Student Game Attendance – Root Cause Problem Solving

[Duncan Idaho]

Of course, they don't give a damn about a product that's located at a half hour off-campus. Might they be more likely to actually give a damn if it were actually an integrated part of campus life rather than an off-campus activity choice that requires an hour of commuting? Probably.

Why would they give a damn about a product that has been poor throughout their collective memories? A product the general public has turned away from and themselves wouldn't drive 30 minutes to watch. It went from 40k to 12-15k struggling to beat the Wagners of the football world and asking why? Ask why they had to expand the student seating by multiple stadium sections in the past. The perception is that UConn can't get into a major conference is because the football team is so bad. Hey everyone let's hop a ride and watch that!

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

Why would they give a damn about a product that has been poor throughout their collective memories? A product the general public has turned away from and themselves wouldn't drive 30 minutes to watch. It went from 40k to 12-15k struggling to beat the Wagners of the football world and asking why? Ask why they had to expand the student seating by multiple stadium sections in the past. The perception is that UConn can't get into a major conference is because the football team is so bad. Hey everyone let's hop a ride and watch that!

Bye weeks always bring out the Captain Obvious in us all, apparently. (And the "campus stadium" guys.)

 

[UConnDan97]

Why would they give a damn about a product that has been poor throughout their collective memories? A product the general public has turned away from and themselves wouldn't drive 30 minutes to watch. It went from 40k to 12-15k struggling to beat the Wagners of the football world and asking why? Ask why they had to expand the student seating by multiple stadium sections in the past. The perception is that UConn can't get into a major conference is because the football team is so bad. Hey everyone let's hop a ride and watch that!

Because if you're currently a junior or senior, this football team has already made it once to a bowl game and is again on track to go to a second bowl.

Because the weather has been ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL for every home game we've had.

Because most of the current students don't even REMEMBER Pasqualoni or GDL.

Because most of the people in this board bitching about them used to travel to see a middle-of-the-road 1-AA team play at places like the Yale Bowl, etc.

Those are just off the top of my head. I don't expect 30,000 students to go to the games, but having 2,000 shouldn't be that hard...

 

[Chin Diesel]

Somewhat serious question,,,,

Has anyone ever asked the students what it would take to get to them to the game and to stay at the game?

 

[HCCForever]

Somewhat serious question,,,,

Has anyone ever asked the students what it would take to get to them to the game and to stay at the game?

There's a novel approach. Actually, talking to a human in the texting/social media age.

 

[KryHavok]

There's a novel approach. Actually, talking to a human in the texting/social media age.

What is this "talking" you mention? I tell my kids to respond with regular English, and what comes back is some unholy mess of letters to someone named "bruh".

 

[Deepster]

Somewhat serious question,,,,

Has anyone ever asked the students what it would take to get to them to the game and to stay at the game?

Solutions:

• Assemble a tailgate or “football gameday entertainment” council to specifically address this issue.
• Sponsored food in tailgate area for students. Leverage local companies and business (Big Y, Moe’s, Bears BBQ). Minimal cost to get in ($5.00 or less), use Husky Bucks, free food if alumni or other donors can cover some/all costs. Make it good enough to be worth while.
• Leverage matchups with food – Wings vs Buffalo, Cheesesteaks vs Temple, etc.
• Offer eating contests for fun/prizes.
• Come up with our own version of ESPN College Gameday.
• Tailgate game area – cornhole, washers, etc. Offer tournaments to those interested.
• DJ or live music acts.
• Leverage local bars like Teds or Huskies to maybe have “Teds South” trailers or RV’s. Use their brand to generate buzz.
• Important: Get a student council with representation from all classes, Greek life, backgrounds, ethnicities to what THEY want or would think is worth it.

And to Duncan's comment? Again, I'd say you need to make the EVENT something worth attending. If the history and record of the team aren't your draw, then give them FOMO of what they're missing out on. As someone else mentioned, the weather has been A+ to every game....is it that difficult to plan a big fun outdoor party for them?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Solutions:

• Assemble a tailgate or “football gameday entertainment” council to specifically address this issue.
• Sponsored food in tailgate area for students. Leverage local companies and business (Big Y, Moe’s, Bears BBQ). Minimal cost to get in ($5.00 or less), use Husky Bucks, free food if alumni or other donors can cover some/all costs. Make it good enough to be worth while.
• Leverage matchups with food – Wings vs Buffalo, Cheesesteaks vs Temple, etc.
• Offer eating contests for fun/prizes.
• Come up with our own version of ESPN College Gameday.
• Tailgate game area – cornhole, washers, etc. Offer tournaments to those interested.
• DJ or live music acts.
• Leverage local bars like Teds or Huskies to maybe have “Teds South” trailers or RV’s. Use their brand to generate buzz.
• Important: Get a student council with representation from all classes, Greek life, backgrounds, ethnicities to what THEY want or would think is worth it.

And to Duncan's comment? Again, I'd say you need to make the EVENT something worth attending. If the history and record of the team aren't your draw, then give them FOMO of what they're missing out on. As someone else mentioned, the weather has been A+ to every game....is it that difficult to plan a big fun outdoor party for them?

Yep Deep, if the football product is not compelling you have to sweeten or chum the pot. Probably would have to do it if on campus too after such a stretch of historically bad football.

 

[GoConn]

I understand this topic has been talked about a lot on this board but....does anyone know if the University has ever put together a REAL ACTUAL plan for an on campus stadium? That would obviously be the best option to get students to go.

I'm fine with the Rent - its a solid stadium. But just curious if there has ever been a real plan ever talked about with UConn higher ups.

 

[huskymedic]

I'm fine with the Rent - it’s a solid stadium. But just curious if there has ever been a real plan ever talked about with UConn higher ups.

Go up to Post#31^^ for recent comments by Dave Benedict in response to a question regarding an on-campus stadium.

 

[tiger paw]

If they don't want to go, stay on campus. They have M+W soccer, volleyball + field hockey for students like that. Today's generation does not like anything physical (football) + very rarely ever goes outside. This not ours or are parents student body anymore.

 

[UConnDan97]

If they don't want to go, stay on campus. They have M+W soccer, volleyball + field hockey for students like that. Today's generation does not like anything physical (football) + very rarely ever goes outside. This not ours or are parents student body anymore

Except they were ALREADY AT THE GAME!!!

This place makes me feel like I'm on crazy pills sometimes. We're not talking about people avoiding things that are physical. We are talking about people avoiding the 2nd half of a game...

 

[huskymedic]

Except they were ALREADY AT THE GAME!!!

This place makes me feel like I'm on crazy pills sometimes. We're not talking about people avoiding things that are physical. We are talking about people avoiding the 2nd half of a game...

There are also folks talking about season(s) long empty gray benches - this is not just a one game wart.

 

[zls44]

If they don't want to go, stay on campus. They have M+W soccer, volleyball + field hockey for students like that. Today's generation does not like anything physical (football) + very rarely ever goes outside. This not ours or are parents student body anymore.

Cut it out with the "today's generation does not like anything physical" garbage, they work out more than we ever did and the NFL and MMA have never been more popular.

 

[UConnDan97]

There are also folks talking about season(s) long empty gray benches - this is not just a one game wart.

Understood, but we saw solid student attendance against Merrimack, and we saw for 1.5 quarters a solid student attendance against Temple.

So when people start offering up ideas about generational differences in physical sports, it's simply laughable and lazy...

 

[HCCForever]

Hopefully the stands are full for Wake Forest. Currently, the weather looks fine for football, sunny and 60s.

 

[huskymedic]

Understood, but we saw solid student attendance against Merrimack, and we saw for 1.5 quarters a solid student attendance against Temple.

Merrimack was the newness and Temple was when the beer/drink money ran out.

 

[UConnDan97]

Merrimack was the newness and Temple was when the beer/drink money ran out.

See, I accept this as an answer way more than I do the previous suggestion.

So the solution is cheaper beer, and I support that! (Especially at $14 a beer)....

 

[Hogoff]

See, I accept this as an answer way more than I do the previous suggestion.

So the solution is cheaper beer, and I support that! (Especially at $14 a beer)....

$2 beers with a student ID.

 

[Purple Stein]

Except they were ALREADY AT THE GAME!!!

This place makes me feel like I'm on crazy pills sometimes. We're not talking about people avoiding things that are physical. We are talking about people avoiding the 2nd half of a game...

Is the second half on Tik Tok? As an 18 year old recently told me, only half in jest, “if it’s not on Tik Tok, it’s not really real.”

 

[UConnDan97]

Is the second half on Tik Tok? As an 18 year old recently told me, only half in jest, “if it’s not on Tik Tok, it’s not really real.”

It eventually was when Jordan Wright slid into the endzone. You know who wasn't on TikTok when he did it? The students...

(The band students looked awesome though)

 

[UConnDan97]

Getting back to the stadium concession prices, which really are insane:

Does anyone know if or when the state could take back the operation of The Rent? I think the Oak View Group (?) Is currently running it for the state of CT Office of Policy and Management, and from what I understand, we don't control or receive a single dime from concessions.

To whatever extent a $100 - $200 food and beer tab is keeping fans away, it should stop...

 

[Patman]

Getting back to the stadium concession prices, which really are insane:

Does anyone know if or when the state could take back the operation of The Rent? I think the Oak View Group (?) Is currently running it for the state of CT Office of Policy and Management, and from what I understand, we don't control or receive a single dime from concessions.

To whatever extent a $100 - $200 food and beer tab is keeping fans away, it should stop...

The state will always farm out management operations for this kind of thing

 

[UConnDan97]

The state will always farm out management operations for this kind of thing

So presumably, we will never have any input on pricing (and it's downstream effects on ticket sales). What a bad situation.

Do other state universities do this across the country?

 

[huskymedic]

So presumably, we will never have any input on pricing (and it's downstream effects on ticket sales). What a bad situation.

Do other state universities do this across the country?

Oak View Group is huge > University of Tennessee contracts w/ OVG for Neyland Stadium as does University of Houston amongst others (like XL Center contract). UConn just renewed lease for PAWSARF till 2028.