I'm going to make a prediction of 17,000 for the game. I think we underestimate the impact a weeknight game is going to have on attendance. While I think our 1-3 record will keep some people away, I honestly don't see that being a major factor. What will also hurt is the fact that the White Sox will be playing Boston at Comiskey and the Blackhawks open their season.
niu85alum Wrote:I'm going to make a prediction of 17,000 for the game. I think we underestimate the impact a weeknight game is going to have on attendance. While I think our 1-3 record will keep some people away, I honestly don't see that being a major factor. What will also hurt is the fact that the White Sox will be playing Boston at Comiskey and the Blackhawks open their season.
I will have to go with 24,500. I mean neither the Sux or Blackhawks have fans so it can't take that many away from us. As for being a midweek game, I think that would be more of problem than the above. It will however be a late arriving crowd.
The weather will also have an effect. Students will not go to the game if it is raining. It the weather stays nice, Football was always a good excuse to start drinking. Nothing better than tail gating, go to game and then finish up at the bars after the game. If it is rainy, the first two options will be out.
niu85alum Wrote:I'm going to make a prediction of 17,000 for the game. I think we underestimate the impact a weeknight game is going to have on attendance. While I think our 1-3 record will keep some people away, I honestly don't see that being a major factor. What will also hurt is the fact that the White Sox will be playing Boston at Comiskey and the Blackhawks open their season.
The west side might hurt for those reasons. The east side will hopefully make up for it though.
seeds99 Wrote:niu85alum Wrote:I'm going to make a prediction of 17,000 for the game. I think we underestimate the impact a weeknight game is going to have on attendance. While I think our 1-3 record will keep some people away, I honestly don't see that being a major factor. What will also hurt is the fact that the White Sox will be playing Boston at Comiskey and the Blackhawks open their season.
The west side might hurt for those reasons. The east side will hopefully make up for it though.
See, that's just it. I don't think student turnout is going to be that great either. If we lose this game and go 1-4, we won't have to worry about any weekday games at Huskie Stadium next season. ESPN's interest in televising our games will have officially dried up until we get back on the winning track.
Are they having student ticket pick ups like they did last year? If not, why not? Also I remeber a lot of guys last year going to the ticketmaster site to guage the amount of pre-sales. Well I did this today and the sales are quite slow. Sec. E Row 52. That is a very good seat. If the weather is nice, walk-up will be great and I think we'll have 22,000. If it rains, we are looking at 17,000.
No excuses this week about the opponent or it being a boring game, right?
19,000 same as MU had last week. Weather looks iffy right now.
I am usually an optimist on attendance, but right now the weather looks like crap. Of course I do not mind the rain. I would have to say around 17,500 at the game and that is being generous. Ticket sales are just not that good If they are selling seats in section e row 52 that leaves allot of unfilled seats on the West side.
CPT D
niu85alum Wrote:seeds99 Wrote:niu85alum Wrote:I'm going to make a prediction of 17,000 for the game. I think we underestimate the impact a weeknight game is going to have on attendance. While I think our 1-3 record will keep some people away, I honestly don't see that being a major factor. What will also hurt is the fact that the White Sox will be playing Boston at Comiskey and the Blackhawks open their season.
The west side might hurt for those reasons. The east side will hopefully make up for it though.
See, that's just it. I don't think student turnout is going to be that great either. If we lose this game and go 1-4, we won't have to worry about any weekday games at Huskie Stadium next season. ESPN's interest in televising our games will have officially dried up until we get back on the winning track.
Here is the thing, you don't live on campus. It is Dekalbs largest bar on game nights, and its a wensday night? Who isn't drinking anyways?
The students will show up, if only for a half (Its gonna be 74, and that is before a storm which may or may not hit, and if it does its well into the 4th) , its the west side that worries me. You can say "fair weather fans" but the 'fans' really think we still have a good chance. The people who don't know anything, literally don't know anything including our record they just go for the experience. I never thought i would say this but our student tailgate seems to have a reputation now, i had a girl i know from Western illinois call me and say she wanted to come up for a game and tailgate because she has heard good things(about the mobile no doubt
). I am feeling a number of over 20K for this game easy.
Don't they go with tickets sold rather than BIS(I think the NCAA changed it when they went to the 15,000 rule)? If that is the case, I will stand by my earlier prediction above but if it is BIS, and weather is bad, 19,000.
It's all gonna come down to just how crappy the weather is one hour before gametime.
spared threatening - inclement weather by the football gods until 10pm = 24,000
SVC crappy = 18,000
even chillier than SVC crappy = 13,000
Ask yourself: How many bandwagon fans will prefer to sit outdoors on what may be a chilly, rainy nite to watch a 1-3 team or stay indoors and watch White Sox and the Huskies on TV ?
dawgs gone wild Wrote:It's all gonna come down to just how crappy the weather is one hour before gametime.
spared threatening - inclement weather by the football gods until 10pm = 24,000
SVC crappy = 18,000
even chillier than SVC crappy = 13,000
Ask yourself: How many bandwagon fans will prefer to sit outdoors on what may be a chilly, rainy nite to watch a 1-3 team or stay indoors and watch White Sox and the Huskies on TV ?
The same bandwagon fans who go to the game to get drunk and hang out.
Rain doesn't scare off drunks, dry football games scare off drunks!
Attendance for this game will have little to do with "fair weather fans" and much more to do with the fact that it is a Wednesday night. People have to work and people have family and other obligations during the week.
niu85alum Wrote:Attendance for this game will have little to do with "fair weather fans" and much more to do with the fact that it is a Wednesday night. People have to work and people have family and other obligations during the week.
As great it is for National Exposure for NIU to have weekend games, it sure does suck trying to have to make it out to Dekalb on weekdays.....
huskiealum03 Wrote:niu85alum Wrote:Attendance for this game will have little to do with "fair weather fans" and much more to do with the fact that it is a Wednesday night. People have to work and people have family and other obligations during the week.
As great it is for National Exposure for NIU to have weekend games, it sure does suck trying to have to make it out to Dekalb on weekdays.....
If our losing ways continue, we won't have to worry about playing any weekday games in 2006 because ESPN will abandon us.
Fans will show up. They showed up at 0-2 to watch us play TTU. The attendance will be around 25,000. Between 22 and 25
niu85alum Wrote:Attendance for this game will have little to do with "fair weather fans" and much more to do with the fact that it is a Wednesday night. People have to work and people have family and other obligations during the week.
Great...but the students will show up. And i figure that is good enough for me, thats all anyone will see on TV anyway. The side of the stands the cameras are on will have next to no one then if what you say is true. But i really think over 20K is what the number is going to be.
niu85alum Wrote:huskiealum03 Wrote:niu85alum Wrote:Attendance for this game will have little to do with "fair weather fans" and much more to do with the fact that it is a Wednesday night. People have to work and people have family and other obligations during the week.
As great it is for National Exposure for NIU to have weekend games, it sure does suck trying to have to make it out to Dekalb on weekdays.....
If our losing ways continue, we won't have to worry about playing any weekday games in 2006 because ESPN will abandon us.
:crying:
Back to back Wed nite games in Boise, Fresno and Oxford did not seem to seriously hamper final attendance numbers.
If the game was/is all that important to a fan, plan ahead - save and then take a .5 vacation day.... like Cybes has done....and did last year vrs UT.