Outsiders View of SMU and our Lack of Fan Support

[PoconoPony]

Great observations and points made by Dooby.

[Stallion]

All those that keep saying that a 32,000 seat stadium is just perfect for SMU are forgetting one thing. Recruits do care about the size of your football stadium and the bigger the better the more they are impressed by it. The reason I said better is that Ford is a quality stadium but its not really very impressive to the top recruits who go visit 8-10 other Southwest Stadiums-that is if you expect SMU to go get some of those Texas Top 100s. Its pretty damn clear that June Jones is not satisfied with a 32,000 seat stadium in his long range plans and I'd bet recruiting awe factor is a major part of it. So the big picture involves more than just what the fans think might be nice size for a good environment to take the kids to a ballgame on Saturday.

[couch 'em]

The size of the luxury boxes and the number of seats wrapping around the endzone really make the stadium look small from the field. I've been saying for years, it is really really not impressive on the field compared to stadiums of similar capacity but different configuration.

When I brought this up years ago in a Ford vs. Cotton Bowl "What is more impressive to recruits" conversation everyone told me it was ridiculous.

[Stallion]

Oh I brought it up in 2000 that Ford Stadium had a small school feel and the lack of quality seats between the end zones was a long term negative-but it seemed to [deleted] a lot of people off. I'm fully aware that there were Highland Park zoning ordanances that limited stadium height-I'm just saying that Ford would have been a better facility with more quality seating-and a more profitable one as well.

[RE Tycoon]

l and the lack of quality seats between the end zones

Could you define "Quality seats"? Are you saying the stadium should have been built higher between the end zones? Or are you saying more club seats and suites?

[Stallion]

Anything between the 50 and the endzones would be considered a quality seat. Both suites and stadium seating. I don't know the number but I 'd bet there are only about 22,000 seats fit that description. Now consider other stadiums in Texas-is there any besides NTSU will less? Most have nearing twice as many quality seats by that definition.

[EastStang]

A couple of points. I am not sure that an empty 70,000 seat stadium impresses recruits any more than a hopefully full 32,000 seat stadium. Also there is the factor of the SMU education vs. other schools. Add in our hot coeds (a visit in late August by the way is ideal). And life after football with an SMU diploma means more. Going to the issue of drawing fans into the stadium. Winning does it. Clearly whether we've been in the WAC playing David Klingler and Fresno State, or a hot Boise State team, or in CUSA playing "We are Marshall", opponents don't tend to draw (except Texas and Oklahoma teams like Tech and OSU). So, we need to be winners and they will come.

[CalallenStang]

A couple of points. I am not sure that an empty 70,000 seat stadium impresses recruits any more than a hopefully full 32,000 seat stadium. Also there is the factor of the SMU education vs. other schools. Add in our hot coeds (a visit in late August by the way is ideal). And life after football with an SMU diploma means more. Going to the issue of drawing fans into the stadium. Winning does it. Clearly whether we've been in the WAC playing David Klingler and Fresno State, or a hot Boise State team, or in CUSA playing "We are Marshall", opponents don't tend to draw (except Texas and Oklahoma teams like Tech and OSU). So, we need to be winners and they will come.

1) I think you meant David Carr. Klingler played for Houston

2) Stallion was saying that it's more impressive to build a stadium taller (with more seats between the goallines) than what we have with Ford, not that it's more impressive to build a 70,000 seat stadium.

[RGV Pony]

good example of which is USM's stadium, which is comparable in capacity (maybe 5-6k more than Ford)

[Dooby]

I too operate under the assumption that a mostly full Ford is preferrable to a mostly empty Cotton Bowl. I just can't envision a kid being enamoured on gameday with an empty stadium. I just can't see it being any other way. Sure, if I am a kid, I want play in front of big crowds, but I have to believe that any kid SMU was recruiting in the 90's was told that the Cotton Bowl would be empty.

[RGV Pony]

or Louisville's stadium before its renovation increases capacity this full. Through last year, it held 42k, only 10k more than Ford...and 3k fewer than what they say Ford will be by enclosing the other endzone:

[RGV Pony]

or Wyoming's place, capacity less than Ford:

[couch 'em]

Ford, 32,000 seats:


Vanderbuilt, 34,000


Boise, 32,000

[RGV Pony]

Montana's stadium, capacity 25,000:

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

Cool photos / interesting comparisons...really gets down to HP restrictions if we want to go up or big.