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Post by Aggie Monster on May 15, 2011 12:48:34 GMT -5
People keep questioning why this would be implemented with no proof of it ever working. Where have you guys been? It's worked in almost every case. When has it not worked is the question? Point those out and I might change my mind. Do SCSU fans hate their environment more now? Does NCCU hate their environment any more now? Do the multitude of non-HBCUs that use this model hate their environment more? And lets not even talk about increased revenue and safety.
All this anti-Fan Zone stuff is just people not liking change.
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Post by aggierattler on May 15, 2011 14:41:06 GMT -5
^^^ Two great posts!
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Post by aggieiam on May 15, 2011 19:05:09 GMT -5
I think you're on point trues. With any business there is what's called a "tipping point" wherein you're charging too much for your good or service. For example, when Dee Todd decided to charge $50 for a homecoming ticket some years back, we reached a tipping point that led to the first non-sellout homecoming in the history of the school. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but since then we've had a few more non-sellout homecoming games. Many people have taken the attitude that they can tailgate for free, who needs to go watch us lose? The tipping point was reached with a combination of years of bad football and a mere one-time miscalculation on what the market would bear. I'm thinking this could lead to another tipping point wherein people won't even bother to come anywhere near campus game day. It's admirable that many of our die-hard posters and Donald Trumps-in-training see no downside to this decision. I just wonder how many folks who ain't die-hard will see this as the last straw and decide to stay home. I imagine short lines outside the tailgate areas as local folks walk away from the line disgusted once they realize they have to pay to enter the tailgate area. I also imagine ingenious folks just setting up tailgates outside the pay zone. As word gets out, even homecoming will resemble a Del State game on a non-event weekend. A jerk chicken shack in DC charged me five cents for a bag the other day. I said "if this chicken wasn't so good I would never return." The lady just smiled because she knew the chicken was good.Our chicken ain't good, and we're charging way more than five cents for it. This might work at some schools, but I'm of the opinion it's not the right time at A&T. The majority of the schools where this works are the only show in town and have winning records. We provide neither. Had it be implemented during the Hayes years, by now it would be habitual and no one would complain. In my opinion it's simply more than the market will bear. Especially considering the continuing economic decline. I expect attendance to drastically decline, and with it fan interest. We're trying to do things like division I programs in bits and pieces. We directly depend on revenue from ticket sales, most d-1 programs do not and couldn't care less if anybody shows up. They have other revenue streams, the likes of which we haven't bothered to tap. I've been reading through this trail and decided to weigh in. Contrary to what a few may think, this is a big issue with several alumni who already financially support A&T. They just don't happen to be members of Blue Death Valley but are very vocal in the A&T Alumni Group on Facebook. I agree that A&T need the revenue but this is absolutely the wrong time. People stopped buying tickets to the game during the Fobbs era. It didn't make since to pay $35/$40 a ticket and you have a family of 4 and it doesn't even appear that the team is trying to win. The ongoing thought is that for the first year, there should have been a rollout. Charge $10/$20 to enter the tailgate area which many Aggies seem willing to pay and let those who want to buy a game ticket, use that ticket to enter the stadium. The other issue with this is that there will be only so many Game Zone tickets sold. As the current Game Zone ticket is also a ticket to the game, only so many can be sold because the stadium can only accomodate so many people. So in essence, the University may end up hurting itself because instead of the 10k who are tailgating (hypothetically) on 5k will now be able to enter at all. I think this could have been done better, communicated better and may have been received differently if A&T's Football Program was winning and could justify the cost. Just my two cents. Aggie Pride!
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on May 15, 2011 20:48:53 GMT -5
When did Aggie Stadium become Rock Creek Park? When was it not? Have you ever been out in "Rock Creek Park" aka Aggie Tailgating area? Most of those folks aren't knowledgeable about Aggie football. Most of the folks WHO ARE IN the stands don't know squat about the product that they are watching. We have to be told by the announcer when to cheer, folks leave after the third quarter, people in the stands can be overheard asking general questions about our personnel like 'who's the coach,' 'who do we play this year,' and 'what's our quarterback's name again?' I feel what yall are saying by suggesting that folks in the parking lot need to buy the equivalent of a game ticket if they want to hang around. These are GREAT EXPECTATIONS and I hope it works out. I just don't believe the majority of folks in "Rock Creek Park" really care like that. If yall are ready to cut them loose then hey...whatever. Just stop trying to compare A&T football and our fan base to the environment of Delaware, App State, or Montana. When you do you just show that you don't know what's on the mind of the casual fans of A&T. Since you asked...I live in Baltimore. I typically attend homecoming and whenever A&T plays Morgan. My in-laws have one of the biggest tailgate spots in the stadium. Casual fans hang out around their tailgate all the time and most of them don't know shyt about the team (or football for that matter). They cut big checks to Aggie athletics and follow them almost wherever they go. They are season tickets holders so it doesn't effect them but they are concerned about the upcoming changes too.
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Post by aggiebred09 on May 16, 2011 9:11:43 GMT -5
Too many people are using their opinions as sound business judgment. I will continue to support A&T, but regardless of anyones opinion you can tell by the length of this feed and from other A&T blogs that athletics didn't do their due diligence in planning the game zone.
We all want the best for A&T but there is a big difference in (Business) Good, Better & Best. That difference could be thousands of dollars or millions or in this case a few hundred bucks per game.
I think what we can learn from this is not how much to charge for the Game Zone but implementation. A move like this could have used a committee of alumni, faculty, admin & students. Big money comes from big ideas and big thought.
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Aggie77
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Post by Aggie77 on May 16, 2011 9:17:49 GMT -5
Where are the other A&T blogs?
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on May 16, 2011 9:44:37 GMT -5
Too many people are using their opinions as sound business judgment. I will continue to support A&T, but regardless of anyones opinion you can tell by the length of this feed and from other A&T blogs that athletics didn't do their due diligence in planning the game zone. We all want the best for A&T but there is a big difference in (Business) Good, Better & Best. That difference could be thousands of dollars or millions or in this case a few hundred bucks per game. I think what we can learn from this is not how much to charge for the Game Zone but implementation. A move like this could have used a committee of alumni, faculty, admin & students. Big money comes from big ideas and big thought. I think you are making a huge assumption they didn't do their due diligence? Who have you spoken with in the athletic department regarding this project?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 10:08:52 GMT -5
Too many people are using their opinions as sound business judgment. I will continue to support A&T, but regardless of anyones opinion you can tell by the length of this feed and from other A&T blogs that athletics didn't do their due diligence in planning the game zone. We all want the best for A&T but there is a big difference in (Business) Good, Better & Best. That difference could be thousands of dollars or millions or in this case a few hundred bucks per game. I think what we can learn from this is not how much to charge for the Game Zone but implementation. A move like this could have used a committee of alumni, faculty, admin & students. Big money comes from big ideas and big thought. From my understanding of this, AD Hilton wanted to consult with alumni through the Aggie/Victory Clubs but none of the presidents responded to his requests. I am not sure if this is 100% but if it is, we really have to question the leadership of our booster chapters. How can we expect the new AAF to generate the money to help A&T Athletics when there are serious communications issues and if true, what I wrote above is a serious communication issue.
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on May 16, 2011 11:36:22 GMT -5
Too many people are using their opinions as sound business judgment. It's an internet message board. Everything you read on here is somebody's opinion.
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Post by aggiedog on May 16, 2011 13:08:06 GMT -5
I believe that a very large majority of those who post on this message board are season ticket holders,Aggie Club members, Victory Club members,belong to the Alumni Association or write checks to support athletics. I have had reserve tickets in Aggie Stadium every since the first game was played there and I will continue to support athletics. However, I could care less about a group of people who come on game days to tailgate and never come into the game. We are currently struggling to elevate our program and every possible revenue source should be use to enhance athletics. I consider those who come to just tailgage should pay. There can no longer be free rides for anyone at Aggie Stadium. What I keep hearing is that alot of people will not return to tailgate and I say"you cain't miss the money you never received" JUST MY OPINION!!!!!!
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on May 16, 2011 13:20:51 GMT -5
I consider those who come to just tailgage should pay. There can no longer be free rides for anyone at Aggie Stadium. Okay. Duly noted. Do you believe they should pay the same amount that it would cost them to get in to the stadium? You think every person should pay $25 to tailgate...including kids?
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on May 16, 2011 13:56:36 GMT -5
I I have had reserve tickets in Aggie Stadium every since the first game was played there and I will continue to support athletics. However, I could care less about a group of people who come on game days to tailgate and never come into the game. I don't think we should say we don't care about those folks who usually just show up to tailgate. After all, they do represent potential income. I support the plan but we can not be flippant or disrespectul in how we message this.
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on May 16, 2011 14:24:24 GMT -5
I'm still not getting the anti-Game Zone sentiment. When did Aggie Stadium become Rock Creek Park? If they want to barbeque let them go out to Battleground. Why are we putting the game day activities outside the stadium above the game day activities inside the stadium? The focus should be increasing the revenue stream. No matter how good the band is, or how grand the tailgating is, it will not help one iota in the team winning. Every argument put forth why The Game Zone will not work has the same merit if we are winning or losing. If people choose not to pay, so be it. Either way the result is bad for Aggie Athletics, because we can't stand still. Which would you prefer a great game experience outside the stadium or a great game day experience between the lines. That's your choices as I see it. Dooms and Freeze how many times a year do you tailgate or set foot in Aggie Stadium? How come you guys don’t invite me over to your tailgate? I read multiple posts of why it will not work, but no solutions to increase revenue streams, unless you consider a Game Zone only ticket a solution. Plus it always easier to fall back, after all people will think they are getting a deal next year. Here's a thread from MEACFANS Zone, it appears most SCSU alums had the same initial “OVER” reaction as many of our alums. Please take note that the Aggies are the ones primarily against it, simply amazing. meacfanszone.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sz&action=display&thread=8368&page=1please, please, please! i beg ya'll! please stop comparing aggie football to bulldog football! two totally "opposite" programs! if our program resembled scsu's program, we wouldn't be having this discussion at all. now, if you want a program to study that is similar to ours, find one that has only won about 12 out of its last 72 games, recently broke a 27 game losing streak, coming off of a 1-10 record last season, and facing "declining" attendance. that's the model that we compare to, not a perennial meac powerhouse program who's attendance is "increasing"...
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Post by aggiebred09 on May 16, 2011 14:25:08 GMT -5
Too many people are using their opinions as sound business judgment. I will continue to support A&T, but regardless of anyones opinion you can tell by the length of this feed and from other A&T blogs that athletics didn't do their due diligence in planning the game zone. We all want the best for A&T but there is a big difference in (Business) Good, Better & Best. That difference could be thousands of dollars or millions or in this case a few hundred bucks per game. I think what we can learn from this is not how much to charge for the Game Zone but implementation. A move like this could have used a committee of alumni, faculty, admin & students. Big money comes from big ideas and big thought. I think you are making a huge assumption they didn't do their due diligence? Who have you spoken with in the athletic department regarding this project? If I am making an assumption and Athletics did all that was in their power to gauge the interest and opinion of such a contencious matter as this then I apologize. But if all they did was make a few calls, send a few emails out and then made a decision then we are cheating our own potential. If the Alumni Presidents didnt respond why not take it a step further? I know its not Athletics job to communicate with Alumni, but this is a subject that has lasting implications on current traditions and practices. Regardless of your thoughts for or against any "zone" you must admitt the communication in the process is almost a blame game. Due diligence means more than ask some of the old heads hanging outside moore gym. Dont get caught up in semantics. Alot of us die-hard BDV'er see one word or line in a post, in objection to thier veiw and miss the whole point of the message.
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Post by Bigboy on May 16, 2011 14:40:09 GMT -5
From what I was made to understand is that Auxiliary Services is the one that implemented the FanZone concept, not athletics. Correct me if that is wrong.
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