First, I'll dispense with the obvious. Winning will bring back the fans. Although UTEP has won 4 out of 5 games thus far this season, consistency is what the program will need to ultimately achieve. Simply winning 4 to 6, or even more games, in just one season isn't going to do it.
Next, people here whine about the ticket prices. There's this little thing called inflation that has existed ever since man began bartering. Deny it all you want, but costs do go up year after year, and thus those increases are passed on to the consumer. Don't think that's fair? Too bad, it's always been like that, and it will always be like that - period. People who think ticket prices should be held like they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago are living in their own little bubble.
Those who also whine about $15 tickets don't seem too concerned about $4 hot dogs, $6 slices of pizza and $9 beers. Case in point, at last Saturday's game, I saw a group of 20ish guys downing Dos Equis beers like it was their last day on Earth. I'm sure they spent well over a $100 collectively. But they seemed able to afford it, so more power to them. Those who have entertainment money to spend are going to spend it somewhere. For those who have limited income, they'll find alternate forms of entertainment elsewhere. Those who whine that a family of four can't afford to attend a UTEP game aren't taking into consideration what it costs compared to attending a Chihuahuas or Locomotive game, going to a movie theater, Western Playland, etc. You'd spend about the same amount of money at either one of those events, if just on concessions alone. All you whiners focus on is "Chihuahuas offer $5 tickets" and so on. Can't afford to go out? Stay home and watch Netflix.
I don't attend UTEP games for the promotions, or lack thereof. I attend for the GAME! Imagine that! I even forgot about that Speaking Rock promotion that was held last Saturday. I guess I would have been happy winning some cash after a score. Some people were last Saturday night, good for them. So arguing that UTEP needs to come up with innovative promotions to attract fans is ludicrous.
Now here's my biggest issue with UTEP. The Sun Bowl is an antiquated piece of shit stadium. Blasphemous for some I'm sure, but the truth sometimes hurts. I rather watch UTEP play at Aggie Memorial Stadium instead. Oh so blasphemous to say! It may had been the crown jewel of a stadium at one time, but the Sun Bowl is a relic today, and is in need of serious renovations or a complete reconstruction, whichever is more cost effective. Metal benches with no back rests. No leg room between the metal benches in the original sections built back in the 60s. This isn't a problem with the east side expansion sections and north end zone built in the 80s. Run down restrooms that always stink like piss and shit. Basic concessions only offered at the concourse areas. You have to go to the north end zone or east side of the stadium to get more specialty items.
Know why I enjoy attending Chihuahuas games and am a season ticket holder? Yes, winning helps, but I enjoy Southwest University Park and what it has to offer. There are actual chairs to sit on. Plenty of food and drink options spread out throughout the stadium. A view of the field from anywhere on the concourse. Patio areas available for rent to host gatherings and parties. Adequate restrooms also spread out throughout the stadium, clean and maintained throughout the game. Access to club areas for season ticket holders. Attending a Chihuahuas game isn't just watching a baseball game, it's a night out with family and friends. We had our first losing season this year, but I didn’t seem to mind it. Just being out at the Ballpark night after night, hanging and chatting with friends, and watching a ballgame was good enough for me.
A reimagined Sun Bowl Stadium would consist of chairs and sufficient leg room to stretch out. We no longer need a 50,000 seat stadium. Capacity can be reduced to 40,000, or even as low as 35,000. Tear down the north end zone and convert it into a wide open plaza and patio area that fans can congregate, complete with table, benches and chairs. Create a center concourse area in the open where fans can walk around, complete with concession stands and carts much like the Chihuahuas have at Southwest University Park. Fans can get their concessions while still viewing the on-field action, not buried underneath the Sun Bowl. Upgrade the restroom facilities so that they don't look and smell like you're in prison. And do something with the south end zone. That closed area of the Sun Bowl just looks so plain and boring. Rebuild it to support additional weight, and maybe that's where you can build bench seating, with back supports and adequate leg room, and offer the cheap priced tickets.
Bring the Sun Bowl Stadium into the 21st century. I don’t know where the funding for a complete renovation or reconstruction will come from. It will cost millions of dollars. But it would be a worthwhile investment for UTEP that would serve them for decades to come. And for those who would say a reduced capacity Sun Bowl Stadium would affect the annual Sun Bowl game, quite the opposite. It would help make the game more attractive with a much more modernized stadium. Far less tickets to sell? That would only make it a more hotter ticket to offer.
Now having said all this, I’m sure NoMames and every other naysayer will continue to blame Dimel, Senter, conference affiliation, ticket prices, scheduling bad teams, and everything else under the sun. To quote Kuiil from The Mandalorian, “I have spoken.”
