Copeland: Getting Students/Fans in the Seats + 5pm Kick-off

[gostangs]

5:00 is a better start time then 2:00 for the vast majority of people attending these games - if you have school age kids (future students perhaps) then they have Saturday games that are not usually over until mid afternoon - also - if ther is something going on later on a sat night you can go to the game and the saturday event - also concession income goes up because people eat at the game -

[couch 'em]

Isn't there rules against stadium selling alcohol at NCAA events? "blind eye" to bringing it in, however it used to be schools couldn't openly sell in the stadium (remember Cotton Bowl).

I seem to remember two years ago when we played LaTech in shreveport beer was sold at the game. I think the problem is the whole University Park being dry thing.

Side note: I was at UNT last week, and they have a very nice bar on campus... it was selling $1 drafts. Must be nice to not have to worry about people driving back to campus drunk...

[SMUstang]

5:00 is a better start time then 2:00 for the vast majority of people attending these games - if you have school age kids (future students perhaps) then they have Saturday games that are not usually over until mid afternoon - also - if ther is something going on later on a sat night you can go to the game and the saturday event - also concession income goes up because people eat at the game -

Why was this not a problem in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's? The Ponies and all the other major colleges started their games at 2 PM and it was a very popular starting time then. What has changed?

[gostangs]

Not sure, but I would guess people try to cram in more these days - particularly with kids sports. Also - used to be that you would schedule your day around the chance to go to a college football game - now you schedule your day around little johnnys football game and work everything else in if you can. Not sure its the right way to do it, but it seems to be a reality.

[Stallion]

that 5:00 starting time looks fine and dandy on paper but I guarantee you that if we get a bad break with cold late fall weather and a mediocre record it could spell absolute disaster for our attendance. Plus why are we moving to 5:00 as we get in a local conference with travel mates. I am about 300% more likely to drive to Tulsa, La Tech, Rice, UH for a 2:00 game than I would if I had to stay over night for a road game. It will likely destroy visiting team attendance at a time when we are trying to build conference identification. I'll go on record as saying this is VERY shortsighting thinking on someone part in the athletic department. I'd agree if it was an late summer game or even in BB but these games are scheduled for October and November. There is a reason NOBODY schedules at this time in Texas--except for August and September.

[Stallion]

that 5:00 starting time looks fine and dandy on paper but I guarantee you that if we get a bad break with cold late fall weather and a mediocre record it could spell absolute disaster for our attendance. Plus why are we moving to 5:00 as we get in a local conference with travel mates. I am about 300% more likely to drive to Tulsa, La Tech, Rice, UH for a 2:00 game than I would if I had to stay over night for a road game. It will likely destroy visiting team attendance at a time when we are trying to build conference identification. I'll go on record as saying this is VERY shortsighting thinking on someone part in the athletic department. I'd agree if it was an late summer game or even in BB but these games are scheduled for October and November. There is a reason NOBODY schedules at this time in Texas--except for August and September.

[SMUstang]

Not sure, but I would guess people try to cram in more these days - particularly with kids sports. Also - used to be that you would schedule your day around the chance to go to a college football game - now you schedule your day around little johnnys football game and work everything else in if you can. Not sure its the right way to do it, but it seems to be a reality.

My kids played little league and YMCA football and little league and YMCA baseball and their was no conflict with SMU home games in the 60's and 70's that I recall. They did not get involved in soccer. Maybe that is the culprit.

[Sasser Rules]

.... and this season we will be adding an enclosed tent for season ticket holders in the south end zone area that we will call “Mustang Stables.” We will have more details on this in the weeks to come, but among the benefits of the tent will be alternate food options, big-screen televisions to view other games....

OTHER games? Isn't the idea to build interest in OUR games?
I like most of what was said here, except this idea. If there are TVs, they should show a closed-circuit broadcast (if the game isn't on a regular broadcast) so that parents who take their kids to this Mustang Stables thing will be able to keep their eye on the SMU game, not other games.

[Hoop Fan]

I'm confused, I thought the survey done two years ago concluded that the thing fans wanted most was earlier starting times, ie 2:00. Now the preferences have changed? 5:00 isnt as bad as starting at 7:00 but I agree that its risky on Fall days. There were some late October and November games against San Jose and others in the past that were depressing, raw cold weather and no fans. I might push the 2:00 back to 3 or 4 at the latest.

[gostangs]

Maybe I'm missing something - but how is a raw cold day better at 2:00 then at 5:00? I'm going to assume we have been up and running at Ford long enough to figure out what most fans want - of course - winning makes all of this moot - you will scheduule around anything if it is a big enough game.

[Stallion]

-----the difference 15-20 degrees if you count being in the sunshine and being in the shade of a cool day. There have been several Indian summer afternoons which were quite pleasant during the afternoon and very uncomfortable at sundown.

[Mike Damone]

.... and this season we will be adding an enclosed tent for season ticket holders in the south end zone area that we will call “Mustang Stables.” We will have more details on this in the weeks to come, but among the benefits of the tent will be alternate food options, big-screen televisions to view other games....

OTHER games? Isn't the idea to build interest in OUR games?
I like most of what was said here, except this idea. If there are TVs, they should show a closed-circuit broadcast (if the game isn't on a regular broadcast) so that parents who take their kids to this Mustang Stables thing will be able to keep their eye on the SMU game, not other games.

It is kind of sad, but I know of many people that chose to not go to an SMU game because there was another game they wanted to watch/keep tabs on. This is the kind of crap we have to deal with until we actually become a legitimate draw.

[EastStang]

Why not have 5 or 6 entrances into the Boulevard and require a game ticket to get onto the Boulevard? You tear the ticket once they enter the Boulevard and then you've met the ticket torn requirement of the NCAA for actual attendance. I think that if you're going to come to the Boulevard, you ought to have a ticket to the game. You could close it for the first half of the game and re-open at half-time, you won't have sobered up much in an hour and you can stop in the bathroom at the stadium to make your bladder gladder before you go back out to the Boulevard.

[gostangs]

Boy East - I hate that idea - why squelch the only thing going well on game day? We need to be as enclusive and welcoming as possible. People will go to the game when we start winning - I don't see anyone else overcoming that little fact either.

On a side note - why not be known for being the most visitor friendly place in the country - (at least to fans). We should have a visitor fan center, give them a place to gather and have fun on the boulevard, set up t.v.'s for them and charge them out the wazoo for refreshements and food. Then kick their beehinds in the game. Some of these people are looking for a local team to support - for example they may cheer for UTEP vs us, but then come back as pony fans vs Tulane or Houston.

[EastStang]

I guess living in DC area, I know that they start checking your tickets from the parking lot in (because Donald Rumsfeld goes to the games) so I'm used to it, I guess. There is still tons of tailgating and some folks don't make it into the games until the second quarter people still go into the stadium because the Redskins are the only game in town these days really. The Wizards have been pathetic for years, Caps always loveable losers and soccer is for our immigrant population. I guess I was thinking also that he was worried about the Butts in Seats Rule, and my suggestion would allow you to count the drinkers on the Boulevard as Butts in seats even if they don't make it into the game.