College Football ~ Will next generation of fans show up?

[Husky25]

It's a matter of ticket prices.

Look at the Super Bowl, the cold drove demand down, and a bunch of real football fans showed up.

Living in Buffalo, where the tickets are cheap, you see at least 65k fans at each and every game (capacity is 70k) and they are real fans.

Real fans with middle class jobs are being priced out in most stadiums, and when that happens, teams cut the cord with their fanbase.

You are not wrong, but ticket prices only considers one aspect of the issue on a macro-economic level. You have to consider overall value of one's disposable dollar as well as time vs. product received in return. Ticket, parking, travel, and concession costs along with the time (and aggravation) spent it takes to do all said ancillary activities plays a certain non-ignorable role as well. For instance, I've been a die hard Red Sox fan for almost 30 years. I haven't been to Fenway in almost 5 years, when I used to go to at least 10 games/season before the days of HDTV. Full disclosure: I have seen the Sox in three separate away venues since then, but I value the trip far more than the money spent to get there.

On a related note, can we stop it with in-stadium attendance as a major criteria of the "Real fan" and/or "True fan" designation? Along with the Sox example above, I consider myself a true fan of the Washington Redskins and, though I plan to at some time or another, I have not once stepped foot on the grounds of FedEx Field. I am a true fan of the UConn Men's basketball team, I've been to two games this year. I am a season ticket holder for football because what I've deemed what I pay for tickets to be equal or lesser value of the entertainment provided.

Anyway, I digress. Whether the attendee admits it or not, value is the key metric. Simple as that.

 

[ZooCougar]

Having attended a school that was 20% Chinese (with most of those from Mainland China) I can answer that.




.

You went to UCLA?

 

[Husky25]

True fan means a fan of the team. In other words, a non-corporate networking fan. This is what the Super Bowl is renowned for.

I get it in that context, but far too often on this Board, one is not a true fan unless they have 100% attendance off ALL local events, bowl games, and a reasonable number of away games. As if they are a lesser class of person. It's truly a first world problem of mine but it's equally irritating to me when I read a person's fandom resume' as if their attendance is authoritative support on any given issue surrounding a particular team.

 

[ZooCougar]

I get it in that context, but far too often on this Board, one is not a true fan unless they have 100% attendance off ALL local events, bowl games, and a reasonable number of away games. As if they are a lesser class of person. It's truly a first world problem of mine but it's equally irritating to me when I read a person's fandom resume' as if their attendance is authoritative support on any given issue surrounding a particular team.

Seconded.

 

[DoctorWho85]

I get it in that context, but far too often on this Board, one is not a true fan unless they have 100% attendance off ALL local events, bowl games, and a reasonable number of away games. As if they are a lesser class of person. It's truly a first world problem of mine but it's equally irritating to me when I read a person's fandom resume' as if their attendance is authoritative support on any given issue surrounding a particular team.

Totally agree with this statement. As soon as I graduated from UConn I became a season ticket holder. At the time I went to every home game, spring game and pretty much any event that involved UConn football. Two years later I lost my job and was unable to renew. Now I'm stuck working two jobs which makes it next to impossible to be able to get all 6 to 7 home games. Let's not even talk about trying to get time off for a bowl game. I do watch every game I can live and DVR the games I cannot. I avoid all sports updates so that I can pretend its live. I'd be insulted if someone says that I'm not a true fan because I have to work to jobs due to unfortuante circumstances.

 

[Husky25]

Totally agree with this statement. As soon as I graduated from UConn I became a season ticket holder. At the time I went to every home game, spring game and pretty much any event that involved UConn football. Two years later I lost my job and was unable to renew. Now I'm stuck working two jobs which makes it next to impossible to be able to get all 6 to 7 home games. Let's not even talk about trying to get time off for a bowl game. I do watch every game I can live and DVR the games I cannot. I avoid all sports updates so that I can pretend its live. I'd be insulted if someone says that I'm not a true fan because I have to work to jobs due to unfortuante circumstances.

Then prepare to be insulted on or around April 12th when 5,000 people show and if you are not in attendance, occupation, family obligation, and anything else non-UConn related be damned.

 

[CL82]

This kills the "we need a stadium on campus" argument/excuse. The students get some of the better seats for a fraction of the cost, and they don't seem to care.

The entitlement attitude plays a part. Tickets are being sold and going unused. Which means it isn't the cost of the ticket, they don't mind wasting the money buying season tickets, and then not showing up.

One potential solution for UConn? Don't allow any of the buses back to campus to leave until the game is over.

An on campus stadium also makes for a better game day environment, especially for families. Agree regarding the bus. Make the first departure 30 minutes after game time to limit the incentive to leave early. People always set lower standards saying "you can't do this or you can't expect that" generally I think they grossly underestimate kids.

 

[CL82]

I'm 1000% underestimating the challenges involved in bringing a baby to the Rent.

I took my son 3 or 4 year old son home in the 3rd qtr form his first football game. He was done and I wanted him to associate UConn with fun rather than being overtired. It was a night game though, so bad planning may have been part of that.

 

[Waquoit]

Totally agree with this statement. As soon as I graduated from UConn I became a season ticket holder. At the time I went to every home game, spring game and pretty much any event that involved UConn football. Two years later I lost my job and was unable to renew. Now I'm stuck working two jobs which makes it next to impossible to be able to get all 6 to 7 home games. Let's not even talk about trying to get time off for a bowl game. I do watch every game I can live and DVR the games I cannot. I avoid all sports updates so that I can pretend its live. I'd be insulted if someone says that I'm not a true fan because I have to work to jobs due to unfortuante circumstances.

Hey, I've been there. I still remember listening to JC's Northeastern team carve up UConn on the radio while I was stuck at my night job. I was a still a true fan.

But that's not the point. You can be a true fan and not go to games. But no matter the reason, fans that go to games are better fans than those that don't, by definition. Especially given the metrics used to judge D-1 programs these days. That's all, no big deal. My pet peeve is the "true fans" that don't go to games putting the badmouth to those that do. We more fannies in the seats and less "true fans" like that on the couch.

 

[Waquoit]

Make the first departure 30 minutes after game time to limit the incentive to leave early.

More like limit the incentive to go in the first place.

I took my son 3 or 4 year old son home in the 3rd qtr form his first football game. He was done and I wanted him to associate UConn with fun rather than being overtired. It was a night game though, so bad planning may have been part of that.

Good thing you didn't go by bus.

 

[UCFBfan]

I get it in that context, but far too often on this Board, one is not a true fan unless they have 100% attendance off ALL local events, bowl games, and a reasonable number of away games. As if they are a lesser class of person. It's truly a first world problem of mine but it's equally irritating to me when I read a person's fandom resume' as if their attendance is authoritative support on any given issue surrounding a particular team.

Couldn't agree or like this enough.

 

[Waquoit]

True fan means a fan of the team. In other words, a non-corporate networking fan. This is what the Super Bowl is renowned for.

UConn, starting with Lew Perkins (and UConn is not alone of course), has done a pretty good job of alienating the non-corporate networking fan (NCNF) over the years. The problem comes after the shiny toy loses a bit of luster. I know plenty of people that used go all the time, that are still big UConn fans that will never go to another game because of the way they were treated as they got moved from good seats to nose bleed.

You can see where these hardcore NCNF's fans sit. At Gampel, they are in the 200's level, bench seat side. No matter the opponent, those seats are always pretty full while the chairback side is may be sparsely settled. At The Rent, they sit in the preferred sections around the 13 yardline like section 118. That might be the best section in the place. At any given time, the section has the highest ratio of filled seats.

 

[Husky25]

Hey, I've been there. I still remember listening to JC's Northeastern team carve up UConn on the radio while I was stuck at my night job. I was a still a true fan.

But that's not the point. You can be a true fan and not go to games. But no matter the reason, fans that go to games are better fans than those that don't, by definition. Especially given the metrics used to judge D-1 programs these days. That's all, no big deal. My pet peeve is the "true fans" that don't go to games putting the badmouth to those that do. We more fannies in the seats and less "true fans" like that on the couch.

We agree on many things and we disagree on others. This is one of the things on which we do the latter. Your definition of what makes up a better fan is patently false. Also (and I'm assuming the last part of your post is directed towards me), I'm not bad mouthing fans that go to games. I am one of them. I'm critical of those who think that attendance alone gives them higher standing and constantly expound upon it. Fandom, in my view, is like money and happiness. Those who have either don't have to talk about it.

 

[Waquoit]

Also (and I'm assuming the last part of your post is directed towards me),

Nah, I put that in to contrast from you.

 

[Husky25]

UConn, starting with Lew Perkins (and UConn is not alone of course), has done a pretty good job of alienating the non-corporate networking fan (NCNF) over the years...

This is what I'm talking about. Say a salesman purchases courtside seats for the express purpose of wining and dining potential clients. He's in a suit and $300 wingtips. He goes and invites a coworker or client to every game. He's able to write off the donation, and his smartphone is never 4 1/2 inches away from his ear. Is he a better fan than DrWho85? Me thinks not.

 

[DoctorWho85]

This is what I'm talking about. Say a salesman purchases courtside seats for the express purpose of wining and dining potential clients. He's in a suit and $300 wingtips. He goes and invites a coworker or client to every game. He's able to write off the donation, and his smartphone is never 4 1/2 inches away from his ear. Is he a better fan than DrWho85? Me thinks not.

Thanks for this. I don't think he is. I worked my tail off to get the season tickets and enjoyed every last second of the game. Me not attending games do to circumstances I cannot control does not make me any less of a fan than someone that is in the stadium. Not to mention a lot of the "true fans" as they're being called, tend to show up halfway through the second quarter and leave at the end of the third. They're more interested in getting blasted in the parking lot then supporting the team the supposedly love. I will defend this team until I turn blue in the face. Even with the 3-9 season, I still watched every game religiously. Even sat through the blow outs as hard as it was. To say I'm any less of a fan for not being able to afford/find time to go to games is down right ignorant. And I'm glad Husky25 agrees with me

 

[Nostical]

Let's face it. We need every type of fan. We need more corporate types on cell phones, we need face-painted yahoos, sloppy late arriving tailgaters, early in their seat supporters, rabid away game caravaners, even stay at homers expressing their support by tuning in. And we also need the hard core of folks like all of us on this board who measure their lives by when the Huskies are playing and when they are not. In short, characterizing fans isn't what's important--its building and growing the fan base. We need to capture the attention of many more people, That comes from a coombination of star power and winning, exciting football. It's all about creating a deafening buzz that has people wanting to head to the Rent to see what all the excitment is about. We had some of that with Edsall, none of it with P and GDL and now, with BD, we may finally be ready to knock down the door. Promotion is important to this growth. I've seen more of that in the last 5 weeks than in the last 5 years. Our star is ascending and getting brighter by the day. Can't you feel the difference?!

 

[Waquoit]

This is what I'm talking about. Say a salesman purchases courtside seats for the express purpose of wining and dining potential clients. He's in a suit and $300 wingtips. He goes and invites a coworker or client to every game. He's able to write off the donation, and his smartphone is never 4 1/2 inches away from his ear. Is he a better fan than DrWho85? Me thinks not.

Are you two at the game? Putting money into the program? Filling a seat?

 

[SubbaBub]

You went to UCLA?

No. Surprisingly enough, the Chinese gov't sponsored tuition makes it's way to.the east coast. They were a noticeable subculture at any tech school. The thing remember most is the flip flops with socks. I was amazed people wore them in public back when it was laughable under all circumstances.

 

[SubbaBub]

Ideally, you want 40k people attending each game and another 10k wishing they could. It doesn't have to be the same people every week. In fact, it never is..
anywhere.

 

[Husky25]

Are you two at the game? Putting money into the program? Filling a seat?

Since you asked: Football? Yes. Basketball? Selected games, but I watch every one of them. Memorabilia? Yes.

I also paid OOS tuition for 4 years. So there...

 

[Duncan Idaho]

UConn, starting with Lew Perkins (and UConn is not alone of course), has done a pretty good job of alienating the non-corporate networking fan (NCNF) over the years. The problem comes after the shiny toy loses a bit of luster. I know plenty of people that used go all the time, that are still big UConn fans that will never go to another game because of the way they were treated as they got moved from good seats to nose bleed.

You can see where these hardcore NCNF's fans sit. At Gampel, they are in the 200's level, bench seat side. No matter the opponent, those seats are always pretty full while the chairback side is may be sparsely settled. At The Rent, they sit in the preferred sections around the 13 yardline like section 118. That might be the best section in the place. At any given time, the section has the highest ratio of filled seats.

The worst part after the shiny toy lost some of its luster was seeing those good seats you once held go unused for anything but a marquee game.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Seconded.

You buy season tickets and fly half way around the world to catch one/couple of home game(s) or some far off away game. They should put you in the President's seats.

 

[whaler11]

Hey, I've been there. I still remember listening to JC's Northeastern team carve up UConn on the radio while I was stuck at my night job. I was a still a true fan.

But that's not the point. You can be a true fan and not go to games. But no matter the reason, fans that go to games are better fans than those that don't, by definition. Especially given the metrics used to judge D-1 programs these days. That's all, no big deal. My pet peeve is the "true fans" that don't go to games putting the badmouth to those that do. We more fannies in the seats and less "true fans" like that on the couch.

Ding ding ding ding ding.

When one of the metrics driving conference realignment is your attendance and who you travel with - the people that show up are more valuable than people who don't.

 

[Husky25]

Ding ding ding ding ding.

When one of the metrics driving conference realignment is your attendance and who you travel with - the people that show up are more valuable than people who don't.

Those are two different arguments separate from the one I made yesterday.

1) If the first part determined level of fandom, then the University needs to do a better job of tracking who travels with the team and control the narrative. I can assure you that there was probably at least 4 times as many UConn fans at the 2011 Fiesta Bowl than the number of purchased tickets packages through the school, or reported by the corrupt Fiesta Bowl Committee.

2) The people who show up after the under 16:00 TV time out, in the second quarter (football), and/or leave early do a disservice to the atmosphere. But hey, they're there, therefore a better fan? I don't buy that. The University values the courtside hand sitters more only because they pay the freight for the more expensive seats and donations. It doesn't mean that the sense of value is reciprocated. I know more than a few people personally, who buy tickets primarily for the tax write off.

Besides, that was not my irritant. I'm not going to continually repeat myself at this point (read my past posts), lest I act the same as that which already irritates me, just from a different perspective.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Those are two different arguments separate from the one I made yesterday.

1) If the first part determined level of fandom, then the University needs to do a better job of tracking who travels with the team and control the narrative. I can assure you that there was probably at least 4 times as many UConn fans at the 2011 Fiesta Bowl than the number of purchased tickets packages through the school, or reported by the corrupt Fiesta Bowl Committee.

2) The people who show up after the under 16:00 TV time out, in the second quarter (football), and/or leave early do a disservice to the atmosphere. But hey, they're there, therefore a better fan? I don't buy that. The University values the courtside hand sitters more only because they pay the freight for the more expensive seats and donations. It doesn't mean that the sense of value is reciprocated. I know more than a few people personally, who buy tickets primarily for the tax write off.

Besides, that was not my irritant. I'm not going to continually repeat myself at this point (read my past posts), lest I act the same as that which already irritates me, just from a different perspective.

I just don't think they can comprehend that true fandom of any team doesn't solely rely on attending games.

 

[BlueMAB]

You can measure the value of a fan to the program by the amount of money he/she spends supporting the programs.

You cannot, however, measure the value of a program to the fan by the amount of money he/she spends supporting the programs.

Fandom is like faith in that only the person him/herself can say whether or not they are a "true believer". Burton, who threatened to take his money to Saracuse, is not a bigger fan than any just because he has a bigger bank account. He is, however, exponentially more valuable to UConn than most of us. Just because he has a bigger bank account.

 

[ZooCougar]

You buy season tickets and fly half way around the world to catch one/couple of home game(s) or some far off away game. They should put you in the President's seats.

Thanks for paying attention. I made one game this season, had plans to make more but life intervened. But I made sure my three tickets had three people in attendance for every game.

I guess I get the point on "value" in terms of attendance versus non attendance. But I think we should give people here a pass. A lot of people here are here to stay connected because they don't live local to UConn.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Thanks for paying attention. I made one game this season, had plans to make more but life intervened. But I made sure my three tickets had three people in attendance for every game.

I guess I get the point on "value" in terms of attendance versus non attendance. But I think we should give people here a pass. A lot of people here are here to stay connected because they don't live local to UConn.

I liked what Diaco said when he first got here. "We are going to grow together." I believe we will become a more mature 1A football program under his watch.
Edit; I initially had another word in place of "seats" but it did not read very good.

 

[ZooCougar]

I liked what Diaco said when he first got here. "We are going to grow together." I believe we will become a more mature 1A football program under his watch.
Edit; I initially had another word in place of "seats" but it did not read very good.

I like him too. But I am trying to keep in mind that this is his first HC gig. There will be hiccups along the way.