I've been seeing the term "Fan Experience" in threads as

[The Peeper]

a reason for not attending sports events on campus. What exactly do you feel like we are missing or what are you seeing at other venues that we need here? Nope, I'm not incognito John Cohen looking for answers here but would like to hear what other leagues, teams, facilities, etc are doing that are attracting you to those venues that make it a better "fan experience".

In the last couple years I've been to some Saints games, some Predators hockey, and St. Louis baseball and don't recall anything that just made me say "we've gotta have that on campus!" other than there were much shorter lines to get into all of those stadiums and they sold alcohol.

So, what are you asking for in a better "fan experience"?

 

[aTotal360]

Good fans. Next question.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Shorter lines and alcohol.

 

[57stratdawg]

Addressing the wait times and beer sales would go along way, IMO.

 

[HotMop]

Templeton troughs, nothing makes a game experience more enjoyable than a stranger's urine splashing on your shins after a quick reflection off an ice cube.

 

[seshomoru]

It's not the "experience"

I just don't want them to oversell passes to lots.

I don't want to stand in line an hour to get into the stadium.

I don't want to miss near full quarters standing in a concession line.

I don't want to have to hover over my kids in the restroom because it looks like every damn disease on the planet is covering every surface.

Basically, I don't need some awe inspiring experience. I just don't want one that sucks.

 

[Polygonal]

The entire pregame on the field needs to be updated to the 1990’s, at least.

Bully entrance and Bad to the Bone is old and tired.

The Maroon/White cheer is anti-exciting.

Love the team entrance with the garage door opening. That has to be among the best team entrances in college football.

 

[MSUDC11]

It’s less about what we don’t have and more about mismanaging what we do have.

Every year the first football game is a train wreck from an operations standpoint. This year’s home opener was the most miserable I’ve ever been at a football game. Sure, the heat played a big role in that, but we were nowhere near adequately prepared for the heat. I was not at the Egg Bowl so I can’t relate my personal experience there, but you should not be having that big of an issue getting people into the stadium EVER, much less on Thanksgiving when people are taking time away from their families to come support your football team that wasn’t even good this year.

You’re already having to beg people to come to games in this day and age, mismanaging the things you have control over for sure isn’t going to help that.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

Concession lines were a big issue this past year. Or they were on the east side. You basically have to miss half a quarter to stand in the line. Getting into the games was an issue for a couple games. Other than those two things, I think the real factor of the “fan experience was just having to play in 100 degree sun or early start times.

 

[8dog]

1. Not waiting in a line for 25 minutes to get in. I did this twice this year. Once was the KY game which is inexplicable. And part of this is no one wants to get in line an hour before kick And shouldnt have to. Thats a terrible resolution. Auburn-state had 85k. I waited in line for 8 minutes. I clocked it.

2. My cellular data working with ease while on campus.

3. Being able to buy a beer.

4. Chairbacks in the lower levels. Yes i know there are logistical hurdles there

Our stadium is 100 times nicer than Neyland but the fan experience trumps us because those first three above were not issues.

 

[Mayor of Little London]

It’s less about what we don’t have and more about mismanaging what we do have.

Every year the first football game is a train wreck from an operations standpoint. This year’s home opener was the most miserable I’ve ever been at a football game. Sure, the heat played a big role in that, but we were nowhere near adequately prepared for the heat. I was not at the Egg Bowl so I can’t relate my personal experience there, but you should not be having that big of an issue getting people into the stadium EVER, much less on Thanksgiving when people are taking time away from their families to come support your football team that wasn’t even good this year.

You’re already having to beg people to come to games in this day and age, mismanaging the things you have control over for sure isn’t going to help that.

As I was waited in line to get into the EB I noticed a man who looked like he was in charge walking by (turns out he was). I stopped him and asked what the problem was. He was very apologetic and told me he ran an operation with 230-40 people and only 55 had showed up. He said they were not able to open all gates and the ones that were open were vastly understaffed. At first I thought this was crazy but it really is a perfect storm of min wage folks being told to work on a holiday with no real leverage for the employer because a good number of them would not be retained after football season anyway.

 

[Duke Humphrey]

This is a real issue. Getting quality/competent staff to work gamedays. Adding further to the issue, the contractors are not allowed to hire MSU employees (many of whom would like to work on gamedays to make extra cash) due to state ethics laws.

 

[seshomoru]

I'm gonna call bull **** on him. What were they gonna do with 230 people? Staff 20 people at each metal detector? They had TWO at the central gate on the west side.

About the only thing the game day ops people have done well this year is blame other people for all the crap that went wrong.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

a reason for not attending sports events on campus. What exactly do you feel like we are missing or what are you seeing at other venues that we need here? Nope, I'm not incognito John Cohen looking for answers here but would like to hear what other leagues, teams, facilities, etc are doing that are attracting you to those venues that make it a better "fan experience".

In the last couple years I've been to some Saints games, some Predators hockey, and St. Louis baseball and don't recall anything that just made me say "we've gotta have that on campus!" other than there were much shorter lines to get into all of those stadiums and they sold alcohol.

So, what are you asking for in a better "fan experience"?

Going to a Mississippi State Football game is about like flying out of a US airport, if the airport was run by the DMV.

 

[8dog]

Dont Mess with Fanfare or Madelon.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

1. Not waiting in a line for 25 minutes to get in.

25 minutes would have probably been my shortest wait all year.

 

[Seinfeld]

Here, here. I don’t need reasons to attend. I just don’t need a laundry list of reasons to NOT attend.

Those reasons have been discussed as nauseam, so I won’t bother listing them again, but our gameday management of football is absolute garbage right now. Like 1 out of 10 bad while most every other stadium I’ve attended in the last ten years is at least a 5 or 6 out of 10.

During the last decade, there is no other event in the country that I’ve attended that has had a remotely close combined wait time. Between entry, bathroom lines, concession lines, and time to get off campus, it’s close to a 1:1 ratio when comparing wait time to actual enjoyment of the game. That’s beyond absurd

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Make all these faculty that sell their tickets to Bama and LSU fans work the gates and concession stands

 

[graddawg]

I just don't want them to oversell passes to lots.

I don't want to stand in line an hour to get into the stadium.

I don't want to miss near full quarters standing in a concession line.

I don't want to have to hover over my kids in the restroom because it looks like every damn disease on the planet is covering every surface.

Basically, I don't need some awe inspiring experience. I just don't want one that sucks.

This. Also, it would be nice if main concession stands on the West side didn't run out of 80% of their items at halftime of games.

 

[Mjoelner]

As I was waited in line to get into the EB I noticed a man who looked like he was in charge walking by (turns out he was). I stopped him and asked what the problem was. He was very apologetic and told me he ran an operation with 230-40 people and only 55 had showed up. He said they were not able to open all gates and the ones that were open were vastly understaffed. At first I thought this was crazy but it really is a perfect storm of min wage folks being told to work on a holiday with no real leverage for the employer because a good number of them would not be retained after football season anyway.

One of the metal detector workers is a student intern where I work. He didn't mention the actual number of people but he said only 25% of those that signed up to work the egg bowl actually showed up.

 

[maroonmania]

Here is a thought, DON'T play the EB on Thanksgiving. I can certainly understand why nobody would want to work on that holiday. Now I don't understand why they would sign up in the first place and then not show up.

 

[kired]

Question about concession lines --- is it really better at other stadiums? I went to the Tenn game. The general concession stand lines weren't that long, but I had to walk halfway around the stadium to find a stand that would accept credit cards. It was so crowded under there that I spent twice as much time wading through the crowd as I did in line to buy food. Still took me half a quarter (would have been much less if I had cash). The beer lines looked to be 100 people long. I can't imagine how long that would take. The basic lines (popcorn / hotdogs) were short, but lines for the nicer foods were probably longer than ours.

One major difference at Tenn - entering the stadium, it took maybe 10 seconds for them to scan all 4 of our tickets. For years now at State games, it's like the scanners have to be held at the exact right angle & distance or it won't scan. I'm going to guess it takes 5 - 10 seconds per ticket vs. the 2-3 seconds it took at Tenn. That makes a huge difference when you're talking about scanning 50,000+ tickets. It really makes no sense that we can get through the metal detectors quicker than they can scan tickets at the gate. You should be able to scan tickets twice as fast as it takes for people to go through those metal detectors.

 

[BigDog72.sixpack]

I'm in club level so I'm usually in the stadium an hour prior to kickoff. I do see where everyone on the west side has to deal with minimal entry points. So John, if you are reading this, do like they do at Superdome. Move fencing around a bigger perimeter to allow more entry points. Instead of just 4, make it 12 wide. You could easily do this around the southwest corner, or even the street between Barnes and Noble and the stadium. We're kind of doing it now, but smaller scale. Have longer entry barricades between lines versus 12' out from scanner. This way you don't have a big clump near the front. You're in your line 50-75 feet back, like they do at the dome.

And for God's sake, sell beer to cover the costs for all of this ****!!!

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

laser light show set to Pink Floyd.**

 

[RiverCityDawg]

My only complaint is the game times, which has been discussed a hundred times already and is pretty much out of the school's control at this point. The experience of a night game with the stadium packed and rocking is as good as it gets for me as far as entertainment goes. Inject that stuff into my veins.

 

[Dawgbite]

Not that devil music. It will make me want to smoke refer and wear socks with sandals. Shirley you jest!

 

[crackerjax]

1. Urinals should not be right on top of each other with no dividers. Gross and creepy as hell.

2. There should be a distributed sound system. I cannot understand what the announcer is saying most of the time from my seats on lower east side.

3. Need better WiFi coverage. I have no data from the time I get on campus until the time I leave after the game, using AT&T. Lack of connectivity is a major detractor from the gameday experience. Partner with a provider to put WiFi throughout the stadium and give them free advertising for doing it.

 

[Bcash2]

For the past decade I've only gotten back to one game a year at most...

a reason for not attending sports events on campus. What exactly do you feel like we are missing or what are you seeing at other venues that we need here? Nope, I'm not incognito John Cohen looking for answers here but would like to hear what other leagues, teams, facilities, etc are doing that are attracting you to those venues that make it a better "fan experience".

In the last couple years I've been to some Saints games, some Predators hockey, and St. Louis baseball and don't recall anything that just made me say "we've gotta have that on campus!" other than there were much shorter lines to get into all of those stadiums and they sold alcohol.

So, what are you asking for in a better "fan experience"?

... but for me, the most annoying part of game day is just being bombarded by commercials and ads that are loud as 17 on the video board, some stupid Chevron car race on the video board or directing my attention to the 20 yard line for some dude I've never heard of be awarded a football and have his picture taken with Keenum. I know all the ads bring in $$ for the school, but it would be really nice to just enjoy the sounds and sights of the stadium, and talk to my friends and family during timeouts instead of being blasted with a ****** commercial.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

Remember the days when there was a kid with a foam box and a strap around his/her next walking down every aisle with Warm Hot Dogs, Peanuts and Popcorn? And another one in every aisle with sodas(this was before bottled water)?
Have them do it BEFORE kickoff and at Half time.

Chairback seats for everyone.

Extra restrooms on every level.

No more other team or special introductions during the timeouts. That is when they need to be pumping up the crowd!

Intro those people pre-game and at halftime.

No more commercials on the Jumbo Tron. If you want to be a corporate sponsor, pay to get you name on the ribbon boards. And make the ribbon boards like the pros and the Alabama’s do. Blasting lights and big words, and Go Dogs!

Ditch the Maroon and a White cheer. Good gosh, that is so yesterday. Every time I here a loud MAROON, I think of Bugs a bunny referring to Elmer Fudd or Yosemite Sam as “What a Maroon!”

I got more but this is a start.

 

[00Dawg]

For starters...

1. Get rid of the metal detectors. You just moved the place where my family is less safe (notice I didn't say not safe) further out and introduced another headache. Plus those folks aren't prepared to handle even the smallest security incident. It's lipstick on a pig that didn't used to be there.
2. Totally revamp the concessions process. Every level should have at least one of every food option available, and be set up to handle increased traffic. Whomever added the plastic chains on the 200 level should be made to stand in them for a quarter while the line moves more slowly because no one will squeeze by to go to the next cashier. I also enjoy watching 8 people staff a stand where only 2 will accept money.
3. The bathrooms have been mentioned. This really was better in some previous seasons. I think the answer is probably to assign staff where bathrooms during the game are their only job, and they're constantly visiting the ones they're assigned.
4. Get us some working wi-fi/cell options that don't tank 5 minutes before kickoff when everyone arrives.

Then the hard stuff:
5. Chairbacks. Everywhere. Make it happen. No excuses.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

And that irritates at least one-sixth of people...

There should be less noise, less lights, etc.

Two snippets from a New York Times article. Link: Here.

The earsplitting noise, throbbing music, light shows and pyrotechnics that have become standard at sporting events can tarnish any fan’s experience. But the Eagles are among dozens of professional sports teams, and a smaller number of college teams, over the past two years to provide quiet spaces and other assistance for spectators with sensory challenges, who can be most acutely affected by the overwhelming environments.

One in 59 children is on the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And one in six Americans has some type of sensory vulnerability, said Dr. Maha.

Edited to add: I knew about the 1 in 59 being on the autism spectrum but didn't know about the 1 in 6 sensory vulnerability.

 

[BrunswickDawg]

Question about concession lines --- is it really better at other stadiums? I went to the Tenn game. The general concession stand lines weren't that long, but I had to walk halfway around the stadium to find a stand that would accept credit cards. It was so crowded under there that I spent twice as much time wading through the crowd as I did in line to buy food. Still took me half a quarter (would have been much less if I had cash). The beer lines looked to be 100 people long. I can't imagine how long that would take. The basic lines (popcorn / hotdogs) were short, but lines for the nicer foods were probably longer than ours.

One major difference at Tenn - entering the stadium, it took maybe 10 seconds for them to scan all 4 of our tickets. For years now at State games, it's like the scanners have to be held at the exact right angle & distance or it won't scan. I'm going to guess it takes 5 - 10 seconds per ticket vs. the 2-3 seconds it took at Tenn. That makes a huge difference when you're talking about scanning 50,000+ tickets. It really makes no sense that we can get through the metal detectors quicker than they can scan tickets at the gate. You should be able to scan tickets twice as fast as it takes for people to go through those metal detectors.

Other older stadiums have a lot of the same issues. Sanford Stadium in Athens takes forever to get in with only 4 gates for 95,000; and their concession lines are twice as long with half the concourse space as DWS. And the bathrooms are some of the worst I've seen. But, their cups don't smell like ***...

 

[Bcash2]

Yea i never considered people with actual disabilities/vulnerabilities.

There should be less noise, less lights, etc.

Two snippets from a New York Times article. Link: Here.





Edited to add: I knew about the 1 in 59 being on the autism spectrum but didn't know about the 1 in 6 sensory vulnerability.

For me its just the equivalent of being in a bar watching a game. The sound is up and good when the game is going on, but then it cuts to commercial and its nails on a chalkboard for 3 minutes straight. Its the same when you're actually at the game. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of TV timeouts for televised games. Obviously that's out of the school's hands though. At least when you're at home you can go grab a beer or in a State fan's case, kick your dog, or something.

 

[MagicDawg]

Bully entrance and Bad to the Bone is old and tired.

The Maroon/White cheer is anti-exciting.

Agreed on Bad to the Bone. And the problem with Maroon & White is that it has no structure or ending. How many times do we do it? As many as we feel like before it kind of dies?

It needs to build up and finish on a crescendo. Maybe progressively speed up and then spell Bulldogs. Something. It is just aimless as is.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

Other older stadiums have a lot of the same issues. Sanford Stadium in Athens takes forever to get in with only 4 gates for 95,000; and their concession lines are twice as long with half the concourse space as DWS. And the bathrooms are some of the worst I've seen. But, their cups don't smell like ***...

Very true on Sanford stadium. One of the biggest clusters I've ever seen was those concourses. The concession lines take up the whole concourse so it causes a major traffic jam for people walking. At least ours is mostly out of the way.

one thing I like that Sanford does though is refillable drinks. You can pay like $10 for a large drink and it is refillable all game

 

[Dawgbite]

I can’t help with most of this but if WiFi is all you need, switch to Verizon. I can stream other games on my phone while sitting in the stands.

 

[00Dawg]

Already got it.

I was able to stream other games on YouTubeTV up until just a few minutes before kick off for most games. If it was a sparse crowd, I could sometimes keep it going.

 

[8dog]

Having to switch carriers to use your phone is a prime example of a hurdle that fans dont want to deal with.

 

[The Peeper]

Crackerjax, I've had the same problems for probably the last 7 or 8 years w/ AT&T. Kept hearing how they were going to invest in additional infrastructure, new antennas, etc. and it NEVER got better, UNTIL, this year. Mine and my families AT&T data was real respectable this year, not perfect but so much better than in the past. I've been told some phones only handle certain "bands" (kind of like channels) and if your phone doesn't cover those bands its not going to have coverage. I'm in over w/ my head with any more cell phone info but you may ask at an AT&T store.

 

[philduckworth]

Having to switch carriers to use your phone is a prime example of a hurdle that fans dont want to deal with.

I missed a quarter getting my kid a drink and a hotdog. A poster told me to eat before the game. I mean....