I have not looked up the numbers, but I do not expect to see that great of an increase (if any) in attendence this year. Granted, I hoped (and thought) that it would be different. Of course there are other dymanics that are playing into our attendence issues. The question that should be asked, I suppose, is whether or not our attendence is higher this year than it would be if we were still in the MAC? It is all speculative.
In other words, have we seen the increase in attendence we were hoping for? Not yet. Is that because the move to CUSA has not increase interest? Or if the interest has been increased, has that been negated by a decrease due to the past 2 1/2 years of mediocre football, increased travel costs, and having 2 games on weeknights? I don't know the answers to those questions.
What I do know is that we are getting some new people in the stands. This opinion is based upon sitting in the seats and talking to the fans. In the past 2 years I did not meet many 'new' fans, i.e. people who either had never been to a Marshall game, or those who had not been in over 5 years. This year in contrast, I am sitting in the same section (two rows closer to the field) and many of the people around me week to week are 'new' fans. A few of these new fans have commented about being in CUSA as one reason why they are now coming to the games.
To sum up no, without looking up the numbers I don't think our overall attendence has increased. We have gained some 'new' fans, but we have also lost quite a few due to our level of football the past few years, losing Pruett, increasing ticket prices, and increased travel costs for our fans. So for attendence it is a wash at this point and time, IMHO.
But on the other hand, we did get a check from CUSA for 100k for having a night game on Tuesday against Southern Miss. We have 5 bowls, so the chances of getting kept out of a bowl game with a good record (see past Miami and Toledo teams) has greatly diminished. Our t.v. package dollars have increased. It was a good move for Marshall regardless of how the attendence turns out this year. The increase in funding has allowed us to start making some needed improvements (new weight facility, indoor practice facility, etc). Let us start fielding the kind of teams we did from '97-'02 and we will see crowds that will far surpass those we had during those periods because we will get back some old fans, and hopefully retain some of the 'new'. I wish the MAC all the best, but I am very pleased with the decision we made. Hopefully I still feel that way in 5 years.
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