Dropping Season tickets

[Redwingtom]

Awesome fan base we've got here. Roll along indeed.

So we're just supposed to sit quietly by and fork over our money and not expect the university we care about to try and do anything better?

[takeoffeh]

Awesome fan base we've got here. Roll along indeed.

So we're just supposed to sit quietly by and fork over our money and not expect the university we care about to try and do anything better?

No, but complaining on here about it is like preaching to the choir. I haven't read a post on here where someone is saying, "I like the way the concessions are run, or I thought the game day experience here is great!" We all pretty much feel the same way about it. We are the die hard fans of BG. We don't just turn it off when a bad season occurs, and then turn it back on when a good season rolls around. We're here because we love our Falcons. You want to fix these issues (game day and concessions)? Write a letter, signed by everyone on here, and send it the AD, and the President (Not Obama). The AD might not be in charge of the concessions, but he is the say all with BG Athletics. The Pres is the who he reports to. State the issues, the complaints, and the recommended solutions.

[Redwingtom]

I have written e-mails to the AD. And I would be willing to bet that they are well aware of what is said on this site.

[hammb]

I have written e-mails to the AD. And I would be willing to bet that they are well aware of what is said on this site.

I guarantee that discussions like this on the site are being followed by the very people that have the power to enact change.

[gmartin]

I NEVER SAID I WASN'T COMING BACK!!!!! Will be in town tomorrow for the Vandy basketball game. I have major issues on the gameday experience (I.e. Parking, restrooms, concessions, ticket takers/ gate operators, etc. I would give each of them a D grade if not failing compared to other MAC schools and for that matter even some FCS schools I have been too.). And I am not going to get into the on-the-field performance, and audio/video stuff)

I have missed less than FIVE home games in 25 years. Been season ticket holder for nearly two decades. And gone to many road games and every bowl gameN even the Raisin Bowl and the frigid game last year.

I WILL BE AT EVERY HOME GAME NEXT YEAR!!!! But until we make changes, increase our attendance and make the ticket THE PLACE TO BE, I am not going to renew my 4 season tickets when I could have saved 26.00 per ticket this year, and just as much last year by buying walk up tickets or the promotions they offer. I am paying 25 percent MORE to be a season ticket holder and for what, my choice of seat. Well if we only draw over 13K once or twice a year I can practically sit in the same area as I was.

MY POINT IS SIMPLE. SEASON TICKET HOLDERS SHOULD REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING A SEASON TICKET HOLDER. Bring back the Doyt Dollars or whatever they were called. Although I am a Falcon club member already have a wider selection of food for season ticket holders, easier parking access, etc. Make people want to be a season ticket holder once again.

[gmartin]

And fwiw,you say write letters to the AD and President, I have SIX times, and I have received letters back thanking me for my concerns. The letters back were encouraging and promising but unfortunately the same issues still remain and like our team got worse as the season progressed. But this past Friday was the worst. Gate operators very unorganized with only 5000 fans!!!! Restrooms, two stalls out of toilet paper!!!! Run out of hot chocolate at halftime!!! UNACCEPTABLE!!! I do appreciate the very quick turn around in my concerns but doesn't matter if it doesn't get fixed!!!

[1987alum]

I have written e-mails to the AD. And I would be willing to bet that they are well aware of what is said on this site.

I guarantee that discussions like this on the site are being followed by the very people that have the power to enact change.

Agreed.

[Falconfreak90]

To Hammb's point about long lines etc.

This has to do with the design of the concession stands. They suck and are not designed for efficiency. I have done a number of concession/food service renos for large venues. Hobart Arena being the largest (4,500 seats). Simply put...... we need new concession stands designed and built. They need to be located opposite of their current location.

Totally agree. Kent State did a real nice job dressing up their one end zone and has a patio with picnic tables...kinda like at Heinz Field. Miami's concessions have always been efficient. BG needs to build new concession stands and put them out by the fence surrounding the stadium, not by the walkways. That causes huge congestion when the crowds are bigger. Rip out the 3 or 4 trees in the South end zone and set some stands up behind the Falcon Club tent...

thoughts?

[FalconTurf]

Find a niche in BG and go with it. Might be we bring in the carnival buggies like Michigan had when I was up there about a decade ago. Maybe we put them in the south endzone behind the tents. Might look a little rough but it would bring competition and variety which would improve the situation mightily. Frickers serves chunks and such at local fairs out of one. Other locals are in this business as well - some connected to restraunts & others independent.

I know some might look down on this idea but it would be more efficient than building new concessions for 6 games a year to serve bland Gladieux food. It also gets locals involved and that is a connection that needs to be strengthened.

[Tech83]

I NEVER SAID I WASN'T COMING BACK!!!!!

Hopefully wearing your orangey raccoon coat -

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS SHOULD REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING A SEASON TICKET HOLDER.

Couldn't agree more. And probably why I won't get season tix when Nicholas gets to BG next fall. I have been thinking about it.... but there is no real incentive. I can get tix day of the game or do will call.

[gmartin]

Well TECH glad someone agrees with me about the season tix. Why pay 25 percent more. Some may say it benefits the AD. I give enough money so that shouldn't be the reason why I should buy season tickets. Now if this was Boise, OSU, or back in the days when getting tickets were tough then yes I would still but them but until the university compensates those who are constant ticket holders I will just buy tickets per game and save money. Would you buy a laptop for 699.00 when you have a flyer the next day showing it for 599.00 when you are guaranteed that it will be in stock. I think not. I have expressed my opinions and wrote letters but I have seen any changes.

And TECH do I need a matching raccoon hat because I gave that to my brother-in-law and he ruined it

[AyZiggy97]

Awesome fan base we've got here. Roll along indeed.

So we're just supposed to sit quietly by and fork over our money and not expect the university we care about to try and do anything better?

I'm not sure the university isn't trying to do better.

The complaints in this thread seem to be ancillary. Or maybe they're not; maybe we do care more about short concession lines, the type of music played when the band is on the sidelines, or the person with the crowd microphone instead of football. Give me a contending football team which represents the school well and I'll deal with the rest. (As an aside, the rest is not nearly as god awful as depicted here, IMHO.)

People can spend money in whatever way they see fit. But I'll worry about the food at a restaurant, the music at a concert, and the football at a football game.

[gmartin]

AYZIGGY97 This is where I disagree with you. Too me a college football game is more than just rhe product on the field that plays between the goal line. Of course the football team/game is the main event and everything else is its supporting cast. All need to work to have a successful product. I have been working within marketing for 15 years, ten years with the Indianapolis Colts. Sure the main priority is the team on the field but there are many other things that need to be taken into consideration. If BG wants to increase its attendance it needs to correct its problems. I realize some of you think these are minor issues but take a minute to think about certain things.

We have one of the best marching bands in the nation? Why do we need to blast Miley Cyrus and other so called hip hop/rock music over our crappy PA system when we have an amazing band. I can see music being played as the band is preparing for halftime or taking its seats but that should be the only time

Season tickets. Do not make season tickets MORE expensive than buying walk up tickets for each game. Season ticket holders should be accommodated. Better pricing or even a food voucher for each game would be a PLUS or maybe free bbq meal for the pregame bbq.

Toilter paper. If you went to a game and was an older person or a family with kids and the restroom was constantly out of toilet paper some may think twice about going back as they may fear for another occurrence.

Microphone for the refs! Get one that works so that the fan who isn't familiar with all the rules can hear what happened and pick up on the game.

Hot chocolate. HOW THE HELL CAN YOU RUN OUT OF HOT COCOA WITH ONLY 5000 PEOPLE. Kust think if we had 15,000. If we have another brutally cold game in years to come ith a very good team some may not come to the game because they fear we won't have coffee or hot chocolate.

Gate Attendees / Parking Attendees. I don't min wsaiting in line 20 minutes to get into the stadium but when you wait in line and then are told, Wrong Line, you need to go over there. That is wrong!!! Then the next game you think you are now in the correct line but wait, it changed again!!!! And can we get someone to direct traffic flow better. Two hours to leave
the stadium. Should be TWO lanes to leave the stadium. All inbound traffic should be sent to a designated pick up spot for those who are getting picked up.


So Ziggy97 there is more to a football game then just the team on the field. Over the past 25 years I have heard numerous complaints over and over of which are the same today. I will still come to every game whether it is by single game or season ticket. However if any new fan or existing fan keeps having issues with their gameday experience do you think they will be back? We need this issues and others fixed NOW

[i zig a zoomba]

we get it already gmartin. at least i do. you understand marketing really well and bgsu doesn't. if only you worked for the school's marketing team, and game day management, and athletic department, these things wouldn't be an issue. you're preaching to the choir at this point. of course no toilet paper, hot chocolate, excessive miley cirus, black sabbath being played before every single kick off, the horrible pa system, some lady screaming it's time to do the b g s u chant before the game, ticket prices, parking, and everything else that annoys people is not doing anything to bring people back. but in reality... if the football team wasn't so crappy this year, these things wouldn't be such a big deal. i go to the games to watch the team. and all of these things comes second. but i do agree with all of them. it's a joke. but i will keep coming to games despite all of the poor game day management issues. we have 6 home games a year at most, and for some reason these things can't be done right. i doubt it is these issues that keep people away from games when compared to the record of the team, and the scheduling. i hope everything about next season is completely different... the team's record and performance is number 1, and then the perfect game day experience. but even if we had the perfect game day experience in all of sports... and our team sucks.. nobody is going to show up to experience the free flowing concession stands with the best food and prices in any stadium on the planet, and all the toilet paper you could imagine in the stalls, our band paying the music instead of pop radio crap, fair ticket pricing, and the best parking arrangement with no entering or exiting delays.

what can we do as loyal falcon fans that just want the best experience when coming to the doyt? some have mentioned writing a letter to the AD. i'd be surprised if he wasn't aware of these issues... hopefully next year is VERY different.

[h2oville rocket]

Do people really wait in line to get in? I have never waited for even five seconds to get into Perry Stadium. Never seen a line-I can't imagine that is the case if you have more than four gates and fewer than 20,000 fans in attendance. Never waited at UT either or any other MAC venue I've ever been to. Granted, I've been to maybe only twenty games there but if you have a five minute wait to get in you have serious problems.