2025 Stadium Operations Observations and Suggestions

[Knight Shift]

1. Sound was not ear splitting loud from the scoreboard-that's a plus. Don't know if it is because the sound has been lowered, or because we moved to new seats in 124.

2. I have no observation about the horse video or entrance. @bac2therac -what did you think?

3. Concession stands were not terribly crowded on the East side of the stadium, but maybe that had something to do with the tiny crowd-stadium looked at most half full.

4. Less train horn please.

5. Breezed in with a large empty bottle of water tucked in the back of my pants. Are there no water bottle fill stations in the stadium-just water fountains? Water is $5.25 per small bottle.

6. Security lines moved very quickly, we got right in behind 119 with nobody in line, but we went in 40 minutes before kickoff.

7. Getting into and out of Yellow lot was easy.

8. Team entrance- seemed meh. Music was not very loud, and For Those About to Rock is not a great entrance song.

9. Third down For Whom the Bell Tolls is a travesty. It will never be fixed.

10. Very weak RRRRRR UUUUU chant started once and failed.

11. Overall, beautiful night and an enjoyable atmosphere.

12. Anyone stay for the fireworks?

 

[LeapinLou]

I was fine with the game day atmosphere. No complaints. As usual, a nice student turnout for the season opener. It was such a gorgeous day to tailgate. I thought the weather would have translated into a bigger non-student crowd.

 

[Knight Shift]

I was fine with the game day atmosphere. No complaints. As usual, a nice student turnout for the season opener. It was such a gorgeous day to tailgate. I thought the weather would have translated into a bigger non-student crowd.

Yes, I was remiss in not noting the size and enthusiasm of the students. Great job by the students.

 

[Leonard23]

1. Sound was not ear splitting loud from the scoreboard-that's a plus. Don't know if it is because the sound has been lowered, or because we moved to new seats in 124.

2. I have no observation about the horse video or entrance. @bac2therac -what did you think?

3. Concession stands were not terribly crowded on the East side of the stadium, but maybe that had something to do with the tiny crowd-stadium looked at most half full.

4. Less train horn please.

5. Breezed in with a large empty bottle of water tucked in the back of my pants. Are there no water bottle fill stations in the stadium-just water fountains? Water is $5.25 per small bottle.

6. Security lines moved very quickly, we got right in behind 119 with nobody in line, but we went in 40 minutes before kickoff.

7. Getting into and out of Yellow lot was easy.

8. Team entrance- seemed meh. Music was not very loud, and For Those About to Rock is not a great entrance song.

9. Third down For Whom the Bell Tolls is a travesty. It will never be fixed.

10. Very weak RRRRRR UUUUU chant started once and failed.

11. Overall, beautiful night and an enjoyable atmosphere.

12. Anyone stay for the fireworks?

Agree with a lot of this. Student turnout was great. The rest of our fans not so much. Attendance was very weak. Fireworks were good.

I thought the train horn was fine as it was far less than prior years.

They botched the LeGrand tribute again after 3Q. How hard is it to play the entire song????????????? Every year they continue to screw this up. They rushed through it again and barely played it. Unbelievable.

Throughout the game they refuse to play an entire song and rush through 20 second bits of multiple songs fighting over each other. It's bad.

Horse video is still the same, too sped up, but better than not having it at all.

Team entrance needs work as you mentioned, but I do like the Sopranos and the Rutgers history videos.

Mobile ordering.... Did anyone use it or see a QR code on the videoboard or anywhere near the seats, or was it only near the concessions stands defeating the purpose of having it at all? The release mentioned: "A mobile ordering system is now available with pick up locations at sections 106, 113, 124 and 132. Fans can access by scanning the QR code on the main scoreboard."

 

[BHSPCRU]

1/ I agree sound was definitely less
2/ horse looked tired but made it through could have been worse totally ok with this each week
3/ Some concessions were packed throughout the entire stadium such as the NJ foods…some not so much like bbq on east side…had pulled pork sandwich really good…no lines by the water and beer stands unless they had food
4/ absolutely
5/ did not see water filling stations like other years but maybe I missed it
6/ Went in after marching band went through…less than 5 minutes to get through 5:25 ish
7/ Yellow appears to be the best lot to get in and out…red is a disaster according to my friend..also green was bad from another friend.. blue looked ok..I leave my car at the Hoes Lane west lot for 32 dollars and walk the 20-25 minutes…once in car after game was on 287 in 10 minutes…not many people park there anymore like when they had shuttle buses…still recommend to people who are able to walk who want to save money…shuttle buses to JMA absolutely packed…looked like pretty substantial lines after game
8/ Team entrances both at beginning of game and after halftime were pretty weak
9/ Totally agree
10/ Yep will never be fixed
11/ I agree nice night…game had an exhibition preseason feel to it to some extent…
12/ fireworks were awesome and they announced that all fans were allowed on the field and not just kids which were originally announced added to the fun environment… fireworks lasted over 15 minutes
Add ons
13/ When I got to the boardwalk after work around 4:15 it was absolutely packed… some food trucks had very long lines 30 people deep which is really good to see…Country band was good and Miller lite beer garden had lines getting in at times…based on what I saw outside the stadium I thought there would be way more people inside which there wasn’t…believe it or not some people left at halftime…overall good experience and looking forward to doing my normal tailgate next week in the blue lot for 4 hours….

 

[BHSPCRU]

Agree with a lot of this. Student turnout was great. The rest of our fans not so much. Attendance was very weak. Fireworks were good.

I thought the train horn was fine as it was far less than prior years.

They botched the LeGrand tribute again after 3Q. How hard is it to play the entire song????????????? Every year they continue to screw this up. They rushed through it again and barely played it. Unbelievable.

Throughout the game they refuse to play an entire song and rush through 20 second bits of multiple songs fighting over each other. It's bad.

Horse video is still the same, too sped up, but better than not having it at all.

Team entrance needs work as you mentioned, but I do like the Sopranos and the Rutgers history videos.

Mobile ordering.... Did anyone use it or see a QR code on the videoboard or anywhere near the seats, or was it only near the concessions stands defeating the purpose of having it at all? The release mentioned: "A mobile ordering system is now available with pick up locations at sections 106, 113, 124 and 132. Fans can access by scanning the QR code on the main scoreboard."

On mobile ordering I saw people using it around me quite easily…I might try it next week and let you know…

 

[Knight Shift]

On mobile ordering I saw people using it around me quite easily…I might try it next week and let you know…

I'm waiting for delivery service!

On the East side, the lines were not bad at all. We never go at halftime, which is understandably crowded. Bathrooms were not crowded either for men or women.

 

[Dowling's Revenge]

Did we do Living on a Prayer? I thought maybe that was going to become our signature song type thing

 

[MrsScrew]

1. Sound was not ear splitting loud from the scoreboard-that's a plus. Don't know if it is because the sound has been lowered, or because we moved to new seats in 124.

2. I have no observation about the horse video or entrance. @bac2therac -what did you think?

3. Concession stands were not terribly crowded on the East side of the stadium, but maybe that had something to do with the tiny crowd-stadium looked at most half full.

4. Less train horn please.

5. Breezed in with a large empty bottle of water tucked in the back of my pants. Are there no water bottle fill stations in the stadium-just water fountains? Water is $5.25 per small bottle.

6. Security lines moved very quickly, we got right in behind 119 with nobody in line, but we went in 40 minutes before kickoff.

7. Getting into and out of Yellow lot was easy.

8. Team entrance- seemed meh. Music was not very loud, and For Those About to Rock is not a great entrance song.

9. Third down For Whom the Bell Tolls is a travesty. It will never be fixed.

10. Very weak RRRRRR UUUUU chant started once and failed.

11. Overall, beautiful night and an enjoyable atmosphere.

12. Anyone stay for the fireworks?

1. Sound was definitely less than in previous years, I did not have to shout to speak to the people around me.
2. Horse video *may* have been changed. I thought last years video had a brown horse, the video last night had the dirty white horse we actually have. Horse was VERY lethargic coming out onto the field.
3. Concessions on the upper concourse were empty, even at halftime
4. I thought the train horn was less than previous years, it came alive in the 4th quarter, right after the camera person caught a full screen of a student's face doing FPS very clearly. I LOLd at that
5. Next time just smuggle in an actual bottle of water. It's easy enough
6. Security was easy. People not having their tickets out at the ticket gate was a problem
7. I being back in Yellow.
8. Agreed entrance seemed a bit weak. I still miss Joe Nolan saying " the team has left the locker room"
9. 3rd down is now a mish mosh of music & horns & trying to do for whom the bell tolls.
10. Students tried the 3rd down chant a couple of times, but agree, weak crowd response
11. Great weather, great game ending, nice to see people we haven't seen since last season. We all had a great time.
12. Fireworks were SPECTACULAR. Even MrScrew, who hates everything, thought they were great

 

[SpankysWorstKnightmare]

It certainly makes it easier for the stadium staff when the crowd is as small as it was last night.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

I wasn’t there but heard from two friends that they still haven’t fixed the blue lot exit issues. Pretty amazing that they don’t even try

 

[NotInRHouse]

Definitely less train horn which was a plus. Also felt like concession lines were better.

It's the Thurs of LDW and traffic was bad coming in, I wasn't expecting it to be totally full.

 

[RU#1fan]

Thought the crowd was great considering a Labor Day weekend. Probably close to 40k people in the Stadium. The student turnout was truly amazing. Surprised at the scoreboard technical glitches. Noticed they put a long black iron fence along the West entrance. A bottle neck getting out. Not sure of the need for that.

 

[Knight Shift]

Thought the crowd was great considering a Labor Day weekend. Probably close to 40k people in the Stadium. The student turnout was truly amazing. Surprised at the scoreboard technical glitches. Noticed they put a long black iron fence along the West entrance. A bottle neck getting out. Not sure of the need for that.

Do you sit on the visitor side or Rutgers side?

From Rutgers side, the visitor side looked maybe 20-30% full. North End zone 20%. Both upper decks 20-25%. I counted each section by hand (ha, ha).

 

[DHajekRC1984]

I wasn’t there but heard from two friends that they still haven’t fixed the blue lot exit issues. Pretty amazing that they don’t even try

I was parked in the 3rd spot inside the green lot fence and it took 40 mins to get out the fence and down the hill onto River Rd. Cars in left needing to go right and vice versa. And of course they squeeze you into 2 lanes to exit instead of keeping all 4 lanes and putting the merge further downstream. Can they not construct a pedestrian bridge over River rd. (or Blue lot entrance) so they don't have to keep stopping cars every few minutes? I thought Blue sucked. This is worse.

I don't care about kids but it was a circus last night. Kids everywhere who had little to zero interest in the game. All about in stadium play, playing with phones, constant runs for food and crap. Most adults around me didn't seem to care much either. (yeah I get it was tix giveaway to kids clubs night but as go to watch the game it was annoying. However the mom in front of me was kind enough to sit at the right times. (However, she was a good look and I wanted to tell her she could stand during our defense)

Getting in from West was a pleasant breeze but then again at 5:45 nobody was in the stadium anyway.

The constant crappy music production just still sucks too. Don't mind the music but the lack of decent "editing" is mind blowing.

Didn't eat, Didn't drink in stadium as usual so no comments.

Got in way earlier and way better than I expected.

I've already decided I'm not doing this again next year if they have the same plan. Hopefully it gets better coming weeks otherwise this place has lost it for me frankly.

 

[e5fdny]

I was parked in the 3rd spot inside the green lot fence and it took 40 mins to get out the fence and down the hill onto River Rd. Cars in left needing to go right and vice versa. And of course they squeeze you into 2 lanes to exit instead of keeping all 4 lanes and putting the merge further downstream. Can they not construct a pedestrian bridge over River rd. (or Blue lot entrance) so they don't have to keep stopping cars every few minutes? I thought Blue sucked. This is worse.

I don't care about kids but it was a circus last night. Kids everywhere who had little to zero interest in the game. All about in stadium play, playing with phones, constant runs for food and crap. Most adults around me didn't seem to care much either. (yeah I get it was tix giveaway to kids clubs night but as go to watch the game it was annoying. However the mom in front of me was kind enough to sit at the right times. (However, she was a good look and I wanted to tell her she could stand during our defense)

Getting in from West was a pleasant breeze but then again at 5:45 nobody was in the stadium anyway.

The constant crappy music production just still sucks too. Don't mind the music but the lack of decent "editing" is mind blowing.

Didn't eat, Didn't drink in stadium as usual so no comments.

Got in way earlier and way better than I expected.

I've already decided I'm not doing this again next year if they have the same plan. Hopefully it gets better coming weeks otherwise this place has lost it for me frankly.

I love it.

The more the merrier.

The best thing I saw and heard all night, aside from the W, we’re all the little voices around me having a great time.

 

[RuBird]

Welcome to sec 124 we are in row 39

 

[RU#1fan]

Do you sit on the visitor side or Rutgers side?

From Rutgers side, the visitor side looked maybe 20-30% full. North End zone 20%. Both upper decks 20-25%. I counted each section by hand (ha, ha).

Yes I was on the Visitor’s side.
Your side looked about 75% on the lower level and yes only about 25% upstairs.

 

[Knight Shift]

Yes I was on the Visitor’s side.
Your side looked about 75% on the lower level and yes only about 25% upstairs.

Walked around the stadium at halftime. Man was the student area was absolutely packed, which was great to see.

 

[bac2therac]

Horse needs to be better. Horses can be trained. Why this one won't run or even trot ourlt consistently

Also they dont bring him out all the time after a score

If you are going to do it do it right and consistent

I believe they finally reshot the horse video instead using the one from 5 years ago with a brown horse

Imo they could get creative with an animated Ai generated cartoon with the horse and some popular Rutgers figures and coaches and landmarks

 

[bac2therac]

Also noticable there were dead pauses between plays in 1st quarter where no music was played. Felt weird because we haven't conditioned to be inundated with noise every second

 

[bac2therac]

Do you sit on the visitor side or Rutgers side?

From Rutgers side, the visitor side looked maybe 20-30% full. North End zone 20%. Both upper decks 20-25%. I counted each section by hand (ha, ha).

I would say low 30ks tops last night

With 2 more no games back to back to back and one a cupcake it will be tough to generate more than low 30s again and will all those students show up

 

[Knight Shift]

Also noticable there were dead pauses between plays in 1st quarter where no music was played. Felt weird because we haven't conditioned to be inundated with noise every second

Kind of like getting used to getting zapped every minute and then there is no zap. Agree on the horse. Seemed skittish.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Horse needs to be better. Horses can be trained. Why this one won't run or even trot ourlt consistently

Also they dont bring him out all the time after a score

If you are going to do it do it right and consistent

I believe they finally reshot the horse video instead using the one from 5 years ago with a brown horse

Imo they could get creative with an animated Ai generated cartoon with the horse and some popular Rutgers figures and coaches and landmarks

I think the animals have unionized. I too have an indifference to running

Colorado Buffaloes’ mascot Ralphie VI retires after an ‘indifference to running’

“It was in Ember’s best interest, based on her disposition, to focus on relaxing strolls on the pasture, which is her favorite hobby,” CU said in a release.

www.dailycamera.com

 

[AreYouNUTS]

- team entrance was a disaster last night; everything was "off" timing-wise and not loud enough IMHO

- PLEASE play the entire "Sopranos" video so that the students can get into it like they did before/during the Temple game 2 years ago!!!!

- they have GOT to stop ******* with "Don't Stop Believin'"...cutting the song after the piano intro and going right to the chorus is a combination of awful, cheap and disrespectful IMHO. Play the whole damn song INSTEAD of cutting it short so you can play another song and give away another TV (btw - I'm convinced they know exactly who is getting them; it was clearly evident at least 1 time last night....)

- they def played "Living on a Prayer" and went pretty well

- the "R-U" chant went off pretty well a few times BUT I think the students, who absolutely packed the south end zone, were exhausted by the 2nd half. Long week/day for that frosh class!!!

- did we see a "boob slip" on the big screen?

- agree, WAY too many 15-20 second snippets of songs....gotta let something "build" once in a while and that slowed-down version of Zombie Nation is freakin' awful....just STOP using that, please!!!

IMHO the biggest issue is that the producer/in-game DJ doesn't account for "flow" and simply is going off script too much. Loosen up, open it up, and have some fun instead!!!

BTW - absolutely AWESOME meeting Keli Zinn pre-game!!!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Horse needs to be better. Horses can be trained. Why this one won't run or even trot ourlt consistently

Also they dont bring him out all the time after a score

If you are going to do it do it right and consistent

Agree on all points.

 

[Leonard23]

- team entrance was a disaster last night; everything was "off" timing-wise and not loud enough IMHO

- PLEASE play the entire "Sopranos" video so that the students can get into it like they did before/during the Temple game 2 years ago!!!!

- they have GOT to stop ******* with "Don't Stop Believin'"...cutting the song after the piano intro and going right to the chorus is a combination of awful, cheap and disrespectful IMHO. Play the whole damn song INSTEAD of cutting it short so you can play another song and give away another TV (btw - I'm convinced they know exactly who is getting them; it was clearly evident at least 1 time last night....)

- they def played "Living on a Prayer" and went pretty well

- the "R-U" chant went off pretty well a few times BUT I think the students, who absolutely packed the south end zone, were exhausted by the 2nd half. Long week/day for that frosh class!!!

- did we see a "boob slip" on the big screen?

- agree, WAY too many 15-20 second snippets of songs....gotta let something "build" once in a while and that slowed-down version of Zombie Nation is freakin' awful....just STOP using that, please!!!

IMHO the biggest issue is that the producer/in-game DJ doesn't account for "flow" and simply is going off script too much. Loosen up, open it up, and have some fun instead!!!

BTW - absolutely AWESOME meeting Keli Zinn pre-game!!!

We need to bring in the Mets Director for SNY TV, John DeMarsico, to consult on improving the stadium production. Everything we do continues to be cut shorter and shorter so we can cram something else in. It's not working.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We need to bring in the Mets Director for SNY TV, John DeMarsico, to consult on improving the stadium production. Everything we do continues to be cut shorter and shorter so we can cram something else in. It's not working.

Something has to change. Now I'll give them credit....opening day last season was a DISASTER but then they did a damn good job of "cleaning things up" thereafter. Hopefully they can do the same this season and hey I get it, you truly can't get a proper "feel" until that first game day!

 

[newell138]

Yes, I was remiss in not noting the size and enthusiasm of the students. Great job by the students.

its the Patel effect!

 

[JL23]

Sound was lower on the scoreboard then year's past, but still way too loud
Train horn still sucks - please get ride of it
Bunch more observations but a little tipsy in the 850, will likely spill em on the ride back Sunday

 

[Smols]

Horse needs to be better. Horses can be trained. Why this one won't run or even trot ourlt consistently

Also they dont bring him out all the time after a score

If you are going to do it do it right and consistent

I believe they finally reshot the horse video instead using the one from 5 years ago with a brown horse

Imo they could get creative with an animated Ai generated cartoon with the horse and some popular

Horses respond to the riders cues to trot or canter. Believe me if that horse has a saddle on its back and bit in its mouth, it’s been trained to respond to its riders cues. Perhaps it’s not an experienced rider.

 

[MrsScrew]

Horses respond to the riders cues to trot or canter. Believe me if that horse has a saddle on its back and bit in its mouth, it’s been trained to respond to its riders cues. Perhaps it’s not an experienced rider.

The rider is the gentleman who trains him. He is very experienced & has been riding each Excalibur for years. You can usually find him at the Boardwalk where the horse is before every game

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Horses respond to the riders cues to trot or canter. Believe me if that horse has a saddle on its back and bit in its mouth, it’s been trained to respond to its riders cues. Perhaps it’s not an experienced rider.

The rider is the gentleman who trains him. He is very experienced & has been riding each Excalibur for years. You can usually find him at the Boardwalk where the horse is before every game

That's great but why do multiple other school's have horses with NO issues running out there, at a good pace, instead of looking like they're doped-up? SC, FSU, Texas Tech, Ok State etc etc etc? IMHO this is a RUTGERS choice to keep it as such (typical, not shocking, hopefully KZ says "let's step it up!"...after all they LITERALLY have a live Tiger on campus at LSU).

 

[Smols]

That's great but why do multiple other school's have horses with NO issues running out there, at a good pace, instead of looking like they're doped-up? SC, FSU, Texas Tech, Ok State etc etc etc? IMHO this is a RUTGERS choice to keep it as such (typical, not shocking, hopefully KZ says "let's step it up!"...after all they LITERALLY have a live Tiger on campus at LSU).

I’ve the horse gallop out there. I saw a close up yesterday on tv and the rider was giving him some good leg. The horse is a sentient being. He might have been off a bit. It was the first game. Give him a break.

 

[DHajekRC1984]

I love it.

The more the merrier.

The best thing I saw and heard all night, aside from the W, we’re all the little voices around me having a great time.

And it had ZERO to do with Rutgers Football. But thats ok. As I said . it is what it is and I get it. Why not.
Fine. Future rev trumps current. Ok.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I’ve the horse gallop out there. I saw a close up yesterday on tv and the rider was giving him some good leg. The horse is a sentient being. He might have been off a bit. It was the first game. Give him a break.

I’m not blaming the horse at all….I legitimately think it might be a University decision to not have him race out there like they do it other schools… maybe it’s because of the “armor” that his rider has to wear. I don’t know I’m honestly curious. Maybe he was a first timer?

 

[Fat Koko]

My experience at the game yesterday was super. I counted only two horn blasts, a short one early in the game and a typical long one near the end.

On the excellent student turnout, is it sustainable? Seemed like a ton of gung-ho first years decided to attend en masse. What happens when the weather gets worse, the start times are 12 noon, and academic and part-time job obligations ramp up.

Students were remarkably well behaved. Maybe college students consume less alcohol these days.

Went to Destination Dogs for lunch before the game and for late dinner after the game. I recommend it! Especially the Waco Kid.

 

[bac2therac]

I’ve the horse gallop out there. I saw a close up yesterday on tv and the rider was giving him some good leg. The horse is a sentient being. He might have been off a bit. It was the first game. Give him a break.

Sorry he has like this the past few years too

 

[Leonard23]

Something has to change. Now I'll give them credit....opening day last season was a DISASTER but then they did a damn good job of "cleaning things up" thereafter. Hopefully they can do the same this season and hey I get it, you truly can't get a proper "feel" until that first game day!

We shouldn't continue to have 1 disaster game out of the 6 or 7 games each year. It's really not that hard to fix this stuff and have consistency. Zinn needs to demand excellence.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We shouldn't continue to have 1 disaster game out of the 6 or 7 games each year. It's really not that hard to fix this stuff and have consistency. Zinn needs to demand excellence.

Agree, wholeheartedly