Has 'winning' become not good enough?

[CAGator93]

People look at tickets now at $150 a pop and just know that's what it's going to cost. That worked for a while, but people now (me included) sometimes just say "I can't afford that, I'll just watch at home".

There's a lot of games this year where I just watched at home instead of driving up to the bar to watch the game with the Gator Club because it was cheaper and more convenient. Throw hotels, flights and tickets in there and yeah - it's tough to justify sometimes.

And is it really a sacrifce watching at home now? I've got the most comfortable seat, much better food and beer and a big HD tv to watch.

Tickets for the National Title game were selling for $1,800 for a single upper deck corner? Things have just really gotten out of whack in terms of price these days.

[LoyalGatorFan]

Well this is the down side of capitalism...it's "the market"...people can charge what they want...it hurts the average person who can't, or doesn't want to put the money out...

Its the same screwjob that hotels do when they jack up room rates to 3x the normal rate when there is a big college football game in town...

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by LoyalGatorFan

Well this is the down side of capitalism...it's "the market"...people can charge what they want...it hurts the average person who can't, or doesn't want to put the money out...

Its the same screwjob that hotels do when they jack up room rates to 3x the normal rate when there is a big college football game in town...

[Brodeur]

Originally Posted by LoyalGatorFan

Well this is the down side of capitalism...it's "the market"...people can charge what they want...it hurts the average person who can't, or doesn't want to put the money out...

Its the same screwjob that hotels do when they jack up room rates to 3x the normal rate when there is a big college football game in town...

True, but have we (and the UAA) reached the tipping point? Most home games were not sellouts this year, despite going 11-1. And that included a couple of SEC games. The market may be sending indications that demand is declining, but programs keep reaching to squeeze more money out of fans.

It was telling to me that the UAA didn't see any need to lower their ticket prices for the Sugar Bowl, and as a result they only sold 1/3 or 1/4 of their allotment. Foley and others need to start reevaluating some of their policies.

[Gatorrick22]

This thread should be going to Too Hot any minute now ..........

They don't want us talking about the Markets and Capitalism on this forum.

[ufhomerj31]

We have not had a real offense since the 08 season

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by ufhomerj31

We have not had a real offense since the 08 season

Or, even since 2009.

[Gatorphenom]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

In retrospect: winning would have been enough Wednesday night.

I'm sorry I don't care who your are, that's just down right funny. Rep I could use this as my sig.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by Gatorphenom

I'm sorry I don't care who your are, that's just down right funny. Rep I could use this as my sig.

Dreamliner is our resident comedian. Well worth the rep too.

[Tipmoose]

Ive felt the same way for many years now, malscott. The zook years coupled with age brought me perspective. At some point our lives change and we change with them.

At this point I don't care if we win another MNC. I just want us to reliably beat the teams we're supposed to beat and play the rest of the teams close. Lowered expectations are a part of getting older.

[petro]

Has winning become not good enough?

Happened a long time a go for a certain cross section of fans, and all the johnny come lately entitlement crowd. I try to ignore the (inordinately) noisy entitled types.

[RealGatorFan]

Most fans who say this season was an outstanding season are those that also believe in handing a trophy to the last place team so you don't hurt their feelings. We won 11 games. Yes we did but it wasn't the best 11 win team I`ve seen. Not even close.

I will say this to the day I die, but it`s how you finish that defines your character. We had our shot all year but we just didn't seem like a team focused on improving. Offensively, the worst Top 5 team in history. We were so awful on offense, we almost lost to 2 teams that Oregon would have scored 70 on. We make Navy's offensive look like Oregon`s. As some have said, we tend to play down to our competition. That was intensely infuriating to watch all season. I was hoping we would have figured out our offensive woes by now, but we actually have more questions going into next season than when we started the season.

What's with Pease? I saw maybe a handful of plays he would have called at Boise St. The rest was to get the defense back on the field as soon as possible.

This is the second straight season I fell asleep in at least half the games. I will go ahead and say.....we are boring on offense. Insanely boring equivalent to watching grass grow. Watching golf or bowling was more exciting:-)

[petro]

Originally Posted by RealGatorFan

Most fans who say this season was an outstanding season are those that also believe in handing a trophy to the last place team so you don't hurt their feelings. We won 11 games. Yes we did but it wasn't the best 11 win team I`ve seen. Not even close.

I will say this to the day I die, but it`s how you finish that defines your character. We had our shot all year but we just didn't seem like a team focused on improving. Offensively, the worst Top 5 team in history. We were so awful on offense, we almost lost to 2 teams that Oregon would have scored 70 on. We make Navy's offensive look like Oregon`s. As some have said, we tend to play down to our competition. That was intensely infuriating to watch all season. I was hoping we would have figured out our offensive woes by now, but we actually have more questions going into next season than when we started the season.

What's with Pease? I saw maybe a handful of plays he would have called at Boise St. The rest was to get the defense back on the field as soon as possible.

This is the second straight season I fell asleep in at least half the games. I will go ahead and say.....we are boring on offense. Insanely boring equivalent to watching grass grow. Watching golf or bowling was more exciting:-)

How does one go about becoming a RealGatorFan? I would like to head down that path.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

The issue here is all on perception, for the last three years it has been hard to feel real good about this team, yes, we were 11-1 but the mizzou game the ULL game, even the first two cream puff games told the real story of this team, much like a loss at Ol Miss and vs MSU defined Zooks teams with Rex and Leak much more than wins vs LSU or at FSU did, in Urban's first year we got crushed at Bama but still, the tone was much more positive, throw in the Sugar Bowl debacle and it is hard to sense that this staff will put an exciting product on the field next year, I hopeful but not confident - when the Gators bring the mojo back, I'll be there, this year I shelled out 400 to take the family to the Mizzou game, shame on me

[GatorJeff]

Great post. It's the spoiled fan syndrome. I have been to the last seven Sugar Bowls involving UF, and we had huge crowds in each of the first five I attended, and lousy the last two. UL fans showed up, our fans made excuses. I'm willing to bet 90% of our negative posters didn't go to the game. Those jerks just sit behind their keyboards and criticize a team that went 11-2.

[lean_gator]

It felt real good being competitive again, I can tell you that. The last two years before this season we got ran off the field by the league's elite. Not this year. We were a competive team ththis year.

[jcp]

Well though out and expressed posts.

However I am elated I don't feel like any of you that didn't feel excitement. I for one went to all of our home games and was as excited as ever, had a blast, and can't wait for next season!!!!


GO GATORS!!!!!

[MaceoP]

Ah, what I'm seeing is very simple.. We are not immune from what is going on in all of sports.

Oversaturation, high prices, high definition.

Our O performance over the last 3 years has only accelerated the process.

It used to mean something to go to a bowl game.. Now there are 30 something bowl games.

Ticket prices, hotel prices, high priced mercenary coaches, all things that make the average joe wonder whether they should fork out hundreds of dollars to go to a game.

College football has become a multi-billion dollar business, and IMO, it should be viewed as such. We are fortunate that our school has the support and resources to put a great product on the field. IMO, it's best to go with the flow an not have expectations as to what others, who may be struggling economcially, spend their money on.

[GATOR_4Life]

I think the economy is what got people to try staying home, but HDTV is what's keeping them there. It just harder to justify spending hundreds, and being away from family for a full day.

I think its a trend across the country, though some teams are seeing it harder than others. I don't think making the stadium more comfortable will make a difference. At the margins making sure the gameday atmosphere on campus is lively will help, but that's not addressing the real problem. People are just spending more of their free time at home. Whether its sports, games, parties, cooking, etc. Its a cultural change and big picture there is nothing we can do about it.

[PIMking]

just read the title and of course winning has become noting, they want to win by 50 and look sexy while doing it