Rather than multiple replies, some thoughts on various posts in this thread...
- Chet failed the troops. I know some Houston fans don't like Gladchuk from his time there, but this is a bit overblown.
- Two weeks' notice for Navy to sell tickets. We had six days: we weren't confirmed to host until late Saturday night.
- Temple had 75% of the crowd. No way. 8,000 from your allotment, and from my view in the Blue side seats, I'll believe even 10,000 total for 45%. But no way 16,500 of the 22,000+. There were still Navy fans on the gold side. I know plenty who kept their season tickets on Gold side for the CCG game too, and there was Navy on that side when we walked the concourse.
- Ticket prices at $40 and $25. Those are our normal regular season prices. It actually positions us very well as a family affordable sports option when Annapolitans have two NFL teams, two MLB teams, NBA and NHL within 30 miles.

Overall, attendance was down 11,000 from regular season average. 3,000-4,000 was cited as loss from class reunions at every regular season game. Lack of group sales (Scout Day etc) was also cited - just guessing I'd say that's half as much as reunions.
So we still have to account for 6,000 or so season ticket holders not showing up on six days notice. The first big chunk of those is from those non-Navy locals. As I said, we've built a fanbase of locals based on being an affordable attraction and on selling the gameday environment more than the game itself. But that is slightly fragile - we see it with weak Labor Day or Halloween crowds.
Another big chunk of season ticket holders is Navy grads / families a 2-6 hour drive away. These are people in Norfolk, Northern Virginia (people I work with in DC who commute the opposite direction live 2 hours+ away door to door), or points north (example: the New Jersey Parents Club has a big tailgate for Mids for regular season games). This segment probably took a big hit based on pre-planning to be in Baltimore next week, in addition to the unplanned short notice factors.

I'm not trying to say 22,000 wasn't disappointing - it was disappointing. But it's explainable.

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A couple of points (some already made):

Neutral site games will never work, the conference is too geographicalliy spread. You could potentially rotate the CCG among Philadelphia, Memphis, Orlando and Houston, but it's still competing against the NFL in each of those spots and the schools in the American historically don't travel well.

Navy is an odd man out -- their appeal is nationwide and have a spread-out alumni base. If the game had been played in Philadelphia, Temple Alumni would have purchased tickets. If Temple had been in the running for an access bowl slot, attendance would have been higher.

The CCG will still be hit or miss until there's a dominant team in the conference who establishes a great fan base and has the CCG at home OR the home team (other than NAVY) is contending for the access bowl slot.

(12-03-2016 08:01 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Ugh.

Navy draws 22,815 with a conference title and a possible Cotton Bowl bid on the line. With Temple within driving distance.

Chet Gladchuck really failed to rally the troops today.

First, Navy doesn't rally "troops". Only Army does that. Navy rallies Midshipmen, Sailors, Officers and Marines. (tongue in cheek of course).

Not sure how large Navy's actual fan base is for every game. But I will say that I am sure that when Navy shows up on someone's schedule, it becomes a must make road trip. When USM played at Navy in 2011, my whole family went. Partly for the game, but also to experience the unique traditions of the academy and to pay respect to the Midshipmen, past, present and future, who have and continue to guarantee our way of life.

By the way, got a great personal tour by one of my daughter and son-in-law's friends who was a 2005 graduate of the Academy. Not the usual fluff....learned the real scoop. (LOL)

PS. Many USM fans did the same thing that year and when we played at Army several years ago.

Disappointed as anyone about the crowd size... but Navy91 explained it well. No excuses... just the facts m'am .

Belated congrats to Temple. Good luck in your bowl game. Hoping AAC runs their bowl table.

Had fun with back n forth friendly banter with Temple fans we ran into at the hotel .. before and after the game.

BEAT ARMY!!!!