UL expands donor parking for 2012 football season

[Lafman]

I am all for this "expanded RCAF parking". I just hope that we dont see 1 thing, a 1/2 empty parking lot at kickoff.

you will but not for the first game. people will drive(crawl by) due to police having their hands in their pockets instead of directing traffic, people will see the empty lot(s) being reserved for RCAF members. They will drive to the cow palace for the game, but then will get ____ed when having to walk to the game while knowing full well that there will be plenty of places to park in the lot. I only hope UL gets the word out that the lot will be reserved because it will def ____ lots of people off. Then when its going to rain(and it will), the cow palace will turn into a mud pit and ____ even more people off. How many tailgaters will haul ice chest(s), chairs, food, etc. from the cow palace to a spot to meet friends? Once. They will get the notion that its not worth the hassle to go tailgate(which UL proudly says its part of the ambience of attending a game) they will further alienate that group also. Might be a good idea in the future once word gets out about the reserved parking, but i predict they will be shooting themselves in the foot this year.

[cajunhawk]

I think our athetlic department has been giving serious consideration to parking... for everyone. However, giving special incentives to those that join RCAF is part of the "big-time" program systems. It isn't like UL doesn't care about everyone else. When we didn't have RCAF and those designated parking spaces, we still had people whining about parking and traffic. And that was when we didn't have many people attending games. It probably won't ever end no matter what UL does.

I don't disagree with you on the need for more studies and options available for every level of fan. But, even if there are empty "RCAF parking spaces" at kickoff... my take is that people will walk by with their wives and kids and when the wife asks "why did we have to park all the way in BFE with these spots available?"... old hubby can nut up and say, "you wanted those ugly shoes you're wearing... so we couldn't join RCAF". We need more Acadiana discussions like that one so that RCAF grows.

Amen brother...

[CajunRed]

I think the university should set up a shuttle service...not from Blackham or some other parking lot...but from each "fan's" home. We don't want to inconvenience anyone.

[duggie85]

you will but not for the first game. people will drive(crawl by) due to police having their hands in their pockets instead of directing traffic, people will see the empty lot(s) being reserved for RCAF members. They will drive to the cow palace for the game, but then will get ____ed when having to walk to the game while knowing full well that there will be plenty of places to park in the lot. I only hope UL gets the word out that the lot will be reserved because it will def ____ lots of people off. Then when its going to rain(and it will), the cow palace will turn into a mud pit and ____ even more people off. How many tailgaters will haul ice chest(s), chairs, food, etc. from the cow palace to a spot to meet friends? Once. They will get the notion that its not worth the hassle to go tailgate(which UL proudly says its part of the ambience of attending a game) they will further alienate that group also. Might be a good idea in the future once word gets out about the reserved parking, but i predict they will be shooting themselves in the foot this year.

Your example doesn't exist. People who get stuck parking at Blackham show up so late they don't plan on tailgating...

[Hammer58]

I think the university should set up a shuttle service...not from Blackham or some other parking lot...but from each "fan's" home. We don't want to inconvenience anyone.

That's thoughtful but I don't think it goes far enough. Why make he fans leave the comfort of their homes? Why not have the teams travel to each fan's house and play the game on their front lawn? Of course that would extend the season a bit since it will take quite awhile to replay the game for each individual fan. But then, if that's what the university has to do to keep the casual fans happy that's just the way it has to be.

[duggie85]

Your example doesn't exist. People who get stuck parking at Blackham show up so late they don't plan on tailgating...

And if they do show up that late expecting to get full tailgate experience in, they're morons and no one cares what they think.

[duggie85]

Or here's another thought: Being there will be so many people who want to tailgate that park at blackham, they can all tailgate over there. Being so many people will want to tailgate, the atmosphere won't be much different.

[HoustonCajun]

Or here's another thought: Being there will be so many people who want to tailgate that park at blackham, they can all tailgate over there. Being so many people will want to tailgate, the atmosphere won't be much different.

Exactly. Ever go to a game at Texas or Texas A&M or even LSU. People park up to 1 mile plus and tailgate in all areas near or far from the stadium. People pay to park and tailgate just outside the stadium AND they pay a lot of money to do so. So what if people park at Blackham or behind the Hilton Garden Inn or in the park adjacent to fraternity row? When we start averaging 40K to 50K and we run out of those places, people will park near Lourdes Hospital. We want big time football, we have to expect this. The solution? Pay $250 minimum to join RCAF and it is not a problem. Otherwise, simply start tailgating in other areas. You don't have to park in a certain lot to enjoy the complete game day experience. Create your own tailgate area early, walk over to the stadium to see the Team Walk, get in the stadium early to see the traditional pre-game activities, stay thru the end of the game and make it a great day.

Come Early. Wear Red. Stay Late.

[CajunRebel]

I think our athetlic department has been giving serious consideration to parking... for everyone. However, giving special incentives to those that join RCAF is part of the "big-time" program systems. It isn't like UL doesn't care about everyone else. When we didn't have RCAF and those designated parking spaces, we still had people whining about parking and traffic. And that was when we didn't have many people attending games. It probably won't ever end no matter what UL does.

I don't disagree with you on the need for more studies and options available for every level of fan. But, even if there are empty "RCAF parking spaces" at kickoff... my take is that people will walk by with their wives and kids and when the wife asks "why did we have to park all the way in BFE with these spots available?"... old hubby can nut up and say, "you wanted those ugly shoes you're wearing... so we couldn't join RCAF". We need more Acadiana discussions like that one so that RCAF grows.

I agree that it's a part of big time systems. I agree that this is something we need to do. We just need to do it a little smarter IMO. Last time I went to Tiger Stadium there wasn't a nearly empty parking lot in front of it like there will be at Cajun Field this year.

[CRAWFISH61]

I agree that it's a part of big time systems. I agree that this is something we need to do. We just need to do it a little smarter IMO. Last time I went to Tiger Stadium there wasn't a nearly empty parking lot in front of it like there will be at Cajun Field this year.

You keep talking about last year. This year is different and I think these lots will much much fuller. You used to be able to get a pass for $50 and i would get one. When it became $250 I skipped. After last year I got tired of walking and paid $250 and got the company match. I am sure there will be plenty of fans like me. I like to get there 1or 2 hours before the game.

[good2geaux]

Lafman, we've upped our RCAF donations...so up yours.

[moorecajun]

You keep talking about last year. This year is different and I think these lots will much much fuller. You used to be able to get a pass for $50 and i would get one. When it became $250 I skipped. After last year I got tired of walking and paid $250 and got the company match. I am sure there will be plenty of fans like me. I like to get there 1or 2 hours before the game.

You nailed it crawfish ... this isn't your mamma's cajuns and it's a new era! If you want to park close you have to pay and even at that you better get there early!

No more comparisons to BEFORE, this is NOW!

[CajunFan3406]

Rebel, I understand your point although I technically don't agree with it.

Being that I don't drive to football games, I will have a spare C-lot pass that I am looking to get off my hands. There is a slight catch though. PM me if you want more info.

Since I never got a PM from CajunRebel about my C-lot pass deal, I'm going to throw this out for anyone interested.

I have a spare C-lot pass that I will not use and am willing to give away, on one condition though. The recipient of my pass has to recruit one friend to join the RCAF. $100-$249 level is fine. If you do this I will give you my pass for your (or your buddy's) use for all 6 games of the season. Think of the pass as an incentive to get someone new to join the RCAF. Anyone who is interested please PM me.

[Cajunsmike]

Since I never got a PM from CajunRebel about my C-lot pass deal, I'm going to throw this out for anyone interested.

I have a spare C-lot pass that I will not use and am willing to give away, on one condition though. The recipient of my pass has to recruit one friend to join the RCAF. $100-$249 level is fine. If you do this I will give you my pass for your (or your buddy's) use for all 6 games of the season. Think of the pass as an incentive to get someone new to join the RCAF. Anyone who is interested please PM me.

CajunFan3406, I applaud you for this move. In fact, I bet Coach Hud would say you are doing your part to "protect the house".

[BananaHammock]

I apologize in advance for the novel below but I've got way too much free time right now.

You are trying to make a case that there is a demand for more RCAF parking but that's simply not true. You don't get to see the stadium parking lots 1hr-30min before kickoff but we do. Those lots were way too empty last year. My best guess was that the RCAF spots were never more than 1/3 of the way filled. Even if all of the 600 new RCAF members joined at the $250 parking pass level (which most didn't) the old RCAF lots would still have free space left.

Let's just call this what it is. UL wants to create a bigger incentive for fans to join the RCAF at the $250 level. And they decided to block off the most prime parking spots at Cajun Field to create that incentive. I would expect to see a good number of $100 RCAF members jump up to the $250 level as a result. As an RCAF fundraising strategy it will work well.

But there will be a few negative consequences that will occur as a result of this new RCAF lot. The first of which is tailgaters will lose their semi-convenient parking spots. Tailgating is a big part of the atmosphere at Cajun Field and it's at least partly responsible for the great increases in attendance we've seen. My tailgating spot is made up of a decent number of about half big-time UL supporters and half casual fans and I would imagine that most other spots have the same makeup. Slowly but surely these casual supporters have turned into big-time supporters. Our spot continues to grow every year because some of these casual supporters turn into big-time supporters and invite their friends and family. Many of the "casual fans" we had when we started turned into season ticket holders and RCAF members. These casual fans are important to UL's growth and we shouldn't take them for granted.

With the all the west spots reserved for imaginary RCAF members the north and east parking spots will probably be completely filled by 11:00AM. That means that any casual fan who wants to come tailgate will have to park behind the Hiilton, over at the intramural fields, or at Blackham Coliseum. All three of those spots are anywhere from 1-1.5 miles from the tailgating spots on Bertrand Dr. Ever carry an ice chest or a tent or a bunch of chairs 1-1.5 miles? It's not very fun. And to add insult to injury these people will walk through a huge, empty parking lot while walking to their spot. It makes it really tough on the casual tailgaters we are trying to convert into big-time supporters.

UL also needs to consider the casual fans who have special needs and try to accommodate them. Older people aren't going to go if they can't park reasonably close to the stadium. Same thing goes for families with small children which is an especially important demographic for UL to draw in. We don't have the luxury to create artificial barriers for fans to overcome to attend a game.

We need to make it as easy, fun, and painless as possible for people to go to UL football games. The less barriers to attending you have the more people will want to come to games. Here's a really random example but I think it applies to this situation.

The United States has the lowest voter turnout of all nations at 48% while most other countries have turnouts in the 80%-95% range. The main reason for this is the fact that the US has many more barriers to voting than other countries. Here national, state, and local elections are held at different, seemingly random times throughout the year which means many people forget to vote or forget what they are voting for. They can be held on weekdays when everyone is too busy working. Polling places change constantly, have long lines, and aren't always convenient to get to. We also have to jump through hoops just to register to vote.

Meanwhile other countries schedule national voting holidays on the same day each year so you'll never forget when an election is taking place. Since it's a holiday people get the day off of work. Registration isn't even required and the larger use of internet voting and absentee voting make it incredibly easy to cast a ballot. Other countries have focused on eliminating barriers to voting and it's paid off really well for them.

Like these other countries we need to remove as many barriers as possible to fans wanting to attend a UL football game. I have some ideas:

1. Allow tailgate spot owners (who are already RCAF members) to purchase tailgating parking passes so their friends and family can park reasonably close to their spots and not have to lug food and equipment long distances.
2. Charge ($10-20 depending on demand) for parking inside the fences of Cajun Field. This will ensure that tailgaters with equipment to carry, families with small children, older people, or people who just don't feel like walking a long distance will be able to find a good parking spot at Cajun Field -- even if it's 15 minutes before kickoff.
3. Parking outside the fences should stay free so there won't be too big of a financial barrier keeping people away from the stadium. If you don't want to pay you don't have to. Ideally these lots should have a shuttle to help with the long trek.
4. Don't expand the RCAF lots until the demand is there to expand them. Blocking off your best parking spots for imaginary RCAF members will mean a loss of revenue (if you charge for parking) and is a slap in the face to the casual fan/tailgater who isn't willing to donate to the RCAF at the moment.

I think that as a struggling football program we need to focus on eliminating barriers to becoming a Cajun fan, not add to them. If UL implemented some of my ideas it would help grow our fan base instead of shrinking it like the new RCAF lots will do. UL should never take it's great fan support for granted. They should do everything they can to cultivate and strengthen it.

And now is a good time to announce that I, CajunRebel am announcing my candidacy for the position of Long-Winded Athletic Director / Parking Lot Guru. Vote for me!

You guys that keep complaining about every IMPROVEMENT the University makes is nauseating. Casual fans can't walk from the Hilton to Cajun Field? Non-casual fans walk way farther than that when attending an LSU game but ours can't walk several hundred yards?

So attendance and the program should suffer so people can have convenient parking spots next to their tailgating spots? Buddy, grow a set and show up early to drop your stuff off and its not a problem.

What barriers are there to becoming a fan as you say? You mean actually having to pay to park and buying a ticket to watch a sporting event that requires money to function? If that's a barrier then that person wasn't going to be much of a supporter of the program anyway.

Do you remember when the IceGators were playing in the Cajundome? People PAID TO PARK IN THE GRAVEL and still walked to the Cajundome and it was sold out every game. People pay to park at all events around the country but because we do it now we're turning people away?

People like you want undefeated seasons, low ticket prices, convenient FREE parking, a great coach and all on a shoestring budget. If you can't walk a few hundred yards to sit on your butt while tailgating how will you ever make it up and down the stairs of the stadium. Here's a benefit of the parking plan: We won't have so many fat people to look at by the end of the year. We'll call it the "RCAF Diet: Dropping money and pounds to make a change."

[CajunRed]

You guys that keep complaining about every IMPROVEMENT the University makes is nauseating. Casual fans can't walk from the Hilton to Cajun Field? Non-casual fans walk way farther than that when attending an LSU game but ours can't walk several hundred yards?

So attendance and the program should suffer so people can have convenient parking spots next to their tailgating spots? Buddy, grow a set and show up early to drop your stuff off and its not a problem.

What barriers are there to becoming a fan as you say? You mean actually having to pay to park and buying a ticket to watch a sporting event that requires money to function? If that's a barrier then that person wasn't going to be much of a supporter of the program anyway.

Do you remember when the IceGators were playing in the Cajundome? People PAID TO PARK IN THE GRAVEL and still walked to the Cajundome and it was sold out every game. People pay to park at all events around the country but because we do it now we're turning people away?

People like you want undefeated seasons, low ticket prices, convenient FREE parking, a great coach and all on a shoestring budget. If you can't walk a few hundred yards to sit on your butt while tailgating how will you ever make it up and down the stairs of the stadium. Here's a benefit of the parking plan: We won't have so many fat people to look at by the end of the year. We'll call it the "RCAF Diet: Dropping money and pounds to make a change."

+several

[BananaHammock]

CajunRebel, since it seems like you will be void of "casual fans" at your tailgating spot this year would you be interested in selling your spot? I mean with having to walk 100 yards with a chair, ice chest and your food it just is so much hassle. Not to mention sweating, packing your items up before the game and picking up trash after the game and its a wonder why anyone would pay to do this. You would literally need to show up at least 3 hours before the game and have a set of testicles to have any chance at succeeding. With stipulations like this it's no wonder why the casual fan wouldn't be interested. With all of the monetary fees asked these days it's like they are asking you to help subsidize their athletic program. That's just wrong and unacceptable in my opinion.

I am willing to purchase your tailgating spot as a favor so you don't have to break your back this year. Think of it as a donation. And with so many people not going to the games this year I can't see how the value would go up any higher so sell while the market demand is high.

[crazycajun]

You can always go drop your stuff at the spot before you go park. I have parked in reserve parking for years and have never carried one thing from truck to my spot. Pull up to the spot, unload, then go park. Quit being so damn cheap and if you want to be lazy it only cost you a 250 donation.

[CajunNation]

Am I the only one here who parks AT my tailgate spot?

[crazycajun]

Am I the only one here who parks AT my tailgate spot?

im in lourde's park, dont think robe would appreciate that