.
5. Sell limited specially marked or digital chipped tickets that allows the lucky person(s) to join the team in their Vol Walk.

Of course, the logistics and money to make this possible isn't simple. And as usual, I throw crazy ideas out because I am crazy after all.

 

[VolFaninFla]

Been discussed more than once, but it's the offseason, and folks who love CFB will discuss/talk about almost anything. Anything, even Uncle Jerry losing his toe. That being grossly said, this post is really about game attendance. As rabid as Vols fans are about our team, we're not immune to declining attendance. Electronic access such as big screen TVs, wireless, high resolution projectors paired with 7ftX7ft (or larger) screens for viewing indoors or outdoors, the penalties of increasing travel costs, dealing with poor seating, and so on has more folks staying home. Then you add streaming, and better food than what you get at stadium concession stands. We will see increased declines as time goes on.

Tennessee could maybe combat this with bold unorthodox in stadium moves such as:
1. Establishing tailgate style concession booths run by genuine BBQ chefs
2. Phoned-in card paid orders, delivered to you. I'd suggest adding delivery only elevators to expediate deliveries.
3. For the enclosed upper deck folks, drone delivery of $pecial order meals.
4. Upper and underground Monorail service between nearby hotels and parking lots to and from the stadium.
5. Sell limited specially marked or digital chipped tickets that allows the lucky person(s) to join the team in their Vol Walk.

Of course, the logistics and money to make this possible isn't simple. And as usual, I throw crazy ideas out because I am crazy after all.

You are completely on target and I agree 100% with what you’re saying.









I meant just your last sentence.

j/k

 

[OrangeTsar]

Rest room reform being completed is the most important single factor to me

 

[savannahfan]

Been discussed more than once, but it's the offseason, and folks who love CFB will discuss/talk about almost anything. Anything, even Uncle Jerry losing his toe. That being grossly said, this post is really about game attendance. As rabid as Vols fans are about our team, we're not immune to declining attendance. Electronic access such as big screen TVs, wireless, high resolution projectors paired with 7ftX7ft (or larger) screens for viewing indoors or outdoors, the penalties of increasing travel costs, dealing with poor seating, and so on has more folks staying home. Then you add streaming, and better food than what you get at stadium concession stands. We will see increased declines as time goes on.

Tennessee could maybe combat this with bold unorthodox in stadium moves such as:
1. Establishing tailgate style concession booths run by genuine BBQ chefs
2. Phoned-in card paid orders, delivered to you. I'd suggest adding delivery only elevators to expediate deliveries.
3. For the enclosed upper deck folks, drone delivery of $pecial order meals.
4. Upper and underground Monorail service between nearby hotels and parking lots to and from the stadium.
5. Sell limited specially marked or digital chipped tickets that allows the lucky person(s) to join the team in their Vol Walk.

Of course, the logistics and money to make this possible isn't simple. And as usual, I throw crazy ideas out because I am crazy after all.

I agree....

 

[bigorangepoppa]

Some interesting ideas WoodsmanVol. I don't know about drone deliveries though. You just know that some drunken fan will try to capture it. But as you said, you are crazy!

 

[OrangeTsar]

Still waiting on the golf ball dispensing vending machines

 

[Vol524]

OP I like your ideas. I would settle for fixing the bathrooms, upgrading all the seating, and improving the food.

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

Tennessee needs to combine dynamic pricing and a targeted free ticket program for (at first) Knox County/East Tennessee elementary and middle schools if they want 95%+ capacity for G5 and FCS games.

Winning will take care of demand when SEC opponents or Nebraska roll into Neyland, but the prices for more “approachable” games are alienating for a lot of families/the coming generations of Vol fans and I’m not convinced that you’re setting the program up for future success if local kids only get to experience Tennessee football via a television set.

 

[99gator]

The very first thing I think CFB needs to do that would make a difference would be definitive game times.

As an example, the Florida-Georgia game is already designated as 3:30 (ET) kickoff before the year starts. The whole schedule for every team needs to be this way. The same way it is for the NFL.

How does anyone expect someone in Memphis to buy season tickets when that person has no clue when the Alabama or Florida games will be played? If that buyer had knowledge of when he needed to ask time off from work, book a hotel, etc., well in advance, I think it would make a huge difference for people.

But, there has to be a level of respect for fans that unlike the NFL where most people going to games are in or around the city......college football has people travel from all across the state of the school and beyond. Not knowing when the game will be played until 6 days in advance is BS.

JMO

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Some interesting ideas WoodsmanVol. I don't know about drone deliveries though. You just know that some drunken fan will try to capture it. But as you said, you are crazy!

I'm certain people far smarter than me could figure out how to make such things work. The drone delivery vulnerability to drunk fans and just plain stupid and arrogant people is why I suggested they be only for the club box people. Maybe a special landing or drop area or window entry. Like I said, smarter people than me could figure it out. In any case, the UT should do some real outside the box thinking to enhance attendance. UT needs to be trendsetting, not a trend follower.

 

[ftsandersvol]

How about just making the game/hotel prices where you don’t need a seven-figure income for your family to attend? Not too many out-of-town fans can throw $1,500-$2,000 around just to attend a game, much less $20,000 for being season ticket holders.

 

[lukeneyland]

The very first thing I think CFB needs to do that would make a difference would be definitive game times.

As an example, the Florida-Georgia game is already designated as 3:30 (ET) kickoff before the year starts. The whole schedule for every team needs to be this way. The same way it is for the NFL.

How does anyone expect someone in Memphis to buy season tickets when that person has no clue when the Alabama or Florida games will be played? If that buyer had knowledge of when he needed to ask time off from work, book a hotel, etc., well in advance, I think it would make a huge difference for people.

But, there has to be a level of respect fof fans that unlike the NFL where most people going to games are in or around the city......college football has people travel from all across the state of the school and beyond. Not knowing when the game will be played until 6 days in advance is BS.

JMO

Excellent idea

 

[IndianaVol]

The monorail / transportation system is a great idea.
Eases GameDay traffic.
Allows fans to stay in other areas of the city...hell you could even market a BIG game package where people could stay in Pigeon Forge even...flip side it would allow folks more budget conscious to not be shackled to higher priced hotels.
Would provide a system the city could utilize to attract business and commerce.

 

[DaddyChad]

Some good ideas, unfortunately we have buffoons making decisions.

 

[peaygolf]

WIN football games

 

[VolPack22]

The very first thing I think CFB needs to do that would make a difference would be definitive game times.

As an example, the Florida-Georgia game is already designated as 3:30 (ET) kickoff before the year starts. The whole schedule for every team needs to be this way. The same way it is for the NFL.

How does anyone expect someone in Memphis to buy season tickets when that person has no clue when the Alabama or Florida games will be played? If that buyer had knowledge of when he needed to ask time off from work, book a hotel, etc., well in advance, I think it would make a huge difference for people.

But, there has to be a level of respect fof fans that unlike the NFL where most people going to games are in or around the city......college football has people travel from all across the state of the school and beyond. Not knowing when the game will be played until 6 days in advance is BS.

JMO

The NFL utilizes flex scheduling from weeks 11-17. They want the best games at the end of the season in prime time, which is the way it should be.

 

[Delmar]

How about just making the game/hotel prices where you don’t need a seven-figure income for your family to attend? Not too many out-of-town fans can throw $1,500-$2,000 around just to attend a game, much less $20,000 for being season ticket holders.

One reason why I don’t go much anymore. Hard to justify a 6 hr drive each way and spending $1000 to $1500 when you got that big screen in the LR, beer and food in the fridge and you don’t have to put up with the inconsiderate rubes that infest the stands these days. I just don’t have the patience I used to have.

 

[ATC_VOL]

The very first thing I think CFB needs to do that would make a difference would be definitive game times.

As an example, the Florida-Georgia game is already designated as 3:30 (ET) kickoff before the year starts. The whole schedule for every team needs to be this way. The same way it is for the NFL.

How does anyone expect someone in Memphis to buy season tickets when that person has no clue when the Alabama or Florida games will be played? If that buyer had knowledge of when he needed to ask time off from work, book a hotel, etc., well in advance, I think it would make a huge difference for people.

But, there has to be a level of respect fof fans that unlike the NFL where most people going to games are in or around the city......college football has people travel from all across the state of the school and beyond. Not knowing when the game will be played until 6 days in advance is BS.

JMO

Amen

 

[VolDave53]

Been discussed more than once, but it's the offseason, and folks who love CFB will discuss/talk about almost anything. Anything, even Uncle Jerry losing his toe. That being grossly said, this post is really about game attendance. As rabid as Vols fans are about our team, we're not immune to declining attendance. Electronic access such as big screen TVs, wireless, high resolution projectors paired with 7ftX7ft (or larger) screens for viewing indoors or outdoors, the penalties of increasing travel costs, dealing with poor seating, and so on has more folks staying home. Then you add streaming, and better food than what you get at stadium concession stands. We will see increased declines as time goes on.

Tennessee could maybe combat this with bold unorthodox in stadium moves such as:
1. Establishing tailgate style concession booths run by genuine BBQ chefs
2. Phoned-in card paid orders, delivered to you. I'd suggest adding delivery only elevators to expediate deliveries.
3. For the enclosed upper deck folks, drone delivery of $pecial order meals.
4. Raised and underground Monorail service between nearby hotels and parking lots to and from the stadium.
5. Sell limited specially marked or digital chipped tickets that allows the lucky person(s) to join the team in their Vol Walk.

Of course, the logistics and money to make this possible isn't simple. And as usual, I throw crazy ideas out because I am crazy after all.

You are imaginative, and cudos for the thoughts. The drone deliveries will never pass FAA scrutiny as is is flight over an open air assembly within a TFR area.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

You are imaginative, and cudos for the thoughts. The drone deliveries will never pass FAA scrutiny as is is flight over an open air assembly within a TFR area.

Thank you for the compliment. You're probably right about the drone thing, especially in this current age of domestic terrorism. A shame to be frank, but then, in addition to being flat out nuts, I do believe in miracles.

 

[imavolfan]

College football needs to prevent the ticket hubs from buying up all the tickets and jacking up the price. The face value of tickets are doable but it’s hard to get those prices.

 

[HalfullVol]

Some interesting ideas WoodsmanVol. I don't know about drone deliveries though. You just know that some drunken fan will try to capture it. But as you said, you are crazy!

 

[BreatheUT]

Been discussed more than once, but it's the offseason, and folks who love CFB will discuss/talk about almost anything. Anything, even Uncle Jerry losing his toe. That being grossly said, this post is really about game attendance. As rabid as Vols fans are about our team, we're not immune to declining attendance. Electronic access such as big screen TVs, wireless, high resolution projectors paired with 7ftX7ft (or larger) screens for viewing indoors or outdoors, the penalties of increasing travel costs, dealing with poor seating, and so on has more folks staying home. Then you add streaming, and better food than what you get at stadium concession stands. We will see increased declines as time goes on.

Tennessee could maybe combat this with bold unorthodox in stadium moves such as:
1. Establishing tailgate style concession booths run by genuine BBQ chefs
2. Phoned-in card paid orders, delivered to you. I'd suggest adding delivery only elevators to expediate deliveries.
3. For the enclosed upper deck folks, drone delivery of $pecial order meals.
4. Raised and underground Monorail service between nearby hotels and parking lots to and from the stadium.
5. Sell limited specially marked or digital chipped tickets that allows the lucky person(s) to join the team in their Vol Walk.

Of course, the logistics and money to make this possible isn't simple. And as usual, I throw crazy ideas out because I am crazy after all.

Why so much space in the bottom of the post?

Did you forget to mention higher ticket prices, declining product, political stances, and fatigue with high roster turnover due to NIL and rule changes?

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Why so much space in the bottom of the post?

Space is beyond huge, BreatheUT, and I'm an astronaut, so space is an expected factor.

Did you forget to mention higher ticket prices, declining product, political stances, and fatigue with high roster turnover due to NIL and rule changes?

Naw. I didn't try to think of everything, nobody can, not even a leprechaun. Like I said, I threw some crazy ideas out. I believe they are reasonably good ideas and I hope to see them implemented, but they are still crazy.

 

[volfaninky]

Why not… take down the old jumbotron and move it down like the new one and then chair back the upper south and cover like north. Would give stadium a better completed look and uniformity and also keep noise in and make those upper end zone seats a lot nicer.