"Florida Football: Is reducing capacity in The Swamp a good idea?"

I would rather be right there with ya. I love the atmosphere and the memories. BUT I'm 5'10" and 190 and it has become an ordeal to sit crammed into those child seats; not to mention that I paid $500.00 for the experience. If the wife wants to go it's $1000.00 for the weekend.

 

Yep it cost me about two grand for a weekend travel and eating and hotel rooms for two nights.

 

My parents have the lowest booster fees in sec 3

 

Capacity will be reduced to the mid-70ks most likely. Will still have metal bleachers with no seat backs in a lot of places, unfortunately, due to steepness. But the reduced capacity will be a welcome change for most fans in attendance. Also, there will be way more concessions added to the 200 existing points of sale to reduce waiting in line.

Building a new stadium from the ground up isn't entirely off the table yet, but it is highly unlikely.

 

Right or wrong I was always under the impression that the Swamp was a relatively smaller structure compared to a number of other stadiums, specifically pro ones. I think we would be at less than 70k seats if we tried to convert the bleachers to chairs but I could be wrong. Personally speaking the packed sections made it a rowdy place in decades past and I never cared about comfort given the reputation we had as a hostile environment to play in. Days gone by I guess

 

Saw some good concerts there, including Stephen Stills, Harry Chapin, and REO Speedwagon

 

If you do it right it’s a damn expensive weekend. That’s why even with family season tix I only do one game a year. This year it’s Tennessee, but if we’re looking strong at the end of the season I might make it two when the semis come to town

 

Back in the 90s, while announcing a game Bob Griese called Florida Field “the most hostile piece of real estate in the country”. We did our part, and still do

 

Exactly what I do. I went to Utah and fsu last year.

 

There is no doubt we can make more money. I think the concern is that in the business of making more money we are going to kill The Swamp atmosphere. I’m curious as to what the architects can come up with, but personally I’d rather sit in a tight seat and crazy environment than be comfortable. That’s what drives me back every game. I go to fewer games in the O’Dome because it’s just not as fun post-renovation and costs more than ever.

 

I only go to the best games every year and stand for almost the entire game anyway. I do usually go to gator walk though, and I have to go to my seat for a good time before the game. It is pretty damn uncomfortable for that hour or so. I’m getting older and it’s not going to get any more comfortable either. I doubt this next generation coming up are going to be as rabid football fans as we are so I think keeping the old folks comfortable is going to be important.

 

The problem is the fact that people are ignoring the connection between the two

Having a hostile home environment increases your odds of winning, and hence a national championship.

If you lose, the rich attendee ultimately won’t show up either.

 

If we are a loser you wont spend $1000 to attend a game with a nice comfortable seat

If we are a winner then someone will pay $1000 for the uncomfortable seat

 

Yeah, students want to go games. Recent alums want to go to games. It is a myth that there isn’t interest in younger generations.

 

Folks peddling this nonsense are the same ones that think a big chunk of our undergrads are from out of state LOL

 

It's the chicken or egg question. If the administration was confident that just having a winning record would boost attendance back to 1980-2008 levels they wouldn't be talking about reducing capacity.
This is 2023 and neither college football nor the Gator fan base is what it used to be.
Sports TV and TV technology in general have come a long way in the last quarter century. I did not have the luxury of a big screen TV and unlimited sports channels back then; now I do. The football program must provide an in person experience at least competitive with TV. Of course winning is a part of that. But the other important consideration for the adult fan (the ones who provide most of the gate revenue) is reasonable comfort. That component is missing and thousands of former attendees are opting for the big screen TV experience. The administration realizes this fact hence the discussion around reducing seats.

 

I’m not sure if having the hostile home environment is that important anymore. I don’t mean to discount it, but it’s not something to build on. Buying the players, then having a competent staff that can navigate the egos.

Get those 2 things and the Swamp will be hostile whether it’s almost 90k or just 70k.