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Post by amakelky on May 6, 2014 21:27:23 GMT -6
This might seem like a strange question, but I am in the midst of trying to convince the community and board members to include lights in our new stadium project. We are building an exceptional facility (turf, track, and stadium) but not currently planning on lights. We play our varsity games anywhere from 2-4pm on Friday afternoons, it feels like a JV game atmosphere to me. Does anyone have any experience in pitching this to your board or community? Most people say it gets too cold to play at night, and the always constructive "we've just never had lights, I don't see why we need them now." Any input is appreciated!
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Post by keysersoze on May 6, 2014 22:18:54 GMT -6
I don't know about where you are but most places that I have been you will increase your gate two to three times by starting your games at 7 instead of 4:30. I am guessing that your gate goes to the district and so bigger crowds will mean more money for the district. Also by having turf and lights, you will make a ton of money in facility rentals. If you have JV and Varsity games, you can stack games to save on travel, supervision, etc., and it also increases gate. Do other schools in your league have lights? It's hard to have Friday night without lights. You need to get parents on board with applying pressure on the district. This will do more than any arguments you can make to be honest.
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Post by coachg13 on May 7, 2014 5:31:08 GMT -6
Like keysersoze said - sell the $$$$ aspect. Bigger gate and who knows how much from renting out the field on weekends, during spring, summer, etc. Also, how about "There is no better atmosphere in America than a high school football game under the lights on Friday night, let's bring that here"? That's my humble opinion but I'm sure others share it. |
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Post by fantom on May 7, 2014 7:37:52 GMT -6
This might seem like a strange question, but I am in the midst of trying to convince the community and board members to include lights in our new stadium project. We are building an exceptional facility (turf, track, and stadium) but not currently planning on lights. We play our varsity games anywhere from 2-4pm on Friday afternoons, it feels like a JV game atmosphere to me. Does anyone have any experience in pitching this to your board or community? Most people say it gets too cold to play at night, and the always constructive "we've just never had lights, I don't see why we need them now." Any input is appreciated! School boards listen to parents. Get some parents to complain that they can't see their kids play at 4 because they're still at work. |
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Post by gibbs72 on May 7, 2014 8:01:47 GMT -6
Man, I hope this isn't a new negative trend starting. I've never heard of building a beautiful new facility and not having lights as part of the package.
Hey, I want that great new 2015 Escalade. Should I pay extra for a headlights or just plan on driving from dawn to dusk?
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Post by coachphillip on May 7, 2014 9:21:56 GMT -6
1) Parents can make more games on Friday nights. Work hours.
2) More students make it to games on Friday nights. Don't know why. Maybe because it's the place to be.
3) Other sports can practice and play night games. Soccer, lacrosse, track.
4) You can rent the facility at night on a year round basis.
All of those things mean more revenue. Get parents to go after these guys. If it's a cost issue, the rental alone would pay for the lights over time. The gate increase is a big boon for the installation of lights. When I was in high school, we didn't have lights. We played our rivals for the league championship game. We moved the game to their field to make it a Friday night game instead of a Friday at 4:00 game and, as a result, had to split the gate. It was the single highest grossing game in school history and we only made half of what we could have because we didn't have lights. Sad.
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Post by coachbowlin on May 7, 2014 9:36:03 GMT -6
coachphillip said it best. Any new facility needs to have lights to enable more parents to attend the gmae which increases the gate money.
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Post by amakelky on May 7, 2014 17:37:35 GMT -6
coachphillip said it best. Any new facility needs to have lights to enable more parents to attend the gmae which increases the gate money. Here's the crazy thing, there is no gate and we don't charge anything for admission. No one in our league does, until the post season at least. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk |
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Post by freezeoption on May 7, 2014 18:04:54 GMT -6
well, I am guessing you live in Wyoming, so that might be the reason they don't play at night, I coached in Idaho for four years, first two were up in the mountains, we didn't have lights, colder than snot at night, either played our games at 430 or on Saturdays at 2, the only time we played at night was when we went to the valley or when we played riggins which was farther north but was actually below sea level, so I am guessing that is what it is like there. all you can do is work with parents, boosters and maybe they will want to make the changes, parents are the ones footing the bill, if they want it they will let their voice be heard
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