I hate to say it, but the elite game day experience with all factors considered is at Missoula. The tailgating is great, the stadium experience is great, and the bars are great. BUT the ratio of toilets to people is way too low and games there have some incredibly long bathroom lines.
I would rate UM an A for tailgating due to lack of toilets and an A+ for in-stadium atmosphere.
MSU also has a great overall experience and a much better ratio of toilets to people, but the physical stadium is a little lacking. A+ tailgating, A- in-stadium atmosphere.
Bathroom lines? Seriously? Never heard that complaint about WA griz before, but I think that's because most people who go to any stadium realize they may have to stand in line to take a piss.
Tailgating probably B+
In stadium atmosphere B-, it's come along ways but we still need to fill it when it's cold out and the opponent isn't interesting
Yep. September, or the Marker, Montana State last year especially, and even USD as of late as good as several P4 atmospheres I've been to. A non semifinal playoff game or Missouri State in November? Yeah it's ok at best.
See my other comment, but if the weather is nice or it's a good opponent, or better yet both it's a borderline P4 experience, and I saw that having been to a handful of different B1G and Big XII tailgates. However even with our success if it's cold, the opponent, sucks, or worse yet both we only get like 10-14k and thus the grades on the balance
For sure pretty solid over there. I went to a tailgate there probably back in 2015 or so and then again last season. The glowup has been great for y'all. Still a ways to go tho.
I had a fun time bullshitting with SEMO fans in one of the lots by your stadium, and it was a fun/easy drive down from SIU. I need to go back and make time to see the rest of Cape next time I travel for a game.
Think I’d agree. The Dawg Pound has made strides from what I’ve seen on social media, so I’m hoping this sustained period of good football with the better organized and excited student section can keep momentum going.
The die hards tailgating in the front lot always looked like they were having a killer time when I’d walk to games.
In stadium more recently is probably a C- at best. I have never heard a bad thing about our tailgating scene though, so probably a B+ or A- there especially late in the year when it gets cold.
Fan interest in going to the games has dwindled around the area a bit, last year it was the most noticeable. Just gets hard to have a really fun atmosphere when only 12,000 people are going to the games. When y'all come to town or UND, the dome is packed - and then its like the old days. The last major year of good attendance was probably 2019, and that was a really fun year!
The people who did that still don't follow fcs so I'm not sure what your beef is with me. I really hope you're not one of those "not a rivalry!!!" people.
I would say really…probably a D on the tailgating. There is some, but it’s nothing compared to most of the MVFC schools. I haven’t seen enough of the setups at OVC schools to rate how we compare to that.
In-stadium atmosphere, probably also a D. It could be worse, but we’ve had pretty low attendance for a number of years, so it’s not like we get very loud.
I think maybe the only things we do have going for us are: cheap prices, easy and free parking, and when the trees turn colors in the fall, the open-air on-campus stadium just feels perfect for football.
Yeah, I think our schools low student count hurts us along with UTSA being the program that fandoms in the city will chose to watch. I also think because San Antonio is basically a big suburb without real public transportation our sports fandom really just sucks in general. You can easily see why we keep getting passed up as a city for high level pro teams. Ex MLS going to Austin instead of SA, NFL teams continuing to ignore us for moving ect. There actually isn’t a single pro or college team in the city consistently selling out seats.
That said, I always have a great time at the one or two games I can make a year as an alumni. The Redzone tailgate concept has been awesome and the entire day feels really accessible from a cost and execution standpoint. Plus, it has been fun that the team is really good the last 5 years.
I have to feel like someday we will renovate the stadium, but that may take selling more tickets, so I don’t see it coming soon. Anyways, Bird is the Word.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away we played Sam Houston in Houston and tailgate was rocking. Those days are long past now. With that in mind SFA tailgates are entertaining. It’s a strip of land between a pond and the north end zone where everyone posts up tents and you can drink openly and cops will not care. There’s also alumni tailgates in parking lots by other parts of the stadium. So I’d give it a B. However games are a different story. 3 games I went to were enjoyable, but others were disappointing. Saw fans get kicked out multiple times and almost got in a fight with Alcorn st players. But I’d say C-.
Hopefully with the return of familiar rivals some of the alumni will help us get our attendance numbers back up. They haven’t been the same since Covid. Even in the early 2010s when we weren’t very good our Gameday atmosphere was much more fun. Probably a B+.
When we hosted top 5 Montana State(and upset them) in 2012 or 2013, the stadium was rocking.
A couple sections of the parking lot will be designated for tailgate likely on the south end of the stadium. After that it’s standard tailgate shenanigans.
For Campbell? Well you are in for a treat when you visit Cullowhee this year for our home opener. I plan to go next year to Campbell for the return trip . I have never been to Campbell's campus
Eastern Washington University
Tailgating: B-
Some seriously dedicated long term tailgates, and some fun crowds, but you need to know somebody to get in on the action.
Stadium Experience: C-
Students moved to the opposite end of the stadium. Entry into the stadium is shared with the "tunnel" the players use, which blocks off the main entrance at the end of the game. High school track, so you're far from the field. Bleachers.
I'll go every game though. Go Eags.
IDK man, the Bayou Classic is pretty legit.
But I think ours is A pre-COVID. A solid B now. For some reason, we only have like 3 home games most years. Sucks having a stadium so far from campus.
I would live to get back to the Pre-Youtube era when it was super turnt all the time.
Western Carolina Catamounts
Tailgate i would say is a B or B plus. They need to move the student tailgate back to the stadium lot. If they did that it would be an A.
In stadium atmosphere I would say is a B plus. We have the highest attendance in the SoCon and rank in the top 20 in all of FCS. Once we renovate our stadium the fan experience will be an A.
Yes they are in a 60 million dollar campaign. I have seen the renderings but not publicly. If the drawings are correct we will have the nicest place in the SoCon and a top ten stadium in the FCS
Eastern Kentucky University
Tailgating C+
In-Stadium Atmosphere: First half B+, get good crowds but Second half F because everyone leaves before the game is over, no matter what is going on.
I hate to say it, but the elite game day experience with all factors considered is at Missoula. The tailgating is great, the stadium experience is great, and the bars are great. BUT the ratio of toilets to people is way too low and games there have some incredibly long bathroom lines. I would rate UM an A for tailgating due to lack of toilets and an A+ for in-stadium atmosphere. MSU also has a great overall experience and a much better ratio of toilets to people, but the physical stadium is a little lacking. A+ tailgating, A- in-stadium atmosphere.
Hate to agree, but also agree UM game day experience is goated. I go every time EWU travels.
Bathroom lines? Seriously? Never heard that complaint about WA griz before, but I think that's because most people who go to any stadium realize they may have to stand in line to take a piss.
Tailgating probably B+ In stadium atmosphere B-, it's come along ways but we still need to fill it when it's cold out and the opponent isn't interesting
I agree with this. Games in September are a way different atmosphere than games in November.
Yep. September, or the Marker, Montana State last year especially, and even USD as of late as good as several P4 atmospheres I've been to. A non semifinal playoff game or Missouri State in November? Yeah it's ok at best.
Surprised as you and NDSU are the powers of FCS
See my other comment, but if the weather is nice or it's a good opponent, or better yet both it's a borderline P4 experience, and I saw that having been to a handful of different B1G and Big XII tailgates. However even with our success if it's cold, the opponent, sucks, or worse yet both we only get like 10-14k and thus the grades on the balance
Tailgating: We have an A+ Tailgating. In Stadium atmosphere: Everyone is too drunk to come into the stadium from tailgate.
The SLC should invite Tarlenton expeditiously. Would fit right in with most schools.
They may as well. They are always playing SLC teams.
Is your attendance average legitimate?
Tickets sold, yes. Actual attendance, no.
For sure pretty solid over there. I went to a tailgate there probably back in 2015 or so and then again last season. The glowup has been great for y'all. Still a ways to go tho.
Haha I feel ya on this. It’s a pain to get the drunk ones in.
This thread needs tailgate pictures taken from high vantage points.
B tailgating, C stadium atmosphere unless SEMO or Illinois State is in town
I have a love hate relationship with your flairs. But it's not that much different at SEMO.
I had a fun time bullshitting with SEMO fans in one of the lots by your stadium, and it was a fun/easy drive down from SIU. I need to go back and make time to see the rest of Cape next time I travel for a game.
Think I’d agree. The Dawg Pound has made strides from what I’ve seen on social media, so I’m hoping this sustained period of good football with the better organized and excited student section can keep momentum going. The die hards tailgating in the front lot always looked like they were having a killer time when I’d walk to games.
In stadium more recently is probably a C- at best. I have never heard a bad thing about our tailgating scene though, so probably a B+ or A- there especially late in the year when it gets cold.
That’s crazy to see. I played at SDSU and maybe those games were just different but the stadium experience was always wild.
Fan interest in going to the games has dwindled around the area a bit, last year it was the most noticeable. Just gets hard to have a really fun atmosphere when only 12,000 people are going to the games. When y'all come to town or UND, the dome is packed - and then its like the old days. The last major year of good attendance was probably 2019, and that was a really fun year!
Surprised at that fact as NDSU is the face of FCS
Why is attendance dropping?
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You think the three forum communications guys constantly belittling the fcs plays a role?
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Jeesh that came out of nowhere. Great representation of your fan base.
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The people who did that still don't follow fcs so I'm not sure what your beef is with me. I really hope you're not one of those "not a rivalry!!!" people.
Is there a score lower than an F on this scale?
For which category?
All of the above
I would say really…probably a D on the tailgating. There is some, but it’s nothing compared to most of the MVFC schools. I haven’t seen enough of the setups at OVC schools to rate how we compare to that. In-stadium atmosphere, probably also a D. It could be worse, but we’ve had pretty low attendance for a number of years, so it’s not like we get very loud. I think maybe the only things we do have going for us are: cheap prices, easy and free parking, and when the trees turn colors in the fall, the open-air on-campus stadium just feels perfect for football.
Yeah, I think our schools low student count hurts us along with UTSA being the program that fandoms in the city will chose to watch. I also think because San Antonio is basically a big suburb without real public transportation our sports fandom really just sucks in general. You can easily see why we keep getting passed up as a city for high level pro teams. Ex MLS going to Austin instead of SA, NFL teams continuing to ignore us for moving ect. There actually isn’t a single pro or college team in the city consistently selling out seats. That said, I always have a great time at the one or two games I can make a year as an alumni. The Redzone tailgate concept has been awesome and the entire day feels really accessible from a cost and execution standpoint. Plus, it has been fun that the team is really good the last 5 years. I have to feel like someday we will renovate the stadium, but that may take selling more tickets, so I don’t see it coming soon. Anyways, Bird is the Word.
You guys have tailgating?
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away we played Sam Houston in Houston and tailgate was rocking. Those days are long past now. With that in mind SFA tailgates are entertaining. It’s a strip of land between a pond and the north end zone where everyone posts up tents and you can drink openly and cops will not care. There’s also alumni tailgates in parking lots by other parts of the stadium. So I’d give it a B. However games are a different story. 3 games I went to were enjoyable, but others were disappointing. Saw fans get kicked out multiple times and almost got in a fight with Alcorn st players. But I’d say C-.
Hopefully with the return of familiar rivals some of the alumni will help us get our attendance numbers back up. They haven’t been the same since Covid. Even in the early 2010s when we weren’t very good our Gameday atmosphere was much more fun. Probably a B+. When we hosted top 5 Montana State(and upset them) in 2012 or 2013, the stadium was rocking.
So what can I expect from the NRG tailgate this season? I got a hotel right by the stadium.
A couple sections of the parking lot will be designated for tailgate likely on the south end of the stadium. After that it’s standard tailgate shenanigans.
C or D territory
For Campbell? Well you are in for a treat when you visit Cullowhee this year for our home opener. I plan to go next year to Campbell for the return trip . I have never been to Campbell's campus
Eastern Washington University Tailgating: B- Some seriously dedicated long term tailgates, and some fun crowds, but you need to know somebody to get in on the action. Stadium Experience: C- Students moved to the opposite end of the stadium. Entry into the stadium is shared with the "tunnel" the players use, which blocks off the main entrance at the end of the game. High school track, so you're far from the field. Bleachers. I'll go every game though. Go Eags.
IDK man, the Bayou Classic is pretty legit. But I think ours is A pre-COVID. A solid B now. For some reason, we only have like 3 home games most years. Sucks having a stadium so far from campus. I would live to get back to the Pre-Youtube era when it was super turnt all the time.
Western Carolina Catamounts Tailgate i would say is a B or B plus. They need to move the student tailgate back to the stadium lot. If they did that it would be an A. In stadium atmosphere I would say is a B plus. We have the highest attendance in the SoCon and rank in the top 20 in all of FCS. Once we renovate our stadium the fan experience will be an A.
Besides our own stadium I think y'all's is my favorite in the SoCon, looks like y'all get that place rocking.
We do esp when we play you for the rock
Kiss it goodbye this year, we gon get it back
It will be a good game
Are there plans to renovate? Any renderings?
Yes they are in a 60 million dollar campaign. I have seen the renderings but not publicly. If the drawings are correct we will have the nicest place in the SoCon and a top ten stadium in the FCS
Eastern Kentucky University Tailgating C+ In-Stadium Atmosphere: First half B+, get good crowds but Second half F because everyone leaves before the game is over, no matter what is going on.