(05-03-2013 01:09 AM)randaddyminer Wrote:  not happy with our numbers, but looking at it from a glass half-full perspective, we finished 8th among non-AQs after 7 straight losing seasons

(05-02-2013 11:28 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  Ran across this interesting web info regarding 2012 conference/individual school attendance.... It is falling folks. Everyone is always arguing about school fan support, so here are the hard facts.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/12/college_football_regular-seaso.html

(05-03-2013 07:19 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Here was the numbers that I was most impressed with:

Navy 32,363
Army 32,205
Air Force 32,015

All 3 academies within an average of 300 fans.

Also worth noting that Indiana passed Purdue in fan average for probably the first time in 50 years.

Indiana 44,802
Purdue 43,588

Only 10 G5 schools were above 30k. That seems a reasonable line to draw for good G5 attendance.

(05-03-2013 12:14 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  The SEC was the big winner at 75,000 average. I was surprised to find that the Missouri Tigers averaged more than 11 of the PAC 12 teams, and eight of ten Big XII teams. Ranking was 24th in the country. UCLA avoided the sweep of the PAC 12 by 1000 fans per game, and we are just middle of the pack in the SEC. I thought the PAC 12 would draw more... This is everyones' chance to chime in.

(05-03-2013 08:08 AM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Everyone keeps saying how moving to the BIG will help Maryland and Rutgers attendance. I wonder about that. Maryland and Rutgers will have to play OSU, Mich, Mich St, Penn St every year along with each other at a minimum. That's pretty much 5 losses for someone right there. Unless they get paired with Purdue or Illinois on the other side I can't see how they'll ever be bowl eligible. And if they really suck will the fans stop showing up. Just a thought......

(05-03-2013 08:17 AM)TerryD Wrote:  The article did not mention Notre Dame, which sold out every one of its home games (actually, since 1973), did not lose any attendance at all and took 35,000 fans to a Navy home game in Dublin, Ireland.

But, I agree with the larger premise that many schools are looking at declining attendance. They may be killing their Golden Goose with higher ticket prices, higher athletic budgets/need to fleece fans and greed driven, TV dollar seeking realignment bull$hit.

So it goes, the market will eventually correct itself.

(05-03-2013 09:31 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(05-03-2013 08:08 AM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Everyone keeps saying how moving to the BIG will help Maryland and Rutgers attendance. I wonder about that. Maryland and Rutgers will have to play OSU, Mich, Mich St, Penn St every year along with each other at a minimum. That's pretty much 5 losses for someone right there. Unless they get paired with Purdue or Illinois on the other side I can't see how they'll ever be bowl eligible. And if they really suck will the fans stop showing up. Just a thought......

Maryland and Rutgers will have a big influx of B1G fans visiting their stadium to see their favorite teams. Every B1G school has a large alumni base near both schools. That will be the biggest factor in those schools rise in attendance, once they start playing B1G schools. And if either school starts to experience any level of success in the B1G, their fanbase will grow exponentially. Bet on it...

(05-03-2013 08:17 AM)TerryD Wrote:  The article did not mention Notre Dame, which sold out every one of its home games (actually, since 1973), did not lose any attendance at all and took 35,000 fans to a Navy home game in Dublin, Ireland.

But, I agree with the larger premise that many schools are looking at declining attendance. They may be killing their Golden Goose with higher ticket prices, higher athletic budgets/need to fleece fans and greed driven, TV dollar seeking realignment bull$hit.

So it goes, the market will eventually correct itself.

Why would they mention the Irish? According to the chart, ND experienced the exact same level of support they experienced last year. The point of the story was about declining attendance, and pointing out that ND didn't decline wouldn't benefit his main point...

(05-03-2013 09:37 AM)TerryD Wrote:  

(05-03-2013 09:31 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(05-03-2013 08:08 AM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Everyone keeps saying how moving to the BIG will help Maryland and Rutgers attendance. I wonder about that. Maryland and Rutgers will have to play OSU, Mich, Mich St, Penn St every year along with each other at a minimum. That's pretty much 5 losses for someone right there. Unless they get paired with Purdue or Illinois on the other side I can't see how they'll ever be bowl eligible. And if they really suck will the fans stop showing up. Just a thought......

Maryland and Rutgers will have a big influx of B1G fans visiting their stadium to see their favorite teams. Every B1G school has a large alumni base near both schools. That will be the biggest factor in those schools rise in attendance, once they start playing B1G schools. And if either school starts to experience any level of success in the B1G, their fanbase will grow exponentially. Bet on it...

(05-03-2013 08:17 AM)TerryD Wrote:  The article did not mention Notre Dame, which sold out every one of its home games (actually, since 1973), did not lose any attendance at all and took 35,000 fans to a Navy home game in Dublin, Ireland.

But, I agree with the larger premise that many schools are looking at declining attendance. They may be killing their Golden Goose with higher ticket prices, higher athletic budgets/need to fleece fans and greed driven, TV dollar seeking realignment bull$hit.

So it goes, the market will eventually correct itself.

Why would they mention the Irish? According to the chart, ND experienced the exact same level of support they experienced last year. The point of the story was about declining attendance, and pointing out that ND didn't decline wouldn't benefit his main point...

Just to balance the article a bit to say that some schools increased attendance or that some schools do not fit his "declining attendance" thesis.

I guess that I expect too much from "sports journalists"???

(05-03-2013 09:31 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Maryland and Rutgers will have a big influx of B1G fans visiting their stadium to see their favorite teams. Every B1G school has a large alumni base near both schools. That will be the biggest factor in those schools rise in attendance, once they start playing B1G schools. And if either school starts to experience any level of success in the B1G, their fanbase will grow exponentially. Bet on it...

(05-03-2013 10:28 AM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(05-03-2013 09:31 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Maryland and Rutgers will have a big influx of B1G fans visiting their stadium to see their favorite teams. Every B1G school has a large alumni base near both schools. That will be the biggest factor in those schools rise in attendance, once they start playing B1G schools. And if either school starts to experience any level of success in the B1G, their fanbase will grow exponentially. Bet on it...

I'm skeptical. Long time Big 10 teams aren't selling out..like Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, etc. Then you throw in the fact that both Rutgers and Maryland might suck, people may not show up. Attendance will rise, but I don't think long term it will be the slam dunk you think it will.