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

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by Gatorrick22, Jul 14, 2023.

  1. bgator85

    bgator85 Premium Member

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    Right, I only really used the announced attendance because it is our best look into potential paid attendance. Financial reports show great ticket sales as well.

    Renovation or not, actual attendance is always going to be at issue in the lesser games. Usually it is even more pronounced in the premium seating areas.
     
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  2. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    The lesser games leave a ton of money on the table. Even at home, I may watch the first half or may go fishing. If it’s a premier game, I’m watching 100 % of the time. They can schedule 11 legit games if they want to. Tv would pay a lot more if the game of the week was an sec game every week.
     
  3. Matthanuf06

    Matthanuf06 GC Hall of Fame

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    But then you can’t complain about attendance

    USF/UCF/Miami aren’t the games I’m talking about
     
  4. apkgator

    apkgator GC Hall of Fame

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    To my recollection there have always been single game tickets allotted.....there are likely more now, especially since visting teams bring FAR fewer fans than in the past.
    I can tell you the booster fees (donation) have done nothing but go up over the last 40 years. They have never once gone down. They have done a reasonable job of keeping the increases to a manageable level, but every few years there is a bump.
     
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  5. apkgator

    apkgator GC Hall of Fame

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    No, the TV deals are done in the aggregate. There are always enough quality games each week that the cupcakes don't impact the tv rights much at all. There are multiple reasons that every school schedules those type of games, they are financially sound and give the team a W and a break between difficult games. I personally enjoy 1 or 2 every year getting to relax and see a lot of the younger players get action.
     
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  6. tommyvee

    tommyvee VIP Member

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    I think the money is in TV anyways, so attendance is moot. That’s why lowering stadium capacity probably makes more sense at this point.
     
  7. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Why downsize when we already have the entire student section for 2023 SOLD OUT? That downsizing makes no sense right now. We're about to see the demand on tickets in these next few years go through the roof. Why make them impossible to get and pay for by downsizing now?

    I say we should fix everything we need to minus the seating. Hail even a pressure wash would be welcomed. Paint the entire stairs and cement with white Flex Seal rubber. Get new stadium lights... buy and install better big-screens... improve the food and concession stands in the stadium... fix and add restrooms... and install ten time the LEDs than any other stadium in the nation inside and outside of the stadium and LEAVE THE SEATING ALONE... We're good to go.
     
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  8. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

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    I don't think the attendance # is moot at all. UF gets to keep 100% of its ticket sales (and associated booster fees) .... they aren't shared with the remainder of the conference and doesn't go toward funding the conference office.
     
  9. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

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    I would be interested to know what that means specifically. If they've reduced the number of student season tickets available over the years, it would be much easier to sell out that allotment.
     
  10. atlantagator86

    atlantagator86 GC Hall of Fame

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    If my memory serves, the only single game tickets sold were when the opposing team returned the unsold portion of their allotment. Those tickets, which were the cupcake and smaller SEC schools, would become available a few days prior to the game. As for the season tickets, the "posted" minimum donation may not have gone up, but as I recall, there was more demand than supply and if people actually wanted tickets, they had to donate well above the minimum. When somebody gave up their seats, which didn't happen often, those tickets were given to the highest donors. I never bought season tickets but that's what I was told by friends who got them. I heard the same from Tennessee fans.
     
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  11. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

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    That was true back in UM era....but demand has been dwindling ever since for fairly obvious reasons.
     
  12. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Less seating availability means higher prices... supply and demand.
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2023
  13. archigator_96

    archigator_96 GC Hall of Fame

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    You just answered your own question. It didn't work.
    This will be decided by the Architect, CM and the AD design committee. Maybe a well heeled booster or two if they need some fundage.
     
  14. MCB51

    MCB51 Moderator VIP Member

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    :)
     
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  15. eastowest

    eastowest GC Hall of Fame

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    Uga home schedule
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    Uab
     
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  16. MCB51

    MCB51 Moderator VIP Member

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    What a joke
     
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  17. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Well it didn’t work at Tiger Stadium because the place was rusted out and falling down. It was a no-brainer. The Swamp is a different set of issues altogether
     
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  18. wargunfan

    wargunfan GC Hall of Fame

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    Inside your head.
    Recent history tells us that while revenue is up actual fan attendance is down. Those happy jammed in fans just aren't showing up in the numbers they once did. large numbers of Gators fans are opting to watch the game on TV which accounts for the empty seats at most games. I would much rather see a packed out 75K stadium with pro level amenities than empty seats in a 88K seat bleacher with dirty bathrooms and second rate concessions.
     
  19. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    I hope they're all relatively young... love to scream during football games.. and are NOT all fat azzes.

    I remember when The Swamp was so loud that the head referee threatened to penalize the Gators' football team becasue we were too loud...

    I also KNOW that our SCREAMING FANS have caused delay of games against our opponents becasue our fans were so damned loud... I love it!

    Even reducing The Swamp 1 stinking decibel would be a crime against our team, and our home field advantage.

    Loudness causes many delays of game by our opponents. That's an advantage to our football team that we have to consider in any such renovation. We don't have a twelfth man... we have a 90,000+ fan advantage...
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2023
  20. archigator_96

    archigator_96 GC Hall of Fame

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    All true but if it goes like most high profile and large projects, the Architect will likely not be a UF alum or probably not even a college football fan. The direction for anything that we would like as fans will have to come from the AD's design committee. And those can be made up of administrative types, not necessarily people in athletics.
     
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