WordUpBU wrote:Outside opinion with some relevant #s.
What this means is SMU has to get Dallas (not just the park cities) to embrace SMU and show up. So inviting a different school district to come get reduced tickets each game (Disd, Richardson, Garland, Mesquite, TAPPS, Addison, you name it. Get them to sample it and it can grow assuming they have a good time here.
Just an idea.
Chances are those most of those kids root for Bevo, Aggy, Tech, TCU, Baylor, etc and would have no interest in going to an SMU game unless their team was involved. The minority that would be interested in sampling is unlikely to end up as repeat customers unless we're winning at a significant level (consistently ranked, perennial 10+ win team).
They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security
PonyPlayer4 wrote:I would love to enjoy a frosty one in the stadium..... that I actually bought in the stadium.
This is a good point and with the current craft beer craze, Ford Stadium could position itself as a great craft beer bar with a football field in the middle.
The risks associated with selling alcohol on a college campus are endless. The school has an obligation to create a safe and responsible environment on campus. With over half of the student body under age, SMU would risk starting a culture of alcohol use and abuse. It would require a major increase in security at games and the concession stands would have to be very in-control and aware.
Am I wrong about the student center selling beer? Certainly the "club" areas of Ford sell alcohol. So the real question is NOT whether to do it but where. How big of a step is this?
Go Ponies!!
Beat whoever it is we are playing!!
@PonyGrad
The risks associated with selling alcohol on a college campus are endless. The school has an obligation to create a safe and responsible environment on campus. With over half of the student body under age, SMU would risk starting a culture of alcohol use and abuse. It would require a major increase in security at games and the concession stands would have to be very in-control and aware.
Am I wrong about the student center selling beer? Certainly the "club" areas of Ford sell alcohol. So the real question is NOT whether to do it but where. How big of a step is this?
Student Center doesn't sell beer but the club areas at Ford (and soon, the new Moody) sell beer.
StallionsModelT wrote:I fully acknowledge that a conference schedule of Rutgers, Temple, Connecticut, and Central Florida is not going to get people jumping out of their chairs to run over to Ford Stadium when they can sit back and watch Texas/Tech/Baylor/TCU/OU/OK State/A&M/LSU/Arkansas play against vastly superior opponents on national TV. That said, there is no reason we shouldn't average 25K a game at Ford regardless of who we are playing. SMU is a beautiful place, The Boulevard is amazing, the team is competitive, and Ford is a great intimate setting for college football without a bad seat in the whole stadium. If we can't successfully market that product in a metro area of 6 million people to get 25,000 to show up then we are truly lost. This has to be the #1 mission of our athletic department. Watching SMU on TV when half the stadium is empty is embarassing and only gives further ammunition to those who say we don't deserve to be playing at the highest levels.
I SO agree with this. I still think it comes down to WINNING. Much easier to sell a quality product. Need to create a buzz of a team ON THE RISE, which is very hard to do when you lose to Tulane and Rice (and I'm a sunshiner). The Houston win was huge. Keeping winning those and beat the teams you're "supposed to". Then getting 25k to a game gets much easier. Then, we can take the next step.
ojai pony has it right. winning is a key and we haven't won the wac, or cusa. the last 25 years of futility represents most of my adult life. its true that the alumni are a problem but not the reason. yes,we are better lately, but no champs in 25 years indicates a systemic problem. the administration has feigned commitment for years and has in reality been phoning it in.
dallas is a "show me town". we haven't shown anybody enough. i still come to the games out of loyalty. but, just like the rest of dallas, show me.
dallas might turn out to see us dominate a third tier conference. but to see us go 6-6? no
"Students and people in Dallas want to be associated with a winner," explained Hart. "I think winning will positively impact attendance more than any other one thing we can do."
03Mustang wrote:"Students and people in Dallas want to be associated with a winner," explained Hart. "I think winning will positively impact attendance more than any other one thing we can do."
We won 6 regular season games last year.........and got an invite to the Hawaii bowl. Doesn't going to 4 bowl games in a row show people that we're winning?
03Mustang wrote:"Students and people in Dallas want to be associated with a winner," explained Hart. "I think winning will positively impact attendance more than any other one thing we can do."
We won 6 regular season games last year.........and got an invite to the Hawaii bowl. Doesn't going to 4 bowl games in a row show people that we're winning?
I have watched SMU football since the 60's. We have never been Dallas' team, and we have had winners. When we put a good team on the field, attendance will pick up and some of it will be new fans for SMU. But what winning will do more of is inspire the fans of the opposition to come to the game. And that is not a bad thing. $90 tickets did not keep Aggie from filling our stadium last season. The fact that Aggie did not want to drive from their sheep stalls to see a rout kept Aggie away. So win some games and the stadium will fill. But it will not be all SMU support. And that is ok as long as we can maintain a majority. Even in the Pony Express days, when we had large attendance it was Texas, A&M, Arkansas who brought the fans. But that is still ok. Just fill the stadium and win some games.
All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand
Just curious, when in our history have we had winning football teams for 5 years in a row. I'd bet only once before during the "Pony Express" days. Are there more?
AusTxPony wrote:Just curious, when in our history have we had winning football teams for 5 years in a row. I'd bet only once before during the "Pony Express" days. Are there more?
We had 6 winning seasons in a row from 1926-1931 and 5 in a row from 80-84 and 3 in a row from 72-74 and 47-49. There were also several instances of back to back winning season.
I have several friends that come and tailgate then head to bar to watch any other game on TV. their explination is that we aren't worth watching and if they could drink in the stadium they would probably at least come check out the game for the first half. We can go on and on about how pathetic and sad this is, but this is the reality we must address. Sell alcohol and more people will show up. Once you have them there, give them a reason to stick around and come back by winning. It's that simple!
