Attendance Predictions

[PSCA]

Improve attendance is the $64,000 question, and everyone has offered up some great ideas with many more that I’m sure have not been circulated. There is defiantly a mind set and culture that exist in the student body and the general public. I get and understand the lack of success for 25 years argument. I know "Frat Boys" who are avid participants of the Blvd experience that have never in 4 years gone into the stadium. I’m on the Board for "Make-A-Wish, and the Director is a 2001 SMU Grad, she goes to every game (I should say goes to the Blvd every game) and has never been in the stadium. Why .. 1) Its fun, 2) you can drink, 3) watch the game on TV … and yes the dreaded "No re-entry" policy. Want to get the "Frat Boys" in the stadium … then get the all coeds in the stadium … like Bulls to a pasture. Nothing like a loud rowdy student section … for sure.

We all can write a book with great ideas on how to address this. At this point, I’m not sure if SMU runs the table next year … hosts and wins the conference championship game, if that would translate into butts in the seats. A paradigm shift has to happen, sort of reeducation/indoctrination to the masses. Marketing is key …. I think someone should go and spend some time learning about the late great HOF owner Bill Veeck … the master IMO of creating Brand excitement, even when he was fielding marginally successful teams. It would be great to play in front of a home crowd of 38k every game.

[BigT3x]

One of the old rich guys on here needs to make a phone call and get the idiotic no reentry policy repealed. Dumbest thing I've ever heard of.

[PSCA]

Totaly agree on the re-entry policy ... I get (sort of) what they are trying to accomplish with it ... but it's counter productive and only accomplishes to keep fans away from the game

[tristatecoog]

Houston game on a Thursday night and on FSS hurts visiting fan attendance. 22-23K feels about right, depending upon the SMU record at the time.

[SmooBoy]

If we can't squeeze in 36K+ for the ags, then we are doing something wrong. The demand will be there, no matter the price.

[Stallion]

that's not going to be a problem. SMU fans have a chance to box A&M fans out now by buying season tickets now but if they don't you can be assured that A&M will fill every availiable seat

[SmooBoy]

And now with temporary bleachers erected for frogs and aggies, we really have no excuses to sell every possible seat.

[Rebel10]

Isn't it more relevant to look at the attendance in the games against the non "rent-a-fan" games against A&M and TCU to truly judge ticket sales? No doubt overall attendance will be higher due to these games, but the true success of any marketing/ticket sales will be measured by the other home games.

No. A major factor in attendance is the opponent. If we wish to have better attendance we should schedule teams that will help not only our stature but also attendance.

We have a pretty good OOC schedule for the next few tears but that is only 4 games. What about conference games which make up the majority of the schedule. Those are set games. I do however think it look bad if we sell out our OOC games but can't sell out conference games.

[Digetydog]

BTW - Are we talking paid attendance or people in seat??

SFA 25,000
TAMU 37,000 - Cram them in there.
TCU 35,000 - See A&M Game.
Houston 22,000 - Couger High doesn't travel. SMU will be rebuilding record after difficult OOC schedule.
Memphis 20,000 - Memphis has less fans than Rice.
So.Miss 28,000 - team can travel, good game, should draw OK
Tulsa <20,000 - brutal date as many SMU students will be out of state for holidays.

[Digetydog]

With the strong aggie DFW contingent, and the fact that the corps will take up a good chunk of the visitor section, I see many many standing room tix being sold. This is their only appearance in DFW, so I see us taking strong advantage of that.

As for the Froggy High game, you could be right that 33K is closer to the truth. Much could depend on our records going in, and whether or not they are ranked.

You are correct that the schedule thins out a bit after a crescendo.

Remember, the Aggies move to the SEC has changed things:
1) they have increased demand (and price) for season tix at Kyle Scrapheap
2) the SEC schools they are going to be playing have a limited number of "visitor" tickets available.
3) the Aggies won't be getting to play in any Big 12 venues anytime soon.

If you are an Aggie fan and want to see them play in person, this is your best shot at getting a ticket at a reasonable price.

[ReedFrawg]

BTW - Are we talking paid attendance or people in seat??

SFA 25,000
TAMU 37,000 - Cram them in there.
TCU 35,000 - See A&M Game.
Houston 22,000 - Couger High doesn't travel. SMU will be rebuilding record after difficult OOC schedule.
Memphis 20,000 - Memphis has less fans than Rice.
So.Miss 28,000 - team can travel, good game, should draw OK
Tulsa <20,000 - brutal date as many SMU students will be out of state for holidays.

28K for So Miss would be amazing...can't see it happening unless SMU is having a great season.

[JasonB]

Normally I would say that SMU will struggle to get 15-20K for each game outside of the A&M/TCU games, because I think we are going to be a .500 team.

The ONLY reason I think it is going to be 20K or higher for the non A&M/TCU affairs is because of the number of season tickets and mini-plans we are going to sell to people trying desperately to get tickets for those games. The fans won't show up, but we will average over 20K per game for that one reason.

[ponyinNC]

how hard is it to change the no re-entry policy, really?? for a school struggling with attendance issues, you'd think we would NEVER be telling folks that they cannot come back into the stadium.

So idiotic!! College kids want to drink, so let em' go have a few and come back after halftime!

[PK]

Normally I would say that SMU will struggle to get 15-20K for each game outside of the A&M/TCU games, because I think we are going to be a .500 team.

The ONLY reason I think it is going to be 20K or higher for the non A&M/TCU affairs is because of the number of season tickets and mini-plans we are going to sell to people trying desperately to get tickets for those games. The fans won't show up, but we will average over 20K per game for that one reason.

Interesting that you would refer to them as "fans" and then say they won't show up. FANS show up.

[Digetydog]

Normally I would say that SMU will struggle to get 15-20K for each game outside of the A&M/TCU games, because I think we are going to be a .500 team.

The ONLY reason I think it is going to be 20K or higher for the non A&M/TCU affairs is because of the number of season tickets and mini-plans we are going to sell to people trying desperately to get tickets for those games. The fans won't show up, but we will average over 20K per game for that one reason.

Interesting that you would refer to them as "fans" and then say they won't show up. FANS show up.

I have never been to a game at Ford. Nevertheless, I am a season ticket holder. I am pretty sure that makes me a fan.

Looking forward to flying in to Dallas for the A&M game.