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Post by usdtator on Mar 19, 2016 14:28:24 GMT -6
We bring our family of five (wife, 10 yr old, 8 yr old, 2 yr old, and me) to tailgate and attend Yote football games. Have been doing this for 3 years now with them. I am indoctrinating them into believing this is how Saturdays in the Fall are supposed to be spent. We have a great time and all summer long I am being asked, "dad, when are we going to tailgate again?" I am hoping that by doing this at an early age, they will continue this tradition when they get old enough to carry it on themselves. Hoping it sticks and hoping football still is being played in 15 to 20 years (that is another discussion for another day).
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Post by yoteforever on Mar 19, 2016 15:36:15 GMT -6
Good for you. Great example of how things could be. My parents took me to Iowa State games and mom would always make fried chicken. Then a bunch of munchies, potato salad, etc. Then when I played for the Coyotes, they did the same thing in Vermillion, I believe at Prentice Park. Great family tradition that has carried over to my kids.
I am taking a lot of interest in discussions about tailoring a Gameday theme to accommodate younger fans vs catering to donors and older people. I'm now in that category but I'm open to suggestions. You certainly can't turn your back on those donors, that's how the arena, track and soccer complexes, and DakotaDome expansion/enhancement are getting paid for. I'd be open to discussion about what's fair and what it takes to get all involved. I agree you just can't cater to larger donors, and I think most of them would agree as well. How about a revolving tailgate spot? Maybe your east of the Dome 3 games and west 2? Mixing it up so to speak.
I also find value in Yote53's last post as well. Kids don't know how to be kids. Law enforcement today is far tougher. Social media has changed behaviors in general. I wonder if administration has brought in 10-15 students and just asked them what would appeal to them? Lastly, our games are NOT home field/court advantages like they should be. Our fan base is basically silent unless we are playing SDSU. We need to create a new environment teams hate to come to. The new arena gives us one chance, but the students need to take ownership and create a raucous environment.
Let's discuss different ideas to grow fan base and noise levels.
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Post by wrj on Mar 19, 2016 20:19:07 GMT -6
For game day, the game must be the central point of focus. If that is really true for the fans there should be very little difference in what it takes to please them without regard to age. They want a winning program. If tailgating is where the real focus lies, it is time to eliminate the football program and call the event Octoberfest.
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Post by usdtator on Mar 19, 2016 21:44:20 GMT -6
Cool your jets there buddy. The football game is THE point of focus for the day, but tailgating enhances the spirit of the event. It extends the GameDay experience by several hours. For a 2pm game, we arrive around 9am, set up, enjoy the festivities, food, music, camaraderie, meeting new and old Yote fans, gentle hazing of opponent fans, and everything else involved with the day. Nobody has lost the focus of "the game" being the reason why we are there. "The game" gives us the reason to do all these other things.
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Post by Iceman on Mar 19, 2016 23:39:05 GMT -6
I have been going to USD games since I was born and now that is what we do with our kids as well. Our kids are 4 and 2 and have missed very few home games for football and basketball. When I found out we were hosting a game first round, I told them the next morning and they went nuts.
Our 4 year old knows all the words to the school song and they both can rattle off the first and last name of almost every player on the men's and women's teams. They love going to football and basketball games and are really disappointed when the seasons come to an end.
Anyway, my point in this is if my parents wouldn't have brought me to USD games from day 1, my family might not have become fans and started going to games as well. I don't think enough people bring their kids to games and that is a big reason that there are very few fans under the age of 50 at games. Some people like having little kids at all the games and others I get the feeling don't like it. I don't really care. It's not going to change what we do.
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