šŸˆ UVa Football Preseason 24

I’m just curious what exactly people are looking for in the stadium experience? I’ve been to a lot of different sporting events in pro and college venues in a variety of cities and unless I’ve ponied up for really expensive premium seats, they’re all pretty much the same: parking sucks/doesn’t exist, concessions suck/are too expensive, the seats are crowded/uncomfortable.

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Good updates from Madia in the DP today:

  • Corey Thomas playing nickelback and WLB
  • Dre Walker, Kempton Shine, and Jam Jackson frontrunners at corner. Malcolm Greene depth but fighting nagging injuries.
  • Same word on injuries to Boley, Wilson, and Tyree: hopeful but awaiting test results
  • Suderian Harrison and Kam Courtney impressing at slot in Tyree’s absence
  • Brian Stevens saying good things about Grant Ellinger, Jimmy Christ, and Houston Curry as O-Line depth options.
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I’ve been to sporting events at all three major Dallas sporting venues and while they’re definitely expensive, I would say they have generally decent food, it’s easy to access both food and alcohol, staff are friendly and the seating is generally competent. I’d say the same of the Rockies game I went to this year too. I would not say any of those things were true for my last UVA football experience

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What blows my mind (but at this point, shouldn’t) is how out of touch the university is with the average fan. All that intellectual prowess, and they can’t even see (assuming they care) that this is a bad solution to a very small problem.

We already have a hard time creating a memorable experience at games, why take away something that actually makes the UVA football experience unique? And as others have said, is fun for kids and helpful for families? Especially those who may not be able to afford 4 $80 tickets for the lower level.

There just seem like obvious things we can do to increase excitement and engagement within the fan base- for one, why the hell aren’t we doing a drone tour of the brand-new football facility and showing it off every chance we get? Why is practice content so hard to come by on social media? Why do fools fall in love? :sleepy:

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Especially with FB ticket sales/gameday revenue being the biggest generator of $$$. It is very very hard to understand,

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The hill is what made me enjoy uva football games as a little kid. So engaging even if your on field product sucks

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Carla is the first administrator we’ve had in a while that has even pretended to care about football, and while the results have been mixed so far, its better than apathy. I would like to start hearing what the next phases of the ā€˜athletics master plan’ pertaining to football are ASAP.

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100% The Hill was a major part of my fan experience growing up. I sat there countless times and as a younger kid and even in middle and HS it felt so cool to be on the hill, see the students etc.

As far as other upgrades, some decent food would be awesome. There are no options in the stadium other than standard popcorn hot dog and dominoes/papa johns. The alcohol experience I had last year was okay, I didn’t have to wait in line etc. Everything is so generic about the gameday experience. You could close your eyes and be anywhere in the country. The Hill is the only thing that screams UVa and now they are restricting that.

I’d love to see them expand the outside experience similar to what a lot of baseball parks are doing the Battery down here in Atl or the whatever it’s called outside of Nats park. A space with some vendors with food drinks etc. a proper kids zone. Those would be huge.

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Ok, you’re listing off some of the top rated sporting venues in the country and you’re not exactly giving them glowing reviews from the sound of your post.

It’s been a while since I went, but the things that stood out to me were just how rinkidink the food and drink offerings were. It felt like randos rented out space to sell hotdogs for charity or something, not like a nice professional game day operation.

Maybe it’s changed some since - I dont know. But nobody is expecting anything amazing, but if it felt like a real professionally run operation instead of feeling like something being hosted by some friendly volunteers that’d be nice.

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But those are professional organizations with lots of money to spend. Not fair to compare them to UVa’s set up, given the difference in resources.

It doesn’t have to be the same. My intent was saying creating a fan village of some sort. A more welcoming atmosphere for tailgating, and non tailgating enthusiast. That’s well within the schools control.

I’m not asking UVA to build out a massive beer barn viewing area like Globe Life I’m just asking for base levels of competence

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Kind of like what Davenport has in right field for baseball?

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Did I just imagine there being food trucks on the JPA side of the stadium last year? I swear there were some different options over there behind the concourse. That not withstanding I think the most important improvement (certainly the first order of business) is to improve the results on the field. We cannot expect any real investment in stadium upgrades if we are not selling more than 50% of the seats.

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You’re actually not far off…. Most of the concessions workers are essentially there for a fundraiser. Think travel teams, church groups, stuff like that. I think they get something like a 30% cut for doing it.

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That’s all Ive wver seen work at Scott. I remember years back Wild Wings Cafe had a popup sort of deal there and with JPJ. That was the closest they came to real food and not another personal pan pizza sold by aome WAHS band member

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White spot had a food truck for a few seasons, there have also been other pop up trucks lately. Better options than regular concessions atleast.

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Thats what I’m talking about open up one ld those lots and bring in a rotating cast of local food trucks bring in a DJ. Instamade fanzone.

Its honestly not that hard

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Who goes to a game to eat? Eat before and then drink Coors Lights at the game

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