LSU Game Time: Noon

[upperdeck]

First, this sucks.

Second, this is an underrated factor in our attendance decline - not just the apparent majority of noon starts, but the fact that so many of these games don't get scheduled until 12 days out.

When my high school friends and I were going to games 15-20 years ago, it never seemed that we'd miss too many SU games for our soccer and cross country obligations on Saturdays. The next generation of fans is probably getting boned by conflicts every weekend.

Also, this sucks.

there was no soccer 15-20 years ago in many areas. back in the day we had almost all noon - 1:30 starts

 

[OttoMets]

there was no soccer 15-20 years ago in many areas. back in the day we had almost all noon - 1:30 starts

I don't want to take us on a tangent, but where in Central New York was there no soccer in 1995?

We definitely had some nooners in the mid-'90s, but we also had a number of night games and 3:30s. Now we're looking at 5 or 6 nooners each season.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Archbold starts were always 1 - 1:30 PM.

 

[upperdeck]

I don't want to take us on a tangent, but where in Central New York was there no soccer in 1995?

We definitely had some nooners in the mid-'90s, but we also had a number of night games and 3:30s. Now we're looking at 5 or 6 nooners each season.

no place near where i lived. after 2000 outside the city suburbs for many of us.

 

[OttoMets]

Archbold starts were always 1 - 1:30 PM.

Looking at start times from the past 20 years, those have really fallen out of favor: 1 in 1999, 2 in 2001 and 2002, 3 in 2003, 1 in 2004, 2 in 2005, 1 in 2006, none since.

Anyway, we've averaged about 2.5 noon/12:30 home kickoffs each season since 1996. Looks like we're ahead of pace this year. Upperdeck is right that we had our fair share of nooners in the late '90s, but they've increased in recent seasons (at least 3 every season but two since 2003; as many as three only twice in the 7 years before that). And while we'd play night home games at least twice a year in the late '90s, our only primetime opportunities these days come on Thursdays and Fridays.

All of that, in my opinion, contributes to lower attendance.

 

[NineOneSeven]

What day is this game? Figured I would get a quick response here

 

[OrangeinOmaha]

Looking at start times from the past 20 years, those have really fallen out of favor: 1 in 1999, 2 in 2001 and 2002, 3 in 2003, 1 in 2004, 2 in 2005, 1 in 2006, none since.

Anyway, we've averaged about 2.5 noon/12:30 home kickoffs each season since 1996. Looks like we're ahead of pace this year. Upperdeck is right that we had our fair share of nooners in the late '90s, but they've increased in recent seasons (at least 3 every season but two since 2003; as many as three only twice in the 7 years before that). And while we'd play night home games at least twice a year in the late '90s, our only primetime opportunities these days come on Thursdays and Fridays.

All of that, in my opinion, contributes to lower attendance.

ESPN controls everything now. I remember in the 90s there would be much more random start times like 1 or 2 but now ESPN has a schedule of Noon, 3:30, and I believe a ESPN primetime game at 7 and an ABC Primetime game at 8. Any hope to get a televised night game comes on ESPNU or ESPN3 and then people bitch about how its basically not on TV. ACCN and RSN go at 12:30 or 3:30 I believe.

I did notice Fox has countered with a few different start times, for example the Iowa State-Iowa game went on FOX at 4:30 ET this year.

 

[Bill Orange]

Does anyone know if Daryl Gross is, or can, still offer police escorts, similar to my 2005 South Bend trip? Flight gets in at 11:25 am. I figured worst case I'd still get there, but never in a million years thought LSU would get a noon slot. Have they ever played at noon?

If it's any consolation, I flew that flight last Thursday and we landed at 11am.

 

[Macky44]

If I remember correctly, not only was it like that on Parent's Weekend, but my freshman year, McNabb's last game against Miami (where we knocked the ever living crap out of them) didn't have a student section either because it was during Thanksgiving Break, which is more understandable, but still stunk considering the moment.

UM...McNabb's last game was easily one of the top 3 loudest moments in The Carrier Dome history...

 

[raf4488]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the 98 Tennessee game a noon start?

I know we were a top 15 team and a consistently good program then, but that game was plenty full and plenty loud

 

[MikeSU02]

UM...McNabb's last game was easily one of the top 3 loudest moments in The Carrier Dome history...

It was up there, sure. Just was too bad that there was no student section for it.

 

[upperdeck]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the 98 Tennessee game a noon start?

I know we were a top 15 team and a consistently good program then, but that game was plenty full and plenty loud

yes noon

 

[upperdeck]

since 95 we have played 11ranked teams at home
5 at noon avg 37K
2 at 7-8 avg 37.6k
4 at 3:30 avg 42k this includes clemson and PSU
remove the pSU skew and its 41k. remove the 49K for clemson and its 37K.

the good thing is our last 3 were over 40K. so trending up.

its the opp not the time

 

[OttoMets]

since 95 we have played 11ranked teams at home
5 at noon avg 37K
2 at 7-8 avg 37.6k
4 at 3:30 avg 42k this includes clemson and PSU
remove the pSU skew and its 41k. remove the 49K for clemson and its 37K.

the good thing is our last 3 were over 40K. so trending up.

its the opp not the time

I think we've played more than 2 ranked teams in the 7:00/8:00 slot at home since '95. In scanning them a couple hours ago, I picked up West Virginia ('97 - 49,273), Virginia Tech ('98 - 49,336), Michigan ('99 - 49,249), Virginia Tech ('00 - 49,033), Florida State ('04 - 40,359), and West Virginia ('11 - 45,265), good for 47,086 per.

Opponent and time are just two of a lot of factors. Disappointing that the 2004 Florida State game drew so badly.

 

[SU68]

ABC/ESPN must be expecting a blowout. They don't want those in prime time.

 

[GeauxTigers]

My husband and I are flying up to join up with my big brother and sister in law (They live in NJ). We bought our tickets from the Syracuse Athletic Dept in April because anything available through LSU was already sold out. Very excited to visit but pretty disappointed about the noon kickoff. Won't be able to do a proper LSU tailgate unless we start at 4pm on Friday…. so it looks like we'll have to tone it down and settle for walking around. We'll still be bringing our Pat O's Hurricanes and Tropical Isle Hand Grenades… so my BIG question is… what's the open container situation like up there?

 

[Toga]

http://www.johnsonville.com/recipe/andouille-sausage-cajun-scramble.html

 

[shandeezy7]

What's the open container situation like up there?

You can definitely get a ticket for it, but cops are usually pretty lax around the tailgating lots during games, probably since tailgating is so fragmented that people move from lot to lot. Might be a good idea to just put anything you're drinking into a cup just to be on the safe side.

 

[Toga]

My husband and I are flying up to join up with my big brother and sister in law (They live in NJ). We bought our tickets from the Syracuse Athletic Dept in April because anything available through LSU was already sold out. Very excited to visit but pretty disappointed about the noon kickoff. Won't be able to do a proper LSU tailgate unless we start at 4pm on Friday…. so it looks like we'll have to tone it down and settle for walking around. We'll still be bringing our Pat O's Hurricanes and Tropical Isle Hand Grenades… so my BIG question is… what's the open container situation like up there?

You do know that beer is served during games at the Carrier Dome.

 

[Ottoble]

BOO NOON

 

[Ottoble]

Good news I guess is LSU usually plays at night and its 11am start for their CT timezone.

 

[GeauxTigers]

Yes, I am aware. I went to the Carrier Dome website months and months ago to read all the stadium info and rules. The bathroom situation is kinda weird sounding, but my super power is Human Camel so NBD (for me at least!).

I actually don't drink (much), I actually prefer to be able to pay attention to the game itself, but members of my party do. We're so very lax down here (Drive-thru daiquiri shops and all) that I sometimes forget that other places have different rules … so I figure better safe than sorry.

 

[KellySyracuse]

Yes, I am aware. I went to the Carrier Dome website months and months ago to read all the stadium info and rules. The bathroom situation is kinda weird sounding, but my super power is Human Camel so NBD (for me at least!).

I actually don't drink (much), I actually prefer to be able to pay attention to the game itself, but members of my party do. We're so very lax down here (Drive-thru daiquiri shops and all) that I sometimes forget that other places have different rules … so I figure better safe than sorry.

I've never had a problem during game day and you probably won't either. But good advice to put it in a cup when walking up to the dome. And welcome to Syracuse, hope you're staying in the city and not on the periphery. There is plenty to do before and after the game

 

[Shenexon]

Yes, I am aware. I went to the Carrier Dome website months and months ago to read all the stadium info and rules. The bathroom situation is kinda weird sounding.

I actually don't drink (much), I actually prefer to be able to pay attention to the game itself, but members of my party do. We're so very lax down here (Drive-thru daiquiri shops and all) that I sometimes forget that other places have different rules … so I figure better safe than sorry.

There are a lot of tailgating opportunities and think you'll find gracious SU fans that would love to have you stop by. Alcohol is consumed freely in the tailgating areas but I don't know about elsewhere. There are several tailgating areas around the dome itself, including on the west side where many folks from this board gather. SU fans in general will be good hosts until game time. Welcome!

 

[GeauxTigers]

We are actually just driving in from Mt. Olive NJ early early in the morning. I hope to be able to stay and explore afterwards… unless we lose… which in that case we all immediately turn into Grumpus Wallaby's and you don't want those trolling around your campus. I was thinking about trying to find a LSU tailgate to hook into but on second thought, I think I'd rather mingle with the locals. My next biggest question would be… what's for breakfast? Any particular eateries that fall on the "must try" list? Or should I practice my snatch and grab skills… I'm sure you've heard… we're rabid fans with appetities.