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Four ideas to fill up the Zona Zoo at Arizona Stadium for 2017
Nov 23, 2013; Tucson, AZ, USA; Students in the Arizona Wildcats zona zoo section display a flag during the third quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Arizona Stadium. Arizona beat Oregon 42-16. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
As we approach the final game in this arduous 2016 Arizona Football campaign, it’s time to address the empty seats in the Zona Zoo section in Arizona Stadium.
Due to Arizona Football’s rash of injuries, sub-par performance, and endless late starts, there has been an overabundance of empty seats in Tucson. What is as just as bad is the exodus which occurs on the east side throughout the games. As the quarters go by, the Zona Zoo thins out. It is not the first year this has occurred, which begs the question–has Arizona Athletics placated to the students too much?
More from Zona Zealots
All schools want to sell out their stadiums, and it makes for great television when the cameras pan the crowd and get a glimpse of loud and vivacious students hamming it up for the audience. Several years ago, the athletic department cordoned off much of the lower level of the east side for the students and named it “Zona Zoo.” The fans who show up fit the bill–they are energetic, dressed in red, and love the cameras. Many students attend in the Zona Zoo but not enough stay.
Maybe the university has made it too cheap. Charging $175 for entry into EVERY Arizona athletic event is a steal. But more than that, it devalues each event. Has the Zona Zoo become a stop for drive-by fans, attending just long enough to make an appearance, catch some plays, and then head to their next Saturday night event?
Arizona Football had one day game this year, and it was a 12:30 PM start on a hot afternoon in the desert. Here is what happened:
Grade: F. @ZonaZooOfficial FAILS midterm at #USC game: https://t.co/9G4MMQ5XZs Photo: @PAPPAFEEZ #ArizonaWildcats #USCvsAZ #Tucson pic.twitter.com/YjHwaI414U
— TucsonSportsNow (@TucsonSportsNow) October 17, 2016
Yes, it was hot, and the Zona Zoo section faces the west sun. However, how many of these students came to Tucson for the warm weather and sun?
In past seasons, the Arizona Athletic department has offered prizes and gimmicks to a random Zona Zoo attendee who stays the entire game. It seems just the inexpensive ticket, and in previous years a winning team would have been reward enough. Meanwhile, the rest of the fans who matriculated decades ago and paid full price for a ticket were not part of the prize giveaway. Some Zona Zoo members still think they deserve more.
@ZonaZooOfficial why do we have to pay $1 to get a ticket to the Red/Blue game? The ZonaZoo pass is suppose to get us into games free!
— robbie guilford (@gingerkid2014) October 9, 2016
Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats fans enter the Zona Zoo student section before the game against the Southern California Trojans at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Idea No. 1 Shrink the Zona Zoo seats to a third of what it is today
As we look to the 2017 football season, maybe some changes should be made in the Zona Zoo. Has the student body earned the great real estate in Arizona Stadium (even the band is relegated to the end zone)? How about shrinking the size of the Zona Zoo?
If the students would rather party, if it seems like it’s not cool to go to the football games, then maybe shrinking the Zona Zoo down to a third of what it is today would at least make the Zoo look full. Like Basketball, maybe they have to reserve their seat, and then more students would come. Make it harder to go, and that would possibly change their attitude if the team is winning or losing.
Then, If the Zona Zoo fills their allotted section and stays until the end without any gimmicks, expand the Zoo year by year.
Aug 29, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Fans in the Arizona Wildcats Zona Zoo student section cheer as the Wildcats enter the field before the first quarter against the UNLV Rebels at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats won 58-13. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Idea No. 2 Charge more money for the Zona Zoo Pass
While the student tickets should be discounted as a courtesy, charging $175 for all athletic events seems a bit generous.
How about charging them $20 per football game? That comes to $5 per hour of entertainment at the games, which is pretty cheap. If students can’t afford the price, give them an incentive for a discount if they attend a certain amount of games maybe?
Maybe this would work as it did for True Religion Jeans, you make the price high, and it becomes a luxury, a coveted thing to have. Like every girl on campus has Tori Burch flip flops which cost more than a Zona Zoo pass.
Idea No. 3 SELL ALCOHOL ALREADY!!!!
A controversial solution to get at least some students to stay through the football games would be to sell alcohol. While alcohol can’t be sold on campus, it is allowed to be sold at the Fiesta Bowl where Arizona played a couple of years ago. Of course, an ID is required to purchase alcohol, and the same filter could be used at Arizona Stadium. It appears the students are drinking anyway.
Honestly, it would be safer to sell alcohol on campus where the students can walk home rather than at the University of Phoenix Stadium where everyone gets behind the wheel as they leave.
Idea No. 4 Bring Back Eegees for everyone! It helps beat the heat, and takes awhile to eat.
Finally, a non-controversial solution to get not only the Zona Zoo but many other Arizona fans to stay the whole game is to bring Eegees back. They mysteriously disappeared several years ago. Imagine how many would have been sold during the sweltering USC afternoon game. And they take awhile to eat, which passes the time especially during a season like we are experiencing.
When The School Up North visits next week, the Zona Zoo should fill the east side and stay the whole game, alcohol and Eegees or not. Let’s show Arizona State who has the best student section in football while the Wildcats shoot for the Territorial Cup. It’s a drag that the Territorial Cup happens on Thanksgiving weekend, most students go home, maybe that’s idea No. 5? Don’t put the biggest game of the season on Thanksgiving weekend!
BearDown Zona Zoo and beat the Sun Devils.
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