Wright Waters, the Executive Director for the Football Bowl Association, speaks to the Alabama Sports Writers Association at a luncheon on Sunday, June 9 at Sewell Thomas Stadium. [Edwin Stanton]
“That is something different that we’ve never had to deal with before,” Waters said last week while meeting with the Alabama Sports Writers Association. “When we had the Greatest Generation watching games, television was 30x30x30. We now have 70-inch TVs, and football is a game that broadcasts very well. For people to be able to sit at home on the couch with a cold beer and clean restrooms — that’s an issue we’ve never dealt with before as we made these transitions.
“Also, this generation is tied to cellphones and we don’t know exactly how to get into it.”
This generation also is tied to student debt. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, 46 percent of 2017 University of Alabama graduates have some type of debt. The average debt for 2017 UA graduates is $34,000.
Getting younger alumni to attend football games with such a big financial burden becomes more difficult.
“Students come out of college with huge debt and they don’t have expendable income,” Waters said. “You hear about these graduates going back to live with mom and dad because they can’t afford their first home. It’s a challenge we are still working on and have to figure out.”
Alabama is taking steps to keep the fans’ interest at home games, particularly students. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been critical in the past of students leaving games early, and through a renovation project of Bryant-Denny Stadium, UA hopes to keep students in the stands for more than just one half.
The UA board of trustees just approved a budget increase for the stadium renovation project from $75.5 million to $92.5 million due to changes in the original plans. Upgrades to the plan include larger video scoreboards in the corners of the stadium, more elevators, and 10,000 square feet of space on the southeast ground level providing a shaded area for students to socialize.
“I don’t know of any stadium in the country that has an area like this designated for the students, so it will be a nice addition for them,” Byrne said at the trustees meeting last week.
The slight dip in attendance is not enough for immediate concern, Waters said. College football continues to be profitable and has a huge impact on local economies. But the lower numbers do suggest finding ways of protecting that investment for the future.
That could mean tweaking the playoff system and expanding it to eight teams, which sounds good on paper.
Waters said he was part of the team a few years ago that was tasked with coming up with a plan to replace the old BCS system. His team came up with an eight-team playoff with first-round games played on campus Jan. 1. There was blowback from college presidents.
“They didn’t just tell us no, but hell no,” Waters said. “You are not bringing this thing to our campus during exams and all the hotels are already sold out for graduation. So you have to shrink this thing down to about 21 days.”
The other issue with an expanded playoff is money. Fans who already spend a hefty amount on regular-season games would be asked to cough up more money for playoff games, which includes travel, lodging and meals.
“That’s a lot to ask of fans,” Waters said. “There are logistical issues. What can the public afford? Alabama has seven home games, then you go to (the SEC title) game, then you go to a semifinal and then a final — we have people that can’t afford that.”
”.
