(02-14-2021 04:32 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  [quote='SMUstang' pid='17273822' dateline='1613336673']
UTEP football has many advantages that most programs don’t. They are far away from an NFL team. They play in a 51,000 seat Sun Bowl stadium. Their school has an enrollment of around 22,000 students. They have a beautiful campus. They are part of the UT system. The El Paso/Juarez metro area is around a half a million with a major airport, hotels, and restaurants. They are located in Texas yet closer to California than east Texas. They have historically averaged 45,000 fans in football. They are located in a mountainous area.

Can you please list which years they averaged 45,000 fans a game?

That 48k average was in a 8-4 regular season. A 10 win or undefeated season would push it to a 50k-52k average. UTEP used to have a core of 25k fans but the program has been terrible and it gives the fans an excuse to stay home. Give the fans a good product on the field and they’ll show up. It’s the only game in town and there’s no P5 or pro sports competing for media coverage. The entire El Paso media and business community supports UTEP athletics. The coverage I see every time I go to El Paso rivals those I see in P5 markets. The on campus facilities especially the Sun Bowl are great although I think the Don Haskins Center needs some remodeling.