23 February 2026
On fall Saturdays, college football still feels sacred. Cars line highways before dawn. Fight songs echo through parking lots. Fans speak of “goosebumps” and “spiritual experiences”.
But beneath the pageantry, something is shifting.
According to Sacred Saturdays, Fresh Expectations, fans haven’t fallen out of love with college football — they’ve simply stopped excusing the friction around it.
Relative Insight used its fan experience insights platform to analyze Google reviews of Division I college football stadiums. The report highlights both the opportunities and threats to college football experience uncovered in our analysis.
This blog summarizes the key issues challenges fans discussed when reviewing venues. You can download the report in full using the banner below.
Aging infrastructure is wearing fans down
Facilities were mentioned in 56.2% of all fan comments, making infrastructure one of the most discussed aspects of the stadium experience. More concerning? 51.9% of that feedback was negative.
At a Big Ten stadium, one fan put it bluntly:
“This place is iconic, but it hasn’t aged well. The bathrooms feel like time travel to the ’60s.”
Restrooms were the most common flashpoint. At an SEC venue, heat and crowd density compounded frustration. One fan captured the exhaustion simply:
“The worst part wasn’t the heat. It was the line to pee.“
Even more concerning, 55% of Division I stadiums had feedback referencing accessibility issues. One fan of an SEC team described bringing his father, who has Parkinson’s, only to discover there was “not a single ramp near our section“.
These comments weren’t angry, they were just disappointed. But they also reflected a resignation that could lead to fans deciding to watch the game in a more comfortable environment, rather than showing up in person.
Time is the real currency
Concessions were referenced in 45.7% of all fan comments, and 58% of that feedback was negative.
But fans weren’t attacking food quality. Nearly 71% of negative concessions-related comments referenced long lines, pricing or lack of variety.
As one SEC fan joked:
“Beer lines were longer than bathroom lines — and that’s saying something.“
Our analysis found that slow food lines ruined fan momentum. Missing half a quarter standing in line changes how the entire day feels.
If fans are already feeling like their time is being wasted, poor value just compounds the issue. As one Big Ten stadium review summarized:
“No creativity, just overpriced carbs.”
Twin issue of long lines and unimaginative, overpriced food are among the reasons fans will elect to watch the game from the couch.
Digital failure amplifies everything
In 2025, digital convenience is no longer optional. Yet 19.5% of stadium reviews featured complaints about a lack of digital tools.
“It’s 2025,” one USC fan wrote, “I should be able to order nachos, check stats, and find a bathroom in one app.”
At one Big Ten stadium, fans described connectivity dead zones as “time travel to 2007“.
Digital breakdowns rarely appear alone. They show up alongside long lines and navigation issues. When the Wi-Fi fails, every other inconvenience feels worse.
The erosion of fan experience
Individually, none of these issues are catastrophic. Collectively, they are exhausting.
The report notes that words like “worth it” and “unreal” often appeared alongside “but” and “however“. Fans might praise the atmosphere — then describe missing a quarter in line or leaving early due to fatigue.
College football remains sacred. But sacred no longer means static.
In an era where couches are more comfortable, food is cheaper and 4K broadcasts are flawless, the question isn’t whether fans love the game. It’s whether the experience still feels worth the effort.
Want to see these challenges in more detail? Download the full report now.
