Teams charging fans to watch football practice: for NIL coffers

[CB4]

Do you have to prove your fandom or can a Bama scout contribute to the agbarn collective and go watch practice every week and report back. Asking for a friend….

Yeah I’m thinking about registering at several schools under the name “Connor Stallions” just for giggles….

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Some places already charge for the spring game.

I don’t see the appeal of watching practice, much less paying for it. But whatever floats your boat.

A lot of people take autographs and sell them so you might as well be paying for it.

Yes, it’s a money game but at least the workers are legally getting paid now. It’s not going back to what it once was so either accept it or do something else on Saturday afternoons.

And I think on its current trajectory you'll see more and more people start doing something else. As anecdotal as it is now, I'm seeing more and more people around me who once were disciples of college football and their team, not watching as much and not following it as much.

 

[Crimson1967]

And I think on its current trajectory you'll see more and more people start doing something else. As anecdotal as it is now, I'm seeing more and more people around me who once were disciples of college football and their team, not watching as much and not following it as much.

I don’t know if it’s my age but my interest in sports is a fraction of what it once was. I dropped the NBA in the Jordan era because it just got too flashy. I quit baseball after interleague play and the expanded playoffs.

College basketball is down to March Madness.

I still do football but mostly because it’s a weekend thing. My wife went to Jax State and we have season tickets there. I used to follow the Bama game while I was there but now I just check the score. We have skybox seats and I only look at the Bama game on TV during halftime or if it is close at the end.

 

[78Alum]

Nope

 

[CB4]

I don’t know if it’s my age but my interest in sports is a fraction of what it once was. I dropped the NBA in the Jordan era because it just got too flashy. I quit baseball after interleague play and the expanded playoffs.

College basketball is down to March Madness.

I still do football but mostly because it’s a weekend thing. My wife went to Jax State and we have season tickets there. I used to follow the Bama game while I was there but now I just check the score. We have skybox seats and I only look at the Bama game on TV during halftime or if it is close at the end.

I’m pretty much in the same boat with you. I think it is both the combination of age (I’m mid 60’s) and changes within most all major sports, both collegiate and professional (although the differences now are almost indistinguishable) that have curbed most of my enthusiasm for any of it. Plus the saturation marketing that constantly tells me how much more I should “love the games” because of these changes (yeah ESPN I’m looking at you) gets tiresome.

Use to be for me that Alabama football and basketball in particular were “life and death” events. As I’ve become more disinterested (and in the last third of my life) I’ve come to realize the only thing that is “life and death” is, well, life and death. Sure, I’ll continue to watch but it won’t stop me from playing a round of golf, fishing with friends, or not attending a family event for the sake of attending a game or being somewhere I can be glued to a tv for 3-4 hours.

 

[Bazza]

I'm not even watching any practices now!

 

[edwd58]

Back in the day (i.e. the Perkins, Curry, Stallings eras) Alabama charged to attend A-Day. Our gang used to go and I've still got stubs for those. In those days the crowds were rather small as only diehards usually attended to get a little insight on the backup QB and maybe see a few new wrinkles. Once Saban arrived it became more of a production and a place to be seen - not that I have any grief with that - but crowds of 50k and more made for a less enjoyable experience.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Heck, I wouldn't watch it for free.

Me either!

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

Some places already charge for the spring game.

I don’t see the appeal of watching practice, much less paying for it. But whatever floats your boat.

A lot of people take autographs and sell them so you might as well be paying for it.

Yes, it’s a money game but at least the workers are legally getting paid now. It’s not going back to what it once was so either accept it or do something else on Saturday afternoons.

They were already getting paid. Both by money and free education. Free food (really good food), free nutritional program, free workout program, and a possible shot at making big money in the NFL.
NIL has turned into a monster and is not being used how it was supposed to be used for.

 

[TideRollsInPa]

I'm in Pennsylvania so it's easy for me to say "no chance"

 

[WylieTexasTider]

I would not pay to watch practice but, see it as a moot point as I can’t imagine too many schools allowing that many “open” practices.

The administration broke the new to REC’s that they will not be invited to a scrimmage this fall since they can’t help themselves and live stream when they are told no film, play by play etc. So, no way BAMA is gonna let a bunch of fans watch practice outside of fan day. I have no issue with charging for autographs. Especially since many balls/items will turn up for sale online a day later.

 

[bama2112]

Charging for autographs is the last straw for me. Milk the players for their NIL money. I need not pontificate. I cant bring myself to part with the Coach Bryant, Stallings or Saban lithographs. I hope the new generation has the same passion as the Boomers, they are going to need it. You'll begin to see empty seats at many of the games as all this pay for play permeates the sport.

 

[Krymsonman]

I'm 66 now and all of these pay for play scenarios are just plain wearing me out. I'm like a lot of you folks - the BAMA game every week used to be the focal point of the week, and I could be a pretty serious nutball during the games. I'm old enough to remember when the guys played "for the love of the game". I still watch the games, but there's no longer any excitement to it. It would be nice to take my grandson to see a practice, but I'm not going to pay for it. Pretty soon getting autographs will be like the pizza commercials - players gives you an autograph, then holds up the tip machine.

 

[Windsortide]

Not surprised we are in the pay for play model. Nothing will ever be as it was again. This has become professional sports.

 

[CrimsonCleanse]

I've noticed that I am A LOT less amped up for the start of the season that I was even just a few years ago. I never thought I'd say this, but I enjoyed that jacked up 2020 college football season (that was consistently seeing postponements/cancellations and was under a constant threat of outright cancellation) far more than I've enjoyed any season since. Of course, us winning the national championship helped. But even as messed up as that year was, it felt fun like the fun seasons before it, compared to what the game is now. These changes cost us the GOAT. Granted, it really was just his time, but still, the reinvention of the game certainly aided in his decision to say goodbye after 2023. And now...fans get to PAY for what was once no charge, and do so with a smile. I've noticed too that I am not really seeing all the hype around the start of the season like in previous years. No "college football kicks off in _____ days". And that's a countdown that was started before the season that was happening at the time was even over yet. The whole vibe just isn't there anymore

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I've noticed that I am A LOT less amped up for the start of the season that I was even just a few years ago. I never thought I'd say this, but I enjoyed that jacked up 2020 college football season (that was consistently seeing postponements/cancellations and was under a constant threat of outright cancellation) far more than I've enjoyed any season since. Of course, us winning the national championship helped. But even as messed up as that year was, it felt fun like the fun seasons before it, compared to what the game is now. These changes cost us the GOAT. Granted, it really was just his time, but still, the reinvention of the game certainly aided in his decision to say goodbye after 2023. And now...fans get to PAY for what was once no charge, and do so with a smile. I've noticed too that I am not really seeing all the hype around the start of the season like in previous years. No "college football kicks off in _____ days". And that's a countdown that was started before the season that was happening at the time was even over yet. The whole vibe just isn't there anymore

COVID expedited what I thought was coming years down the road in college football anyway, especially with the transfer portal. I figured at some point the transfer rules would go away and players would be able to go wherever they wanted. And let's be honest, the idea of paying players has been a conversation for at least a decade and has only gotten louder. It's just sad that no real framework got put in place to keep whatever integrity of the game was left in it. It's now an unorganized clown show.

 

[davefrat]

COVID expedited what I thought was coming years down the road in college football anyway, especially with the transfer portal. I figured at some point the transfer rules would go away and players would be able to go wherever they wanted. And let's be honest, the idea of paying players has been a conversation for at least a decade and has only gotten louder. It's just sad that no real framework got put in place to keep whatever integrity of the game was left in it. It's now an unorganized clown show.

The NCAA had opportunities to make reasonable concessions on the issue and instead chose to double down on their monopoly status.

Once the courts got involved the NCAA lost all control, resulting in the chaos we have now.

I put the blame squarely on the NCAA.

 

[ShoalsFan]

I find myself less interested also. However, I try to stay up to date, because it's one of those areas of interest that I have always shared with my kids, especially my two sons. I enjoy those conversations, so I invest some measure of time in football and other sports to be able to discuss it with them. I'm 70, and you reach the point where it's a blessing when your kids reach out to you just because they want to.

 

[teamplayer]

The NCAA had opportunities to make reasonable concessions on the issue and instead chose to double down on their monopoly status.

Once the courts got involved the NCAA lost all control, resulting in the chaos we have now.

I put the blame squarely on the NCAA.

I blame greed and also an intrusive court system. To each his own.

 

[davefrat]

I blame greed and also an intrusive court system. To each his own.

Greed for sure, and the refusal to cast off an outdated and untenable operating structure.

As far as the court system in this scenario, the plaintiffs asked them to intrude, which is how the system works.

The NCAA held all the cards and totally miscalculated.