Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

I don't understand all these articles about beer.

This is nothing new.

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

(08-24-2014 08:20 PM)upstater1 Wrote:  I don't understand all these articles about beer.

This is nothing new.

For many schools in the south it is new. Some states, like North Carolina, do not allow alcohol... Weird because it is sold at the club level of Dowdy but nowhere else in the stadium. Same for UNC and NC State.

SMU is in University Park which until two years ago was dry.

(08-24-2014 09:59 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

They still aren't all that prevalent in stores around here (our merchandising effort sucks ass, and always has, but that's another story). They are easy enough to find online, but a lot tougher to find in local stores in the area. I'm sure cost is a big factor, too. The UCF tents are about $200 (+ shipping if bought online) while far cheaper tents are readily available in local stores.

(08-25-2014 10:04 AM)Knightshift Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 09:59 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

They still aren't all that prevalent in stores around here (our merchandising effort sucks ass, and always has, but that's another story). They are easy enough to find online, but a lot tougher to find in local stores in the area. I'm sure cost is a big factor, too. The UCF tents are about $200 (+ shipping if bought online) while far cheaper tents are readily available in local stores.

I can say for myself, choosing between a $200 cheap 9x9 tent that has the UCF logo and a solid 10x10 tent from Sports Authority that is much better all around and also happens to be gold with a black tip was a no brainer.

I don't mind fans not buying the UCF specific ones. But at least buy a black or gold generic one. I hate seeing memory mall covered in blue and green tents. And then there are the retards that have a different team branded tent and they are my biggest pet peeve of all.

(08-25-2014 10:04 AM)Knightshift Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 09:59 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

They still aren't all that prevalent in stores around here (our merchandising effort sucks ass, and always has, but that's another story). They are easy enough to find online, but a lot tougher to find in local stores in the area. I'm sure cost is a big factor, too. The UCF tents are about $200 (+ shipping if bought online) while far cheaper tents are readily available in local stores.

That's pretty interesting (mainly because I was in this business so it intrigues me). The merchandizing, as you call it, doesn't fall on the school. It falls on the retailers wanting to sell the gear. The retailers are who drive the markets. The more they order, the more the wholesalers will do to get new/different gear available to the retailers.

I do feel your pain about the tent costs, though it is the same everywhere and not unique to UCF. There is an absolute minimum anyone is allowed to sell the tents for. That is set by the wholesaler in an effort to protect the value of their products and not go out of business. So, most everyone in the country will have Logo brand tents for sale around $200. That is for all universities...and the cost to all of their fans. Some outfits will have a really good sale but I will tell you that they are making almost no money when they do. They'd have to sell a ton at one time. The retailers use the tents as a way to draw traffic to their other items. There are other brands besides Logo Chair...but the story is the same.

As for the availability, ECU has maybe five stores locally that sell the tents (student store, UBE/piratewear.com, Overton's, Wal-Mart and one other sports store that I can't remember the name). There may be a few others. I could be wrong but I'd be surprised if it were much higher. Since 65% of our season ticket holders come from out of town (yes, the University did a study), that means it is pretty hard to get a tent unless you buy it online or when you come back to Greenville.

I don't think UCF faces any challenges that other fan bases are free of. Unfortunately, I think the unwillingness of UCF fans to buy UCF tents is what drives the perceived lack of availability. The tents are there. Just have to be willing to buy them the same way other fan bases do. Hopefully it will change at UCF. There is nothing like having a sea of tents in your teams colors.

(08-24-2014 09:59 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

Lol. Really?

First off, you're looking at Memory Mall which is 95% students. And students don't have alot of money, so buying a $200 UCF themed tent is not really a good option for them when they can buy a blue tent for less than half of that. In fact I would wager that most of those tents were hauled from home with them to college.

I can also assure you that when you're walking through Memory Mall, the last thing you're paying attention to is the friggin color of the tents.

The alumni areas have way more UCF tents.

(08-25-2014 10:35 AM)The Knight Time Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 09:59 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:17 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 07:03 PM)RedRocker Wrote:  Ho hum. We've been doing this for decades.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2014/8/24...ortunities

Oh hey that campus looks familiar.

Is UCF the only FBS school where tailgaters refuse to sport UCF themed tents? I called this out years ago and the excuse was tent product wasn't available yet in masse. That certainly isn't the case now and hasn't been for a number of years, yet I still see tons of generic tents.

Lol. Really?

First off, you're looking at Memory Mall which is 95% students. And students don't have alot of money, so buying a $200 UCF themed tent is not really a good option for them when they can buy a blue tent for less than half of that. In fact I would wager that most of those tents were hauled from home with them to college.

I can also assure you that when you're walking through Memory Mall, the last thing you're paying attention to is the friggin color of the tents.

The alumni areas have way more UCF tents.

It was just an observation...one I made when UCF first joined C-USA and revisited a couple of years ago. I had good reason to as I sold directly to the fan base as a retailer. It baffled me to see it the same way today.

I agree about students not having a ton of money. I am sure the logo'd tents in purely student dominated tailgate areas at ECU also have a lower percentage of logo'd tents. Just not what it looks like in that article picture.

In this case, it sounds as if people aren't willing to spend the money as other fan bases are (including students or their parents). It is what it is. Not a put down. But as a former retailer, UCF is an anomaly in that regard among FBS fan bases. Finding out the reason why is like solving a retail mystery. Maybe cracking that opens the door to cash in. Hence the question.