(04-29-2015 10:50 AM)TheFIUtheproud Wrote:  Its complicated down here!

Probably the best explanation for poor attendance by both our schools. There are a LOT of factors that go into low attendance.

To me, the best excuse is just look at Miami U and most of the pro sports in the area. Historically the Miami area just doesn't come out to support their teams. Obviously for all the reasons previously mentioned, but if those guys can't pack the house, I don't think F_U ever will.

(04-30-2015 11:56 AM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  To me, the best excuse is just look at Miami U and most of the pro sports in the area. Historically the Miami area just doesn't come out to support their teams. Obviously for all the reasons previously mentioned, but if those guys can't pack the house, I don't think F_U ever will.

Don't know, if it is an excuse or just an explanation. But remember UM, the Dolphins, Heat, and Marlins spoiled us down here. People here expect a winner. South Florida is one of the youngest cities in the USA and thus has little tradition. Also, there is a lot to do here compared to most places. Not to mention the heat, humidity and cost of sports.

(04-30-2015 07:22 PM)JPFIU Wrote:  

(04-30-2015 11:56 AM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  To me, the best excuse is just look at Miami U and most of the pro sports in the area. Historically the Miami area just doesn't come out to support their teams. Obviously for all the reasons previously mentioned, but if those guys can't pack the house, I don't think F_U ever will.

Don't know, if it is an excuse or just an explanation. But remember UM, the Dolphins, Heat, and Marlins spoiled us down here. People here expect a winner. South Florida is one of the youngest cities in the USA and thus has little tradition. Also, there is a lot to do here compared to most places. Not to mention the heat, humidity and cost of sports.

All cities in the south had huge blasts of population growth. Houston and Dallas were settled after Miami.

Miami's growth was a bit different, attracting more retirees but I think culture of place is the big difference. Community is more knit together by food, dancing, enjoying the ocean than sitting in a stadium watching people play.

Just playing around with google trends, Miami is fourth among Florida metro areas for searches about NFL, fifth in searches for basketball, 9th in searches for baseball. Miami is first by a wide margin in searches for restaurants and also for night club. Not conclusive proof but it is suggestive that the potential audience is distracted.

I would also suggest that another issue is that Miami is likely pretty high up in percentage of the population working in the service industry. In other words more people working nights and weekends and thus unavailable to attend many sporting events because of the conflict with work schedules.

(05-01-2015 08:50 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  All cities in the south had huge blasts of population growth. Houston and Dallas were settled after Miami.
Miami's growth was a bit different, attracting more retirees but I think culture of place is the big difference. Community is more knit together by food, dancing, enjoying the ocean than sitting in a stadium watching people play.
Just playing around with google trends, Miami is fourth among Florida metro areas for searches about NFL, fifth in searches for basketball, 9th in searches for baseball. Miami is first by a wide margin in searches for restaurants and also for night club. Not conclusive proof but it is suggestive that the potential audience is distracted.
I would also suggest that another issue is that Miami is likely pretty high up in percentage of the population working in the service industry. In other words more people working nights and weekends and thus unavailable to attend many sporting events because of the conflict with work schedules.

And on we go. Modern Miami is about 50 years old [700k lived here in the 1950's census and jumped to 1.6M in the 1960's census and has added about a million people a year each decade hence] not sure how that compares to Dallas and Houston but in business terms you might call us a start-up....lots of potential reward with lots of risk.

As far as restuarant searches, that's easy, Greater Miami gets over 12.6 Million visitors a year (staying at least one night), half of whom were international travelers, that's a lot of additional meals. Also, Miami is no longer a retirement destination, it's too expensive and too hectic. People retire from Miami (unless they have nowhere else to go) not to it.

And Services? Again, a poor generaliztion. Here's the actual break-down; 32% are management, professional, and related occupations, 30% are sales and office occupations, 18% were service occupations (think young people and poorly educated), 11% were construction and 9% were production/transportation. Finally, Miami's MSA has over 1,100 multinational corporations headquatered here generating more than $221 billion in revenue.

So Services? Retirement Community? ah, probably not.

(04-28-2015 08:36 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-27-2015 12:32 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  Locally here in El Paso (UTEP) people are always calling in and complaining about the attendance to games. I think they would change their tune if they knew the average attendance of the rest of CUSA.

UTEP's attendance was not that great this past season at 28k. Over the last 10 years the Miners have averaged 33k and that is with mostly losing seasons. Incarnate Word is on the schedule this season and it's going to be hard to get over 30k for that one. With UTSA, LT and Rice coming to the Sun Bowl and if the Miners are doing a bit better than last year, I expect the average to get back to above 33k this year. Winning cures all ills.

I think Okalahoma a couple of years ago may have inflated those numbers just a bit. I went to that game and if I recall, it was nearly a sell out. That nearly accounts for the additional 5k fan average in those years.

I think 28 to 30k average per season is reasonable to expect for UTEP football unless they are bringing in top 25 teams or are flirting with the top 25 themselves.

(05-01-2015 10:01 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-28-2015 08:36 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(04-27-2015 12:32 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  Locally here in El Paso (UTEP) people are always calling in and complaining about the attendance to games. I think they would change their tune if they knew the average attendance of the rest of CUSA.

UTEP's attendance was not that great this past season at 28k. Over the last 10 years the Miners have averaged 33k and that is with mostly losing seasons. Incarnate Word is on the schedule this season and it's going to be hard to get over 30k for that one. With UTSA, LT and Rice coming to the Sun Bowl and if the Miners are doing a bit better than last year, I expect the average to get back to above 33k this year. Winning cures all ills.

I think Okalahoma a couple of years ago may have inflated those numbers just a bit. I went to that game and if I recall, it was nearly a sell out. That nearly accounts for the additional 5k fan average in those years.

I think 28 to 30k average per season is reasonable to expect for UTEP football unless they are bringing in top 25 teams or are flirting with the top 25 themselves.

The best attended year was 2005 with an avg of over 47k. No big name teams came to the Sun Bowl that year.

(05-01-2015 09:55 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-01-2015 08:50 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  All cities in the south had huge blasts of population growth. Houston and Dallas were settled after Miami.
Miami's growth was a bit different, attracting more retirees but I think culture of place is the big difference. Community is more knit together by food, dancing, enjoying the ocean than sitting in a stadium watching people play.
Just playing around with google trends, Miami is fourth among Florida metro areas for searches about NFL, fifth in searches for basketball, 9th in searches for baseball. Miami is first by a wide margin in searches for restaurants and also for night club. Not conclusive proof but it is suggestive that the potential audience is distracted.
I would also suggest that another issue is that Miami is likely pretty high up in percentage of the population working in the service industry. In other words more people working nights and weekends and thus unavailable to attend many sporting events because of the conflict with work schedules.

And on we go. Modern Miami is about 50 years old [700k lived here in the 1950's census and jumped to 1.6M in the 1960's census and has added about a million people a year each decade hence] not sure how that compares to Dallas and Houston but in business terms you might call us a start-up....lots of potential reward with lots of risk.

As far as restuarant searches, that's easy, Greater Miami gets over 12.6 Million visitors a year (staying at least one night), half of whom were international travelers, that's a lot of additional meals. Also, Miami is no longer a retirement destination, it's too expensive and too hectic. People retire from Miami (unless they have nowhere else to go) not to it.

And Services? Again, a poor generaliztion. Here's the actual break-down; 32% are management, professional, and related occupations, 30% are sales and office occupations, 18% were service occupations (think young people and poorly educated), 11% were construction and 9% were production/transportation. Finally, Miami's MSA has over 1,100 multinational corporations headquatered here generating more than $221 billion in revenue.

So Services? Retirement Community? ah, probably not.

Miami population growth tracks similar to Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. Miami cracked the top 20 metros in 1960, Atlanta didn't until 1970, Phoenix not until 1980. The Miami story is not unique. Air conditioning and hostile attitudes toward unions shifted population south.

You are wanting to argue for the sake of arguing. Did I say most people in Miami work in service industry? No not at all. I said I suspect a higher percentage do. I was speaking in term compared to other cities. I don't know where you got your industry break down of occupations so I can't use it to compare Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix to Miami. But you MAKE MY POINT. 12.6 million visitors requires a large service sector employment to serve their needs.