What Do College-Football Fans Today Want?

[Whitey23]

The most powerful people in college football are desperate to figure out what the millennials on their campuses actually want.

They thought they knew. To stop the puzzling decline of student attendance at football games, schools across the country have taken numerous steps in recent years. The most radical was upgrading cellular reception and installing wireless networks around their stadiums—a multimillion-dollar endeavor for a service that may only be used a handful of times each year.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-do-college-football-fans-today-want-1437080251

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

You know what I really want at Cuse games? Variety.

I love Syracuse football. But the games are the same intros, the same ads, the same promotions, the same mediocre pep band songs, the same bad food, etc., etc., etc.

 

[orange_in_VA]

The only thing I want at Cuse games is more wins. I go for the game and the tailgate. Everything else is just icing, but not necessary to me personally. With kids these days being addicted to social media and sharing every detail of their lives with other people, the wifi/cell reception makes a lot of sense, however I get the feeling that young people these days aren't as interested in going to lives games because they don't understand it. When I take people to Cuse games and tailgates that have never been, they love it. It's getting them to come out in the first place that is a hurdle.

 

[orange_in_VA]

Also, I'm 26 for reference.

 

[NineOneSeven]

How's the reception in the dome?

 

[orange_in_VA]

How's the reception in the dome?

Who cares?

 

[orange_in_VA]

Who cares?

Also, I couldn't tell ya because I've never looked at my phone while at a game.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

How's the reception in the dome?

Way better if you hook in to the free wifi.

 

[bcubs9497]

The most powerful people in college football are desperate to figure out what the millennials on their campuses actually want.

They thought they knew. To stop the puzzling decline of student attendance at football games, schools across the country have taken numerous steps in recent years. The most radical was upgrading cellular reception and installing wireless networks around their stadiums—a multimillion-dollar endeavor for a service that may only be used a handful of times each year.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-do-college-football-fans-today-want-1437080251

Great read. Seems like parking, concessions, and bathrooms that don't look like cesspools are ranked as most desirable. Makes sense.

 

[jekelish]

"Dog and a beer."

 

[orange_in_VA]

Great read. Seems like parking, concessions, and bathrooms that don't look like cesspools are ranked as most desirable. Makes sense.

Those are things the older folks care about I would think. My generation isn't going to be swayed by those things, and it's the younger folks who aren't showing up to the games. Attendance numbers nationally have been dropping. Some of that is due to the home viewing experience being much improved, but it also has to do with a generation that is apathetic about going to live games. It's sad to see, but those are the facts. I had friends that didn't even leave the tailgates while they were in school. Didnt care about the games, just another party to most college kids.

 

[bcubs9497]

Those are things the older folks care about I would think. My generation isn't going to be swayed by those things, and it's the younger folks who aren't showing up to the games. Attendance numbers nationally have been dropping. Some of that is due to the home viewing experience being much improved, but it also has to do with a generation that is apathetic about going to live games. It's sad to see, but those are the facts. I had friends that didn't even leave the tailgates while they were in school. Didnt care about the games, just another party to most college kids.

I wonder if reducing the price of a ticket would entice millennials off the couch and into the stands?

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Those are things the older folks care about I would think. My generation isn't going to be swayed by those things, and it's the younger folks who aren't showing up to the games. Attendance numbers nationally have been dropping. Some of that is due to the home viewing experience being much improved, but it also has to do with a generation that is apathetic about going to live games. It's sad to see, but those are the facts. I had friends that didn't even leave the tailgates while they were in school. Didnt care about the games, just another party to most college kids.

I disagree with what you're saying, but I don't at the same time.

I wonder if this is a case where college FB needs to take a page from the MLB's playbook when it comes to stadium experience.

I'd be much more inclined to eat at McNabb's Chicago Pizzeria, Philly Cheesesteak, and Labatt NA emporium or Rob Konrad's Deep Sea Fishery or Floyd Little's Portions, an SU Tapas Bar than choose from SU's timeless options.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I wonder if reducing the price of a ticket would entice millennials off the couch and into the stands?

Not as many as you may think.

 

[bcubs9497]

Not as many as you may think.

How much are they going for as of now?

 

[orange79]

You know what I really want at Cuse games? Variety. Victory.

Fixed

 

[Toga]

Dome Tinder - or Tinder Dome if you prefer.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Fixed

After last season, victory would be variety.

 

[javadoc]

The most powerful people in college football are desperate to figure out what the millennials on their campuses actually want.

They thought they knew. To stop the puzzling decline of student attendance at football games, schools across the country have taken numerous steps in recent years. The most radical was upgrading cellular reception and installing wireless networks around their stadiums—a multimillion-dollar endeavor for a service that may only be used a handful of times each year.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-do-college-football-fans-today-want-1437080251

The article is supposed to focus on getting students to the games, right? One thing I would like to see is what % of the attendees are students for each school. I look at what the SEC said, that parking, restrooms, and concessions are most important, and that doesn't say "students" to me, it says "townies, alums, and state residents".

I would also like to see what the results are at places that charge a mandatory activity fee and let students into games free. Is attendance declining there?

In general, it may be inevitable that schools won't be able to count on ticket revenue primarily from game attendees. They'll have to get the revenue from indirect attendees, via TV monies. Time to resurrect the discussion about replacing bleachers with seats?

 

[Scooch]

Here's what I think... people, and that includes millennials, aren't stupid.

Going to a football game takes effort. You have get to it, which for some folks means a long drive, for others it means a shuttle bus, or a long walk.

Going to a football game costs money. Sometimes a lot.

Going to a football game often means sacrificing the better view you get on your 60" HD TV set.

While we're all nutty, diehards here, most people aren't like us. College football is a diversion, an outing, at it's best an event.

And here's the dirty little secret... most games aren't all that compelling. When you're the fan of a really good team, you romp over most of your schedule. When you're then fan of a really bad team, you get crushed repeatedly. When you're the fan of a mediocre team, who knows what you're going to get.

So if you're not a diehard, and the view is better in your living room, and there's no hassle, and it's cheaper... what is the burning incentive to go see your Seminoles pound the crap out of Florida A&M or Wake Forest? Now, when your Seminoles are playing Clemson the stadium fills up, because it's an event, and the experience is worth the hassle and cost.

Basically, when every game is on TV, and watching on TV is cheaper, easier and often better than watching in a stadium, and a good chunk of home games aren't particularly interesting to all but the diehards... why are we surprised less people attend?

 

[Toga]

High energy students wearing team colors being paid to man all points of interaction with fans once entering the Dome.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I disagree with what you're saying, but I don't at the same time.

I wonder if this is a case where college FB needs to take a page from the MLB's playbook when it comes to stadium experience.

I'd be much more inclined to eat at McNabb's Chicago Pizzeria, Philly Cheesesteak, and Labatt NA emporium or Rob Konrad's Deep Sea Fishery or Floyd Little's Portions, an SU Tapas Bar than choose from SU's timeless options.

Young people/students can't afford stadium food, so this doesn't sell them, imo. If they have money for anything in the Dome, its for beer.
I've never purchased food at a game, because it's overpriced crap and you can eat good food at the tailgate.

 

[orange_in_VA]

Here's what I think... people, and that includes millennials, aren't stupid.

Going to a football game takes effort. You have get to it, which for some folks means a long drive, for others it means a shuttle bus, or a long walk.

Going to a football game costs money. Sometimes a lot.

Going to a football game often means sacrificing the better view you get on your 60" HD TV set.

While we're all nutty, diehards here, most people aren't like us. College football is a diversion, an outing, at it's best an event.

And here's the dirty little secret... most games aren't all that compelling. When you're the fan of a really good team, you romp over most of your schedule. When you're then fan of a really bad team, you get crushed repeatedly. When you're the fan of a mediocre team, who knows what you're going to get.

So if you're not a diehard, and the view is better in your living room, and there's no hassle, and it's cheaper... what is the burning incentive to go see your Seminoles pound the crap out of Florida A&M or Wake Forest? Now, when your Seminoles are playing Clemson the stadium fills up, because it's an event, and the experience is worth the hassle and cost.

Basically, when every game is on TV, and watching on TV is cheaper, easier and often better than watching in a stadium, and a good chunk of home games aren't particularly interesting to all but the diehards... why are we surprised less people attend?

Exactly, I don't find it surprising at all, and honestly I don't think throwing money at it will fix anything. I'm not confident in any answers in this regard.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Young people/students can't afford stadium food, so this doesn't sell them, imo. If they have money for anything in the Dome, its for beer.
I've never purchased food at a game, because it's overpriced crap and you can eat good food at the tailgate.

I kind of got off topic in my response to you. It's not about food/parking. It's about experience. I think we disagree on our reasons why people our age aren't going to games, but agree on the general theme.

 

[orange_in_VA]

The other thing, when looking at younger people is that a lot of us are worried about how we spend our money. Employment is far from a guarantee these days, we have more expenses than our parents generation, and we grew up watching the market implode. A lot of us are scared to spend money. Look at the housing market, Millennials arent buying.

Being a die-hard, I find it easy to justify the cost. I'm investing in something I love. To average fans, the juice just aint worth the squeeze.