🏈 Far From Full Stadium

[It Takes Eleven]

There is an underlying problem here the pundits are trying to avoid. We've been discussing this on another board and we've come to the conclusion that we are finally at the tipping point. Not only is this game still available, but Bama had a surplus of tickets left to the crap OOC games and Golden Flake bought the lot of them and is selling them for roughly half face value. College football has finally started pricing it's fans out of the stadium and it's going to get worse. Attendance has peaked and is starting to slide in the wrong direction. AD's, presidents, and coaches better recognize it and deal with it before it snowballs. And don't look to the media titans for help, they are your worst enemy in this struggle. Where do you think ESPN wants your fanny? In Bryant-Denney attending the game or at home watching their gazillion commercials for their sponsors? They have started killing the golden goose and they'd better wake up and realize it. This game isn't the problem, it's merely a symptom of the greater problem.

I don't know that anyone is trying to avoid larger economic issues, just talking football. There are notable examples of entertainment and sporting venues overreaching and losing their core base. NASCAR did it some time ago. Since there are tickets available at Rolltide.com for Middle Tennessee State - $35.00; Louisiana-Monroe - $35.00; Arkansas - $85.00; and Charleston Southern - $35.00, I don't think Golden Flake bought them all.

I agree Jerry World was built to extract the maximum dollars from the user, and I do think they've over-reached. There's a reason they pay the teams $4 or $5MM to appear.

From an economic or cultural perspective, it's tough to make an objective call of a tipping point. We've had a six year recession with a recovery that's occurred as defined by economic output, but certainly not employment and wage growth. During this time, and before then, unsuccessful programs had attendance problems even at dirt cheap prices. The proliferation of "bowl-type" neutral site games has reduced their uniqueness and attractiveness. Fans are, and should be, less willing to spend premium prices for kickoff games as opposed to traditional bowl and championship games.

RTR,

Tim

 

[UAgrad93]

I know people that had tickets for this weekend, but sold them so they could go to the game in Athens later.

 

[psychojoe]

It isn't just college football. Consider what a family of four (mom, dad and two kids) would spend just going to a Braves game. Parking, game tickets, and say just a coke and one hot dog for each of them.

 

[OldPlayer]

It isn't just college football. Consider what a family of four (mom, dad and two kids) would spend just going to a Braves game. Parking, game tickets, and say just a coke and one hot dog for each of them.

...and watch the Braves suck. It's interesting how the owners think that fans will still pay top dollar for tickets, parking and food to watch a team lose.

 

[planomateo]

Kinda funny, Jerry Jones got Frisco, TX to give him $130M to build the Cowboys Headquarters there, city gets to use the indoor stadium for HS football games, etc.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

This is not specific to neutral site ticket pricing but pricing in general. Obviously during the dark years I basically had my pick of tickets at negligible prices. Starting in '05 I was able to buy a season ticket package from the same source (reseller) for several years. They went up slightly after '08 season but then almost tripled in price following the '09 season. I could not afford them for '10 season and my options for packages I could afford were basically limited to upper deck endzone seats and I just don't want to pay that money to sit there.

We now pick 2 good home games per year to try and go to and I take the best options available for those 2 games. We watch the rest on TV. It is the price of a successful program. I am not complaining just stating the reality. I would not trade cheap tickets for myself for the dark days again, just in case you are wondering.

 

[BigCrimson]

Where did you park? My pass was $40 and I thought that was high. Concession prices are always high no matter where you go. Did you pay $200+ directly or through a reseller? You can't blame Jerry for reseller pricing.

All I can tell you it was at the stadium and the parking pass cost us $75. I tried to buy directly but couldn't. I had to go through a reseller. Its not about blaming "Jerry" or anyone. I'm just saying attending a college game is expensive and I can completely understand why the game may not have sold out.

 

[planomateo]

All I can tell you it was at the stadium and the parking pass cost us $75. I tried to buy directly but couldn't. I had to go through a reseller. Its not about blaming "Jerry" or anyone. I'm just saying attending a college game is expensive and I can completely understand why the game may not have sold out.

Don't park at the stadium, seriously, walk 2-3 blocks east of the stadium for $15 parking.

 

[PCRammer]

This isn't an issue. Only 80,000 can fit into JerryWorld and 101,000 into BDS. There are millions of fans who watch on TV. If the stadium is only half full, those staying home to watch doesn't impact the TV audience much

But if all the stadiums are half full of all the games the ESPN networks (SEC Net and Longhorn included) carry over a given weekend, say 35 games...then that might start making a impact.

 

[ColAngus]

I'm about to buy a new 70" TV for $1,300.

Compare that to the cost of going to Dallas and seeing what may very well be a boring game.

 

[Bammerboy321]

I'm sorry, but the Cowboys stadium feels like a carnival. It's nothing like the Georgia Dome in terms of providing a bowl-like atmosphere where you're on your feet screaming at the top of your lungs for 3 hours. It's a great venue and certainly provides top notch amenities, but it is such a boring environment.

To go with that, I realize the revenue Alabama gets by playing in these neutral sites, but they've got to start thinking of the toll it takes on the fans who pay for not only an expensive ticket, but parking, travel expenses, hotel, etc.. Hosting a solid program for opening day on campus can't be that bad can it? I mean look at the revenue Tuscaloosa generates on an average football Saturday. Let alone, the revenue that it generates for a marquee match-up. I'm sure there's a whole other side of that I'm not seeing when it comes to business sports, but I'm talking from a student/die-hard fan's perspective. I would much rather our university and our city get the national exposure for opening day and attract out-of-staters to spend their money here than to have all of that money going to another city.

 

[thedeuce]

This is simply a reaction to both fan bases having HUGE Dallas hangovers. It was ridiculous for both Bama and Wisconsin to schedule back-to-back Dallas trips. Wisky fans played there last year and Bama having played there just a few years ago verses Michigan and with USC coming up next year, I saw this coming from a mile away. I'm getting tired of these neutral site games. My most memorable road-trip games are out of conference road trips like Oklahoma and Penn St. A home-home series with Wisky would have been MUCH better. I hear Madison is an awesome college town. I'm sure Wisky fans would have felt the same about coming to Tuscaloosa.

 

[riz]

If we just scheduled more Western Carolinas, we wouldn't have this problem.
@TerryP

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Ticket prices are definitely outrageous these days. I hate for any Bama game to be in front of a weak crowd - it doesn't look good for TV.
But, next year's game should bring a full house to Jerry world.

 

[Killer Instinct]

Just to clarify, I think Golden Flake actually subsidized the prices of those games for sell to allow them to be sold so cheaply. That ain't face value, brothers and sisters!

I know Nick likes the neutral site openers for the recruiting, the revenue, the motivation, etc. but we are losing a great thing that is part of the fabric of college football. And that is visiting opposing stadia, college towns, and experiencing other traditions. I love seeing meccas of college football like the Big House, the Horseshoe, Happy Valley, Death Valley (Clemson), the Coliseum...these are the places that made college football what it is, not Jerry World and the Georgia Dome! I want to see dotting the "I" in Ohio State, Howard's Rock, and other college legends. I want them to come to BDS and see our palace and tailgate on the Quad. That's college football, people, not these NFL mausoleums. And don't give me that shit about the lost revenue. If we were Vandy I might buy it, but we are the second most profitable athletic department in the land. I think we can afford to skip a home game or a neutral site opener every other year. And if you played the schedule right, instead of one big bad ass game every year, how about 2 OOC middle of the road teams every year and alternate sites. One home and one away each year. Schedule Virginia and Kansas State and the like. Maybe throw in a Notre Dame or a UCLA every so often. But make them home and homes so the fans get to enjoy what college football is all about.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

I hate for any Bama game to be in front of a weak crowd - it doesn't look good for TV.

I seriously doubt you will be able to tell a thing. Jones' PR folks and ESPN/ABC PR folks are busy making it rain with extra tickets to the Dallas elite and other groups right now

I bet it will appear to be close to a sell out crowd

 

[bamaledge]

Just to clarify, I think Golden Flake actually subsidized the prices of those games for sell to allow them to be sold so cheaply. That ain't face value, brothers and sisters!

I know Nick likes the neutral site openers for the recruiting, the revenue, the motivation, etc. but we are losing a great thing that is part of the fabric of college football. And that is visiting opposing stadia, college towns, and experiencing other traditions. I love seeing meccas of college football like the Big House, the Horseshoe, Happy Valley, Death Valley (Clemson), the Coliseum...these are the places that made college football what it is, not Jerry World and the Georgia Dome! I want to see dotting the "I" in Ohio State, Howard's Rock, and other college legends. I want them to come to BDS and see our palace and tailgate on the Quad. That's college football, people, not these NFL mausoleums. And don't give me that shit about the lost revenue. If we were Vandy I might buy it, but we are the second most profitable athletic department in the land. I think we can afford to skip a home game or a neutral site opener every other year. And if you played the schedule right, instead of one big bad ass game every year, how about 2 OOC middle of the road teams every year and alternate sites. One home and one away each year. Schedule Virginia and Kansas State and the like. Maybe throw in a Notre Dame or a UCLA every so often. But make them home and homes so the fans get to enjoy what college football is all about.

Preach on brother. Very nice post, gave goose bumps.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Just to clarify, I think Golden Flake actually subsidized the prices of those games for sell to allow them to be sold so cheaply. That ain't face value, brothers and sisters!

I know Nick likes the neutral site openers for the recruiting, the revenue, the motivation, etc. but we are losing a great thing that is part of the fabric of college football. And that is visiting opposing stadia, college towns, and experiencing other traditions. I love seeing meccas of college football like the Big House, the Horseshoe, Happy Valley, Death Valley (Clemson), the Coliseum...these are the places that made college football what it is, not Jerry World and the Georgia Dome! I want to see dotting the "I" in Ohio State, Howard's Rock, and other college legends. I want them to come to BDS and see our palace and tailgate on the Quad. That's college football, people, not these NFL mausoleums. And don't give me that shit about the lost revenue. If we were Vandy I might buy it, but we are the second most profitable athletic department in the land. I think we can afford to skip a home game or a neutral site opener every other year. And if you played the schedule right, instead of one big bad ass game every year, how about 2 OOC middle of the road teams every year and alternate sites. One home and one away each year. Schedule Virginia and Kansas State and the like. Maybe throw in a Notre Dame or a UCLA every so often. But make them home and homes so the fans get to enjoy what college football is all about.

Probably one of the better posts I've seen on a message board in several years. Good points and I agree with the sentiment. So much of the "lost revenue blah blah blah" is just folks parroting what the media says.

 

[OldPlayer]

This is simply a reaction to both fan bases having HUGE Dallas hangovers. It was ridiculous for both Bama and Wisconsin to schedule back-to-back Dallas trips. Wisky fans played there last year and Bama having played there just a few years ago verses Michigan and with USC coming up next year, I saw this coming from a mile away. I'm getting tired of these neutral site games. My most memorable road-trip games are out of conference road trips like Oklahoma and Penn St. A home-home series with Wisky would have been MUCH better. I hear Madison is an awesome college town. I'm sure Wisky fans would have felt the same about coming to Tuscaloosa.

Wisky fans couldn't come to stay in Tuscaloosa and Alabama fans couldn't get to Madison. There aren't enough hotel rooms and the hotel rooms shoot to $300+ no matter the quality of the hotel. Everybody would have to stay in another city and therefore the awesomeness of either place doesn't get experienced.

 

[bamachine]

ESPN's College GameDay will be at Sundance Square in Ft Worth, 15 miles west of the stadium. It should be outside the stadium.

From my trip there for Bama-Mich, surrounding the stadium is nothing but a hot plate of asphalt. You had to go a couple of blocks away to find any shade. Maybe that factored into the decision, they did not want people lined up behind them, falling out from heat stroke. When I was there, everyone looked miserable outside the stadium, waiting for the agtes to open. Horrible spot for tailgating.

They really need to avoid Arlington after next year. Stick to playing in the GA Dome, we already play a game in TX every other year now. I honestly wish we would cut down on the one off neutral games, maybe do them every 3 years, with a home and home sandwiched in between.

Also, screw these type games giving 50% or more of the tickets to corporate interests. Same goes for bowl games, title games. They should get 20% at most, then 40% to each school.