ESPN - student attendance a problem EVERYWHERE

[blackoutpony]

Well this side if the board is basically dead, but I thought this was an interesting article

#BeatHouston

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ball-games

[mustangxc]

Interesting read.

[skurtn]

Thanks for the link. Good info.

[ghost]

Bars with big-screen tvs tuned in to the game with whip-around coverage, easy parking, a constant temperature, short lines to the bathroom and 1/2 price drinks are competing with the gameday experience!

[gostangs]

once again - SMU is just the leading trend setter amongst universities.

[SMU Section F]

once again - SMU is just the leading trend setter amongst universities.

I laughed.

[lwjr]

ESPN and other publications have printed similar stories over the past few years. Each article mentions lack of WIFI reception in the stadiums was a big reason many students do not attend. I guess the students figure if they can't use their phones to text they can't make it thru a game. Sorta of sad in a way.

[KillBilly]

Not everywhere...

ESPN: Big 12's Best Football Student Sections

#1. Texas Tech: Bucking a national trend of declining student attendance to college football games, Texas Tech actually set a student season-attendance record in 2013. The first home game had 14,915 students in attendance, breaking the game record of 12,910 set in the 2010 home opener. The student clamor for tickets kept growing, and eventually the school had to open another section of seats to meet the demand. Texas Tech students know how to have a good time, too. So does their football coach. Kliff Kingsbury gave out cash prizes to the best costumes during Tech’s home game against Oklahoma State, which fell two days after Halloween. The students responded and arrived dressed up as everything from Bender from the TV show “Futurama” to William Wallace from “Braveheart.” There was also a “future Mrs. Kingsbury” donning a bride’s dress. Jones AT&T Stadium is one of the most difficult places to play in the Big 12, thanks in large part to Tech’s rowdy student crowds.

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/80389/big-12s-best-student-sections

[fifty]

It is a challenge. The current and next generation of students can sit on their toilet and drink while picking up chicks, playing madden nlf 25, and watching multiple football games in HD. Hard to compete against that.

[Big12Mustang]

Reading the conference articles in that link, the Big 12 is focusing on Wifi/connectivity for their stadiums. We already have wifi in Moody, so we need to put some in Ford.
Then there will be no excuses for crappy attendance:

1) Our 2014 schedule is the best we have ever had since the SWC
2) Beer and wine will be sold at Ford
3) First two games will be at 6PM (Texas A&M, TCU)

If we include Wifi, I want no more excuses from June. Kids should theoretically come and stay for the entire game.

[skurtn]

This article clearly says that WiFi connectivity isn't the primary draw to games, despite what people think.

[East Coast Mustang]

If we include Wifi, I want no more excuses from June. Kids should theoretically come and stay for the entire game.

Not when we're down 28-0 at the half to A&M

[East Coast Mustang]

Bottom line it's a lot easier to watch the game at Milo's/Barley or at your house in front of a 50" TV than at the stadium- cheaper booze, better food options, no lines for bathrooms (except at Milo's), not crammed into bleachers, etc. Unless weather conditions are perfect than this discrepancy is even further pronounced. This will become a bigger problem for all schools in the future. I think you'll see a lot more schools start serving booze on campus in the future in an effort to boost attendance and generate more revenue. I believe Texas has been considering it recently as well.

[leopold]

Football is my favorite sport, especially College Football, but it is the least accomodating in terms of fan attendance. The majority of it is outside, while basketball and hockey is almost all indoors. It happens in either the superhot weather or the supercold, I tend to think the fans are the most obnoxious, and it's the worst fight to try to get into a stadium of any sport due simply to the idea of as many as 100,000 people or more trying to fight their way in.

I expect to see the TV ratings continue to climb, but actual fan attendance to drop in the future.

[leopold]

Football is my favorite sport, especially College Football, but it is the least accomodating in terms of fan attendance. The majority of it is outside, while basketball and hockey is almost all indoors. It happens in either the superhot weather or the supercold, I tend to think the fans are the most obnoxious, and it's the worst fight to try to get into a stadium of any sport due simply to the idea of as many as 100,000 people or more trying to fight their way in.

I expect to see the TV ratings continue to climb, but actual fan attendance to drop in the future.