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Last year at home we averaged 21,310 with a high of TCU (35,481) and a low of UAB (16,612). We only had one other game, Houston at 20,741, exceed 20K (and yes, that was in a monsoon).

Here is how I see this season:

UTEP 24,324 - opening game with high expectations and excitement
NWST ST 14,421 - I don't think free seats and Ginsu knifes would bring anyone out
UCF 17,588 - with a strong showing the previous week @ TCU, this could be higher
Tulane 18,740 - homecoming against a very poor Green Wave team
Navy 22,266 - Midshipmen bring nice contingent and we play for bowl eligibility
Rice 16,424 - we are bowl bound but an afterthought on Thanksgiving weekend

That comes to 18,960 average. Pretty low, but look at that home sched.

We couldn't have asked for a worse home schedule. Especially with conference realignment right around the corner. No one will want us in their conference if we are averaging under 20K a game.

Well, then the answer is win, win, win and "they will come".

UTEP brings a good crowd and its early enough that they shouldn't have lost heart. Navy could be closer to 30,000 they travel very well. We need to hope that a lot of folks show up for reunions and come to the game against Tulane. Rice bad timing to have it on Thanksgiving. That might have drawn more fans. In fact wish that had been homecoming instead of Tulane. UCF good team, repeat of CUSA championship game and preview possibly of this year's. That's the game that might draw casual fans if hyped properly.

low

NWST is Family Weekend. That usually adds more butts in seats.

Nwst actually has a decent local fan base. I plan on at least 10 alum coming with me, probably more.

Junior wrote:Nwst actually has a decent local fan base. I plan on at least 10 alum coming with me, probably more.

So now adjusted, NWST ST 14,431. Awesome!

With no huge game draw this year it will be a stretch to average 20k. Sad but true. Can't wait until the day for is filled on a consistent basis.

Homecoming and Navy seem low, and good points made by others about NM St. and Family Weekend. That could be low also. Still, 20K avg. may be a climb but doable.

We are underestimating the NFL strike effect........

Once thousands of cowboys fans come to our first home game and realize that a family can drink, eat, and attend the game for the same price as one parking spot at Jerry World, they will move their game day activities to Saturdays and home watching to Sundays.

SMU89 wrote:We are underestimating the NFL strike effect........

Once thousands of cowboys fans come to our first home game and realize that a family can drink, eat, and attend the game for the same price as one parking spot at Jerry World, they will move their game day activities to Saturdays and home watching to Sundays.

NFL strike will have minimal effect. Nobody goes to Cowboys games because they are just looking for a family activity - they go pay the huge fees to go to an NFL game and because they are Cowboys fans.

Also, very few people are going to go "darn, I can't watch NFL on TV this Sunday. I'll just go to the SMU game on Saturday". Those people want to WATCH football, or they'd be at SMU games anyway, or mroe likely driving to TCU games. They will simply watch the major college football games on TV that matter and are involving teams they have heard of before.

Maybe if we got a little marketing?

Oh for the days of Russ Potts and Mustang Mania. He knew how to get butts in the stands even if he gave away the same seat 3 or 4 times!

I don’t cry about attendance I’m going to be there making noise having fun and drinking a few beers. If the rest of them want to show up fine.

Ditto what others have already said about Fam Weekend. That will help attendance out for what is an inferior opponent w/no walk-up cachet.