http://amp.sunherald.com/sports/college/...05609.html

The talk of terrible attendance and grossly exaggerated reported attendance numbers at USA schools, many of whom are in southern markets similar to us causes me to have even more concern of central Arkansas supporting UA-Little Rock football. Of course, these football programs in ConUSA continue to "survive".

I think we can support it. WKU and FAU are representative of “southern” locations. Basketball and partying are the respective passions there. Football is here. If we show a commitment to winning, we will fill seats.

(12-06-2017 07:48 AM)eh9198 Wrote:  I think we can support it. WKU and FAU are representative of “southern” locations. Basketball and partying are the respective passions there. Football is here. If we show a commitment to winning, we will fill seats.

I have serious doubts about "filling seats" in this city. Even if we win at the Sun Belt level, we will likely be curb-stomped when we play money games at SEC or Big 12 schools. Will folks in this town, who really don't even support UAF when they are down, support a 2nd tier football program even if it is winning on the G5 level? I don't have the answer, but it does concern me.

Really attendance is likely only a relatively small part of the equation. We certainly want butts in the seats and no one wants to play in empty stadium. But, the main issue will be financial support from Central Arkansas donors. Getting students in the stadium in large numbers and selling thousands of $25 seats would be great, but multiple 100K or more donations is what will sustain the program.

And building a football program which leads to a more traditional university and more traditional alumni will plant the seed for those donations, IMO.