Davis Wade Stadium expansion

[Po Monkey Lounger]

I hope that MSU announces a decision to expand to 75k sized stadium as soon as possible. That may be the only thing that will get the UM administration off its complacent rear ends to fast forward plans for expansion of VHS in Oxford.

Every time UM has expanded, attendance has increased. Attendance has seemed to historically reach a certain percentage of overall capacity -- about 85%. When you have sell outs, or near sell outs on a regular basis, you are overdue for expansion. You are never going to get 100% of those buying tickets to attend every game. People buy season tickets and then attend as many games as they can or desire to ---- when they can't attend, they try to give away or sell the tickets, but this effort is not always successful, nor is there always time to do so when a last minute decision not to attend is made.

Right now, Ole Miss offers only 7500 student tickets (at student ticket prices), which are sold out pretty quickly every season. Those students who do not get student tickets before they sell out must either pay for full priced tickets, or just don't go to the games. There are a lot more students than 7500 on the Oxford campus. This is one easy source of additional ticket sales right there. I don't know what MSU's stats are on the student tickets sold, but I suspect that there may be room for more ticket sales to students at MSU also.

Also, the availability of tickets, especially sideline seats and decent endzone seats, can allow a school (like MSU or UM) to offer more economically priced ticket plans for families with children to encourage them to buy tickets and attend games. Getting folks to campus and to the games, even at reduced ticket prices, builds fan loyalty, promotes the school, yields more concession sales, yields more sales of licensed gear (caps, t-shirts, etc.), and will eventually result in more supporters and more money donations to the school over the long haul. It is probably the best student recruiting tool available to the schools.

When there is a perception of scarcity of tickets, then a good number of people who might otherwise attempt to just go to a game at the last minute with the thought of buying a ticket on campus, will not go due to fear of not being able to get a ticket at a reasonable price (many can barely afford the regular ticket price and can't afford a scalper's price). Thus, the perception of scarcity can keep folks at home who might otherwise attend. This is especially true for those who are not within an hour driving distance. People aren't going to go to the trouble of traveling, parking, walking to stadium, etc. without some reasonable assurance of being able to attend the game.

As indicated above, there are numerous factors that go into fan attendance of games. Putting a quality product on the field of play is another, and is more critical in the short term than most other factors. It may not always affect ticket sales, as fans will continue to purchase season tickets through hard times in order to support the program and preserve their ticket priority. But, it most always affects how many of those ticket holders attend the games.

This business of "we aren't even selling out for every game, or aren't at capacity attendance at every game, so we shouldn't even consider expanding until we do" mindset has been proven wrong over and over. This sentiment was expressed prior to EVERY time UM has expanded VHS over the last 20 years. And these naysayers were wrong EVERY time.

God speed on the Davis-Wade expansion.

[Rice]

I'd be surprised if it happens. Can barely fill the 50k seats we currently have on a regular basis. Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

I love people who don't know what they are talking about considering we set the attendance record Time after time last year and sold over 10,000 more tickets than any other season last year

[duckter]

I don't know much about MSU's home schedule last year, but UM was able to take advantage of a great home schedule with the likes of Alabama, UT, LSU and Arky - all teams that "travel" well. This year's schedule doesn't offer same demand with regards to opponents. But, they'll get 'em back for 2011.

[chopper30]

No Ole Miss was able to take advantage of lots of preseason media smoke up the rectum to sell tickets last year.

JK Po Monk, don't take it out on me for speaking the truth....

[camlock]

whatever the reason for last years numbers, with Ole Miss one home win away from Atlanta with a serious heisman candidate at QB and playing the very best traveling fanbase of LSU in 2003, we got to about 70k on our very best game, and I just believe Ole Miss is gonna draw more fans due to demographic than State in any football scenario, that isn't a knock on State football but a statement of your primary fan demographic and location considerations...

So, I don't think Ole Miss or MSU is going to fill up a 75k+ seat stadium more than once in a blue moon...not anytime soon

[Greenhead22]

"If you build it, they will come".

[riverat]

I'd be surprised if it happens. Can barely fill the 50k seats we currently have on a regular basis. Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

I love people who don't know what they are talking about considering we set the attendance record Time after time last year and sold over 10,000 more tickets than any other season last year

Ding Ding Ding!

Largest percent increase in sales last year in the country.....
Enrollment growing 2k a year.....check state website....

The architects were on campus Super Bulldog Weekend doing a feasibility study and taking pics.....its on paper

[farmerc83]

I'd be surprised if it happens. Can barely fill the 50k seats we currently have on a regular basis. Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

I love people who don't know what they are talking about considering we set the attendance record Time after time last year and sold over 10,000 more tickets than any other season last year

The architects were on campus Super Bulldog Weekend doing a feasibility study and taking pics.....its on paper

The architects are always on campus....hell their building is in the shadow of the future north endzone stands . Get those crackers working on something better than the temporary things they have up now or put up a larger set of temporary stands in the mean time. I'm with PoMonk, offer more cheap student seats.....one recommendation on that tho, ease up on the high school kids that are using a student ticket or the friend or date from another school that came over for the weekend. If they have a student ticket, they either bought it from or it was given to them by a student. Don't keep them out of the section just cause they don't have an id when they are walking in with folks that do. And no I'm not saying to let the guy painted up like a purple and gold tiger in the UM student section as that would start a fight.....just use your heads about it and it would make the craziest section in the stadium that much better.

[adame]

whatever the reason for last years numbers, with Ole Miss one home win away from Atlanta with a serious heisman candidate at QB and playing the very best traveling fanbase of LSU in 2003, we got to about 70k on our very best game, and I just believe Ole Miss is gonna draw more fans due to demographic than State in any football scenario, that isn't a knock on State football but a statement of your primary fan demographic and location considerations...

So, I don't think Ole Miss or MSU is going to fill up a 75k+ seat stadium more than once in a blue moon...not anytime soon

and what exactly is the demographic at MSU I'm itching to read this explanation

[MSDawg870]

Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

Have you ever eaten a Bryan juicy jumbo?

Hell yes there are private funds out there. They're called deep pocket alumni, every school has them, some more than others. Put a winner on the field and the pockets get loosened.

[farmerc83]

Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

Have you ever eaten a Bryan juicy jumbo?

Hell yes there are private funds out there. They're called deep pocket alumni, every school has them, some more than others. Put a winner on the field and the pockets get loosened.

Or the guys that founded Viking, Mossy Oak, Peavey and Sanderson Farms?

[Don Miller]

I've never had a problem finding a ticket to any MSU sporting event...sold out or not.

[bamahunter]

I'd be surprised if it happens. Can barely fill the 50k seats we currently have on a regular basis. Maybe there's a lot of "private funds" out there to make it happen though.

I love people who don't know what they are talking about considering we set the attendance record Time after time last year and sold over 10,000 more tickets than any other season last year

Considering that only two attendance records were broken last year (FL and Bama games) and the chances of MSU getting a #1 and #2 ranked team at home every year (if ever again) are slim to none. The average attendance for the season was still on 43.5K which is right around the 85% capacity number someone mentioned in a previous post. Take away Bama and FL games and what do you have? I'm very proud that we were the most improved attendance-wise in the country last year but the 33K we averaged in 2008 is probably closer to the historical avg. Unfortunately we don't have the alumni base, legacy/tradition, or even location to keep attendance high. I really hate to see what happens when Mullen decides to move on to a more prestigious football program. The local and national media is in love with him and with a little success at MSU, the big boys will come calling. I truly hope my assumption is wrong and he sticks it out for 10 yrs and puts on the map the right way (not Sherrill style).

Of course, I'm an armchair quarterback and this is merely my opinion based on a few selected facts... someone shows me otherwise then I can be convinced.

[bamahunter]

I've never had a problem finding a ticket to any MSU sporting event...sold out or not.

My point exactly... with exception of the home Florida B-ball game in Jan 2007. Which was a great game, excluding the outcome, I had to watch from home.

[stitch]

forget the fans......a nicer stadium will help with recruiting