Please heather dont tell me a Unique tailgating experience

[JoeScaz]

Let's be honest. It has been proven that the one thing that is guaranteed to get people in the seats and to liven the place up is start times being pushed back.. but as we know.. $$$ dictates that-- but it makes a world of difference.

An example was the Marshall game last year. (45,246).. yes, Marshall brought a couple thousand fans..... but the later start really changed the feel of the game... Noon starts are the worst case scenario in a region where you already have to urge fringe fans to get there.. push it to 3 and you will see a palpable difference..If that game was played at noon, it gets 38,000... There is a difference even listening to it..

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100116aaa.html

 

[Swervin27]

Ratking and JoeScaz, two very good posts. Couldn't agree more..

Regarding Ratking's post, it infuriates me when I see pitt fans complaining about traffic, getting in and out of stadium and this need for 3 expressways all within 30' of the sporting venue or else.. I've asked this many times, what the hell is sooo important that you need to be back at your home 20 minutes after the game ends? And if there is something SOOO important, why the hell are you going to the game in the first place. I've been to many games, many sports, in college and professional in different cities and I don't see this anywhere else outside of Pittsburgh. People don't have a mad dash to their cars to get home, they hang out, it's an "event". Yet Pittsburghers need to be home, on their couch, within 20 minutes or they will die..


Regarding JoeScaz's post, I've again said this countless times. Please, PLEASE, for the love of all things holy, give us one or two games in Sept or Oct that don't start at noon or 1pm. Please, I know TV dictates it but why the hell are we ALWAYS the one that gets this dreaded time slot. What is it about pitt home games that we need to televise these things at noon, every time. It's not all Nutting/Pirates fault..

 

[cbpitt2]

Ratking and JoeScaz, two very good posts. Couldn't agree more..

Regarding Ratking's post, it infuriates me when I see pitt fans complaining about traffic, getting in and out of stadium and this need for 3 expressways all within 30' of the sporting venue or else.. I've asked this many times, what the hell is sooo important that you need to be back at your home 20 minutes after the game ends? And if there is something SOOO important, why the hell are you going to the game in the first place. I've been to many games, many sports, in college and professional in different cities and I don't see this anywhere else outside of Pittsburgh. People don't have a mad dash to their cars to get home, they hang out, it's an "event". Yet Pittsburghers need to be home, on their couch, within 20 minutes or they will die..


Regarding JoeScaz's post, I've again said this countless times. Please, PLEASE, for the love of all things holy, give us one or two games in Sept or Oct that don't start at noon or 1pm. Please, I know TV dictates it but why the hell are we ALWAYS the one that gets this dreaded time slot. What is it about pitt home games that we need to televise these things at noon, every time. It's not all Nutting/Pirates fault..

Spot on Swervin. We used to go to the O and hang out after games and let the traffic let out.

 

[Swervin27]

Spot on Swervin. We used to go to the O and hang out after games and let the traffic let out.

the enjoyment of going to sporting events IMO is pre and post gaming it. whether its tailgating or going to a bar/restaurant close by or hanging out in some shops or flat out just walking around people watching. I love this crap, hanging out in the north shore area or whatever. don't want to go 5 minutes before it starts and leave 5 minutes after it ends. What fun is that? Why wouldnt' you just watch it on your tv and save yourself the hassle.. It's old people, they suck. hope I don't get like that..

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Let's be honest. It has been proven that the one thing that is guaranteed to get people in the seats and to liven the place up is start times being pushed back.. but as we know.. $$$ dictates that-- but it makes a world of difference.

An example was the Marshall game last year. (45,246).. yes, Marshall brought a couple thousand fans..... but the later start really changed the feel of the game... Noon starts are the worst case scenario in a region where you already have to urge fringe fans to get there.. push it to 3 and you will see a palpable difference..If that game was played at noon, it gets 38,000... There is a difference even listening to it..

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100116aaa.html

Agree, overall its true around here, more so for the feel of the game. Of course the theory is debunked on a weeknite (again the conference $$$ thing). The ACCN will help I think in that more slots will be avail sans a bucco game of course. Ok St a bummer.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

They are selling beer in the stadium like you asked, drink and eat inside

 

[USN_Panther]

Lyke said also in one of her interviews about using the advantage of the river. We have mentioned this before , but would students and/or fans enjoy a day on the river. Pick up a boat loaded with a cash bar near Oakland, and float down the river 3 hrs or so before the game, and then party on the way home?

Maybe a dumb idea to some like me that have a 4 hr ride in and 4 hr ride home, but maybe this would be a fun experience. Maybe not. Just thinking aloud.

I always thought that a satellite lot alongside the river would be great for tailgating. Meet up there, then have water taxi type shuttles back and forth to the stadium. The water transport logistics would be tough on a big scale, but would be a cool way to do it.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Lyke said also in one of her interviews about using the advantage of the river. We have mentioned this before , but would students and/or fans enjoy a day on the river. Pick up a boat loaded with a cash bar near Oakland, and float down the river 3 hrs or so before the game, and then party on the way home?

Maybe a dumb idea to some like me that have a 4 hr ride in and 4 hr ride home, but maybe this would be a fun experience. Maybe not. Just thinking aloud.

I went to Clemson last year and the traffic was a mess. They had various lots around their campus, with various bars and lots doing their own thing. But they seemed to embrace the fact that they were dedicating the entire day to one football game experience. Pittsburgh sports fans just have a different mentality, they want to get home asap. The problem we have is once the game is over, where do you spend your time without dropping another 100 bucks for the family. Maybe just a different culture....

This is good and the kind of "stuff" that I would expect from Lyke. Out of the box thinking!
Doing the same thing over and over like the other AD's did and expecting things to improve is a sign of insanity!

 

[Hailpitt]

For what it's worth, I am one of those guys getting the hell out of the stadium the moment the game is over. Although occasionally I will go to the tailgates, most times I arrive an hour before game time ( also have an hour drive time). When you include 4 hour game + the 2 hour pre- game and the hour drive home that is a total of 7 hours. At that point I am tired and simply want to chill at home ( usually there is a good late afternoon or prime time game to watch). It's all good being a yinzer. Conversely I don't understand people who linger after games. It's over man---go live your life!

 

[ratking17]

For what it's worth, I am one of those guys getting the hell out of the stadium the moment the game is over. Although occasionally I will go to the tailgates, most times I arrive an hour before game time ( also have an hour drive time). When you include 4 hour game + the 2 hour pre- game and the hour drive home that is a total of 7 hours. At that point I am tired and simply want to chill at home ( usually there is a good late afternoon or prime time game to watch). It's all good being a yinzer. Conversely I don't understand people who linger after games. It's over man---go live your life!

I am the same way as pitt games usually occupy 13 hrs of my saturdays when you allow for travel time. That said I recognize that I am in the minority and most enjoy eating and drinking and conversing with friends. I think pitt needs to do something to better accommodate those that enjoy tailgating.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

I am the same way as pitt games usually occupy 13 hrs of my saturdays when you allow for travel time. That said I recognize that I am in the minority and most enjoy eating and drinking and conversing with friends. I think pitt needs to do something to better accommodate those that enjoy tailgating.

I'm with you. We leave the stadium and then choose a nearby watering hole to get something to eat, while allowing traffic to dissipate. It's nice to get into our car and drive home without the hassles of traffic. We figure that the time that we spend eating and relaxing is equivalent (or close to) to the time that we'd be spending in the gridlock.

 

[BigZeke]

soo is this in regards to pitt alumni events or boring crowds at Heinz or student section tailgates or students waiting in line for 3 hours or bible studies?

There has been so much mismanagement by the Pitt Admin the last 30 years that it's kinda hard to choose just one event, decision or branding disaster but my all time favorite story which I've shared here previously was when my boy got us hooked up in that white alumni tent out front of Heinz pregame for a big ND game a few years back. Smilin Steve had informed his minions that any Script talk was off limits and we were told as much prior to entering this "Free" alumni gathering that somehow had $12 beers at every bar. I proceeded to firmly grab his hand, thank him for the event and ask him when the Script would rightfully return as PITT's (not PITTSBURGH'S) main logo. He smiled that stupid "I'm clueless and don't care what paying fans think" smile and turned and walked off. I sipped my $12 beer and chuckled to myself while my buddy squirmed. Thank God that guy is gone from Pitt athletics. H2P!

 

[Cathedral Lawn Frisbee]

Most of you guys must be fun at picnics and tailgates.....not


You are either part of the solution or problem if actively engaged in the subject

Take a walk and get some fresh air.

 

[NTOP]

Haha I would like a nickel for every time NTOP has yelled "down in front" !

As usual, you'd have nothing.

 

[Swervin27]

Conversely I don't understand people who linger after games. It's over man---go live your life!

but this is our life, we are living it. pitt games are enjoyable breaks in our every day life, why would we rush it to end to get back to what? Hanging out at home with our families? Screw that noise

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

I am the same way as pitt games usually occupy 13 hrs of my saturdays when you allow for travel time. That said I recognize that I am in the minority and most enjoy eating and drinking and conversing with friends. I think pitt needs to do something to better accommodate those that enjoy tailgating.

I think its the opposite, actually. Pitt admin should realize it is rapidly losing the crutch of tailgating on the NS as a viable reason for fans to go to games. I personally know many who have renewed almost exclusively because of tailgating, mainly because they couldn't get Steelers tix or parking. That's disappearing rapidly, yet at the same time many fans don't particularly relish cramming into tight dark NS bars (even the one with the slutty barmaids). So Pitt may actually have to make the PRODUCT more appealing (aka winning) or we could truly see crowds diminish, not increase.