Transportation-Is this an option?

[Mike]

Transportation, Is this an option?


Travelling down to FIU from North Dade County of Broward County is not something to look forward to, especially with a full stadium of people clogging up the roads both coming and going to the games.

I have a recommendation / suggestion that might be beneficial to season ticket sales. Individuals that wish to attend the games, but don't enjoy driving would be more than willing to pay an extra few dollars so that they wouldn't have to drive.

Let's have busses originating from FIU satellite campuses. With each season ticket, we would offer a season bus pass - for an additional charge of $50 ($10 / game). On an individual game basis, - based on seat availability - the price would be $20/game. Round trip transportation to the Orange Bowl or FIU Campus would be a great incentive for individuals, especially the snow birds who come down in the fall and are not familiar with the roads or just don't like to drive. [Are we attempting to market season tickets to this segment of the local population?] Budget the break-even point for the cost of a bus at 15 -20 passengers / season tickets, or, use some of the smaller vans if the numbers work. Get 40 people to fill up a bus and you have another source of income.

Would $150-$200 cover the cost of renting a bus for 6 hours? Throw in 1-2 tickets for the bus driver and there would be no problem getting drivers.

$10 for round-trip transportation, so that (1) I wouldn't have to drive and (2) pay at least $10.00 for parking is a bargain. Leave a little earlier and we have people participating in the tailgating, pre-game activities and purchasing food and FIU paraphernalia. Are the fraternities and sororities setting up tables outside the stadium and selling things?

If the administration doesn't want to do this, or even if they do, the fraternities, sororities, and other student groups could call up their graduated members and alumni, sell them season tickets and bus tickets, and earn a commission. Let the pledges make the calls :-)

[Xpedition]

When demand calls for it, something will happen. In all honesty though, I don't see access to the stadium being a problem. People have many options on a Saturday.

• Turnpike to 8th street. Then a) go through 112 ave or b) go through 117 ave.
• Palmetto/874 to 8th street or Coral Way. Go in through 107 ave, or 112 (from coral way through the park), or 117.
• Use 836 and go through 107 or 112 or the new entrance on 115 ave(or whatever it is)

You want to see access problems, go to a game at UF. Even UM games are a nightmare - everyone uses 836 and gets off at 27th ave.

[Mike]

We are trying to build a fan base of 30,000 fans and must do everything we can to make it easy, convenient, and fun to attend a FIU football game.

Regarding the comment when the demand is there -

I believe the demand is there today and that season ticket sales in North Dade and Broward (with transportation as an option) will go up dramatically.

Offer the transportation option to prospective season ticket holders and businesses and see if you sell more tickets. Offer to pick up people in a business's parking lot, mall, technology park, or condominium complex if they purchase 25 season tickets and the sale becomes much easier. I project that you will see a significant increase in ticket sales with the travel option.

The objective is to get people to the games, ensure they have a good time, and want to come back! When driving to and from the game takes up as much or more time as the game itself, people are less likely to attend.

Travelling with a group of friends on a bus, every other week becomes a festive affair. The bus trip itself becomes a party, is part of the "football event", and is all the more enjoyable because you don't have to concern yourself with the driving.

[Rhetorical Questions: How many people in South Miami have ever been to a Florida Panthers hockey game or even a Miami Dolphin football game? Joe Robbie Stadium has access roads, however getting into and out of their parking lot is a pain. How many people in Palm Beach or Broward County have been to a Miami Heat Basketball game?]

If someone has the option of (a) driving or (b) having transportation provided, they will take option b. Most people who live up north (North Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County) and have never driven to UP, and certainly most snowbirds, are not going to drive to south Miami.

Remember the competition for the entertainment dollar is fierce. For an individual who lives in Broward, is it more convenient to drive to a FAU game, drive to an UM game, drive to a FIU game, or get a ride to a FIU game? I will pick the game where I don't have to fight the traffic, all things being equal.

[FIUPantherFan]

You could theoretically take the shuttle from Biscayne Bay camputs to University Park (I believe it runs on Saturdays), when I was there the fee was $2 each way ($4 round trip). If anything, all the university would have to do is extend bus services till later on at night on game nights. It shouldn't be too much of a problem. As a matter of fact, I believe this is something that should be done for students who live at Biscayne Bay on game days if it is not being done already!

[FIUPride]

I think it's a great option. Thinking out of the box, good suggestion. Leave customers no excuse not to buy what your trying to sell - Season Tickets.

[Mike]

Rick Mello, and Modesto Maidique - If transportation is an option they need to put out an official release. Once this issue is clarified, the ticket office, marketing, sales, etc can use that [official] information to assist in the sale of tickets.

To clarify a few points that need to be addressed;

• Can non-students use the presently scheduled bus for transportation to and from the North Campus?
  
• Can non-students park at the North Campus? What are the parking restrictions? Would we need to issue a special football game day parking sticker?
  
• Will the busses stop in front of, or near the stadium?
  
• Has the fall bus schedule been released? [What are the Saturday departure times?]
  

The only way that I can see for this (transportation option) to work would be to sell tickets specifically for transportation to the stadium or so that sufficient buses can be scheduled.

With the football schedule announced, adding a stop [in front of or conveniently near the stadium] before the game(s) and adding a pickup point after the game should be included in the official release.

• See Thread - Football Season Tickets
  
  

[Devastator]

When i took the shuttle bus no one ever asked if the people taking the bus were fiu students.

THe only way non students can park at north campus is ifthey park by the parking meters.

There are no Saturday bus departure times because the service is not provided on Saturdays. Even on Fridays the service is cut short as the last bus leaving both campuses I think is 7:50pm.

[Steve]

I know this does not answer any of the transportation issues now, but by roughly 2012, Miami-Dade county wants a Metrorail line that runs between FIU and downtown Miami, meeting up with both the current metrorail and Trirail. This should make these games even more accessable to the fans!