UTEP football parking

Back from vacation:

UTEP was wise, on more than one front, to cut parking prices for home football games — according to information posted on Ticketmaster.com

1. UTEP needs to sell tickets despite the economy. This is an obvious reason for the cuts. Now you can park in the new garage for $10 instead of $20. RV parking is way down, too.

2. The season-ticket holders and the city's suits and swells will have a pretty firm hold on just about all the tickets for the Texas game, which is the home opener. This, at the least, puts the notion in the middle-class's heads that it'll be fun to go to the other home games, including the rival games vs. New Mexico State.

3. UTEP is hedging. What if the Miners lose the season opener at Buffalo, and then lose big to Texas? That would be an 0-2 start. That would mean fans would be crying, "I'm not paying those high prices again for a team that's already 0-2.

Good move UTEP, for a variety of reasons.

Comments

[Jim Beam]

Excellent analysis on the UTEP parking issue, Joe. I agree 100% - very wise decision for all the reasons you stated.

[Gsans]

I would agree to say that UTEP was wise regarding this issue, if it was done years ago! Parking on Stanton street and all the other streets on Kern is basically free. Pay $5 and you can park on someones yard or $10 to park on the parking lots of closed shops or Dr's Office. It took this long for UTEP to figure out that they needed to bring those patrons willing to pay $10 for parking back into their revenue? Let's face it, it is all about the $$ not about being nice during hard economic times. Wise to make an extra buck? Yes!

[just a thought]

Hedging? You bet. If things don't go as planned early on you have to let the general public know prices are back to affordable. Besides, the parking garage last season was empty, empty, empty.

You never know what fans will start thinking after a slew of different scenarios. Buffalo is gonna be tough. They went 5-3 in the newly stout MAC so that's no cakewalk. Texas and UTEP could BOTH come in 0-1. Texas plays Gary Nord's FAU team which returns 18 starters. Florida guys are just fast. Appalachian Ahem St.

What's worse than losing big to Texas? Losing big right after FAU upsets Texas at home.

[Toasted Whitebred]

Right on! Ten bucks for parking is a bargain :-(

[Who's your Mumme]

The 0-2 scenario is a pretty good possibility for Utep.
Buffalo was one of the worst teams in the country a couple of years ago but, Coach Gill has done a phenomenal job and may get them to bowl game this year! Yes, bowl game.

Maybe I'm biased but, NMSU doesn't charge for parking so, $10 or $100 for RV's sound ridiculous!
Parking at Utep has always been an issue so, it now comes at a premium.

I can't wait for the Battle of I-10, even if I have two walk two miles to get to my truck!

[Lu]

UTEP fans may whine more than any D1 program in the nation...

[chico]

Mumme, UTEP still doesn't charge. This is just for parking in the parking garage. Get it now? There is still plenty of parking on and around campus. By the way, expect to be surprised by a 2-0 start to UTEP's season. Gunning for NMSU and some major major payback that will make your boy Muench squeal like a bigger pig.

[Who's your Mumme]

Plenty of parking?

Parking in front of homes/ business' or walking more than a mile does not sound like "plenty of parking" to me.

Anyways, I'll get a good look at the parking accomodations in September.

Squeel like a pig?
Sounds like Joe will be playing a role in the "Deliverance" sequel ;)

[Vic]

JAT,
Texas losing to FAU at home?!
That's a bold prediction!

FAU has an easy time recruiting in talent rich, Florida and may give UT a run for there money but, beating them??

Lot's of cojones w/ that call my friend!

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

All fans walk to games in Ann Arbor in crowds that resemble Russian street gangs. It's a tradition to walk and nobody is complaining. Tailgating starts on Friday night at the University of Maryland. That's possible for a school that allows the allnighter.

UTEP and NMSU fans have become too accustomed to showing up, fighting for good parking, and too often, leaving early. A college football game should be a weekend event. That is what happens all over the country. The attachment, the loyalty, and the love for our two local universities is lukewarm at best.

I know a lot of you are waiting for the schools to produce a winner and give the fans something to get excited about. Where do you think those winning traditions at other schools came from? They didn't plant special seeds in the field at Notre Dame that grew great football teams. It started with people who cared. And if you care about the success of UTEP football, you'll pay for season tickets, tailgate all day, walk for 2 miles, stay until the end of the game, (that means EVERY game) and quit whining.

[Robert]

I think this is a make or break season for Mike Price. UTEP hasnt won a big game. They put up alot of points againts the big schools, Texas Tech, ECU, but always seem to lose it in the 4th quarter. Hopefully this knew 3-3-5 defense will make a difference. Because we all know that defense wins games. I think people need to stop complaining so much about prices and just support our home team. You want Big Time College Football well shut up and pay the price like the rest of the country. Miners, I hope you have a great season, I support you and will be at all your home games.. GO Miners!

[MINERFAN08]

This is a make or break season for Mike Price. All the player's on the UTEP Football Team are player's he has recruited. I agree that this 3-3-5 defense should be an improvement for the team. EL Paso step up and support your football team and stop crying about the price to park and the price of tickets. You want a successful team, well shut up and support them. The rest of the country pays the price and supports their teams and so should we.. EL Paso buy some season tickes, where in college football can you get season tickets for $99 dollars.... Step Up El Paso and Support Your Miners!! When has a little exercise and walking hurt anybody???

[Lowercase Ray]

Gsans, this parking garage only came into use last year. I remember the healthy discussions we had on this blog as to whether El Pasoans would pay the hefty $20 to park there. A year later, we now know that they will not! This price is closer to being reasonable. It gets you closer to the stadium, keeps the car under cover and leaves the car in a more secured area. If this doesn't bring them in, then maybe next year they'll go to $5-$8? Eventually market demand will decide the best price.

[MINERFAN08]

By the way, does anybody have any idea if the UTEP vs Buffalo game will be on tv.. On ESPN Game Plan or any other sports package? I would think it would be being that this is one of the very first games of the whole 2008 college football season....

[RobinLA]

If it costs more than 99 cents in El Paso the population screams bloody murder. You want a big time college football program El Paso? It costs money. Suck it up or go back to being 1-10 and hosting, as well as losing to, the likes of Alcorn State.

[just a thought]

Vic,

That call is a lot of wishful thinking, blatant ignorance, and a tad bit of logic. I have seen firsthand the type of game Texas brings to home openers. I attended the NMSU/Texas game in Austin the week before 9/11. Yikes. Due respect given, NMSU is not FAU and Texas is not that loaded team of '01 either.

Texas' confidence and ego are always up that first game -- they're gonna need it. While FAU looked easy on paper back when it was first scheduled they are far from that now.

Yeah, this prediction is a stretch but I'll stick to my guns. FAU over Texas in Austin. By the way good luck to NMSU vs. Nebraska.

[MondoMiner]

The Texas game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

I have season tix and LOVE the convenience of the parking garage. They even do a great job of getting traffic in and out of the garage and onto I-10 before and after the game. I would definitely pay 10 bucks for that convenience!

[Who's your Mumme]

Not sure who was asking if the Utep/ Buffalo tilt was on ESPN.

Here's the ABC/ ESPN 2008 FB schedule:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3264057

[RJ]

Off topic, but does anyone know when the UTEP BBall schedule comes out. I know we just added Sam Houston State to the home slate...but I havent heard whats up with the rest of the schedule. Any word on the Sun Classis tourney home games. Someone drop a line.

[Hookem]

Prediction UTEP vs. UT - The Miners will keep it close for about a quarter, or maybe a quarter and a half. Then all hell breaks loose.

Look for a 28-40 point spread at the end of the game with UTEP being on the short end.

Sorry, but that's the way it will go. Cheer up UTEP fans, the level of competition for your team falls off after that, so you could still have a good record at the end of the season.

[rayman]

For all you cheapskates and whiners, park at the Union Plaza garage in downtown and take the shuttle. It's cheaper, you don't have to mess with the traffic, you get a souveneir, and get to schmooze with other UTEP fans. What a deal!

[just a thought]

With the season exactly one month away I present to you -- The Preseason Joe on Utepia Awards. All in good fun of course.

Is it basketball season yet?
winner: RJ, runner-up: OMAR DOMINGUEZ/SM tie

Most consistent/relevant post.
winner: CLEO, runner-up: SM

Most likely to call Claudia Porras for WNBA expansion team.
winner: Joe Cole, runner-up: LowercaseRay

Best NMSU Insider.
winner: Vic, runner-up: Joe Muench

Best blog redirection.
winner: Toasted Whitebred, runner-up: marcus_g_23

MissingInAction.
winner: four-way tie -- jwest, Maven, johnfranco, StevenG

Most cynical.
winner: Austin, runner-up: gonow

What is he talking about?
winner: Monchis, runner-up: Gabe G.

Al Bundy has-been award. NMSU winner: Who's your Mumme, UTEP winner: just a thought

It could happen/there is always a chance.
winner: ShyMiner, runner-up: Jon

Too much time on his lunch hour.
winner: just a thought by a landslide

[MINERFAN08]

ANY WORD IF THE UTEP VS BUFFALO GAME WILL BE TELEVISED? IF ANY ONE HAS HEARD ANYTHING PLEASE LET IT BE NONE.....

[Who's your Mumme]

JAT,
Al Bundy award winner?
"FOUR Touchdowns in one game!"

I'll take Christina Applegate as a "consolation" prize!

[Josh]

10$-20$ who cares? What's the big deal? Either pay, or just come prepared and walk your lazy asses to the stadium. What's a 20 minute walk vs sitting down in the stadium for 3 hours.