This.
The coaching change is a huge deal for the program, but the Cajundome (Arena & Concessions) outpricing the average fan and family is still a large problem that will need to be tackled. People love to bring up the IceGator days when the Dome was packed… But you weren’t spending $10 on a beer in those days.
Thats the main reason I don’t go, I go by myself and it would cost me 50 dollars to go and enjoy myself, that isn’t realistic.
Imagine a family of 4. The Cajun Dome has to understand there are many basketball games. It is not like a once a year concert that people go to the CD to see one of their favorite artists. They are charging the same for all basketball games for beer, drinks, and concessions as they would for a concert which is not feasible for anyone. It makes going to a basketball a once or twice thing a year for my family of 4 instead of going to say half the games or all the games.
A concert and a UL Basketball game are two totally different events with two totally different clientele.
What I don’t understand is how their marketing dept. cannot see that.
I was also spending $5 or so on a ticket. As soon as the team got better and ticket prices were raised, the attendance dropped dramatically.
Typical. Leaders at that time didnt understand that we all became fans because it was fun and affordable. Ice Gators games in late 90s was the closest thing to a “festival atmosphere” than any other sporting event ever in Lafayette.
Can I just say this… unrelated, but not entirely.
Take the Voodoo playing in the Blackham last year for example. Tickets were only $10 and beer was $5 (with $2 nattys). The place was PACKED. It was loud and FUN. The arena couldn’t sustain the actual game play, but no one cared!! The entertainment for the price had me wanting to get season tix!!
This ! Its ECON101. Get people there, they will spend money. No one making money on those not attending.
This is due to the fact that UL has little control over CajunDome prices. I was told we get no revenue from CajunDome Concessions. That is one reason I rarely buy anything at the Dome. I eat either before or after the game. I would be more likely to get something at the game were I to know the basketball program was getting some revenue from my purchase. That contract needs to be renewed if at all possible.
#renovateBlackham
Serious note. With the basketball hype right now and the belief in Coach Q taking this program to the highest levels, how much fun would it be in a packed Blackham. It could easily be the Cameron Indoor of the true south.
I dont know how many we could put in Blackham. Cameron only sits 9k. That is plenty enough people for a college basketball game.
Isn’t it time to tear down Blackham and the barns. The university needs to build more residential halls in that area closer to the athletic complex.
Plenty of land on Coliseum Rd next to the intramural fields for more dorms if that is what they want to do.
The problem is, it’s too outdated to save. Not enough concession space, walkways are narrow, bathrooms are too small, no brodcasting room… It would require a full demolition and rebuild. But it SHOULD happen… we have to get out of the Cajundome.
No double it would take some architectural magic. Or maybe demo and rebuild with a similar design. For whatever reason, I like the design of Blackham. To me when I look at it, it reminds me of a Roman Coliseum if it were a dome.
Isn’t that part of the magic though?
“We’re all in this together, struggling in the trenches together.”
I realize virtually no one agrees with this take but there’s a reason why people who experience trauma together form bonds. Renovating blackham should happen. I know it won’t, but it should.
Wasn’t that the motto during the Marlin era?
More like the Baldwin era, but I get your angle. Lol
I still struggle with toothpicks to this day. In those days, it never stopped us from having a good time pregame.
The basketball fund raiser will be held on the evening of October 23. Site will be the football stadium club room. Lots of fun things planned for that evening.
I bet DaBoot and I could beat you 2 on 1. If you give me a point for every decade I am older than you, I may be able to give you a competitive game. As I was conceived more than 7 decages ago, I may be the oldest guy in town still playing pick up ball. Fortunately, I am wise enough to avoid the truly competitive games. Took me awhile to figure out that was the best way to insure I don’t get injured. Wisdom comes with age. Took awhile for that wisdom to come to me.
His teams with Shawn Long and Elfrid were legit.At that time, I admit I did buy into the thought that he was gonna build off that.
That obviously didn’t pan out and ultimately the stay was worn out.
It is time to start a countdown to the start of his season.