Boulevard Extortion

[RednBlue11]

White helmet's idea sounds fair to me. Anyone can enjoy the BLVD for free, but no one is entitled to a dedicated spot.

This is like when the students assumed they had free tickets to games, (which they essentially do...but you have to pick them up before the game) and threw a fit at the gate when their student ID card wasn't valid admission to a sold out/standing-room-only game vs Tech.

Students pay $85.00 for access to sporting events. And I have no problem w/ that, I'm sure it's much less than season ticket holders pay.

knowing that it is a privileged, It is still my personal opinion that $3,000 is a silly amount of money for a 20x20 piece of grass.

I started this thread because I think it is counterintuitive charge the students, an exorbitant sum, to participate in one of the few cool things we can do together as a campus. I really don't care if people think I am whining, I knew this was an unpopular stance to take w/ Alumni but as students our entertainment/chances to build some pride in our University are few and far between and I would think they would want to do something about that as much as they say they do.

[GeorgiaMustang]

Charging Greeks for a tailgate spot is nothing new. Quit whining. The only complaint I had when we had our tailgates by Dallas hall was that they always put the visitor alumni tent next to the greek tents. I remember being at the tailgate when we hosted North Texas a couple of years ago and an official from UNT asking us to turn off the music we had playing so that their band could play the UNT fight song for their Alums. Really? It was also annoying when you always had people in the opponents colors trying to mooch free beer from the tailgates and not understanding why we weren't exactly pumped about them being there.

You should have told the UNT people that if their huge band can't play louder than a stereo system, they need to find a few new musicians.

We turned it down long enough for them to play one song as they said that's all they wanted. When they proceeded to delve into a second song we immediately cranked the music back up to drown them out.

[NickSMU17]

Now, now... let's keep this positive.

I'll cut a check to your house for $50 if you can get the students to fill 4 sections (for the whole game). If it looks close, benefit of the doubt goes to CMN.

Any other takers?

I will as well...

Paypal or personal check?

[fivemon]

this is not new, they have been paying for years. Most of the cost is for tent rental, chairs, and table, along with bar tenders.

[Longtime]

How about a system where student organizations pay for Boulevard Spots, but they get a rebate based on how many game tickets they use?

It could be tracked using those bar code readers already utilized at the gates. It would be an incentive for the students to actually attend the games. Although there was a great student turnout for UAB, I bet that won't be the case for every game.

Sure, some kids might walk in, get their ticket scanned and walk right out (i.e. ordering pledges to do so). But if you're going to make that effort, most kids will probably go on in and sit in the stands until the buzz wears off.

[GeorgiaMustang]

this is not new, they have been paying for years. Most of the cost is for tent rental, chairs, and table, along with bar tenders.

Yep. In the long run, it is likely cheaper. If the chapters had to pay an outside vendor for those big tents each home game, it would likely be more expensive and create more issues.

[RednBlue11]

How about a system where student organizations pay for Boulevard Spots, but they get a rebate based on how many game tickets they use?

It could be tracked using those bar code readers already utilized at the gates. It would be an incentive for the students to actually attend the games. Although there was a great student turnout for UAB, I bet that won't be the case for every game.

Sure, some kids might walk in, get their ticket scanned and walk right out (i.e. ordering pledges to do so). But if you're going to make that effort, most kids will probably go on in and sit in the stands until the buzz wears off.

i think that's a cool idea actually.

[GeorgiaMustang]

Ordering pledges to do it wouldn't be a problem since SMU does Spring rush and not fall rush

[stc9]

Really how much do they charge for spots on the Vard?

[Stallion]

so that's $3,000 per year right?

$500 per game / 100 members= $5 per member more or less per game. As long as its an option rather than mandatory I don't think its outrageous. You could still enjoy the Boulevard for free if the fraternity chose not to have its own tent.

[stc9]

How about a system where student organizations pay for Boulevard Spots, but they get a rebate based on how many game tickets they use?

It could be tracked using those bar code readers already utilized at the gates. It would be an incentive for the students to actually attend the games. Although there was a great student turnout for UAB, I bet that won't be the case for every game.

Sure, some kids might walk in, get their ticket scanned and walk right out (i.e. ordering pledges to do so). But if you're going to make that effort, most kids will probably go on in and sit in the stands until the buzz wears off.

Genius!!!

[fivemon]

How about a system where student organizations pay for Boulevard Spots, but they get a rebate based on how many game tickets they use?

It could be tracked using those bar code readers already utilized at the gates. It would be an incentive for the students to actually attend the games. Although there was a great student turnout for UAB, I bet that won't be the case for every game.

Sure, some kids might walk in, get their ticket scanned and walk right out (i.e. ordering pledges to do so). But if you're going to make that effort, most kids will probably go on in and sit in the stands until the buzz wears off.

Genius!!!

They did something like this during bb season, my fraternity won a flat screen tv

[smusic 00]

Back when I was in school, we caravaned to the games in our cars and tailgated in the empty Cotton Bowl lot....and we LIKED it!

$500 a game is nothing for a fully staffed, labor-free tent. That's the same cost as a bus to one of your parties.

[RednBlue11]

so that's $3,000 per year right?

$500 per game / 100 members= $5 per member more or less per game. As long as its an option rather than mandatory I don't think its outrageous. You could still enjoy the Boulevard for free if the fraternity chose not to have its own tent.

The Chapter average is closer to 80-85, but you are right, it isn't much per head.

Either way, I like to think that everyone gets a lot more out of us spending that money on their entertainment since we put down almost that amount per home game.

Don't get me wrong, we can afford it no problem, but that won't change my stance on it being a dumb amount of money for what we get.

what else is there to do on the BLVD that is student friendly? SMU doesn't do a particularly good job informing us.

[SMUer]

Plus, as a vital part of your college experience, isn't it worth 1/100 of your individual dues.