Topic: So if Hamrick decides to put beer in the Joan...

[Thunders]

When would be the best time to announce it? I'm thinking closer to August once most season tickets are bought to keep from losing money from potential ticket holders disgruntled from not being allowed go back out at half.

[HerdKelly]

Yeah, because it is always better to withhold information from your customers and have them make decisions based on false information.

[MUther]

Yeah, because it is always better to withhold information from your customers and have them make decisions based on false information.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission. :p

Why give people a reason to b!tch and complain before trying out a new system?  However, there will always be those who will fight any change and will threaten and complain, even if they like the new way, just out of spite.  We have a lot of those around here.  I don't even drink anymore (very rarely) but I still feel this will be good for Marshall.  And if the only way to get it done is to stir things up a little then so be it.

I've yet to hear a compelling reason to have passouts that doesn't revolve around people wanting to drink outside the stadium. Meet friends before and after the game or sit with them.  Eat before and after the game or use the concession stand.  Congregate in the stadium at half time or the concourse.  It will be crowded.  It's 20 minutes.  None of those are valid.  Anything else is situational and should not be used to determine the entire marketing and logistics of a university sporting event.

[MU42]

I don't know if a no reentry policy comes along with this, but how many G5 schools have a no re-entry policy? I think VT has a this policy, but guess what, people don't leave because they are excited to watch VT play the second half vs Clemson, UNC, Miami, Pitt, Florida St. etc. Will people care that they can't get back in when our opponents are ODU, FIU, UTEP, and Charlotte. I don't think so. This solves nothing, unless we are in the AAC.

[Herdmeister]

I don't know if a no reentry policy comes along with this, but how many G5 schools have a no re-entry policy? I think VT has a this policy, but guess what, people don't leave because they are excited to watch VT play the second half vs Clemson, UNC, Miami, Pitt, Florida St. etc. Will people care that they can't get back in when our opponents are ODU, FIU, UTEP, and Charlotte. I don't think so. This solves nothing, unless we are in the AAC.

Marshall is definitely in the minority of schools allowing re-entry. Off the top of my head I can't think of a stadium I've been in the past few years that allowed re-entry. How tough is it to stay in the stadium for 3 hours? It's not like there is nothing to eat or drink or rest rooms available.

[iherdya]

Marshall is definitely in the minority of schools allowing re-entry. Off the top of my head I can't think of a stadium I've been in the past few years that allowed re-entry. How tough is it to stay in the stadium for 3 hours? It's not like there is nothing to eat or drink or rest rooms available.

given our concourse is the size of a 10,000 seat stadium, it's pretty tough to stay in during halftime.

[Herdmeister]

given our concourse is the size of a 10,000 seat stadium, it's pretty tough to stay in during halftime.

I've had season tickets for years and years and have never left the stadium once.

[BHFIOHIO]

jmo..no re entry a big mistake and will only magnify the sparce crowd in the 4th qtr. Im all for beer but think many wont want them at $7 a pop when they are dollar a bttle in their cooler.

[Echo 5]

I understand that many venues don't allow re-entry, but I still don't understand why.  I believe the argument is to keep people in the stadium the entire game, but I just get the feeling that the rule will not work as intended in Huntington.  Maybe I'm wrong.

Personally, I think there are many reasons to leave the stadium at half time and return to the game.  Those with small children certainly understand.  It's not just about reloading on food/alcohol.  Seriously - what's wrong with offering your customers choices on how they enjoy your product?  

I guess I just don't understand the argument for "no re-entry".

[bbcard1]

I don't care about the beer sales issue. I may possibly buy one or two a year but will just as gladly do without. 

The reality is that we have a lot of fans who are really cheap and they will not pay stadium beer prices. They will leave at half and party in the parking lot most games. Frankly it is incumbent on our program to create an atmosphere and total offering that will either make fans want to stay or draw a new generation of fans that will stay through the whole game.

I hardly ever leave at half and i don't think I have left before the last snap of the game since Doc has been here.

[herdgrad04]

I think selling beer is a good thing.  The no re-entry thing shouldn't really be an issue.  I leave at half and go to our tailgate every single game and return before halftime is over.  However several stay at our tailgate and don't go back in after halftime and the main reason is..... we play a junior high schedule and are up big usually.  In my opinion this is the reason why most don't come back after half.  However, I'll stay during half if no re-entry is allowed.  No big deal to me.  Go Herd

[FlyHawk98]

If we are going to shut down the leaving at half time then we need to invest into making the current facilities more friendly. I now have a young family. Kid in diapers, and was planning to just go back to the tailgate spot to change her at halftime.

I leave almost every game, and can only think of 1 or 2 times that I was a little late. We are always back in our seats for the 2nd half.

[jocktalker]

If the decision is made to sell beer, the Athletic Department will have to procure beer vending services.  I don't think they can wait until the last minute to line up the concession.  I would imagine that once the decision is made, Marshall will seek vendors interested in providing the service.  Once that process begins, there will be no keeping the decision a secret.  The word is going to get out.  Might as well get in front of the issue as soon as possible, IMO.

[svherd]

I find it hard to comprehend why people get uptight about not being able to leave at halftime. Boggles my mind. Unless you're clostriphobic the concourses aren't that bad. Not great but not terrible. Jmo

[Herdmeister]

I find it hard to comprehend why people get uptight about not being able to leave at halftime. Boggles my mind. Unless you're clostriphobic the concourses aren't that bad. Not great but not terrible. Jmo

Agreed. I seldom go to the concourse at halftime but when I do, I have no problem with it.

[FlyHawk98]

I would still come to the games. The no pass outs wouldn't bother me that bad. It would take some getting used to, and a few upgrades on Marshall's end. It could be done, and I imagine it will be done. Just don't blame it on the beer sales.

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

More venues have no reentry for security reasons as well.  In this day and time that makes a lot of sense.

[mckayt]

Beer sales aren't going to happen.

[biggreenarms]

I find it hard to comprehend why people get uptight about not being able to leave at halftime. Boggles my mind. Unless you're clostriphobic the concourses aren't that bad. Not great but not terrible. Jmo

Might be because a lot of folks have stepped out of the stadium. Think about a no entry policy with current facility sq footage and 20,000 people trying to get concessions. Personally, although I enjoy the pass out advantage, if they were to expand the stadium concourse and upgrade the concessions from carnival slop to something edible, I wouldn't mind it at all if they implemented a no reentry.

WKU as far as concessions offerings would be a good model. And for anyone that might complain about the wait standing in line at WKU should consider it was because it was very good food, cold beer and no pass outs. I have no problem waiting in line for shrimp, pulled pork., chicken, milkshakes and beer.

[MUther]

Frankly it is incumbent on our program to create an atmosphere and total offering that will either make fans want to stay or draw a new generation of fans that will stay through the whole game.

That is a good statement.  I, however, believe it starts with creating the policy so that people start to get used that being the way it is.  Obviously if we're blowing out FIU for the tenth season in a row in the second half people are gonna leave.  They were gonna leave and not come back either way.  But if we're tied up with Louisville at halftime people would have left at halftime and most of them would have trickled back in halfway through the third quarter, pickled, and climbing through the rows to their seats while gameplay is ongoing.  If they have to stay to see the second half, they're gonna take care of business and get back to their seats.  Less people crawling over you while you're trying to watch the game you paid to see.  It's gonna be a good thing overall and it's gonna happen eventually.  

Once it begins, the next generation will only know that's how it always was and they will leave that mentality of escaping the stadium at halftime.  

[ShawHerd]

"I've had season tickets for years and years and have never left the stadium once."

...and I bet the reason you have not left the stadium once is because that is what Herdmeister wants to do. The one thing you have in common with those that do is everyone does what they want to do. So now you know why people leave the stadium, it's what they want, just like what you want.

[HerdFanJ]

Might be because a lot of folks have stepped out of the stadium. Think about a no entry policy with current facility sq footage and 20,000 people trying to get concessions. Personally, although I enjoy the pass out advantage, if they were to expand the stadium concourse and upgrade the concessions from carnival slop to something edible, I wouldn't mind it at all if they implemented a no reentry.

WKU as far as concessions offerings would be a good model. And for anyone that might complain about the wait standing in line at WKU should consider it was because it was very good food, cold beer and no pass outs. I have no problem waiting in line for shrimp, pulled pork., chicken, milkshakes and beer.

We had upper level seats and WKU concessions were AWFUL!  I just wanted a drink and a snack since we were driving after the game, but the wait was at least 20 minutes for a crowd that was not huge.

[biggreenarms]

We had upper level seats and WKU concessions were AWFUL!  I just wanted a drink and a snack since we were driving after the game, but the wait was at least 20 minutes for a crowd that was not huge.

Awful how? Because of the wait or because of the quality?

[coalherd]

Would like to know what some of you mean by the need for the Herd improving the game atmosphere.  Obviously, improved concessions, upgraded rest rooms, and more of them, and wider concourses are pretty much on everyone's "wish list".  

But as for the game itself, well CUSA football is what it is, at least for the present.  Appears WKU and MTSU will be competitive with the Herd for foreseeable future and Southern Miss has resurfaced as a yearly challenger.  As for non-conference, games with Ohio U. should fire up the base if you are truly a Herd fan, closest geographic FBS opponent, with a long history between the schools.

Otherwise, some apparently think that only Power opponents are worthy of undivided interest.  Schedule full of such foes Aint' going to happen, folks.  Every season will contain games against a few conference "weak sisters" plus a sacrificial FCS opponent, per Hamrick's wishes, who won't be competitive beyond a quarter or quarter and a half.

Against such current opponents and those in foreseeable future, what can the Herd do.  Well, we have one of the top home winning percentages in last 15-20 years at the Joan.  Have won 10 games or more for last 3 years.  That's pretty good atmosphere in my book.  Should be entertaining enough for majority of fans.  Honestly, I think we have a significant block of fans, including those who spend the pre and post game, plus halftime, as well as much of the actual game time itself out in the parking lots, who really don't know whether they are watching a Cabell Midland JV game or a League 3 little league baseball game!!!

[chris88]

Marshall is definitely in the minority of schools allowing re-entry. Off the top of my head I can't think of a stadium I've been in the past few years that allowed re-entry. How tough is it to stay in the stadium for 3 hours? It's not like there is nothing to eat or drink or rest rooms available.

I'm not sure you could call what they serve in the stadium "food"  ;D