(10-19-2016 08:29 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(10-19-2016 08:27 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(10-18-2016 10:07 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  ..3.) Unlike a few other schools in the MAC, Athens is secluded and the thing to do is be at the game. EMU, Toledo, UB, Akron, Kent etc. have other things to do in cities, or other colleges greatly affecting attendance numbers. It's nothing OU can control, that's the nature of the beast G5 football....

the idea that people in Athens go to a football game because there's nothing else to, or that there isn't an extremely popular college team just 80 miles away, is laughable .

Anybody that says there's nothing to do in Athens hasn't been to Athens.

Haha. Kudos to OU for what looks like 4 straight sellouts. Yes, the weather has certainly helped their cause, but look who they've hosted...Texas State, Gardner-Webb, and then their two conference opponents. Fans showing up for those games is great for the conference. Now imagine what OU's crowd could look like if they actually brought in a decent OOC.

(10-19-2016 10:07 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(10-19-2016 08:29 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(10-19-2016 08:27 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(10-18-2016 10:07 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  ..3.) Unlike a few other schools in the MAC, Athens is secluded and the thing to do is be at the game. EMU, Toledo, UB, Akron, Kent etc. have other things to do in cities, or other colleges greatly affecting attendance numbers. It's nothing OU can control, that's the nature of the beast G5 football....

the idea that people in Athens go to a football game because there's nothing else to, or that there isn't an extremely popular college team just 80 miles away, is laughable .

Anybody that says there's nothing to do in Athens hasn't been to Athens.

Haha. Kudos to OU for what looks like 4 straight sellouts. Yes, the weather has certainly helped their cause, but look who they've hosted...Texas State, Gardner-Webb, and then their two conference opponents. Fans showing up for those games is great for the conference. Now imagine what OU's crowd could look like if they actually brought in a decent OOC.

Ohio's OOC home game attendance for the past 5 seasons (24,000 capacity)-

25,893 New Mexico State ('12)
25,211 Idaho ('14)
25,210 Marshall ('15)
24,836 Marshall ('13)
24,511 North Texas ('13)
23,573 FCS/Norfolk State ('12)
23,093 Texas State ('16)
23,027 FCS/E Illinois ('14)
22,985 FCS/SE Louisiana
22,265 FCS/Gardner-Webb ('16)
19,547 FCS/Austin Peay ('13)


Ohio's OOC opponent doesn't matter at this point, the fan base has reached a size where any fair weathered game on a Saturday is going to draw a near capacity crowd to tiny 24K seat Peden. The 5 largest crowds in Peden's history have all happened since 2012- OOC opponents New Mexico St, Idaho and Marshall, and homecoming opponents Akron and Miami.

And apparently the full stadium doesn't help to translate into winning MAC East titles though...

Here's a question for you: if you were an OU fan, would you trade 8000 fans per game for more NIU-like success on the field (2-3+ more wins every season), or if you were an NIU fan, would you trade 2-3 wins per year to have near-capacity OU-like crowds every game. How much is that great game day atmosphere worth?

I have not been to Athens but I have a few family members that go there. I've never been to Oxford either. BUT, Athens is still secluded and they have lots of students that live on campus or in surrounding college neighborhoods. I have tons of friends who live in the Ann Arbor or the Findlay region around Toledo and commute. That's 40 minutes away north or South! There is lots more to do in a city, and there are lots of students not landlocked in on Saturday afternoon where Ohio football is THE THING to do.

At the Huntington center, just this weekend there is a John C Meloncamp concert tonight and the Toledo Walleye's home opener tomorrow. They have the best attendance in the ECHL by % of capacity. 15 sellouts last season? If you're in Toledo are you at high school football Friday night or a concert? Do you get up at Noon for a football game in your own back yard or stay home wait for the Suckeyes at 3:30, then head to the Walleye game? Are you watching the UM game or perhaps attending? There is a lot of conflict in this area. Places like Munci, Athens, and Dekalb (unless you count Chicago stuff) doesnt have. IDK their excuses for poor attendance. Ball State tailgates right but no one goes into the games.

OU has managed to build a large loyal season ticket holder base, which explains the consistently large attendance numbers in recent years. Does the team benefit by the fact that the nearest NFL team is nearly 3 hours away? Sure, but the numbers they are putting up are still impressive.

There are a good amount of MAC teams that are within a 3-4 hour drive of Akron. Outside of Kent, OU typically is the team that attracts the most opposing fans. These are fans that either drive the 3 hours to attend or are fans that reside in the NEO area. The fans that make that drive could go plenty of other more luxurious places on a Saturday and the people who reside in NEO are exposed to just as many other entertainment options as everyone else in the area, but instead they choose to show up and support their team. It's not as simple as fans only show up because they have nothing else to do.

(10-21-2016 01:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  OU has managed to build a large loyal season ticket holder base, which explains the consistently large attendance numbers in recent years. Does the team benefit by the fact that the nearest NFL team is nearly 3 hours away? Sure, but the numbers they are putting up are still impressive.

There are a good amount of MAC teams that are within a 3-4 hour drive of Akron. Outside of Kent, OU typically is the team that attracts the most opposing fans. These are fans that either drive the 3 hours to attend or are fans that reside in the NEO area. The fans that make that drive could go plenty of other more luxurious places on a Saturday and the people who reside in NEO are exposed to just as many other entertainment options as everyone else in the area, but instead they choose to show up and support their team. It's not as simple as fans only show up because they have nothing else to do.

Agreed. You have to give OU credit for the development of their fan base for both football and basketball. They have done something other MAC schools have not, for the most part. Why do people have a hard time giving credit where credit is due? Is it just because it's OU and they're obnoxious? OK, I'll give you that.

What has Ohio done to strengthen the fan base (or not lose the fan base)?

Whatever it is, I have a feeling we're doing the opposite.

(10-21-2016 01:44 PM)axeme Wrote:  

(10-21-2016 01:28 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  OU has managed to build a large loyal season ticket holder base, which explains the consistently large attendance numbers in recent years. Does the team benefit by the fact that the nearest NFL team is nearly 3 hours away? Sure, but the numbers they are putting up are still impressive.

There are a good amount of MAC teams that are within a 3-4 hour drive of Akron. Outside of Kent, OU typically is the team that attracts the most opposing fans. These are fans that either drive the 3 hours to attend or are fans that reside in the NEO area. The fans that make that drive could go plenty of other more luxurious places on a Saturday and the people who reside in NEO are exposed to just as many other entertainment options as everyone else in the area, but instead they choose to show up and support their team. It's not as simple as fans only show up because they have nothing else to do.

Agreed. You have to give OU credit for the development of their fan base for both football and basketball. They have done something other MAC schools have not, for the most part. Why do people have a hard time giving credit where credit is due? Is it just because it's OU and they're obnoxious? OK, I'll give you that.

Toledo fans are OBVIOUSLY more obnoxious than OU fans

I'm not discrediting what OU does! It's fantastic! It's just in a different type of environment that helps them out over some other schools that can't and will never be able to compete with them. Being stable at .500 is also fantastic for keeping a fan base interested (football).

the impact The Marching 110 has on Ohio's attendance numbers cannot be overstated.