1st event should a thorough review of stadium management! We can have the most beautiful stadium in the world - AND WE DO! - but as I said before it opened, we can run people off faster than keep them with bad experiences - tickets, food, COST, security, etc…

Let's GET OUR SHIT TOGETHER NOW FAU! The football team will be much improved but the "stadium experience" needs to be improved just as much. if the tream went 1-11, the stadium so far is barley ahead at 2-10! Don't fall for "build it and they will come", that is only a line in a movie. This is our football temple - treat it as such FAU!

Bleacherreport on the game: Best and Worst performances.

2012 Battle of Florida Game: Best, Worst Players Who Made a Name for Themselves | Bleacher Report

AlexFAU06 said

I was at the game. The ticket lines were horrible and people were blaming FAU for this. It is like they never prepared for it and it was only 5/6 k attendance at best.
There was a director of the event who sold me a ticket while I was in line and she was all over FAU on how incompetent they were.
I had these 20 something year old kids from UM standing next to me making fun of the fact there was a Howard statue in the stadium.
FAU's mascot was there and few cheerleaders.
Two of our FAU players except Groody covered their helmets with some sticker from other schools.
The game sucked in my opinion and the event was awfully planned with little advertisement.
The only good thing about this was I that I sat in the priority section for only $15.

I'm not sure who was in charge of this fiasco, but it certainly didn't score high marks for FAU in my opinion.
Some lowlights:
* We got there our usual 4 hours before game time and there was no tailgating lots reserved (except for the VIP lot) and no guidance whatsoever. We didn't have a problem setting up next to the Alumni Center, but other friends from UM and FSU were told there was no tailgating allowed. They should have followed FAU game day protocol at least.
* The ticket lines were RIDICULOUS! Thank goodness we got ours early, but all I heard were people complaining about how inept FAU was at handling the ticket sales and will call.
* Good thing we bought GA tickets, because apparently they were just suggestions as to where to sit. We walked right up to our usual priority seats, bought a beer (more on that later), and sat down just above where our season tickets are. Now I'm not complaining about that, but I would have been PISSED if I had paid the $35 or $50 for the priority or premium seats and someone with a GA ticket sat next to me. If they aren't going to enforce tickets, make everything general admission and sell alcohol in the entire stadium and make some extra $$$.
* The FAU merchandise shops weren't even open! I had friends from other schools asking where they could get some FAU shirts and other things and there was none to be found. How is this good PR? What's it cost to put a couple kids in the shops for a few hours during the game? Another missed opportunity to pick up some casual fans.
* They ran out of beer … IN THE FIRST QUARTER! OK, it was only Miller Lite, and the first quarter did last almost an hour, but come on. And on top of it, they ran out of some food like pretzels in the first half too. If it was Chartwell's handling this again, they have to be the worst contract FAU has ever signed. They are HORRIBLE!

Now don't get me wrong, we had a fun time, and I hope this game continues because I think it can be a great event to showcase FAU. But these people need to get their heads out of their asses and run it properly.

CanadianOwl said

AlexFAU06 said

I was at the game. The ticket lines were horrible and people were blaming FAU for this. It is like they never prepared for it and it was only 5/6 k attendance at best.
There was a director of the event who sold me a ticket while I was in line and she was all over FAU on how incompetent they were.
I had these 20 something year old kids from UM standing next to me making fun of the fact there was a Howard statue in the stadium.
FAU's mascot was there and few cheerleaders.
Two of our FAU players except Groody covered their helmets with some sticker from other schools.
The game sucked in my opinion and the event was awfully planned with little advertisement.
The only good thing about this was I that I sat in the priority section for only $15.

I'm not sure who was in charge of this fiasco, but it certainly didn't score high marks for FAU in my opinion.
Some lowlights:
* We got there our usual 4 hours before game time and there was no tailgating lots reserved (except for the VIP lot) and no guidance whatsoever. We didn't have a problem setting up next to the Alumni Center, but other friends from UM and FSU were told there was no tailgating allowed. They should have followed FAU game day protocol at least.
* The ticket lines were RIDICULOUS! Thank goodness we got ours early, but all I heard were people complaining about how inept FAU was at handling the ticket sales and will call.
* Good thing we bought GA tickets, because apparently they were just suggestions as to where to sit. We walked right up to our usual priority seats, bought a beer (more on that later), and sat down just above where our season tickets are. Now I'm not complaining about that, but I would have been PISSED if I had paid the $35 or $50 for the priority or premium seats and someone with a GA ticket sat next to me. If they aren't going to enforce tickets, make everything general admission and sell alcohol in the entire stadium and make some extra $$$.
* The FAU merchandise shops weren't even open! I had friends from other schools asking where they could get some FAU shirts and other things and there was none to be found. How is this good PR? What's it cost to put a couple kids in the shops for a few hours during the game? Another missed opportunity to pick up some casual fans.
* They ran out of beer … IN THE FIRST QUARTER! OK, it was only Miller Lite, and the first quarter did last almost an hour, but come on. And on top of it, they ran out of some food like pretzels in the first half too. If it was Chartwell's handling this again, they have to be the worst contract FAU has ever signed. They are HORRIBLE!

Now don't get me wrong, we had a fun time, and I hope this game continues because I think it can be a great event to showcase FAU. But these people need to get their heads out of their asses and run it properly.

If this is how things are going to be run at the stadium, then a default on the stadium loan is almost a certainty.  BTW, there are no events scheduled for the stadium in the foreseeable future.  If you bought season tickets with the intention of seeing a few concerts  in your seats, do not hold your breath.

Damn, what I read from you guys who got to go is really upsetting to me! I am in retail and have been for nearly 30 years, to me this new stadium is just like a new store or restaurant. You overstaff at the beginning to AVOID upsetting potential new customers an build customer loyalty (REPEAT CUSTOMERS!) and later scale back.

How are we EVER gonna develop demand when we seen to be the cheapest, stupidest organization ever.

My wife and I only got to go the stadium opener and while expecting problems it was in many was just rediculous.

Due to how long it took FAU to decide on the "design" of the tickets, the season tickets were mailed out (or not) at the last minute. We were told we could risk them being mailed and not getting them before our sechedule departure from Atlanta or pick them up a will-call. What a joke. they had no idea of what to do and I actually had to tell them to look through the larger envelopes right there at the window after they searched for and failed to find and then reprinted only that game ticket - and not two but only ONE! It was right there at the window all along. people before us and after us were pissed and upset at the incompetence of the "operation".

You only get ONE chance at a first impression and man are we (FAU - US!) blowing it so far!

I really hope President Saunders reads this stuff because she should be embarrased at our incompetence so far, it reflects on her as well, and if I were in her place I would be getting pissed! The new stadium is our biggest and most visible connection to the community and to all of S. Florida and we look just plain bad so far!


Expand the stadium staffing and food budgets, and retain CONTROL over ANY AND ALL outside events contracted for. They can promote it but FAU MUST BE IN CHARGE OF ALL STADIUM OPERATIONS! And PLEASE strive to run all events in a FIRST CLASS MANNER!

These are indeed valid complaints. I experienced some of the same issues. A long line to get tickets. They also made us buy more expensive tickets as apparently they were sold out on the GA tickets, give me a break. My friends really liked the tailgate, stadium etc... But they did complain about the issues mentioned. I am an FAU alum, so I will support my school no matter what, but we have to really do a better job of attracting the casual fan and that starts by providing good customer service. I sure hope Craig is aware of this.

AlexFAU06 said

I was at the game. The ticket lines were horrible and people were blaming FAU for this. It is like they never prepared for it and it was only 5/6 k attendance at best.
There was a director of the event who sold me a ticket while I was in line and she was all over FAU on how incompetent they were.
I had these 20 something year old kids from UM standing next to me making fun of the fact there was a Howard statue in the stadium.
FAU's mascot was there and few cheerleaders.
Two of our FAU players except Groody covered their helmets with some sticker from other schools.
The game sucked in my opinion and the event was awfully planned with little advertisement.
The only good thing about this was I that I sat in the priority section for only $15.

Why?

If a UM fan EVER made fun of us about Howard's Statue in front of me, my response would be at least we have our own stadium to put it in

How quickly they forget that Um would not even have a program nor a SINGLE NC without Howard saving them. I used to be a Big UM fan now they rank right down there with FIU, actually lower because THEY ARE SO FULL OF THEMSELVES whereas FIU are just UM wannabes!

Hey guys, nothing is going to change unless we let them know and maybe get the students and fans behind the movement, maybe even Coach Pelini.