|
|
Post by Aggie Monster on Sept 14, 2023 8:00:08 GMT -5
Please let me clarify fails. We have always been at the top or near the top, that is not my issue. The concern is the policy .. and if the policy was meant to drive up revenue, increase attendance.. all I’m saying that did not happen in either instance. That would make that policy a failed policy. I harp on it every year I will always harp on it because I firmly believe it’s pound for Penny stupid if you are forecasting and projecting growth. By the numbers that was just produced it actually had negative growth during its tenure. Our numbers slid in revenue also. So two ways to look at it. Is being 14 and 42 on its face fail- I guess not.. but you can also look at the way I do. Are those numbers great when we have the capacity to be 5 and 15.. and by that measure, the lack of growth - the game zone is a failed policy it needs to be revisited.. Maybe the plan is to grow so much that the "game zone" doesn't matter. Nowadays the big games like Homecoming have the tailgates extend well beyond the fan zone. I think the plan long term is to have a game day experience where it doesn't matter where you tailgate on campus, you get the same experience. You just have to walk a little farther. So I dont think it will ever be changed back. A&Ts response will be, "get you a tailgate spot outside the zone then. We have places to sell you one. The walk from Laurel Street aint that far.". We moved our homecoming tailgate to Laurel St and haven't missed a beat. Its better in some ways. |
|
|
|
Post by aggiechamp on Sept 14, 2023 8:11:31 GMT -5
The game zone policy was never intended to increase attendance. When the policy was announced, the University said: “ A new initiative to reduce gridlock in the tailgate and parking sections of Aggie Stadium inspired North Carolina A&T State University to introduce the new Game Zone. The new Game Zone area will also improve safety, increase financial support for N.C. A&T Athletics and allow for a more pleasant game day experience for all Aggie football fans and alumni.” It has accomplished those stated policies: it has reduced gridlock, increased safety and delivered a more pleasant game day experience. Arguably, and I say arguably, it (and numerous other factors) have led to an increase in revenue. So, if you want to look at it from a policy and a numbers perspective, it has been a rousing success. If, however, you just don’t like the policy, no amount of data will convince you it hasn’t failed. By the way, could there be other reasons why our attendance and revenue hasn’t grown as fast a some have expected. Sure! Let’s have that discussion and not place the blame solely on a policy that some don’t like. Me personally, I love being able to freely move about the stadium without bumping into someone, young and old, who doesn’t contribute to our bottom line and is solely there to enjoy the party.
|
|
|
|
Post by aggierattler on Sept 14, 2023 8:42:45 GMT -5
We are 14th in attendance and 42nd in revenue .. folks that is a complete fail. No matter how you look at it. That means 41 people do not have a game zone and make more $. Again if it was a great policy other schools would be like oh look at A&T they implemented a policy and they are now in the top 10 in revenue and attendance. But that is not the case. Because the policy does not make sense. Not even a little bit. I’m not just looking at today I’m looking at the future. And if we grow at the same rate we have been this boat will sink We were #14 out of 130 FCS schools in attendance....and you call that failure? #42 out of 130 schools in revenue and that's a failure? Also allow me to throw in #13 in ticket sales.
|
|
|
|
Post by aggieswag on Sept 14, 2023 11:13:27 GMT -5
The game zone policy was never intended to increase attendance. When the policy was announced, the University said: “ A new initiative to reduce gridlock in the tailgate and parking sections of Aggie Stadium inspired North Carolina A&T State University to introduce the new Game Zone. The new Game Zone area will also improve safety, increase financial support for N.C. A&T Athletics and allow for a more pleasant game day experience for all Aggie football fans and alumni.” It has accomplished those stated policies: it has reduced gridlock, increased safety and delivered a more pleasant game day experience. Arguably, and I say arguably, it (and numerous other factors) have led to an increase in revenue. So, if you want to look at it from a policy and a numbers perspective, it has been a rousing success. If, however, you just don’t like the policy, no amount of data will convince you it hasn’t failed. By the way, could there be other reasons why our attendance and revenue hasn’t grown as fast a some have expected. Sure! Let’s have that discussion and not place the blame solely on a policy that some don’t like. Me personally, I love being able to freely move about the stadium without bumping into someone, young and old, who doesn’t contribute to our bottom line and is solely there to enjoy the party. I am looking at it from a policy and numbers perspective whether it’s the intention or not the numbers say it’s been negative growth since we introduced the concept.. we average less now than we did when we started.. end of story . Although the objectives you stated might have been might my whole entire point is at what cost? We remain stagnant because some of you don’t like someone asking you for a hot dog, and you don’t want to be around a bunch of people. Well folks I’m sorry this is a football game not a library. If you want that type of exclusive experience I suggest you pony up for vip access and get a sky box. Building a football culture is not the time to exclusive. It’s an inclusive event with lots of people from all walks off life. That’s what it takes to build an FBS culture, and we the ones inside the cage are the better than any commercial or stunt in making sure we sustain the culture. Despite the fact we are the one of the only programs that do it and it’s obvious limitations .. I have conceded that some A&T alumni need exclusivity and vip treatment. My solution is to make the home side vip red carpet express- make you guys pay extra for it.. let the away side be regular by car admission and take tickets at the gate. So those of us who have the ability to build the culture is not hindered .. because I love when someone I don’t know comes to my tailgate. I love new people. I love giving them food. I love to see their face when I tell them it’s free. I love being able to spread Aggie love and promote the experience. Before anyone say why don’t you go to Laurel- most my family has the same sentiments as you guys and they not leaving the game zone but they would go to the away side I believe now that their parking has been moved over there. |
|
|
|
Post by aggieswag on Sept 14, 2023 11:17:28 GMT -5
Btw this method is basically what sc state and nccu has. It’s a very small game zone that encompasses the elite alumni of all that school.. the rest of the school are not under that policy
|
|
oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 23,606
|
Post by oleschoolaggie on Sept 14, 2023 11:22:15 GMT -5
do we have an official attendance count for last week's aggie/eagle game?
|
|
|
|
Post by aggiechamp on Sept 14, 2023 14:30:44 GMT -5
What numbers are you referring to? When the game zone started we averaged about 13 thousand. We went down for one year and then we average somewhere between 14 and 16 thousand.
With regard to your second point, we already provide an opportunity for anyone to experience the game day experience with paying for it, it’s called Laurel Street.
|
|
|
|
Post by aggiechamp on Sept 14, 2023 14:31:19 GMT -5
Without paying
|
|
|
|
Post by aggieswag on Sept 14, 2023 14:55:59 GMT -5
My point to that is that the people on Laurel are not invested to the game so less likely to become ticket holders than people inside the cage invites and participates. The goal should always be a ratio of these folks buying tickets eventually. Call it a ROI if you will.
You will have a much better return if the people in the cage - the most invested the ones w the history the ones w the most love is engaging these folks than Boy Scout troop #133 who is having an outing ..
Like I said this is a way it’s certainly not the only way as 99.8% of schools do it differently. If you have the option why choose the one that has the least amount of growth, why choose the option that cuts the people that built what you have continue that. It’s an odd choice. One that no one makes. Because they know what I know. The people that are most invested in your programs are the ones that propels your programs. And for 13 years we have all but cut that by more than half. And it shows.
|
|
aggieclt
Official BDF member
Posts: 1,267
|
Post by aggieclt on Sept 14, 2023 18:26:57 GMT -5
Btw this method is basically what sc state and nccu has. It’s a very small game zone that encompasses the elite alumni of all that school.. the rest of the school are not under that policy All 3 of the above sentences are flat out false. For both NCCU & SC State, you cannot enter either campus without paying for parking on gameday. On the Buzzards campus, their Game Zone encompasses the stadium, adjacent track & parking deck area. In Orangeburg, their Game Zone includes the four (4) large fields around their stadium. |
|
|
|
Post by aggieswag on Sept 15, 2023 9:42:52 GMT -5
It’s not false I tailgate every year behind the away side of central stadium and it takes me 2 mins to walk to the stadium every year! At Sc State the away side does not even have a game zone .. i literally bought my ticket at the gate to walk in. Know your facts b4 you claim falsehoods 💯 central’s game zone is a narrow slither that’s literally attached to the stadium. And if we were adding numbers the 2 other ncaa schools that do this are worse off than we are so there is no success in the implementing the policy for them either.
|
|
Gator
Official BDF member
Posts: 3,526
|
Post by Gator on Sept 15, 2023 9:44:03 GMT -5
The game zone policy was never intended to increase attendance. When the policy was announced, the University said: “ A new initiative to reduce gridlock in the tailgate and parking sections of Aggie Stadium inspired North Carolina A&T State University to introduce the new Game Zone. The new Game Zone area will also improve safety, increase financial support for N.C. A&T Athletics and allow for a more pleasant game day experience for all Aggie football fans and alumni.” It has accomplished those stated policies: it has reduced gridlock, increased safety and delivered a more pleasant game day experience. Arguably, and I say arguably, it (and numerous other factors) have led to an increase in revenue. So, if you want to look at it from a policy and a numbers perspective, it has been a rousing success. If, however, you just don’t like the policy, no amount of data will convince you it hasn’t failed. By the way, could there be other reasons why our attendance and revenue hasn’t grown as fast a some have expected. Sure! Let’s have that discussion and not place the blame solely on a policy that some don’t like. Me personally, I love being able to freely move about the stadium without bumping into someone, young and old, who doesn’t contribute to our bottom line and is solely there to enjoy the party. I am looking at it from a policy and numbers perspective whether it’s the intention or not the numbers say it’s been negative growth since we introduced the concept.. we average less now than we did when we started.. end of story . Although the objectives you stated might have been might my whole entire point is at what cost? We remain stagnant because some of you don’t like someone asking you for a hot dog, and you don’t want to be around a bunch of people. Well folks I’m sorry this is a football game not a library. If you want that type of exclusive experience I suggest you pony up for vip access and get a sky box. Building a football culture is not the time to exclusive. It’s an inclusive event with lots of people from all walks off life. That’s what it takes to build an FBS culture, and we the ones inside the cage are the better than any commercial or stunt in making sure we sustain the culture. Despite the fact we are the one of the only programs that do it and it’s obvious limitations .. I have conceded that some A&T alumni need exclusivity and vip treatment. My solution is to make the home side vip red carpet express- make you guys pay extra for it.. let the away side be regular by car admission and take tickets at the gate. So those of us who have the ability to build the culture is not hindered .. because I love when someone I don’t know comes to my tailgate. I love new people. I love giving them food. I love to see their face when I tell them it’s free. I love being able to spread Aggie love and promote the experience. Before anyone say why don’t you go to Laurel- most my family has the same sentiments as you guys and they not leaving the game zone but they would go to the away side I believe now that their parking has been moved over there. Where's your data to support any of what you're saying? |
|
|
|
Post by aggieswag on Sept 15, 2023 10:00:26 GMT -5
Someone already produced the data and it showed negative growth since the implementation of the policy. Besides the data I have eyes. And I have watched the decline happen in both attendance and tailgating. In addition to eyes and data there is common sense. Anyone that does business knows that the consumers that are invested in your product are the ones that are going to sell your product.
Despite what the numbers say we all seen the decline. We have creative attendance reporting and we all know it. Whether it’s purchased tickets Idk but what’s in the stand is not always correct. Ex. Bryant game said 7k people were in attendance but if you went to that game you know there might have been 600 people there. But I’ve been watching Aggie football faithfully for 40 years. And I love my school. If I thought the policy worked I would be all for it, but my eyes are not decieving me neither is it decieving you .. there has been a decline in attendance and that should not be the case with the record we have.
|
|
Gator
Official BDF member
Posts: 3,526
|
Post by Gator on Sept 15, 2023 10:38:08 GMT -5
Someone already produced the data and it showed negative growth since the implementation of the policy. Besides the data I have eyes. And I have watched the decline happen in both attendance and tailgating. In addition to eyes and data there is common sense. Anyone that does business knows that the consumers that are invested in your product are the ones that are going to sell your product. Despite what the numbers say we all seen the decline. We have creative attendance reporting and we all know it. Whether it’s purchased tickets Idk but what’s in the stand is not always correct. Ex. Bryant game said 7k people were in attendance but if you went to that game you know there might have been 600 people there. But I’ve been watching Aggie football faithfully for 40 years. And I love my school. If I thought the policy worked I would be all for it, but my eyes are not decieving me neither is it decieving you .. there has been a decline in attendance and that should not be the case with the record we have. I'm a season ticket holder for the last 20 plus years, what you say does NOT reflect the opinion of a lot of people. For many, it's not just attendance alone, it's the overall experience. The policy has enhanced the experience of coming to an A&T football game and enjoying oneself. |
|
|
|
Post by aggiechamp on Sept 15, 2023 10:59:43 GMT -5
Aggieswag
I hope you are not referring to my data. It shows that one year after the game zone was introduced attendance went down. In the following years attendance exceeded the pre game zone figures every year until Covid intervened. After Covid, attendance was less. That decrease however most likely is attributed to the after effects of Covid and not the game zone! If I’m wrong point me to the data that shows that the game zone has caused attendance to decrease.
|
|
