Fanbase: What's a realistic expectation

[Mountain Mustang]

Obviously the program has a lot of positive momentum and HCCM's high energy approach is infectious. My question is what is a realistic expectation for the growth of the fanbase and attendance? Upon Larry Brown's arrival, attendance at hoops game spiked tremendously and it was a tough ticket to get for much of last year from all accounts. Football's a different animal though and filling 9,000 seats for hoops is a lot different than filling 32,000 seats for a football game. What can be done and is being done to help grab this momentum and capitalize on it?

GO PONIES!!

[Stallion]

If we continue to schedule quality BCS opponents but remain in the AAC then a realistic maximum average attendance goal is about 25,000 per year (that's paid-actual butts in seats). Projected by end of Chad Morris' successful completion of current contract for 6 years. Basically that means doubling our real, reliable current fanbase

[03Mustang]

Attendance didn't spike right away for LB. Remember the crowds in Garland?

If we beat Baylor week 1, attendance won't be an issue. If we get blown out by them and TCU and crush NTSU and whatever FCS team we add, then it's going to be an issue all over again.

[SMU1523]

IMO, conference realignment is severely hampering our success of a strong fan base. LB came to the Hilltop as the newest coach in the Big East conference. By the time he was actually coaching, it was the AAC and not a bad conference with Louisville, Memphis, Cincy, and Uconn. This year, Louisville and Rutgers bolt for the AAC. Next year it seems we will lose more conference mates (with reports pointing to Memphis and Cincy). All this volatility while searching for a strong identity will hamper our future success.

Also, I think Houston and SMU in the Big 12 pays larger future dividends for the Big 12 brand than adding [deleted] commuter state schools like Memphis and Cincy. But, right now the stuff that is out of our control is not looking good for SMU's future. On the bright side, SMU is doing everything they can control to get us to the top.

[SMU Section F]

I think there will be noticeably more SMU fans for the first few games next year, but the enthusiasm will probably fade as the year goes on. We won't see any sort of sustained increase (like we did at Moody last year) until we beat a strong P5 team and it doesn't look like a fluke. That'll probably take a few years.

[floridianstang]

If we continue to schedule quality BCS opponents but remain in the AAC then a realistic maximum average attendance goal is about 25,000 per year (that's paid-actual butts in seats). Projected by end of Chad Morris' successful completion of current contract for 6 years. Basically that means doubling our real, reliable current fanbase

Best answer so far

[redpony]

I think the excitement of a new coach etc. will bring a lot of extra butts to the first few games. If we look good and possibly win a game or so then I think a lot of new fans will start showing up. Mainly those would be fans from H.S.s that want to see what we have or know some of the new players which (hopefully) are from the Dallas area.

[ericdickerson4life]

I think Houston and SMU in the Big 12 pays larger future dividends for the Big 12 brand than adding [deleted] commuter state schools like Memphis and Cincy.

Isn't that what UH is? Just in a different location? At least the B12 get new exposure with Memphis and Cincy.

[SMU1523]

Houston and SMU are both former SWC schools. Each have a Heisman winner and a pretty strong football tradition. Houston and SMU fit the Big 12 brand much more than Memphis and Cincy. I would argue those schools, over time, will dilute the brand, while SMU and Houston make it stronger. IMO, regionalism is underrated and tv markets are overrated for longevity of a conference.

[sbsmith]

Houston and SMU are both former SWC schools. Each have a Heisman winner and a pretty strong football tradition. Houston and SMU fit the Big 12 brand much more than Memphis and Cincy. I would argue those schools, over time, will dilute the brand, while SMU and Houston make it stronger. IMO, regionalism is underrated and tv markets are overrated for longevity of a conference.

Regionalism certainly did a lot for the SWC, why wouldn't the Big 12 want to follow that wildly successful model?

[SMU1523]

Regionalism sure is working out for the SEC...

[floridianstang]

I have never read a solution coming from sbsmith, only bitter criticism and negativity

[ojaipony]

I think there will be noticeably more SMU fans for the first few games next year, but the enthusiasm will probably fade as the year goes on. We won't see any sort of sustained increase (like we did at Moody last year) until we beat a strong P5 team and it doesn't look like a fluke. That'll probably take a few years.

Bingo.

What if our bball team didn't beat UConn last year at Moody and had a .500 type year? Moody would be empty basically.

There will be initial excitement coming off our spring game and reports about how HCCM is getting after it in the summer / fall camps, but if it doesn't show up on the field forget it. Closest we came was the game against TTU but, unlike our bball team, we folded in the 4th and didn't pull out the win.

[footballdad]

Same ole', Same ole'

Visiting fans and HCCM curiosity seekers will help fill stadium for Baylor and UNT, apathy for the rest of our conference will see half empty stadium rest of year, whether we're winning or losing. Morris will be somewhat confused/irritated, especially at the packed Blvd, and come out publicly begging for students & alumni to show up to do their part. (to no avail)

[sbsmith]

Regionalism sure is working out for the SEC...

And yet their last four additions were in brand new states (South Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas). The SWCs final configuration had eight teams in a single state.