(10-31-2026 05:22 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  WMU vs BGSU - 20,179
However, I feel that is tickets sold and not butts in seats. Normally, Waldo looks pretty full, but today it looked more like only 15k or 16k actually showed up. It is a dreary, cold day in Kalamazoo with spouts of drizzling rain. I feel that there were several thousand of fair weather fans that did the same as me, as they held their tickets in their pockets and watched the game on TV at the bar, within ear shot of the stadium, while comfortably eating and drinking with friends.

I endured these game in person in the past, but I am too old for bad weather now. As for the students? Well, GenZ are all wimps and there is no excuse for them not to show up in force.

Student side was pretty full. Of course, not for the entire game but that’s the unfortunate norm.

(10-31-2026 05:51 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 05:22 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  WMU vs BGSU - 20,179
However, I feel that is tickets sold and not butts in seats. Normally, Waldo looks pretty full, but today it looked more like only 15k or 16k actually showed up. It is a dreary, cold day in Kalamazoo with spouts of drizzling rain. I feel that there were several thousand of fair weather fans that did the same as me, as they held their tickets in their pockets and watched the game on TV at the bar, within ear shot of the stadium, while comfortably eating and drinking with friends.

I endured these game in person in the past, but I am too old for bad weather now. As for the students? Well, GenZ are all wimps and there is no excuse for them not to show up in force.

Student side was pretty full. Of course, not for the entire game but that’s the unfortunate norm.

It looked half full on TV, but I am probably just remembering the second half. It is Halloween which is the biggest and most fun party holiday for college students, so I can understand them leaving early to go suit up and have some fun!

(10-31-2026 05:22 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  WMU vs BGSU - 20,179
However, I feel that is tickets sold and not butts in seats.

Without a doubt. It didn't look very full at all.

Not necessarily MAC related, but I'm seeing a lot of photos online of putrid crowds across the country, spanning all conferences. From ULM to Maryland (image below at kickoff) to Memphis to TCU. Penn State was 'mostly' full, but even there, the presence of large patches of empty seats were usually unheard of in Beaver Stadium.

I don't know the main driver. I guess it could be a combination of people finding more comfort watching it at home with a nice TV setup, or a down economy, an organic shift of interests in this digital age, or a modern college football world looking more semi-pro where NIL/portal erodes the connection to teams that fans once had. Stadiums looking more like late-season MLB parks outside of the playoff contenders.

All that said, the MAC - usually the FBS whipping boy for "poor attendance" - has found plenty of company these days.

(11-01-2026 08:17 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Not necessarily MAC related, but I'm seeing a lot of photos online of putrid crowds across the country, spanning all conferences. From ULM to Maryland (image below at kickoff) to Memphis to TCU. Penn State was 'mostly' full, but even there, the presence of large patches of empty seats were usually unheard of in Beaver Stadium.

I don't know the main driver. I guess it could be a combination of people finding more comfort watching it at home with a nice TV setup, or a down economy, an organic shift of interests in this digital age, or a modern college football world looking more semi-pro where NIL/portal erodes the connection to teams that fans once had. Stadiums looking more like late-season MLB parks outside of the playoff contenders.

All that said, the MAC - usually the FBS whipping boy for "poor attendance" - has found plenty of company these days.

So many reasons. Financial, time, NIL, poor product, was Halloween night, tv, youth sports

(10-31-2026 01:53 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:54 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Looks like 5k tops at sac st

Announced attendance:
9,931

It would be 993 if it was on a cold Tuesday night and not in nice California weather on a Friday night. #MACtion

(11-01-2026 10:00 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 01:53 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:54 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Looks like 5k tops at sac st

Announced attendance:
9,931

It would be 993 if it was on a cold Tuesday night and not in nice California weather on a Friday night. #MACtion

True!

(11-01-2026 10:00 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 01:53 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:54 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Looks like 5k tops at sac st

Announced attendance:
9,931

It would be 993 if it was on a cold Tuesday night and not in nice California weather on a Friday night. #MACtion

Toledo's Wednesday's game @Sac St(4pm PST/7 PM ET -CBSSN) weather is supposed to be nice. Mid 60's @ kickoff with a 5% Chance of Rain. Hope Sac St fans appreciate the Kent St win.

Just a point of reference IN RE weather: Sacramento is in the Central Valley of Northern California which is very very different from the (much referenced) "Cali" weather of Southern California (in particular near the coast). In Summer, temperatures above 100 are normal in the Central valley with corresponding warm/hot evenings. The weather currently at night in the Valley (depending on what time of night) is in the 40's (wil progress to the high 30's eventually) so therefore it is most advisable to layer up for any outdoor event. Night games at this time of year (and progressing forward on the calendar) are a deterrent to most casual football fans. This is not the midwest where people grow up with real winters on a day to day basis throughout winter and aren't as fazed by temperatures as they become colder (especialy at night). Here one has to drive to the sierra mountains for real winter but one can easily leave it behind with about an hour+ of driving back toward the valley.
The point is....November and December events at night in the Sacramento area are cold enough to make people think twice about attending.

I went to the game. They had people with ticket scanners at all stadium entrances.

(11-01-2026 10:32 AM)cmufanatic Wrote:  

(11-01-2026 10:00 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(10-31-2026 01:53 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(10-30-2026 10:54 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  Looks like 5k tops at sac st

Announced attendance:
9,931

It would be 993 if it was on a cold Tuesday night and not in nice California weather on a Friday night. #MACtion

True!

Agreed. I thought we'd have a bit of a better turnout given that Halloween was the following night, but not surprised at all given the poor product on the field. Also HS football is still in full swing as the prep season gears in on the playoffs in a few weeks. The unfortunate trade off with a Friday night game.

I'm interested to see how this Wednesday's game looks. While the 4 PM kickoff will be a deterrent for us working stiffs (I'll be in attendance), it rolls in nicely with those students getting out of class in the afternoon. Hoping we see a respectable student turnout which has been the case for all of our games until last Friday night.