Who do you think will be the largest draw. I think with a big name coach, it could be UCF based on the size of the stadium.

O'leary isn't that big of a name....Although UCF has a big edge this year with WVU comming to town.

Out of the New MAC, Probably Toledo with a +25k average having a star QuarterBack.

Ball State or Eastern Michigan I would say.

Marshall posters have reported that their season tix sales are up substantially this year. With us (Miami) it depends a big on "walk-up" sales so our performance on the field will dictate the final attendance results.

I also expect NIU and UT to draw very, very well this year.

ex Cincy Kid Wrote:Marshall posters have reported that their season tix sales are up substantially this year. With us (Miami) it depends a big on "walk-up" sales so our performance on the field will dictate the final attendance results.

I also expect NIU and UT to draw very, very well this year.

Marshall's season ticket sales aren't really up that much....1,000 beyond last years pace. Might just be quicker turn around for renewals.

Are we talking just MAC attendance or all home games included?

If it's just MAC- I'll say Marshall simply because they've proven they can put numbers in the seats, and figure to be in contention. If UCF can stay in the East race, we'll probably threaten.

For the entire year? I think UCF will take the attendance. Our first home game with WVU in town and O'Leary's debut is figuring to have 40-50K in the stands. That alone will bump our attendance. Like I said, if we're in the MAC hunt, we should run away with the "all 5 game attendance mark".

Kit-Cat Wrote:O'leary isn't that big of a name....Although UCF has a big edge this year with WVU comming to town.

Out of the New MAC, Probably Toledo with a +25k average having a star QuarterBack.

O'Leary isn't that big of a name?

Ticket sales from the Chamber of Commerce meetings with O'Leary speaking ALONE have been huge, which were non-existent before. On talk show radio, many UF and Orlando residents have said that they'll come out to see what O'Leary can do with this team.

I agree that O'Leary's name alone won't put 35K in the stands every game, but it SURE will help. Winning will too, which I expect to come soon.

The Knight Time Wrote:Ticket sales from the Chamber of Commerce meetings with O'Leary speaking ALONE have been huge, which were non-existent before. On talk show radio, many UF and Orlando residents have said that they'll come out to see what O'Leary can do with this team.

I agree that O'Leary's name alone won't put 35K in the stands every game, but it SURE will help. Winning will too, which I expect to come soon.

The key is winning KT. You guys take care of business on the field, people will come in droves.

I was amazed last year with NIU. I never thought I would see the day where 1. people were walking around trying/beggin to get tickets and 2. People were scalping tickets. And not just for the Maryland/Iowa st. games.

People, specifically the casual fan, love a winner.

Have to agree with The Knight Time on UCFs potential for the single game attendance everything else will depend on what we do on the field. Orlando has a lot of bandwagon fans and if we are winning they tend to show up. If we have another 2003 the 14-17,000 faithful will be there if their kids aren’t playing soccer or a hurricane isn’t forecast.

Bowling Green averaged 21,002 last year. That's what I expect this year.

I wouldn't mind seeing a game at your house. I wish ya'll were a bit more southern there are several MAC schools I would like to see every season. I hope to make our trip to Miami this year but there are already a few conflicts.

Toledo should draw close to 30,000 a game this year. Only 5 homegames.The UT- BG will draw the biggest crowd,possibly the largest of all MAC games for the season. Rockets have a tough road schedule.It will be interesting to see who draws the largest crowds on the road.

Kit-Cat Wrote:O'leary isn't that big of a name....Although UCF has a big edge this year with WVU comming to town.

Out of the New MAC, Probably Toledo with a +25k average having a star QuarterBack.

Expectations haven't been this high at Toledo since 2001. We averaged over 30K that year. I expect to see us average between 28-31K.

I also expect Marshall to average close to 30K.

Schadenfreude Wrote:Bowling Green averaged 21,002 last year. That's what I expect this year.

Possible, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. No Gameday and no Toledo game mean less butts in the seat this season.

I won't vote CMU to lead the MAC, but the excitement over a new coach -- and one who's a proven winner, DII or no -- should easily get us back over the 15,000 hump after one season below it, along with hosting WMU. Kent State's Joshua Cribbs might also be an interesting draw in his first game at Kelly/Shorts...at least among knowledgeable fans.

Oddball Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:Bowling Green averaged 21,002 last year. That's what I expect this year.

Possible, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. No Gameday and no Toledo game mean less butts in the seat this season.

Not to mention that they had NIU at home and then Miami at home in the MACC. Last year BG had 31,007 for NIU and 29,724 for Toledo. Those are both road games this year. They also had 24,813 for the MACC against Miami and the MACC won't be in BG this year. They averaged just over 15K for their four other home games, with 20K for their homecoming game against CMU.

Looking at this year's home schedule for BG, the only game I see drawing really well is Marshall. My guess is about 18K in attendance for BG this fall.

I forgot to add that CMU gets BUGS at Homecoming this year. This could be an intriguing matchup: as much as CMU has struggled lately, we've made the Falcons work for victories the last couple seasons.

(For those not inclined to look, CMU lost 23-3 at the windswept plains last season and by just 10 points in 2002).

Oddball Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:Bowling Green averaged 21,002 last year. That's what I expect this year.

Possible, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. No Gameday and no Toledo game mean less butts in the seat this season.

1994

rocketfootball Wrote:

Kit-Cat Wrote:O'leary isn't that big of a name....Although UCF has a big edge this year with WVU comming to town.

Out of the New MAC, Probably Toledo with a +25k average having a star QuarterBack.

Expectations haven't been this high at Toledo since 2001. We averaged over 30K that year. I expect to see us average between 28-31K.

I also expect Marshall to average close to 30K.

UT has a terrible home schedule that might just kill attendance.
If #9 Pitt didn't draw over 31K why would Temple or EMU games draw any better?

We'll probably get 40-45K for the WVU game, and average anywhere from 20-27K for the MAC games, depending on how we do.

I believe we'll own the highest home attendance next year.