SMU Home Attendance 2005-Present

Mitch McConnell · Post by **Mitch McConnell** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:56 am

Looks like a good trend to me. As long as the program grows and continues to succeed, it will get better.

Kynd Tulsa Phan · Post by **Kynd Tulsa Phan** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:02 am

I kindof like the fail attendance. I can sit where I want. I can go into the Hall of Champions and get something to eat whenever I feel like. There is never a line @ Chick Fila. I can usually park on Abbott.

I like the hassle free nature of Pony games.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:04 am

Mitch - people expect it to happen overnight. like flipping a light switch. in reality this is a huge undertaking to change the entire culture at SMU surrounding sports. SO & June & Doh were the seeds that were planted. winning is starting to get some measurable, albeit minor, results. the Big East move will certainly help our "Brand" as a school in reaching others outside of our core base of fans (basically all of us on here).

as long as things continue to trend upward, you won't hear any complaining about attendance from me. we're lucky to be in dallas b/c it's what got us to the AQ conf, but at the same time dallas is a burdon b/c there's so much else going on. ECU, USM, etc, get undivided attention in their small communities.

Bergermeister · Post by **Bergermeister** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:11 am

Kynd Tulsa Phan wrote:I was @ UTEP. There isnt a chance in hell there were 26K there

So what? Just go to the game. Quit looking at the attendance. Problem solved. Do we have to have the Attendance Police? WTF difference does it make? Continuous gripin' on this board doesn't put one more butt in seat. Bush Library.

2ndandlong · Post by **2ndandlong** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:13 am

Dutch wrote:Mitch - people expect it to happen overnight. like flipping a light switch. in reality this is a huge undertaking to change the entire culture at SMU surrounding sports. SO & June & Doh were the seeds that were planted. winning is starting to get some measurable, albeit minor, results. the Big East move will certainly help our "Brand" as a school in reaching others outside of our core base of fans (basically all of us on here).

as long as things continue to trend upward, you won't hear any complaining about attendance from me. we're lucky to be in dallas b/c it's what got us to the AQ conf, but at the same time dallas is a burdon b/c there's so much else going on. ECU, USM, etc, get undivided attention in their small communities.

100% agree

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:14 am

Yes SMU attendance is just fine and dandy-don't look behind the curtain at the REAL FACTS of who is pumping those numbers and how many real SMU fans are attending. Sure having about 12,000 in the stands in the 3rd Q is just great. Congrats SMU Community

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:21 am

Stallion wrote:Yes SMU attendance is just fine and dandy-don't look behind the curtain at the REAL FACTS of who is pumping those numbers and how many real SMU fans are attending. Sure having about 12,000 in the stands in the 3rd Q is just great. Congrats SMU Community

not saying it's fine and dandy, but saying it's improving. we've been padding our number (as do most mid-tier schools) for years. it isn't going to happen overnight. you do understand that much, i assume.

its going to take time. is there a problem, you bet, but there's not a cure-all.

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:26 am

Is it really improving. We are selling less season tickets than when the Stadium opened. Sure its improved after two straight 1-11 seasons. Big deal. Looks to me that when you analyze actual SMU attendance it is basically flat-lining. We cover it up with giveaways and including our Bowl Game in season average. We will basically show negligible improvement over the best 3 years in a quarter of a decade. Once the Rice numbers come in we may have a second straight year of decreasing attendance. Back to pom-pom waiving

2ndandlong · Post by **2ndandlong** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:36 am

Its a problem. We all know that. Why do you (Stallion) think 25 years of misery was going to completely turn around in 2 years?

2ndandlong · Post by **2ndandlong** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:37 am

And for the record, the NCAA includes AFB in annual attendance numbers. You are choosing to exclude this game to make your claim that attendance slipped two years in a row. NCAA counts it.

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:42 am

Stallion wrote:Is it really improving. We are selling less season tickets than when the Stadium opened. Sure its improved after two straight 1-11 seasons. Big deal. Looks to me that when you analyze actual SMU attendance it is basically flat-lining. We cover it up with giveaways and including our Bowl Game in season average. We will basically show negligible improvement over the best 3 years in a quarter of a decade. Once the Rice numbers come in we may have a second straight year of decreasing attendance. Back to pom-pom waiving

well, let me say this about that.

June's first season (2008) was the last time we had any kind of marketing $, not to mention department. Since then..09, 10, 11, that's when we've seen the advent of the giveaways, operations sellout, etc...essentially outsourcing the marketing. Who's to say that the defacto "marketing" accomplished by these paths wasnt essentially accomplishing what marketing would have.

Hopefully-well, not hopefully; SMU better see to it-the Big East money will result in someone with a good handle on how to market this thing, and a budget to go with it.

ALEX LIFESON · Post by **ALEX LIFESON** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:44 am

Glad you brought it up, that SMU couldn't even sell it's allotment of 10,000 to a bowl game, in it's own stadium. Boosters once again had to step up to the plate, thats why there were empty seats in the n/w corner. The weather was unusually warm that day, and that helped. On a normal January 2nd, how many would go to the 92,000 seat Cotton Bowl?

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:45 am

Is that right that UCF game had more fans than the Tulane game? Thats crazy I swear that it would be the other way around.

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:52 am

I dont get why SMU doesnt invest in a marketing department, or even develop it through Cox so they can boost their recognition (since its the weakest of the concentrations available). I mean hire those guys at The Richards Group to come up with advertising strategy. I mean we need all the exposure we can get. Im thinking just buying up some billboards along highways and congested roads and just say come enjoy family fun game with your local College Football team. Tickets start at 10 bucks or something.

couch 'em · Post by **couch 'em** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:54 am

I think it is important to note that attendance has begun to level off as advertising has decreased every year. I think our improvement in record and decrease in advertisement has cancelled each other out.

Once we actually start marketing again things should go up significantly.