The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(12-01-2013 11:02 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  My one thought on improvements is that it would be nice to have more food options. Having some of the local food trucks in Blazer Village before the game would be nice. Having them in the stadium would be even better, but I'm guessing there are contracts that would prevent that.

I thought about this earlier when I walked by the food trucks set up outside Bartow. Some of the stadiums I have been to this year have had pretty awesome and unique concessions, but those were also frequented by many, many more people. The concessions at Regions Field are pretty incredible though, and they don't do Legion Field volume.

I'm sure I'm due for a harsh dose of reality this week when I start meeting people face to face, but keep all this stuff coming, guys. I appreciate it.

(12-01-2013 10:46 PM)rook360 Wrote:  Are the concession stands run by volunteer organizations? Do the people who run the stands get to keep part of the profits. If so then why can some fans volunteer to work a stand and use the money as an initiative to raise funds for the football facilities (weight room, training areas, OCS) Nothing says fan support to an administration then fans giving up their time to raise money for their school or team.

Only conflict there being that those working the game wouldn't be able to watch the game. But it would look great/ feel great to be able to spend money at the game knowing it was going right back into the program.

In addition to food trucks, it would be cool to have a craft beer tasting courtesy of one of our local breweries or our friends at J Clyde. Since we can't play next door to Good People for now, might as well bring them to the "historic Smithfield neighborhood."

The alcohol sales this year opened that door pretty wide.

You have to ensure it is financially worth it for food truck vendors to be there. With probably half of the few people that go to games tailgating, I doubt they would make a profit.

This is just me bringing more attention to myself

I had thought about going the complete opposite direction with concessions and cutting it back drastically. I gather a lot of it is low quality anyway. How many people would miss the hot dogs, pop corn, etc? I'm a pretty big fan of the Papa John's thingers, but I never eat anything else at the games.

If we could get local food vendors at the concession stands, maybe we could use it to replace the traditional concessions, at least in large part.

(12-02-2013 01:10 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  I had thought about going the complete opposite direction with concessions and cutting it back drastically. I gather a lot of it is low quality anyway. How many people would miss the hot dogs, pop corn, etc? I'm a pretty big fan of the Papa John's thingers, but I never eat anything else at the games.

If we could get local food vendors at the concession stands, maybe we could use it to replace the traditional concessions, at least in large part.

Keep in mind that the Papa John's concession is the only company run concession at Legion Field. It was installed back when the company was the Bowl game sponsor and has stayed ever since.

I don't know the "ins & outs" of getting professional food vendors for the rest, but it certainly would make that aspect of the game experience better.

I say make them all company-run and get rid of that other garbage.

I sense a meeting in the works. I'm off on December 6, so just say what time and where. Change, or the attempt to do so, has to start somewhere, and acceptance is just another form of surrender.

If we don't get an OCS because you guys made Legion Field nicer, I'm going to be pissed

(12-02-2013 01:10 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  I had thought about going the complete opposite direction with concessions and cutting it back drastically. I gather a lot of it is low quality anyway. How many people would miss the hot dogs, pop corn, etc? I'm a pretty big fan of the Papa John's thingers, but I never eat anything else at the games.

If we could get local food vendors at the concession stands, maybe we could use it to replace the traditional concessions, at least in large part.

I like that idea, but for once, "Lesion" Field may be coming around to that concept. I recall seeing a sign about Dreamland BBQ having a venue set up in there somewhere during the "Nightmare On Graymont" game this past Saturday.

(12-02-2013 08:12 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  If we don't get an OCS because you guys made Legion Field nicer, I'm going to be pissed

lol either it's hopeless or we're going to accomplish so much it endangers the OCS. I'm not aiming quite that high.

I'll keep everyone posted on meetings and such.

(12-02-2013 12:39 PM)thebernreuter Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 08:12 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  If we don't get an OCS because you guys made Legion Field nicer, I'm going to be pissed

lol either it's hopeless or we're going to accomplish so much it endangers the OCS. I'm not aiming quite that high.

I'll keep everyone posted on meetings and such.

Please do, as I'm interested in where this is going & its' potential for success.

(12-02-2013 08:12 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  If we don't get an OCS because you guys made Legion Field nicer, I'm going to be pissed

Also remember "they" said we needed to show more fan support. Fans getting their hands dirty for free just because that's how much they love their school and their football team sounds pretty supportive.

(12-02-2013 12:51 PM)thebernreuter Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 08:12 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  If we don't get an OCS because you guys made Legion Field nicer, I'm going to be pissed

Also remember "they" said we needed to show more fan support. Fans getting their hands dirty for free just because that's how much they love their school and their football team sounds pretty supportive.

I could care less about what "they"(the tuscaloosa toadstools) think, "they" will just ignore any and all efforts to initiate positive change for the football team, I remember when "they" were quoted in Kaleidoscope as saying just show them some proof of support and they would entertain the idea of an OCS...Liars!!!

Whatever contribution I can make for the betterment of the football team is for the football team, not for those bastards on that board of trustees.
#ThankYouAuburn!!!

I'm sure the Park Board might let you guys pick up trash in the stadium after the game. I was told by some fans that the rainwater soaked nacho container was the same one they left there the previous game. This wasn't a remote section of the stadium, but on the 50 yard line.

I suspect that will be the limit of any volunteerism.

Oh trash pickup is a foregone conclusion. I'm sure they all love doing that. No dice if that's all I get to do, though, because with their pay and benefits, they ought to be able to do that on their own.

One of my person mottos is "put some gloves on and f*ckin' figure it out!"

(12-01-2013 02:28 PM)thebernreuter Wrote:  

(12-01-2013 02:26 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  We should not have to volunteer to do what should be someone else's job that they aren't doing. There are also liability issues that the City will have to deal with regarding volunteers. Won't happen.

It could be someone else's job if there were money to pay them for it. I wish everything that needed to be done at Legion Field would just be taken care of, but that isn't happening right now. I want to know why and what can be done about it. Just like people can donate money to the program, they can donate time and elbow grease as well. I don't have thousands of dollars to give to the athletic department, but there are other ways I can give to make up for it. Legion Field is obviously a glaring issue that will be a part of our program for a long time, so if there is any way for willing, determined people with some time to make some stuff happen out there, I want to know about it.

The liability issues don't prevent people from working the games as volunteers.

What are you going to do that would be meaningful?

Are you going to scrape rust and repaint?
Are you going to clean toilets and fix plumbing?
Are you going to pressure wash all the grimy concrete?
Are you going to replace lightbulbs high up on the scoreboard?
Are you going to cook fresh hotdogs?
Are you going to install a new sound system?
Are you going to revitalize the surrounding area?

I just don't think there is any realistic, meaningful difference you can make.

Shrink it by about two-thirds and relocate it to 13th and 5th Avenue south.

Anything else is putting lipstick on a pig.

(12-02-2013 03:53 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  What our you going to do that would be meaningful?

Are you going to scrape rust and repaint?
Are you going to clean toilets and fix plumbing?
Are you going to pressure wash all the grimy concrete?
Are you going to replace lightbulbs high up on the scoreboard?
Are you going to cook fresh hotdogs?
Are you going to install a new sound system?
Are you going to revitalize the surrounding area?

I just don't think there is any realistic, meaningful difference you can make.

Paint, plumbing, and pressure washing were all on my list. The sound system is only a few years old, and it was very expensive, but we can revisit that. What's wrong with it?

The people that do the stadium lights can handle the scoreboard. You are SOL on the surrounding area.

I appreciate your vote of confidence. Anyone else?