Jump to content

Attendance down in SEC


cooltigger21

Recommended Posts

This column by Tony Barnhart puts out some revealing numbers on attendance in the SEC over recent years. It all ties in with the gameday experience needing to be uprgraded as well as the schedule. http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/22311553/attendance-lags-put-sec-on-offense-looking-to-enhance-fan-experience

Link to comment
Share on other sites





Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

Avg age in this country is increasing, and viewing alternatives multiply

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

are you a damn Yankee??? pop????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

are you a damn Yankee??? pop????

Remember "phosphates" at the "soda fountain?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What has Auburn done to better the gameday experience lately?

There are small things, but overall the parking has only gotten harder, tailgating has gotten harder, and there wasn't much reason to want to put up with it during last year.

What Golf said is true, and right now they have to give people more than "Auburn love" to make many want to drive 3+ hours to see the boys play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

are you a damn Yankee??? pop????

pop = beer you jackwagon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What has Auburn done to better the gameday experience lately?

There are small things, but overall the parking has only gotten harder, tailgating has gotten harder, and there wasn't much reason to want to put up with it during last year.

What Golf said is true, and right now they have to give people more than "Auburn love" to make many want to drive 3+ hours to see the boys play.

Amen. I made the same point in another post.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

I get to one or two games a year maybe. I love to go until after the game and a 4 hour ride awaits. At home the best part is when its over i'm already home. If im not too hung over, I can play golf or go fishing sunday morning. I went to the LSU game last year then couldn't give my Arkansas tix away, literally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The gasoline price increases have also caused a decrease. Part of the lousy economy that certain people say is really improving...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gee, guess the SEC needs to do something to become a popular conference. Is it's TV contract about to go out for bid? This article smacks of CBS trying to create a perception to leverage the (lack of) value in covering the SEC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I could I'd go to all the Auburn home games. I rather be at the game than watch it on tv just a better experience to me.

That much is true, once you're in the stadium. However, as ToomersRevenge noted above "they" have done nothing for the fans in recent years except make going to the game worse. Tailgating spots people used for decades have been declared off limits. It's to the point that unless you are a skilled long distance walker you must park somewhere else and ride a bus. This years' season tickets cost $450 each plus a $1,000 donation per ticket so that if you only want two tickets for your family you are looking at $2,900 before even thinking about the four-dollar cokes and so forth.

Things like this aren't going to get better, they'll continue to get worse.

Auburn will play no regular season game this year where I can't take $100 to campus on gameday and buy a ticket, in many cases a ticket with a seating location better than what I could have gotten with season tickets. I've been going that route for several years now and by doing that I'm not stuck with expensive tickets to watch Kalamazoo U. get blasted 65-0 on non-conference weekends.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Auburn keeps saying they want to improve the game day experience. Well in my opinion, actions speak louder than words.

1 - Increasing ticket prices. (I have a friend that has had very very good seats since his parents started purchasing them in the mid 50s. Every few years his section gets "upgraded" to a different color/zone which increases his donation requirements. The tone from Auburn is this is trying to squeeze "little fish" like him out of this section for "corporate fish"

2 - I have another friend that called to complained to a certain guy (who no longer works there)in the ticket office about how he had never seen his season ticket's seat get better even though he had been donating for several years. He was told point blank in a not so tactful way he was a small fish and get over it.

3 - The disappearance lately of tailgating spots has a lot to do with these companies that will sell you a catered tailgate spot. To me that sounds like another corporate deal made for the improvement of the bottom line and not the game day experience.

4 - Small example, last year when Auburn announced that there would be wifi available in the stadium, that sounded like a great idea. One note, it's an additional fee along with your donation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

are you a damn Yankee??? pop????

pop = beer you jackwagon.

In the midwest "pop" is what they call soda or "coke" in the South.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

are you a damn Yankee??? pop????

pop = beer you jackwagon.

In the midwest "pop" is what they call soda or "coke" in the South.

back in the 50's I'm sure they did. Where I come from, NW Fla., we adults call an ice cold adult beverage "pop", not soda pop. (or my group does anyway.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think some of it has to do with how unbalanced the SEC has become. The majority of the SEC is made up of average to below average teams. If you're a fan of one of these teams, the following makes you not really want to put up with the gameday headaches (tho I've never really experienced any headaches, but people seem to have issues)...

1.) Average team playing pitiful out-of-conference team

2.) Average team with no real chance of an upset against a better SEC team

3.) Average team playing another average SEC team (unless it's a big, local rivalry)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I could I'd go to all the Auburn home games. I rather be at the game than watch it on tv just a better experience to me.

That much is true, once you're in the stadium. However, as ToomersRevenge noted above "they" have done nothing for the fans in recent years except make going to the game worse. Tailgating spots people used for decades have been declared off limits. It's to the point that unless you are a skilled long distance walker you must park somewhere else and ride a bus. This years' season tickets cost $450 each plus a $1,000 donation per ticket so that if you only want two tickets for your family you are looking at $2,900 before even thinking about the four-dollar cokes and so forth.

Things like this aren't going to get better, they'll continue to get worse.

Auburn will play no regular season game this year where I can't take $100 to campus on gameday and buy a ticket, in many cases a ticket with a seating location better than what I could have gotten with season tickets. I've been going that route for several years now and by doing that I'm not stuck with expensive tickets to watch Kalamazoo U. get blasted 65-0 on non-conference weekends.

Just have to jump in on the ticket price part of your post. That simply isn't true. Seats in the "gray level" (which is where mine are, btw) do not require a $1000 per seat donation. For those seats, the donation is $235 per seat. So for two seats it would be a total of $470. The tickets are indeed $450 per ticket making two tickets $900. Kinda big difference between $1370 and $2900. Just wanted to be accurate for those who may have no idea.

And as a side note , that donation money helps fund all the things so many complain about with regards to upgrades and facilities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

Solution...mini fridge! Mine is ready to go. Only issue now is bathroom breaks?? :-[

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

Solution...mini fridge! Mine is ready to go. Only issue now is bathroom breaks?? :-[

You are a genius my friend! (empty gatorade bottle)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I could I'd go to all the Auburn home games. I rather be at the game than watch it on tv just a better experience to me.

That much is true, once you're in the stadium. However, as ToomersRevenge noted above "they" have done nothing for the fans in recent years except make going to the game worse. Tailgating spots people used for decades have been declared off limits. It's to the point that unless you are a skilled long distance walker you must park somewhere else and ride a bus. This years' season tickets cost $450 each plus a $1,000 donation per ticket so that if you only want two tickets for your family you are looking at $2,900 before even thinking about the four-dollar cokes and so forth.

Things like this aren't going to get better, they'll continue to get worse.

Auburn will play no regular season game this year where I can't take $100 to campus on gameday and buy a ticket, in many cases a ticket with a seating location better than what I could have gotten with season tickets. I've been going that route for several years now and by doing that I'm not stuck with expensive tickets to watch Kalamazoo U. get blasted 65-0 on non-conference weekends.

Just have to jump in on the ticket price part of your post. That simply isn't true. Seats in the "gray level" (which is where mine are, btw) do not require a $1000 per seat donation. For those seats, the donation is $235 per seat. So for two seats it would be a total of $470. The tickets are indeed $450 per ticket making two tickets $900. Kinda big difference between $1370 and $2900. Just wanted to be accurate for those who may have no idea.

And as a side note , that donation money helps fund all the things so many complain about with regards to upgrades and facilities.

Ok, all I know is the donation was $1,000 per ticket the last time I was involved in it. I never thought about there being other levels of donation.

So, at that level we've got $1370 for two season tickets, no parking, tailgating areas closed off and $4 cokes. Three good games a year is plenty for me and I'll save over $1,000. Somebody else can help carry the donation load from this point on, I've done my share and it's reached the point where the season ticket thing is no longer worth it to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am dreading the day they figure out how to monetize Tiger Walk.

Coming soon: For only $50 per person you get to stand right next to Tiger Walk to ensure you get a high five as players pass by. For 100$ you get to stand at the end of Tiger Walk as players get off the bus and you can get autographs signed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gee, guess the SEC needs to do something to become a popular conference. Is it's TV contract about to go out for bid? This article smacks of CBS trying to create a perception to leverage the (lack of) value in covering the SEC.

Barnhart is not one to blow smoke. He is as fair as they come. He won't diss the SEC for the sake of CBS. He is just making a valid observation. It's no different than the NFL. It is an expensive and, these days, aggravating experience to go to a game. Who wants to shell out all that money for a whole season of games when you can pick and choose your games. I love going to Auburn but I got to tell you it is difficult to do that.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two factors IMO.

The economy is still down. For those who have to travel, rent a hotel room, eat, buy the tix, it can become costly.

Most importantly IMO, just about every single SEC game is on the tube every week. The older I get the more I understand that my chair is the most comfortable place I can be. I am not far from a very inexpensive expensive ice cold pop and don't have to wait in line to tinkle.Plus, I can flip between numerous games in between our O plays. Oh wait.....

Solution...mini fridge! Mine is ready to go. Only issue now is bathroom breaks?? :-[

You are a genius my friend! (empty gatorade bottle)

sick is all I can say

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...