Louisiana’s college sports programs are losing money. Can sales taxes save them?

[SECOER]

https://lailluminator.com/2026/08/20/col...sales-tax/

One solution that appears to be off the table for now is for Louisiana’s smaller schools to drop to a lower division. 

A move to NCAA Division II would lower schools’ scholarship and travel costs, while dropping to Division III could eliminate scholarship costs entirely. 

[CatCam]

Interesting quote from the article - "Schools are also looking to copy LSU’s success in hosting non-athletic events in their sports venues. When country music star Zach Bryan played Tiger Stadium, for example, the athletic department brought in over $17 million."

Remember when we used to have concerts at Lakefront Arena? Walk around and look at all the ceiling tiles that have the posters for the concerts from the 80's, 90's, 2000's.....and then there were none. What happened? UNO got pushed out. Why? My gut answer is lack of leadership, lack of representation and overall lack of vision.

The WORST seat in Lakefront Arena is a $300 seat at the Smoothie King Arena, plus the parking and traffic issues.
I really don't see how Lakefront Arena can remain open, the few things it does host cannot cover its operation and maintenance costs.

[southshore]

My understanding is the arena cannot technically accommodate current acts. Efforts are being made to upgrade the facility as well as monetize the athletic space of the east campus as best as they can. Will this be successful? Other administrations have thought about this as well, but none as focused as this one.

[SECOER]

My understanding is the arena cannot technically accommodate current acts. Efforts are being made to upgrade the facility as well as monetize the athletic space of the east campus as best as they can. Will this be successful?  Other administrations have thought about this as well, but none as focused as this one.

From what I understand the structure for the "new" rigging required for concerts is unable to handle the numerous components now used.   That includes video screens, lighting, sound equipment (speaker arrays), etc. 

There is an effort to get this fixed so concerts, like those mentioned above, can return to the Lakefront arena.   While we may not get the "big box acts", some artist may want to have a smaller more intimate venue to "see, hear and enjoy" their fans.   

If it pans out like they think it can the arena would also require some other upgrades in the future to keep it current but those would also benefit the fans who attend the games at the Arena. 

And the revenues would help the University in many way.

[reduno]

I'm old so I was/is lucky and BLESSED to have seen over 100 concerts in my life, many many many here in NOLA and dozens in LFA. IN the 80's and early 90's it literally was one of the top 10 grossing arena's in the country! This is fact. But sadly the size and change in music has done things that may make it harder to get back so many shows.

I wouldn't trade in my memories of those shows for anything.

[Slidell]

I'm old so I was/is lucky and BLESSED to have seen over 100 concerts in my life, many many many here in NOLA and dozens in LFA.  IN the 80's and early 90's it literally was one of the top 10 grossing arena's in the country!  This is fact.  But sadly the size and change in music has done things that may make it harder to get back so many shows.

I wouldn't trade in my memories of those shows for anything.

I agree.  I saw some great bands in concert at Lakefront Arena and remember well that it was one of the most successful and highest grossing arenas of its size in the country.

But I think I also recall that Athletics did not benefit directly from a $$$ standpoint from the Lakefront Arena profit - that went to the University as a whole.

[southshore]

Are the naming rights to the arena available? Has LSU sold the naming rights to any of its facilities?

[SECOER]

Are the naming rights to the arena available? Has LSU sold the naming rights to any of its facilities?

I would think naming rights are on the table for any facility at the University that doesn't already have a named donor.    

It would be nice to see back to it former glory days but I would think we need to get it in order, then have some attendance that would garner the attention of a person or entity that would want to have the naming rights....then reap the benefits they would provide with the naming rights.....IF the university would share some of those over time with athletics that would be a good first step. 

Slidell is correct, the Arena proceeds went to the University's general fund according to Greg O'Brien at that time, and athletics did not profit from it.  In fact the concession proceeds in the upper ring of the arena went into the general fund for athletic events (and all the other events) and athletics never much if any returned to its coffers for the games held there.    Even the larger crowds we had during Dees / Floyd / Price era.   

So there was a tough sell to sell tickets at a steep discount and "salt the popcorn" to have them drink a ton of soft drinks and beer to make up the difference.   I was always shocked that Tulane would sell their game tickets so cheap and get a few people and concession revenue when UNO would have to keep their ticket prices high to try to make a buck.

[Slidell]

I don't think LSU has sold the naming rights to any of its athletic facilities.

Not sure why they haven't and maybe that is coming given the arms race the Power Conference schools are in.

But public universities in Louisiana can definitely sell naming rights - UL's football stadium is Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (after the Healthcare System - not sponsored by a local church parish - haha).

At this point, we should sell rights to everything we can - the arena, the court, the locker room, the baseball stadium, uniforms, etc.

[southshore]

So what would be the best fit for the arena ? Rouse's arena? Community Coffee arena ?