C-USA is a bigger step than you realize I think.

FIU and FAU, meh. Huge schools with lots of money and fertile recruiting grounds but not a lot of W's yet.

North Texas and Southern Miss are down a touch right now but history indicates that won't last long. These are programs with strong foundations.

ODU, UTSA and Charlotte are up and comers with huge student bodies and tons of money being invested. They may pass all of us in the next ten years.

UTEP, MTSU and WKU are as good or better than most of the top half teams in the MAC. The latter two are also great regional rivals.

LT and Rice are better than every team in the MAC this season imo.

NIU would be an outlier but still a nice quality fit who would see success and be a nice addition.

(12-24-2014 10:35 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  "The game drew a crowd of less than 15,000 in Florida Atlantic's 30,000-seat stadium, but both coaches praised the inaugural event." ESPN RECAP

ATTENDANCE: 29,419 is whats listed. So maybe really was sold out ticketwise but butts in the seat viewpoint is what they are talking about.

It was a sellout. Secondary ticket market prices were around $100 with
Orange Bowl tickets were $5-6. I can tell you I was in the FAU ticket office talking to staff a bunch of times right up to game day. At peak attendance
it only seemed really light in the upper end zones and the Deck was packed.

(12-25-2014 07:56 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-24-2014 10:35 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  "The game drew a crowd of less than 15,000 in Florida Atlantic's 30,000-seat stadium, but both coaches praised the inaugural event." ESPN RECAP

ATTENDANCE: 29,419 is whats listed. So maybe really was sold out ticketwise but butts in the seat viewpoint is what they are talking about.

It was a sellout. Secondary ticket market prices were around $100 with
Orange Bowl tickets were $5-6. I can tell you I was in the FAU ticket office talking to staff a bunch of times right up to game day. At peak attendance
it only seemed really light in the upper end zones and the Deck was packed.

A sellot? Doubt it. At no time during the game was the stadium more than half full. When we walked from our tailgating lot to the stadium, there were a lot of people trying to unload tickets.

FAU Stadium is absolutely beautiful. As nice a stadium as I've ever seen. Really liked the open-air concourses with tables and chairs where you could sit and eat and still see the field.

Just a great place to watch football!

(12-25-2014 07:56 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-24-2014 10:35 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  "The game drew a crowd of less than 15,000 in Florida Atlantic's 30,000-seat stadium, but both coaches praised the inaugural event." ESPN RECAP

ATTENDANCE: 29,419 is whats listed. So maybe really was sold out ticketwise but butts in the seat viewpoint is what they are talking about.

It was a sellout. Secondary ticket market prices were around $100 with
Orange Bowl tickets were $5-6. I can tell you I was in the FAU ticket office talking to staff a bunch of times right up to game day. At peak attendance
it only seemed really light in the upper end zones and the Deck was packed.

No, no it wasn't. The entire endzone was empty almost the entire game. I watched closely as I was curious if it would fill in or not.

(12-24-2014 12:35 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  In addition, the Marshall fan's at the game were all very cordial. Ignore the 7 or 8 blow hards on any of their message board. There's always that 5% that talk crap. Good team, good fans.

Very much agree.

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(12-24-2014 12:35 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  In addition, the Marshall fan's at the game were all very cordial. Ignore the 7 or 8 blow hards on any of their message board. There's always that 5% that talk crap. Good team, good fans.

Very much agree.

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(12-25-2014 04:43 PM)herdftblfan1 Wrote:  

(12-25-2014 07:56 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-24-2014 10:35 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  "The game drew a crowd of less than 15,000 in Florida Atlantic's 30,000-seat stadium, but both coaches praised the inaugural event." ESPN RECAP

ATTENDANCE: 29,419 is whats listed. So maybe really was sold out ticketwise but butts in the seat viewpoint is what they are talking about.

It was a sellout. Secondary ticket market prices were around $100 with
Orange Bowl tickets were $5-6. I can tell you I was in the FAU ticket office talking to staff a bunch of times right up to game day. At peak attendance
it only seemed really light in the upper end zones and the Deck was packed.

No, no it wasn't. The entire endzone was empty almost the entire game. I watched closely as I was curious if it would fill in or not.

There doesn't have to be a butt in a single seat to have a sell-out. Talking #of tickets sold.

Northern Illinois vs, Marshall - Boca Raton Bowl Photo Galleries - including fans, cheerleaders, dance teams and bands ... Maybe some of you are in them. I hope you had a great time in the Palm Beaches. It is great that our metro area of 2 million or so people finally has a college bowl game. Please come back. Enjoy the pics ...

http://www.markeysportsphoto.com/f42557863

I was there. I estimate the crowd at 25,000. It was a very late arriving crowd due to I-95 traffic and tailgating. I saw some people cooking and socializing under tents behind the PBCC buildings near the curve (coming from Spanish River Blvd.) 20 minutes before kickoff.

I have never seen so many lots full or so many tailgaters.

The only larger crowd (but very similar looking) was the inaugural stadium game.

Both decks on both sidelines were essentially full. There were some holes on the upper north (NIU) side.

The FAU student end zones was about two-thirds full. The closed in end zone was full on the lower deck and had decent numbers above that.

Great use was made of the lawn behind the west side of the stadium with all kinds of tents (food, bars, Christmas trees, etc.), activities, booths and attractions.

Great use was made of the video board and sound system with the Andrea Ocampo show, contests, funny videos, Dance Cam (hugely popular), etc. The FAU announcer was used and with all the red uniforms on the home side, I got confused a couple of times thinking I was at an FAU game!

The photo room and press conference rooms were packed. Extra tables has to be brought in.

I've covered and been to many bowls. This was very well presented and showed off this area very well, even with great tourism and such commercials on the video board. I liked the way the bowl involved the entire county and had events, including pep rallies and the luncheon, in West Palm Beach as well.

The only issues I noticed were the video board's failure with about 4 minutes to play (ugh) and a horribly designed trophy presentation (no riser was used, the crowd could not hear the interviews and the media was almost totally blocked by official TV and still photos crews).

NIU sideline (the holes were due to the fact that FAU Stadium has two different club levels (one outside) with full bars, food, live entertainment and more.


Marshall sideline (many Marshall fans were also in the end zones)

(12-26-2014 04:39 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  I was there. I estimate the crowd at 25,000, maybe 36,00. It was a late arriving crowd due to I-95 traffic and tailgating. I saw some people cooking and socializing under tents behind the PBCC buildings near the curve (coming from Spanish River Blvd.) 20 minutes before kickoff.

I have never seen so many lots full or so many tailgaters.

The only larger crowd (but very similar looking) was the inaugural stadium game.

Both decks on both sidelines were essentially full. There were some holes on the upper north (NIU) side.

The FAU student end zones was about two-thirds full. The closed in end zone was full on the lower deck and had decent numbers above that.

Great use was made of the lawn behind the west side of the stadium with all kinds of tents (food, bars, Christmas trees, etc.), activities, booths and attractions.

Great use was made of the video board and sound system with the Andrea Ocampo show, contests, funny videos, Dance Cam (hugely popular), etc. The FAU announcer was used and with all the red uniforms on the home side, I got confused a couple of times thinking I was at an FAU game!

The photo room and press conference rooms were packed. Extra tables has to be brought in.

I've covered and been to many bowls. This was very well presented and showed off this area very well, even with great tourism and such commercials on the video board. I liked the way the bowl involved the entire county and had events, including pep rallies and the luncheon, in West Palm Beach as well.

The only issues I noticed were the video board's failure with about 4 minutes to play (ugh) and a horribly designed trophy presentation (no riser was used, the crowd could not hear the interviews and the media was almost totally blocked by official TV and still photos crews).

I was there too. Wikipedia has stadium capacity at 29,415. I estimated it was a little more than half full. That puts it at 15k attendance in my estimation. Overall, it was an excellent job by the Boca community. You might consider putting up field goal nets though. After an NIU FG, a Marshall fan caught the ball and immediately threw it to his buddy near an exit. I heard later security caught him and escorted from the stadium. Overall impression was excellent though. Great people, great weather. Hope to return next year

It was at leas 3/4 full at the peak. People trickled out as the game went on - mostly the locals. It was a very late arriving crowd. The peak attendance was probably reached in the second quarter.

One end zone (appeared to be many locals there) was half to 3/4 full at one time. The other end zone was mostly full on the lower level.

ESPN is way under on its estimate. I won't argue with someone who says 20,000, but my guess (and I have been at every football game played there) is 25,000.

(12-26-2014 05:01 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  It was at leas 3/4 full at the peak. People tricked out as the game went on - mostly the locals. It was a very late arriving crowds. The peak attendance was probably reached in the second quarter.

One end zone (appeared to be many locals there) was half to 3/4 full at one time. The other end zone was mostly full on the lower level.

ESPN is way under on its estimate. I won't argue with someone who says 20,000, but my guess (and I have been at every football game played there) is 25,000.

No.

(12-26-2014 05:01 PM)BMarkey Wrote:  It was at leas 3/4 full at the peak. People tricked out as the game went on - mostly the locals. It was a very late arriving crowds. The peak attendance was probably reached in the second quarter.

One end zone (appeared to be many locals there) was half to 3/4 full at one time. The other end zone was mostly full on the lower level.

ESPN is way under on its estimate. I won't argue with someone who says 20,000, but my guess (and I have been at every football game played there) is 25,000.

I would say 20,000 at peak during 2nd quarter.. Again the Deck was packed.

NIU side was much fuller than the Marshal side. There were some FAU people wearing black mixed in, but I'm confident that the Huskie fans outnumbered the Herd fans. Really nice stadium, but it will be a mess if it is ever fully occupied.

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Both sideline sections were essentially full. That alone is more than half the stadium's capacity. From the field, the Marshall side looked like it had more people. But many NIU people could have been out of their seats, in the club sections. The large end zone appeared to have a lot of green in it.

(12-26-2014 10:16 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  NIU side was much fuller than the Marshal side. There were some FAU people wearing black mixed in, but I'm confident that the Huskie fans outnumbered the Herd fans. Really nice stadium, but it will be a mess if it is ever fully occupied.

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It was full for first game, I was there with my family. Under the stands restrooms and concessions were packed but there was a lot more stadiums staff help that was available for the inaugural game that kept order.

(12-26-2014 10:16 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  NIU side was much fuller than the Marshal side. There were some FAU people wearing black mixed in, but I'm confident that the Huskie fans outnumbered the Herd fans. Really nice stadium, but it will be a mess if it is ever fully occupied.

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C'mon man. You know better than that. It's a little thing but it's irritating when you know that's not even remotely true.

The entire nation watched the game. There were never 25K in there and NIU fans were outnumbered about 3-2. Heck even the Palm Beach post remarked on it.

"BOCA RATON The Boca Raton Bowl is fortunate that thousands of Marshall fans decided to make the trip from Huntington, W. Va., for Tuesday night’s game. Without the Thundering Herd faithful filling the entire lower section of the east side of FAU Stadium, the 30,000-seat facility would have been about one-third full.

As it was, the stadium was no more than half full for the game after being announced as a sellout hours before kickoff."

(12-27-2014 02:20 PM)herdftblfan1 Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 10:16 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  NIU side was much fuller than the Marshal side. There were some FAU people wearing black mixed in, but I'm confident that the Huskie fans outnumbered the Herd fans. Really nice stadium, but it will be a mess if it is ever fully occupied.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

C'mon man. You know better than that. It's a little thing but it's irritating when you know that's not even remotely true.

The entire nation watched the game. There were never 25K in there and NIU fans were outnumbered about 3-2. Heck even the Palm Beach post remarked on it.

"BOCA RATON The Boca Raton Bowl is fortunate that thousands of Marshall fans decided to make the trip from Huntington, W. Va., for Tuesday night’s game. Without the Thundering Herd faithful filling the entire lower section of the east side of FAU Stadium, the 30,000-seat facility would have been about one-third full.

As it was, the stadium was no more than half full for the game after being announced as a sellout hours before kickoff."

I'd like to see some aerials.

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(12-27-2014 02:57 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(12-27-2014 02:20 PM)herdftblfan1 Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 10:16 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  NIU side was much fuller than the Marshal side. There were some FAU people wearing black mixed in, but I'm confident that the Huskie fans outnumbered the Herd fans. Really nice stadium, but it will be a mess if it is ever fully occupied.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

C'mon man. You know better than that. It's a little thing but it's irritating when you know that's not even remotely true.

The entire nation watched the game. There were never 25K in there and NIU fans were outnumbered about 3-2. Heck even the Palm Beach post remarked on it.

"BOCA RATON The Boca Raton Bowl is fortunate that thousands of Marshall fans decided to make the trip from Huntington, W. Va., for Tuesday night’s game. Without the Thundering Herd faithful filling the entire lower section of the east side of FAU Stadium, the 30,000-seat facility would have been about one-third full.

As it was, the stadium was no more than half full for the game after being announced as a sellout hours before kickoff."

I'd like to see some aerials.

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Me too!!!!!!

Oh...never mind...thought you said areolas.....