16,612

[RGV Pony]

the doubling of student attendance will one day help us improve. Remember, we're still feeling the effects of having lost a generation of fans. DP, and then not being competitive led to no students being into football. Hopefully this new bunch of students will change that in five years or so. Last week at Tech was the first time in 6 years of going to SMU games at Tech that I noticed more than 50-100 SMU fans there, and students other than those that 'had' to be there.

[Mestengo]

The crowd last night was pathetic. If you think anything else in regards to the numbers that’s half the problem. It has the feel of a minor league baseball crowd with a losing record.. I know it was hot, but next week you might want to bring just one more person with you... I can’t save you people. LOL

[RGV Pony]

in addition to TCU and NTSU, I'll bet Allen, HP if they played at home, the Lee vs John Tyler game in Tyler, and more than a few HS games challenged SMU's attendance last night.

I live within earshot of Clark Stadium in Plano, and not to [deleted] but everything from the PA to the crowd to how things are run over there make our production on the Hilltop look smalltime. It's frustrating

[CA Mustang]

We need more butts in seats, period.

Maybe we could rent some from NTSU. They blew us away on attendance.

Good point. How could anyone justify/explain 16K+ vs. 23K+ for Rice-UNT?

[ParkyPony]

Thought the students were GREAT last night. Saw them painting up on the 'vard before the game. The stadium club was basically full. The outside stands that everyone see's is where the perception of no interest in our program is, and that has to be fixed. ASAP! Loved the clarity of the new scoreboard.

[SMU89]

The best way to get more people to the games are for those already attending to bring / invite people (in addition to the tickets you have).. Show them the boulevard, your tailgate spot, where they can get food/drinks, and get them into the game.

We had 16k last night. Assume the average "group" was 3 people that's roughly 5k "groups". If each "group" brings another couple or 2 people, we have an additional 10k who will not only attend the game but will know what to do / where to go b/c you showed them around.

[Blunt Pony]

Regarding the attendance, I will weigh in from the perspective of a parent of young kids. We need reduced pricing for kids. Not sure the age cutoff, but I would say 10 and under is the crowd that is questionable on staying the entire game. Stick us in the Family Section where you can't sell a seat anyways and watch us buy a few hot dogs, drinks, nachos and candy.

More important than the revenue is you are creating fans. Kids that will grow up watching SMU football and will be future season ticket holders or students.

Someone in another post commented on the volumes of people on the blvd. that do not come into the game and the need for ticket sales out there. I agree. I know a lot of families that come to the blvd. and then leave without going in the game.

Sell the kids a cheap ticket and make it less painful for the adult that has to leave midway through the 3rd to take tired kids home.

Save the garbage about "hiring a sitter" and "you are not a true fan". Taking the kids is fun, they are just not going to be as tolerant sitting for long periods of time. They do become fans though and young fans are fans that will be paying full freight someday and will give us the base that we are looking for.

SMU will tell you that with their increased prices for game, parking and boulevard, that they probably made more money with fewer fans. Great for business, poor for building a fan base.

Our goal, especially as we have a good team, is to build this fan base with young kids and their parents that live close by and can adopt us as the local team.

Let's face it, I don't care how you spin it, 16,600 fans at the home opener after last years performance is not good. That is with a SOLID student showing. If I am the athletic department, I am taking a serious look at this number and how to remedy it.

[Hoop Fan]

you guys really thought a win over Nevada in a minor bowl game was going to change anything? UAB game is just not gonna draw flies no matter what. We still need our first quality win over a legit opponent that people recognize before you can expect any real outside interest. You cannot tell me that Orini gives a crap about attendance. You can't charge $18 for walkup endzone tickets when there is no demand for your product.

[westexSMU]

Last night we brought friends from Dallas to the game who also bought tickets for their kids. The guy and his wife went to out of state schools. He told me he ran into a friend who is part of a group with space on the BLVD. walking around. He said his friend said that " he is just interested in going to the BLVD and that he never goes to the games." Yet he likes football. Doesn't that mean we need to try to get that type of potential fan to buy tickets ? Or should we just let him slip away from the BLVD. week after week without any effort to get him to go ?.....If they refuse to put the extra booths in, there are other creative ways to sell tickets at the BLVD.

[kull]

make 2500 tickets available to area youth. if they show up to the ticket office with a mustang logo shirt, its free. build the brand and bandwagon.

[FriscoChuck]

We have to sell less expensive end zone seats, unless we are playing an old SWC team like TCU that will bring 10000 people. Also, we need to sell tickets at the tailgating. Have a ticket booth in middle of Boulevard and have roaming ticket sales people.

Keep winning and more fans and students will attend. The student sections needs to be double what it was last night. I don't understand the students that don't attend.

[Mestengo]

you guys really thought a win over Nevada in a minor bowl game was going to change anything? UAB game is just not gonna draw flies no matter what. We still need our first quality win over a legit opponent that people recognize before you can expect any real outside interest. You cannot tell me that Orini gives a crap about attendance. You can't charge $18 for walkup endzone tickets when there is no demand for your product.

I would normal agree with you in regards to supply and demand for a product. Last year I tried to sell my seats for face value on stub hub and did not even get a nibble when I went off on a cuisse, so I gave them away to pony fans. I believe that what you can sell tickets for is where your program is.

I did sell my two extra seats on stub hub for the UAB, Houston, and Tulsa game for $100.00 per ticket. That is a sign that they do have value, if their great seats.

[WorldStang]

Rangers and Yankees were playing last night at same time.. and they're in a penant race for the first time in forever.

SMU is not in Denton..

[smuuth]

North Texas-Rice at antiquated Fouts Field.......20,000 plus. Downright embarassing. Why doesn't SMU contract out it's marketing like almost every other NCAA school in Division 1? Do we just not want anyone but actual students and alumni to go to games and to buy caps and shirts, etc? This is gameday folks.....one of the greatest traditions in sports for the entire family in one of the more beautiful settings in the country. The boulevard, a great band, good football with Dallas skyline and Mockingbird Lane.....And not very expensive entertainment at that.

[fivemon]

North Texas-Rice at antiquated Fouts Field.......20,000 plus. Downright embarassing. Why doesn't SMU contract out it's marketing like almost every other NCAA school in Division 1? Do we just not want anyone but actual students and alumni to go to games and to buy caps and shirts, etc? This is gameday folks.....one of the greatest traditions in sports for the entire family in one of the more beautiful settings in the country. The boulevard, a great band, good football with Dallas skyline and Mockingbird Lane.....And not very expensive entertainment at that.

rice probably brought 5,000 whereas uab brought 5 that is your difference