The Current: Can UL afford to subsidize its football aspirations?

The Marsh
1

Resident shit stirrer Geoff Daily submitted this column to The Current:

COLUMN: Can UL afford to subsidize its football aspirations?

2

I think we are in for lean years in the athletic program..

3

Almost impossible to argue with any of what is written here.

1 Like
4

Can’t wait for Dez to be AD like ULM

5

Ticket sales revenue fell from $2 million in 2014 to barely over $1 million in 2024. Revenue from programs, novelties, parking and concession sales dropped by 80%, from $531,592 in 2014 to $138,039 last year.

Meanwhile, the team’s expenses grew from $8 million to almost $15 million over that same time period

Pas bon

One of the only line items for football that hasn’t grown is fundraising, marketing and promotion, which shrank from $207,101 to $93,681.

Pas bon x2

6

Bring it dude.

This is what we do. Cajuns make Gumbo to feed a family out of nothing.

This guy thinks taking money away will stop us? Pauve bete.

1 Like
7

Waaaaiittt. So you’re telling me that the Premium Experience hasn’t actually benefitted Cajun athletics? Get out of town. There have been literally no signs that this was the case.

2 Likes
8

L

M

A

O

Although I do believe ticket revenue will at least double from last year.

9

Not hiring a head fundraiser for almost a year and a half after your most successful run in football ever. And then they hire Trey Frazier, an introverted administrator, who barely speaks to other humans, to lead the fundraising charge. Absolutely brilliant.

But the fans are definitely the problem… FOH

7 Likes
10

So the price of everything has gone up but the overall revenue has gone down…. It almost suggests that ticket and tailgating pricing is too high

5 Likes
11

They put themselves in this position by not listening.

6 Likes
12

Glad you mentioned this. I did some research for the show. Through 4 home games, avg attendance was 19,035 (with half a stadium).

Through 4 this year in the brand spanking new $56 mm palace: 22,348

3313 more fans x $25 ticket = $82,825.00. Extrapolated for a 6 game home season, $124,237.00

At this massive growth rate, it’ll only take us approx 450 years to recoup our investment.

13

How dare you question the value of their real estate! Have you seen what App St gets?!?!?

(Shit you not, this is what they told me when I pressed them on prices)

14

But it’s not $25 a ticket. Some are double and even triple that when you get into the premium seating. $25 is the cheapest ticket not the average.

2 Likes
15

Ok. Double it. 125 years.

1 Like
16

“If UL football were a business, it would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. Or at least have been forced to live within its means.”

What’s ironic is that I was told by some of the people on the inside that “being a business” was why their decision making that got us into this mess was justified.

17

You know how Lafayette is something new they will lineup. Give it a 1 more sub .500 season and thats where the fun starts.

1 Like
18

It’s almost like they don’t understand the idea of marginal revenue or even basic economics

19

Hey McNeese & Nicholls. See you soon!

20

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Lackluster results on the field and reports of mismanaged financials doesn’t exactly make people want to invest more into it. Things could get a lot worse very quickly