My name is Gary Sack. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you. It certainly appears to me that you are doing an excellent job. It pains me to write this email to you.
Ever since 1981, I have been a football season ticket holder. This includes many years when I worked for the Hurricane Club as a volunteer fundraiser. I was honored more than once as the best fundraiser in the annual campaign. It also includes the 2 years when I worked for the University in the Athletics Department as the Director of the Hurricane Club. I certainly could do some name dropping of the many good friends I made as a result of my time in these fundraising capacities, from Golden Canes on down, but do not wish to do so. I treasure the friendships which I made over the years, with players, coaches, other staff people, and supporters of the U.
Over the years I have, essentially, never missed a home game, not when I lived in Miami, or in the 26 years since I moved to Central Florida. And I have travelled all over the country attending regular season games and bowl games. I have been there in the best of times, and in bad times. have never left a game before it was over.
I was upset when it became necessary to give up on the Orange Bowl, and not happy about the move to Hard Rock stadium, but I understand the need to do so. For various reasons, I have never enjoyed the venue. But what it's turned into is a game day experience which I can no longer tolerate. My issues have been expressed several times in response to the email I receive, and your staff has called me more than once to discuss my concerns. They have been nice to talk to, but to no avail.
I am now 70 years old, but believe 70 is the new 50, so I'm not an old "fuddy duddy". And I admit to being a traditionalist. I have had the opportunity to see games in many of the storied venues in college football. Nowhere have I had to deal with what bothers me at our home games.
When we played in the OB, the fans were involved and drove the excitement and the enthusiasm, especially the noise from the fans when the other team had the ball. I remember the times when the 70, or 80, thousand, were are screaming as one, when the chant of "let's go canes" seemingly came from every seat in the place. Today it's all about ear splitting noise, assaulting my senses as it's blasted at the highest of decibel levels. And between the "in game entertainment", the constant enhanced band music, the artificial video board noise, and the student rousers, there's never a moment when I can talk to the person sitting next to me. Too bad I don't have the Excedrine concession! Going to a game is like a combination of a South Beach disco party, with 10 heavy metal bands playing all at once, a dance party, and people more concerned with seeing their face on the video board, than they are about the game. And who cares about all the trivial stuff anyway. And, by the way, I've been to other stadiums where the same "in game entertainment" is used, but without all the over the top, much too loud, constant noise.
It is for these reasons that I have decided to no longer attend home games. I may be just one person, but I think it's worth being concerned when you lose someone like me. Best to the Canes always. It's all about the U, just not with me there. TV time awaits.
Ever since 1981, I have been a football season ticket holder. This includes many years when I worked for the Hurricane Club as a volunteer fundraiser. I was honored more than once as the best fundraiser in the annual campaign. It also includes the 2 years when I worked for the University in the Athletics Department as the Director of the Hurricane Club. I certainly could do some name dropping of the many good friends I made as a result of my time in these fundraising capacities, from Golden Canes on down, but do not wish to do so. I treasure the friendships which I made over the years, with players, coaches, other staff people, and supporters of the U.
Over the years I have, essentially, never missed a home game, not when I lived in Miami, or in the 26 years since I moved to Central Florida. And I have travelled all over the country attending regular season games and bowl games. I have been there in the best of times, and in bad times. have never left a game before it was over.
I was upset when it became necessary to give up on the Orange Bowl, and not happy about the move to Hard Rock stadium, but I understand the need to do so. For various reasons, I have never enjoyed the venue. But what it's turned into is a game day experience which I can no longer tolerate. My issues have been expressed several times in response to the email I receive, and your staff has called me more than once to discuss my concerns. They have been nice to talk to, but to no avail.
I am now 70 years old, but believe 70 is the new 50, so I'm not an old "fuddy duddy". And I admit to being a traditionalist. I have had the opportunity to see games in many of the storied venues in college football. Nowhere have I had to deal with what bothers me at our home games.
When we played in the OB, the fans were involved and drove the excitement and the enthusiasm, especially the noise from the fans when the other team had the ball. I remember the times when the 70, or 80, thousand, were are screaming as one, when the chant of "let's go canes" seemingly came from every seat in the place. Today it's all about ear splitting noise, assaulting my senses as it's blasted at the highest of decibel levels. And between the "in game entertainment", the constant enhanced band music, the artificial video board noise, and the student rousers, there's never a moment when I can talk to the person sitting next to me. Too bad I don't have the Excedrine concession! Going to a game is like a combination of a South Beach disco party, with 10 heavy metal bands playing all at once, a dance party, and people more concerned with seeing their face on the video board, than they are about the game. And who cares about all the trivial stuff anyway. And, by the way, I've been to other stadiums where the same "in game entertainment" is used, but without all the over the top, much too loud, constant noise.
It is for these reasons that I have decided to no longer attend home games. I may be just one person, but I think it's worth being concerned when you lose someone like me. Best to the Canes always. It's all about the U, just not with me there. TV time awaits.
