College/App State football attendance down

[hapapp]

App State attendance off 7% from 2013.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... n-14-years

[Gonzo]

Our early season record played a role. So did having a game in a thunderstorm where the stadium was evacuated, a snow storm game, and a Thanksgiving game.

We'll be back to old numbers next year, weather permitting.

[vegattk]

Hate to admit it... but I agree with Gonzo...

Weather played a huge factor this year. I had two games that only 4 of my usual 8 made it to the game...

It's been a bad year for weather... but has there been worse? I can't seem to remember only have 1 or two "perfect" Boone days in a season...

[APPARJ]

App State's attendance will increase next year with winning and better weather. But the overall trend for decreasing attendance in sports is real. There are plenty of things that now compete with going to a live sporting event. Especially since Boone is the opposite of a metro region.

That's why I hope we don't expand so drastically that we have a big, empty stadium during a 4-8 year.

It would be quite a feat for App State to average over 30K for an entire season.

[appmaj]

Somewhat alarming for all schools. I like gamedays attending with big crowds. That seems to be less and less important to most folks. It is much easier to watch games on TV I admit but there is no substitute for the stadium experience.

[JTApps1]

App State's attendance will increase next year with winning and better weather. But the overall trend for decreasing attendance in sports is real. There are plenty of things that now compete with going to a live sporting event. Especially since Boone is the opposite of a metro region.

That's why I hope we don't expand so drastically that we have a big, empty stadium during a 4-8 year.

It would be quite a feat for App State to average over 30K for an entire season.

Not being in a big metro could actually work in our favor especially when it comes to student attendance. We have less to draw from, but we also have far less options to distract them.

[EastHallApp]

It will be interesting to see how much the standard explanations (weather, bad 2013 season, slow start to 2014) really account for the slow start and how much was due to unfamiliar opponents and unpredictable kickoff times.

I went to the USA game and was honestly kind of shocked at how poor the attendance was. First FBS home game, Jerry Moore day, first weekend of October... True, it was unseasonably cold and windy - but if 45 and windy is enough to keep our fans away, then we better hope we never have any November home games again.

And Thanksgiving weekend games are going to be a semi-regular thing now, so we better figure out how to get people to show up then.

Hopefully the red-hot finish to the season and the much better home schedule next year will be enough to get fans excited. The next challenge is getting non-local alums to come up the mountain for a Thursday night game.

[fjblair]

Agree with gonzo and surprised it wasn't 15% with all the factors. I bet next season it goes up 10% or more.

I like the SBC and the like minded schools and I think the conference will grow on people once they learn the teams, and it ain't easy . It's like learning a new language.

[WVAPPeer]

Also 3 home games in Nov and 2 of 3 in Sep/Oct against FCS opponents didn't help either ---

[AppSt94]

I wonder if anyone has looked at how attendance is affected by home games on consecutive weekends?

[diehardapp18]

yeah assuming we have better weather +no thanksgiving game next year I expect an increase. This was the unluckiest we got with weather I can remember for years, shouldn't happen again. Plus our team next year should be winning a lot which will help.

[WataugaMan]

App State's attendance will increase next year with winning and better weather. But the overall trend for decreasing attendance in sports is real. There are plenty of things that now compete with going to a live sporting event. Especially since Boone is the opposite of a metro region.

That's why I hope we don't expand so drastically that we have a big, empty stadium during a 4-8 year.

It would be quite a feat for App State to average over 30K for an entire season.

Also, home games with Wyoming, ODU, Georgia Southern, LaLa, Arky, etc. will be more appealing than Campbell and Liberty.

[APPARJ]

App State's attendance will increase next year with winning and better weather. But the overall trend for decreasing attendance in sports is real. There are plenty of things that now compete with going to a live sporting event. Especially since Boone is the opposite of a metro region.

That's why I hope we don't expand so drastically that we have a big, empty stadium during a 4-8 year.

It would be quite a feat for App State to average over 30K for an entire season.

Also, home games with Wyoming, ODU, Georgia Southern, LaLa, Arky, etc. will be more appealing than Campbell and Liberty.

We're not playing ODU at home next year.

Also, I'm not saying we won't have strong attendance numbers next year, but all live sporting events are experiencing a decrease.

If people will hop back on the bandwagon and support the team like in '05-'12 we should have solid numbers.

[T-Dog]

I wonder if anyone has looked at how attendance is affected by home games on consecutive weekends?

There is some merit to this. A lot of people get paid once every two weeks and government employees at the end of the month, so for folks who have to drive 2+ hours one way to the game, it's tough, especially if the team isn't winning.

In the end, winning cures all. People want to be part of a winner and don't want to travel to be part of a loser. Yes, many of us will be there no matter what, but we're a percentage of the crowd. We won't have a mature-enough fanbase to fill it up for a 3--8 season.

[EastHallApp]

I wonder if anyone has looked at how attendance is affected by home games on consecutive weekends?

There is some merit to this. A lot of people get paid once every two weeks and government employees at the end of the month, so for folks who have to drive 2+ hours one way to the game, it's tough, especially if the team isn't winning.

In the end, winning cures all. People want to be part of a winner and don't want to travel to be part of a loser. Yes, many of us will be there no matter what, but we're a percentage of the crowd. We won't have a mature-enough fanbase to fill it up for a 3--8 season.

I think you're right, and would add that I don't think it's a matter of a fanbase being "mature enough." Very few stadiums are full for losing teams - let alone those who are used to winning (see the decreases for Michigan, Texas and Florida).

[MJ1988]

I think the athletic staff has a lot of work to do. They have to get the students back first. Then they have to find a way to make each game relevant. Folks got use to the FCS formate. They knew that we had to win to make the playoffs. I'm not so sure most fans know what we are playing for now. My niece who is a graduate and use to make most games with me really had no idea the team finished strong. People have lost the connection.

[asu66]

A new and strong AD with power conference experience; a stronger, more skilled and better FB team; and a much better home schedule will work wonders for next season's attendance at KBS. IMHO, a very positive outlook.

The new AD does need to work on student attendance; and he/she will have some fences to mend. Charlie Cobb was an introvert. He never mixed well in our crowds; and his body language and facial expressions almost always sent the message---"I really don't want to meet you or shake your hand."

Our new AD has to be a person who fills up the room and is approachable, gregarious, and sociable.

[AppAttack]

The 6:00 kickoffs don't help either.

[AppDawg]

I feel like I am the one who always raises the money alarm, but these athetic department and professional associations have to start looking inward. Guess its the Accountant in me.

To preface: I do think our attendance will improve next year. 2014 was the perfect storm. Lackluster 2013 season - led to a lot of pessimism, bad taste in folks mouths about the JM/SS change, and weather. I think our fanbase as a whole needs and education on the SunBelt. I think all it will take is one of our opponents to come up the mountain ranked in the top 25. Better yet, we receive votes and/or are ranked.

Now regarding all sporting events:
You have to keep attending the game affordable. Bottom-line. All sports have become greedy and have increased ticket prices exponentially the last 10 - 15 years while salaries have largely stagnated since 2008.

Certainly, winning helps. But, as previously stated in this threadthis is occurring in all forms of sport.

I remember going to Bristol Motor Speedway 10 years ago and there not being an empty seat in the house - same at the track in Charlotte. NASCAR has increased prices and is now removing thousands of seats across the circuit. I live in Raleigh and drive by PNC Arena daily. Just 4 or 5 years ago, parking was $10. I drove by the other night and they were charging $20. Not to mention tickets to the Hockey game are $40 before taxes and fees. I remember living in Charlotte when the Bobcats showed up - I know politics were involved, but tickets were outragously priced. Not to mention, everywhere in Uptown Charlotte started charging for parking - prior to the arena being built parking after 5 was free. My parents have season tickets to UGA football games, not long ago their ticket prices were in-line with ours. Last year we all paid $75/ ticket to sit in nosebleeds. A typical family of 4 simply can't attend games/events without reaching deep in their pockets.

With the TV / internet video access why not stay in the comforts of your own home.

The way I see it, is it better to have 10 folks show up and buy $75 tickets or is it better to have 50 folks show up and buy $15 tickets. Revenue is the same, but if they have a great experience and each can afford to attend 5 games, my guess is a certain percent of those individuals will donate. big crowds dont just look good on TV, but that also is more people that go back home and can sell your product via word of mouth. I hope our new AD recognizes this when they come to the Mountain.

I know I am preaching to the choir on this board, but it galls me to hear these "non-profit" entities complain outwardly about attendance when they could, in my opinion, easily rectify the situation.