Softball sold out every SEC game last season at 1600+. Standing room pushed a few crowds to 1,800. There are plans to add seating a couple hundred seats there.
For the many things we disagree on, I believe Frye is correct in saying that the new parking garage will be huge for helping baseball crowds. There will be 500 commuter and staff spots in that garage that should be available for baseball parking. He's also correct about the promotions.
The concessions issue is something that makes UT angry as well and is a continuing problem at all non-revenue sports. Aramark communicates with the marketing department about promotions, but ultimately makes their own on staffing levels at games. Earning an extra $500 dollars at a baseball game isn't financially significant enough for Aramark to open the extra stand, so the fans get screwed and end up mad at UT.
I don't know what the answer is on the concessions issue, it was a problem under Sodexo as well and something other schools face. Those companies do concessions at non-revenue sports because the contracts they sign to make big money at football and basketball require it. I know of a couple of schools that have a separate, smaller contractor handle sports other than football and basketball. UT's contract doesn't allow that, but it may be something they look into in the future.
I've never understood the attendance issues for some sports at Florida. A place that draws 4,000 consistently for volleyball shouldn't have a problem drawing 2,000 for baseball when the program is winning. They'll get 3,000 for a women's soccer match one night, then struggle to reach that for a men's basketball early season game the next.
Concessions
"If you want something done right, do it yourself."
"If you want to make money, spend money."
What is wrong with this picture?
The first 500 people got one of these a couple weeks ago. I guess the font is s'pose to imitate that of the jersey the player wore back in the day. But we just made the move to NIKE and we have a brand new font/logo. Don't you want the 500 people to be wearing it? That's 500 walking bill boards.
If this was my program and I could do what I wanted...I'd first spend a summer going to minor league parks that have a history of good attendance and good promotions.
Then I'd hire somebody from that field to run that aspect of the baseball program. He/She would be in charge of the food offered, staffing and he'd be given a budget to hire students. For popcorn and cokes, is it really baseball without the vendors walking around yelling "popcorn" or" ice cold coke"? No.
He/she would also be in charge of merchandise/pricing/staffing.
He/she wouldn't have the job if they didn't have a track record of fun, unique to UT, promotions.
A goal of this person would be to champion beer sells using baseball as the program to use as an experiment for a year to see if it would be worth doing in the bigger venues/sports.
The first thing I would do, is have waitresses/hostesses for those in reserved seating, like the Smokies used to do...that was fantastic and the sole reason to upgrade from general admission seats. I went to every home game in Carlos Delgado's final season and the hospitality was a major factor.
Right now, I'll just say it like it is...OLD. And I'm old.
The second thing I would do is have a designated family section and UT could do that very easily down by the playground.
That opens things up to have a rowdy section, best behind the opposing teams dugout.
This would also be a way to get the student body more involved, this is an area that needs lots of attention imo and is a glaring weakness right now. Sharply discounted food is always good.
I would think about how to permanently structure the porch and of course if we're selling beer, no more BYOB. Each group would have a designated hostess (who would probably make some good money in four hours in tips alone) to make sure everything runs smoothly for each group.
I like the Left field line idea and if it really is mostly birthday parties I'd have some extra options for that group and I would definitely have a merch booth, specifically for kids over there somewhere.
In the off season, this person would be contacting local baseball teams trying to get them out to the park working out a schedule so that several teams are at every weekend series from Tee-ball to HS...this would be a larger undertaking, but it would help in several areas and could work in connection with the recruiting coordinator.
Too many items in the merchandise area can be overwhelming but obviously it should be known what items sell best and what Items should be discontinued/replaced.
Hats should be exactly like what the team wears and then there should be facsimiles at a lower price point. If I can get the same hat at a local store cheaper than the ball park, then the ball park is doing it wrong.
One big mistake, was not having a Volstro jersey, no way I'm buying the t-shirt version. Now, we should at least be able to get a replica smoky grey, realizing we can charge through the roof for it and the only place it should be available is at LNS. Player worn jerseys too. Rather than having a bunch of different style T's, have a couple that sell well in all sizes. At least one or two should be unique to the baseball program and should say "UT Baseball" or "Tennessee Baseball". The goal should be to come up with a design that is "classic" or "iconic", undeniably great.
On the inside concourse, where they have the merchandise...it is poorly lit and poorly organized...in fact as Frye points out, it's pretty drab and I also like the idea of the concessions facing the field, but that would cost a lot of money and as someone who likes to sit right around first base, the pole is an issue. That doesn't seem like a huge cost, but not sure.
If I keep going, no one will read it...so I'll finish up with this. I enjoy going to LNS, is it a great fan experience compared to say...Hoover, no. Compared to the average minor league park, no. Summer leagues, no.
If they do nothing else, how about some menu options for those of us with vegetarian spouses? That's a real drag. Cheese pizza and nachos don't count.
GBO!!!
