Does SMU shut down the boulevard before kickoff?

[East Coast Mustang]

I think that being proactive and having people sell tickets on the Boulevard to fans would be a lot better approach then telling them to [deleted] off at kickoff.

Still not sure what to do about student attendance. That's a tough nut to crack

[ponyinNC]

a lot of people bow to peer pressure. I think calling people out for not going to the game would actually work well, if enough people did it.

[Stallion]

Just take away their open containers and watch them flee

[East Coast Mustang]

Just take away their open containers and watch them flee

...flee to Barley House, while [deleted] about SMU. Not a good solution, in my opinion.

[Stallion]

so you care about where they drink when they aren't going to Ford Stadium?

[ponyinNC]

if they aren't going to the game anyway, who cares about them! That's the entire point - maybe more people will actually go into Ford if the Blvd officially shuts down. Yes, they may go to Barley House or they may even go home (both of those thiings they seem to already do now!).

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Can't legislate success - you have to work for it.

Amen to that!

[Pugilistic Pony]

Maybe, SMU could install red (and blue?) velvet ropes at the entrances to the BLVD and hire bouncers to vet those who want to get in, as to their intentions about actually attending the game. Maybe, it would make the BLVD seem like an exclusive dance club and would create a certain snob appeal to attending a game. It could become so-o-o-o Dallas social scene; worth the hassle of the regimentation to see and be seen at a game. There would surely be long, long lines created of people just panting to be a part of the ever-so-hip and elitist event.

But, count me out. There are good games on TV, and I can have a beer.

[Dukie]

if they aren't going to the game anyway, who cares about them! That's the entire point - maybe more people will actually go into Ford if the Blvd officially shuts down. Yes, they may go to Barley House or they may even go home (both of those thiings they seem to already do now!).

Combine the close-the-Boulevard policy with the sale of alcohol inside Ford, and you kill two birds with one stone. This is a no-brainer.

[ponyinNC]

if they aren't going to the game anyway, who cares about them! That's the entire point - maybe more people will actually go into Ford if the Blvd officially shuts down. Yes, they may go to Barley House or they may even go home (both of those thiings they seem to already do now!).

Combine the close-the-Boulevard policy with the sale of alcohol inside Ford, and you kill two birds with one stone. This is a no-brainer.

Boom goes the dynamite! Dukie is correct.

[Stallion]

yeah next year they will be hurting our booze sales

[PonyKris89]

Booze is coming to SMU sports venues next year. We already have a great Boulevard scene.
Go with ECM's suggestion of the "Partio" in North Endzone and then the only other factor to be concerned with in packing Ford IS WINNING BIG.
I believe SMU is on the right track.

[CenTXpony]

I don't think shutting down the boulevard to spite those who remain there during the game would help our attendance cause by any means. It'd just [deleted] people off and make them not want to support the football team at all. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

By the way Ole Miss does not shut the grove down during games.

[CoxMustangFan]

It's really not that difficult. Make going to games fun. For now, the on the field product isn't fun enough for many/most. My kids love going because of the grassy area (which I think can be done much better, too). You're doing too many lines if you think "winning will cure all". What's more, fans that only come when you're winning will be the first to leave when you're not.

[RebStang]

Just a personal observation, if the school mandated that I could no longer be in place A and should go to place B, that's just going to make me hate the school more and not go to place B just to spite them.

I won't argue with your personal view, but I do think we ought to shut down the Boulevard during the game. What does Ole Miss do? Perhaps they don't have the problem of needing to evict Grove-goers, but I'd be curious if they do "close it" during the game. A quick search didn't turn up any definitive answers, only that the Grove is the place to be pre- and post-game.

Ole Miss doesn't close the Grove during games. "Tailgating" is only stopped at around midnight after a game. There is always a sizable number of people who never go to the stadium but the total number of people tends to track pretty closely with the opponent - last week against Troy there wasn't a large number in the stadium or the Grove (attendance was only about 52,000). This coming weekend against Missouri, there will probably be 61,000 in the stadium and around 70,000 total people on campus.

Shutting down the Boulevard at some predetermined time before kickoff isn't going to put any more butts in seats... if anything, it would mean less people showing up at the Boulevard at all.

Getting a big crowd out for the tailgate party means we're part way there in terms of getting people to the game. The next step is doing what it takes to get them into the stadium and, all other things aside, that starts with scheduling games against interesting opponents that won't fill our stadium with their fans and... yeah... winning games.