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Obviously, with this year's home schedule, our attendance should be better than last year's and pre-sales should be a helpful driver. Last year we averaged 23,171 per game. What is the upper threshold that can be expected this year? Here are my projections. I'm probably too generous for Cincinnati and Houston. What do others think? Does anyone know the increase in season tickets sold versus last year?

Here are last year's games:
Sept. 4 vs. Abilene Christian: 23,373
Sept. 11 vs. North Texas: 29,121 (Family Weekend)
Oct. 2 vs. South Florida: 23,355 (Homecoming)
Oct. 21 vs. Tulane: 22,843 (Thursday game)
Nov. 13 vs. UCF: 23,175
Nov. 27 vs. Tulsa: 17,158
Average: 23,171

This year's home schedule (praying for no killer 11am games):
Sept. 10 vs. Lamar: 25,000 (a tick above last year's home opener as it's a week later)
Sept. 24 vs. TCU: 34,000 (Family Weekend; sell lawn seats to go >32K capacity)
Oct. 14 vs. Navy: 26,000 (Friday game, but Navy travels well)
Oct. 22 vs. Cincinnati: 30,000 (Homecoming...will Cinci travel??)
Nov. 5 vs. Houston: 30,000 (seems unlikely, but Pac-12 invite fires up the locals)
Nov. 26 vs. Memphis: 20,000 (Thanksgiving weekend; always empty but early pre-sales helps)
Average: 27,500

If we are by chance undefeated both Cinci and houston will be sell outs. Cinci travels very well.

MEMO to SMU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT :

1) Have some professional photographers taking high-quality pics (especially the TCU game) of the sell-out games this season that you can use when promoting our program….It’s always embarrassing to see the have empty stadium pics.

2) Stlpony is predicting 27,500, i think he’s being generous, but please do something, some type of Mustang Mania promotion to get Lamar & Navy games close to 30k and the Memphis game closer to 25k…and if need be, the Houston & Cincy games near 30k

So critical that we present our program in the best way possible

Terry Webster wrote:If we are by chance undefeated both Cinci and houston will be sell outs. Cinci travels very well.

Undefeated at this point means we've already beaten Maryland, TCU, and UCF. I love it, but don't think that is realistic. Also, SMU will have the Josh Abbott Band play before the home opener...it seems like SMU is trying to be creative to help fill the stands and get people into the stadium early. If we have a good record and the kick-off time is desirable (e.g. 6pm), TCU, Cinci, and Houston will have a fantastic environment.