LU FB attendance for 2105
In 2014, LU was ranked 6th in average game attendance, JMU was 2nd. With LU's strong 2015 home schedule and higher quality teams visiting Williams Stadium, how high will LU climb 2015 climb and who will we pass?
2014 NCAA attendance rankings:
Rank Institution Conference Accum Avg Attendance
1 Montana Big Sky 166,440 23,777
2 James Madison Colonial 118,893 19,816
3 North Dakota St. MVFC 167,136 18,571
4 Montana St. Big Sky 136,446 17,056
5 Liberty Big South 102,098 17,016
6 Delaware Colonial 109,772 15,682
3rd or better in average attendance seems very likely. That would only require 1,500+ more per game or 2,800 more per game to surpass JMU. Lots of rumblings on the JMU board about their weak 2015 schedule and LU's strong schedule. The JMU vs. LU game in Lynchburg on Sept. 26 is expected to shatter single records at Williams Stadium. If JMU travels well and bring 2,000+, LU will easily establish a new single game record.
LU's Top 20 Attendance Home Games
1. 19,314 vs. Savannah State, 10/2/10
2. 19,111 vs. Coastal Carolina, 10/15/11
3. 18,911 vs. Coastal Carolina, 10/19/13
4. 18,878 vs. James Madison, 9/17/11
5. 18,643 vs. Concord, 10/20/12
If one wants to get a perception of the Big South, the numbers below clearly show the strength of LU and Coastal. With 4 of the 6 teams averaging less than 4,400 per game that displays clear student/community lack of interest and a lackluster, apathatic program. We'll give a Monmouth a pass as they are new to the league. One should expect them to have a big spike this year with LU and Coastal being home games. If not, there is a big uphill climb at Monmouth.
2014 Big South and JMU attendance ranking:
Liberty Big South 102,098 17,016
Coastal Caro. Big South 52,376 8,729
Gardner-Webb Big South 21,831 4,366
Charleston So. Big South 25,975 4,329
Presbyterian Big South 21,392 3,565
Monmouth Big South 9,161 1,832
If board activity at Dukes Domain is any indication of things being unsettled at Harrisonburg, especially on the OOC conference games, there could be a drop off in home attendance. If JMU drops 1,000 per game and LU increases 1,800 LU will surpass JMU and be #2 in average game attendance based on 2014 records.
2014 JMU attendance ranking:
James Madison Colonial 118,893 19,816
The emphasis on increased FB attendance is a tremendous asset for LU. It is a large factor to show LU is FBS ready. If LU spiked to an average of 20,000 per game, LU would exceed
6 SBC conference teams:
New Mexico St. Sun Belt 73,612 12,269
Idaho Sun Belt 64,432 12,886
Georgia St. Sun Belt 90,037 15,006
Troy Sun Belt 100,602 16,767
South Ala. Sun Belt 104,669 17,445
La.-Monroe Sun Belt 90,540 18,108
and 5 C-USA teams
FIU Conference USA 95,728 11,966
Fla. Atlantic Conference USA 70,608 14,122
Western Ky. Conference USA 97,833 16,306
Middle Tenn. Conference USA 104,450 17,408
Rice Conference USA 92,812 18,562
North Texas Conference USA 115,627 19,271
and 11 MAC teams
Akron Mid-American 55,019 9,170
Ball St. Mid-American 56,332 9,389
Kent St. Mid-American 81,263 13,544
Northern Ill. Mid-American 67,813 13,563
Eastern Mich. Mid-American 75,127 15,025
Bowling Green Mid-American 91,365 15,228
Western Mich. Mid-American 78,124 15,625
Miami (OH) Mid-American 95,438 15,906
Massachusetts Mid-American 96,527 16,088
Central Mich. Mid-American 97,838 16,306
Toledo Mid-American 117,286 19,548
Courtesy of NCAA 2014 National Rankings. With 6-10 inches forecast with possibility of sleet, freezing rain, a simple attendance analysis to help pass the time.
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