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http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/SPORTS02/605230319/1026
Southern AD talks business with local fans
May 23, 2006
Alums hope to entice Jags football game to Shreveport.
By Brian McCallum
bmccallum@gannett.com
Greg LaFleur got down to business quickly, and his audience appreciated the honesty.
The first-year Southern University athletic director was the guest of the Multicultural Tourism Commission on Monday, addressing a group of local fans and alumni, mostly on the possibility of bringing a Jags football game to Independence Stadium.
LaFleur, who said his department is feeling the affects of Hurricane Katrina and lost revenue, immediately made the point that the team doesn't travel lightly or inexpensively.
LaFleur said the university must be assured it could generate $250,000, after expenses, to move a home game to Shreveport. More likely is another university moving its own home game -- on the week Southern is the visiting team -- to Independence Stadium.
"We'd love to start a new relationship with Shreveport, but, at the same time, it is a business," LaFleur said. "If we could make the dollars work, generate at least $250,000 for Southern University, we would entertain the thought of coming here to play. We need to have a strong presence in northwest Louisiana."
Shreveport City Council member Calvin Lester, a Southern graduate, said playing a game locally makes business sense for the city, too, because of the sales tax revenue generated from visitors.
Since Hurricane Rita, city officials have aggressively sought to attract football games including one from Tulane and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association championship games. Each have been offered financial breaks on use of the stadium.
"If we want to have events here that are going to be successful, we have to be just as aggressive with inducements," Lester said. "That's a lot of (tax) money that Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It doesn't make sense for us not to use those inducements."
Lester was particularly pleased by the presence of SU Quarterback Club officials. He's been working to start a Shreveport chapter for at least a year.
"We're going to have a Quarterback Club in Shreveport; the question is just when," Lester said. "In the last few months, we've been talking about it a whole lot more."
LaFleur gave the alums a rundown of the athletic department's financial situation after the hurricane cost the program a home football game -- losing about $250,000 in revenue -- and cut down on attendance the rest of the season.
Southern's athletic department enters the year with a deficit around $400,000.
Because of the money problems, he wants to boost the season ticket base from 6,300 tickets to at least 10,000.
"It's more business than sports," he said. "Southern University is going to have to have a different approach. If we don't sell tickets, we're going to be going uphill for a long time."
He is also seeking a road game against a major Division I-A opponent that could bring in $300,000 or more.
As for playing in Shreveport, LaFleur recommended local alums work on convincing Texas Southern or Prairie View to bring their home games against Southern to Shreveport. Prairie View is scheduled to host the Jags on the third weekend of September but does not have an available facility because of scheduling conflicts.
Southern plays at TSU on the first weekend of November.
"I would encourage Shreveport to be in touch with Texas Southern, because Texas Southern has a hard time with their schedule," LaFleur said. "I'm sure we could guarantee each team their expenses to come here and then a little lagniappe on top of that."
Shreveport's chief administrative officer, Ken Antee, was interested upon hearing of Southern's consideration of the city, but Antee said he has not been contacted about a Southern game yet.
"No, but we have a standing invitation to anybody who wants to play here that will bring a college game to shreveport," he said, referring to inducements to use the stadium. "We would be interested in going further with that."
There is apparently little chance of Southern playing Grambling State here.
LaFleur expects the Bayou Classic game against the Tigers to return to New Orleans and the Superdome after a year in Houston due to hurricane damage.
"Right now, according to people in New Orleans, the Dome should be ready by September 24," LaFleur said. "We haven't heard that officially, but, if not, we'll be back in Houston."
Southern AD talks business with local fans
May 23, 2006
Alums hope to entice Jags football game to Shreveport.
By Brian McCallum
bmccallum@gannett.com
Greg LaFleur got down to business quickly, and his audience appreciated the honesty.
The first-year Southern University athletic director was the guest of the Multicultural Tourism Commission on Monday, addressing a group of local fans and alumni, mostly on the possibility of bringing a Jags football game to Independence Stadium.
LaFleur, who said his department is feeling the affects of Hurricane Katrina and lost revenue, immediately made the point that the team doesn't travel lightly or inexpensively.
LaFleur said the university must be assured it could generate $250,000, after expenses, to move a home game to Shreveport. More likely is another university moving its own home game -- on the week Southern is the visiting team -- to Independence Stadium.
"We'd love to start a new relationship with Shreveport, but, at the same time, it is a business," LaFleur said. "If we could make the dollars work, generate at least $250,000 for Southern University, we would entertain the thought of coming here to play. We need to have a strong presence in northwest Louisiana."
Shreveport City Council member Calvin Lester, a Southern graduate, said playing a game locally makes business sense for the city, too, because of the sales tax revenue generated from visitors.
Since Hurricane Rita, city officials have aggressively sought to attract football games including one from Tulane and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association championship games. Each have been offered financial breaks on use of the stadium.
"If we want to have events here that are going to be successful, we have to be just as aggressive with inducements," Lester said. "That's a lot of (tax) money that Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It doesn't make sense for us not to use those inducements."
Lester was particularly pleased by the presence of SU Quarterback Club officials. He's been working to start a Shreveport chapter for at least a year.
"We're going to have a Quarterback Club in Shreveport; the question is just when," Lester said. "In the last few months, we've been talking about it a whole lot more."
LaFleur gave the alums a rundown of the athletic department's financial situation after the hurricane cost the program a home football game -- losing about $250,000 in revenue -- and cut down on attendance the rest of the season.
Southern's athletic department enters the year with a deficit around $400,000.
Because of the money problems, he wants to boost the season ticket base from 6,300 tickets to at least 10,000.
"It's more business than sports," he said. "Southern University is going to have to have a different approach. If we don't sell tickets, we're going to be going uphill for a long time."
He is also seeking a road game against a major Division I-A opponent that could bring in $300,000 or more.
As for playing in Shreveport, LaFleur recommended local alums work on convincing Texas Southern or Prairie View to bring their home games against Southern to Shreveport. Prairie View is scheduled to host the Jags on the third weekend of September but does not have an available facility because of scheduling conflicts.
Southern plays at TSU on the first weekend of November.
"I would encourage Shreveport to be in touch with Texas Southern, because Texas Southern has a hard time with their schedule," LaFleur said. "I'm sure we could guarantee each team their expenses to come here and then a little lagniappe on top of that."
Shreveport's chief administrative officer, Ken Antee, was interested upon hearing of Southern's consideration of the city, but Antee said he has not been contacted about a Southern game yet.
"No, but we have a standing invitation to anybody who wants to play here that will bring a college game to shreveport," he said, referring to inducements to use the stadium. "We would be interested in going further with that."
There is apparently little chance of Southern playing Grambling State here.
LaFleur expects the Bayou Classic game against the Tigers to return to New Orleans and the Superdome after a year in Houston due to hurricane damage.
"Right now, according to people in New Orleans, the Dome should be ready by September 24," LaFleur said. "We haven't heard that officially, but, if not, we'll be back in Houston."
