Attendance as % of Enrollment

[Stallion]

...made this point the other day with regard to unfair criticism TCU gets from national media with regard to BCS games. They used the same argument against SMU in the past and likely would in the future. Don't know why issue is even part of BCS discussion.

1. Notre Dame's average game attendance is 708% of its enrollment.
2. TCU: 392%.
3. Alabama: 319%.
4. Miami: 317%.
5. Oklahoma: 313%.
6. Oregon: 310%.
7. LSU: 295%.
8. Georgia Tech: 295%.
9. Penn State: 261%.
10. USC: 253%.
11. Iowa: 243%.
12. Virgina Tech: 237%.
13. Boone Pickens: 232%.
14. Ohio State: 208%.
15. Texas: 204%.
16. Wisconsin: 193%.
17. Pittsburgh: 187%.
18. Cal enrolls: 184%.
19. Florida: 182%.
20. Boise State: 172%.
21. Utah: 156%.
22. Arizona: 140%.
23. South Florida: 117%.
24. Cincinnati: 90%.
25. Houston: 72%.

[RGV Pony]

how bout Maddie Pickens?

[NavyCrimson]

Makes sense to me. I think they call that "common sense"? But it's an argument that will never die until the bcs-BS goes away. After all, that's one of the cartel's big arguments for legitimizing themselves.

[PK]

...made this point the other day with regard to unfair criticism TCU gets from national media with regard to BCS games. They used the same argument against SMU in the past and likely would in the future. Don't know why issue is even part of BCS discussion.

1. Notre Dame's average game attendance is 708% of its enrollment.
2. TCU: 392%.
3. Alabama: 319%.
4. Miami: 317%.
5. Oklahoma: 313%.
6. Oregon: 310%.
7. LSU: 295%.
8. Georgia Tech: 295%.
9. Penn State: 261%.
10. USC: 253%.
11. Iowa: 243%.
12. Virgina Tech: 237%.
13. Boone Pickens: 232%.
14. Ohio State: 208%.
15. Texas: 204%.
16. Wisconsin: 193%.
17. Pittsburgh: 187%.
18. Cal enrolls: 184%.
19. Florida: 182%.
20. Boise State: 172%.
21. Utah: 156%.
22. Arizona: 140%.
23. South Florida: 117%.
24. Cincinnati: 90%.
25. Houston: 72%.

I think the bottom line as far as the BCS is concerned is that they aren't so interested in the percentage numbers as they are the actual body count...both in the stadium and sitting in front of the TVs. It's all about money when you talk BCS. Like SMU, TCU has a small number of alumni and getting much over 30 to 40k fans in their stadium is very difficult when most of their conference mates are several states away and thus the other team doesn't have many fans at the game to help fill up the stadium. We know that story when eastern division C-USA teams visit us. TCU actually does a better job of filling the stadium than we do.

[CalallenStang]

As a % of total enrollment or O% of undergraduate enrollment?

[Wuba]

...made this point the other day with regard to unfair criticism TCU gets from national media with regard to BCS games. They used the same argument against SMU in the past and likely would in the future. Don't know why issue is even part of BCS discussion.

1. Notre Dame's average game attendance is 708% of its enrollment.
2. TCU: 392%.
3. Alabama: 319%.
4. Miami: 317%.
5. Oklahoma: 313%.
6. Oregon: 310%.
7. LSU: 295%.
8. Georgia Tech: 295%.
9. Penn State: 261%.
10. USC: 253%.
11. Iowa: 243%.
12. Virgina Tech: 237%.
13. Boone Pickens: 232%.
14. Ohio State: 208%.
15. Texas: 204%.
16. Wisconsin: 193%.
17. Pittsburgh: 187%.
18. Cal enrolls: 184%.
19. Florida: 182%.
20. Boise State: 172%.
21. Utah: 156%.
22. Arizona: 140%.
23. South Florida: 117%.
24. Cincinnati: 90%.
25. Houston: 72%.

You really should credit your sources...
http://wimplefrogs.blogspot.com/2009/11/word-on-tcus-shockingly-strong.html

Also, this guy makes strong case too, especially when he shows that TCU outdraws some of the schools they are unfavorably compared to (Boise, Cincy) even before adjusting for enrollment. I am guessing most (all?) of the media people who talk about this stuff never actually research who gets more attendance. They just see the game (or just highlights) and see empty seats in the stadium so they comment without stopping to think about whether one stadium is bigger than another. Not many sports reporters/commentators enroll in math classes.

http://angrytrey.blogspot.com/2009/11/tcu-attendance-issueend-of-discussion.html

[SMUer]

Does TCU support its football team? Yeah, clearly they're one of the best in terms of student/community support compared to their enrollment. But their attendance has been below their average their last two home games (albeit hosting bad/non-regional teams) and in a national championship run, their stadium is still <75% full. Compare that to Utah' attendance last year--full or overcapacity crowds every home game. Empty seats look bad on TV and so while TCU puts more butts in seats for it's home games than Boise St., Bronco stadium is usually >94% at capacity for their home games--same for Utah.

TCU Home Attendance 2009/10 Season:
vs TX St: 35,249 of 44,008 seats
vs SMU: 37,130 of 44,008 seats
vs Col St: 31,156 of 44,008 seats
vs UNLV: 33,541 of 44,008 seats

Utah Home Attendance 2008/9 Season:
vs UNLV: 45,587 of 45,017 seats
vs Weber St: 45,117 of 45,017 seats
vs Oregon St: 45,599 of 45,017 seats
vs Col St: 44,793 of 45,017 seats
vs TCU: 45,666 of 45,017 seats
vs BYU: 46,488 of 45,017 seats

Utah Home Attendance 2009/10 Season:
vs Utah St: 45,333 of 45,017 seats
vs Louiville: 45,588 of 45,017 seats
vs Air Forice: 45,129 of 45,017 seats
vs Wyoming: 44,837 of 45,017 seats

Boise St Home Attendance 2009/10 Season:
vs Oregon: 34,127 of 33,500 seats
vs Miami (OH): 32,228 of 33,500 seats
vs UC Davis: 32,497 of 33,500 seats
vs SJ St: 31,684 of 33,500 seats

[NavyCrimson]

Mark my words - we'll be in the same conference with TCU again - someday. It'll happen & the economics shown in this thread will help play apart.

[tristatecoog]

Yes, undergrad or total enrollment? What about Wake Forest? I believe it, or Rice, has the smallest Div I undergrad population. There's also a negative factor for urban schools with a pro team in town.

[mustangxc]

Yes, undergrad or total enrollment? What about Wake Forest? I believe it, or Rice, has the smallest Div I undergrad population. There's also a negative factor for urban schools with a pro team in town.

If I'm not mistaken, Tulsa has the smallest enrollment!

[deepellumfrog]

Yes, undergrad or total enrollment? What about Wake Forest? I believe it, or Rice, has the smallest Div I undergrad population. There's also a negative factor for urban schools with a pro team in town.

If I'm not mistaken, Tulsa has the smallest enrollment!

are we sure it's not the service academies? Maybe Rice?

[CalallenStang]

Yes, undergrad or total enrollment? What about Wake Forest? I believe it, or Rice, has the smallest Div I undergrad population. There's also a negative factor for urban schools with a pro team in town.

If I'm not mistaken, Tulsa has the smallest enrollment!

are we sure it's not the service academies? Maybe Rice?

It's Tulsa. 100% sure.

[huskerpony]

I don't understand this argument. I don't really see what this statistic shows--level of community support?--still raw ticket sales mean more. Ohio State can sell 80,000 tickets to non-students and still not reach 200% of enrollment.

The only two meaningful stats to most bowl committees are how well do your fans travel and how many viewers does your team pull on TV. Ticket sales from school allotment for away games might be worth looking at.

[Stallion]

as far as I'm concerned if you start considering anything but performance on the field then you might as well turn this into an ice skating tournament and award points for costumes and style. This is [deleted]' Football not a beauty pageant.

[orguy]

TCU does have good fan support.

Back in the old SWC we did as well. At that time (early 80's) it was the highest proportionally among student bodies.

One thing I think ultimately will help SMU is the closer proximity to places like RICE/TULANE/MEMPHIS/TULSA. Makes for easier road trips. What TCU fan plans regularly to go to Fort Collins or Laramie?
At least we have the potential to develop some regional rivalries.