Romanticizing Pitt Stadium Attendance

[UPitt '89]

From 1973 to 1999, Pitt's average home attendance was 40,902. There were 158 home games played over those 27 years.

<30k: 23
30-40k: 49
40-50k: 40
50-60k: 41
>60k: 5

In 2000, Pitt played at Three Rivers Stadium and averaged 40,866.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 3
40-50k: 2
50-60k: 1

From 2001 to present, Pitt's average home attendance has been 46,298. There have been 104 home games over those 16 years.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 24
40-50k: 50
50-60k: 15
>60k: 15

There have been 20 home Pitt games played in front of 60,000+ fans since 1973... and 15 of those are in Heinz Field.

There have been 77 home Pitt games played in front of 50,000+ fans since 1973... and 30 of those have been in Heinz Field.





Here's Pitt's attendance by year, with stadium capacity in (), and record and final rank since 1973:

1973: 33,609 (56,500) 6-5-1
1974: 41,279 (56,500) 7-4-0
1975: 42,022 (56,500) 8-4-0 (#15)
1976: 45,405 (56,500) 12-0-0 (#1)
1977: 44,181 (56,500) 9-2-1 (#8)
1978: 49,472 (56,500) 8-4-0
1979: 41,029 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#7)
1980: 44,342 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#2)
1981: 50,854 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#4)
1982: 54,809 (56,500) 9-3-0 (#10)
1983: 49,905 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#18)
1984: 32,337 (56,500) 3-7-1
1985: 41,758 (56,500) 5-5-1
1986: 46,498 (56,500) 6-4-1
1987: 47,982 (56,500) 8-4-0
1988: 41,692 (56,500) 6-5-0
1989: 43,866 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#17)
1990: 38,290 (56,500) 3-7-1
1991: 36,362 (56,500) 6-5-0
1992: 32,687 (56,500) 3-9-0
1993: 30,184 (56,500) 3-8-0
1994: 31,566 (56,500) 3-8-0
1995: 33,145 (56,500) 2-9-0
1996: 30,796 (56,500) 4-7-0
1997: 39,710 (56,500) 6-6-0
1998: 39,433 (56,500) 2-9-0
1999: 41,138 (56,500) 5-6-0

2000: 40,866 (59,000) 7-5-0

2001: 48,915 (65,050) 7-4-0
2002: 44,424 (65,050) 9-4-0 (#19)
2003: 59,197 (65,050) 8-5-0
2004: 41,600 (65,050) 8-4-0 (#25)
2005: 40,272 (65,050) 5-6-0
2006: 43,305 (65,050) 6-6-0
2007: 33,314 (65,050) 5-7-0
2008: 49,352 (65,050) 9-4-0
2009: 53,438 (65,050) 10-3-0 (#15)
2010: 52,165 (65,050) 8-5-0
2011: 46,003 (65,050) 6-7-0
2012: 41,494 (65,050) 6-7-0
2013: 49,741 (65,050) 7-6-0
2014: 41,315 (65,050) 6-7-0
2015: 48,150 (68,400) 8-5-0
2016: 48,080 (68,400) 7-4-0

 

[Pitt Law '04]

Who's romanticizing it? What is shows is Pitt's fan base is relatively small. And even when we're winning, we don't draw anywhere close to 70,000 fans (and that was 30-40 years ago).

All the more reason not to play in a rented pro stadium and to build our own right sized stadium.

 

[Delpanther]

From 1973 to 1999, Pitt's average home attendance was 40,902. There were 158 home games played over those 27 years.

<30k: 23
30-40k: 49
40-50k: 40
50-60k: 41
>60k: 5

In 2000, Pitt played at Three Rivers Stadium and averaged 40,866.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 3
40-50k: 2
50-60k: 1

From 2001 to present, Pitt's average home attendance has been 46,298. There have been 104 home games over those 16 years.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 24
40-50k: 50
50-60k: 15
>60k: 15

There have been 20 home Pitt games played in front of 60,000+ fans since 1973... and 15 of those are in Heinz Field.

There have been 77 home Pitt games played in front of 50,000+ fans since 1973... and 30 of those have been in Heinz Field.





Here's Pitt's attendance by year, with stadium capacity in (), and record and final rank since 1973:

1973: 33,609 (56,500) 6-5-1
1974: 41,279 (56,500) 7-4-0
1975: 42,022 (56,500) 8-4-0 (#15)
1976: 45,405 (56,500) 12-0-0 (#1)
1977: 44,181 (56,500) 9-2-1 (#8)
1978: 49,472 (56,500) 8-4-0
1979: 41,029 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#7)
1980: 44,342 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#2)
1981: 50,854 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#4)
1982: 54,809 (56,500) 9-3-0 (#10)
1983: 49,905 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#18)
1984: 32,337 (56,500) 3-7-1
1985: 41,758 (56,500) 5-5-1
1986: 46,498 (56,500) 6-4-1
1987: 47,982 (56,500) 8-4-0
1988: 41,692 (56,500) 6-5-0
1989: 43,866 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#17)
1990: 38,290 (56,500) 3-7-1
1991: 36,362 (56,500) 6-5-0
1992: 32,687 (56,500) 3-9-0
1993: 30,184 (56,500) 3-8-0
1994: 31,566 (56,500) 3-8-0
1995: 33,145 (56,500) 2-9-0
1996: 30,796 (56,500) 4-7-0
1997: 39,710 (56,500) 6-6-0
1998: 39,433 (56,500) 2-9-0
1999: 41,138 (56,500) 5-6-0

2000: 40,866 (59,000) 7-5-0

2001: 48,915 (65,050) 7-4-0
2002: 44,424 (65,050) 9-4-0 (#19)
2003: 59,197 (65,050) 8-5-0
2004: 41,600 (65,050) 8-4-0 (#25)
2005: 40,272 (65,050) 5-6-0
2006: 43,305 (65,050) 6-6-0
2007: 33,314 (65,050) 5-7-0
2008: 49,352 (65,050) 9-4-0
2009: 53,438 (65,050) 10-3-0 (#15)
2010: 52,165 (65,050) 8-5-0
2011: 46,003 (65,050) 6-7-0
2012: 41,494 (65,050) 6-7-0
2013: 49,741 (65,050) 7-6-0
2014: 41,315 (65,050) 6-7-0
2015: 48,150 (68,400) 8-5-0
2016: 48,080 (68,400) 7-4-0

Check out 81 snd 82 when Pitt had finally put together 6-7 excellent years. It 's all about condistent performance on the field . You guys over analyze everything and come to all the wrong conclusions.

 

[UPitt '89]

Check out 81 snd 82 when Pitt had finally put together 6-7 excellent years. It 's all about condistent performance on the field . You guys over analyze everything and come to all the wrong conclusions.

Not me. I *KNOW* it is all about winning.

In the era you're talking about... it took 5 years of consistent winning before the place sold out for most games.

In 2003, it took a very good schedule and a Heisman candidate.

In 2009 and 2010... it took teams that were competing for BE championships until the final weeks.

*WINNING* is what matters. Not having the stadium on campus.

2003, 2009, and 2010 show what happens when there's a product to sell... as does 1981 and 1982.

Calls to return to an on-campus stadium miss the point entirely.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt needs 45K available seats whether that's at HF or Oakland.

Tarping down to 45K would look pretty cool I think. Google what the Seattle Sounders do. A cool looking tarp would look good. Pitt doesn't need 70K available seats for the Syracuse game.

 

[joeydavid]

I have yet to travel to an on campus college stadium that compares favorably to Heinz. Granted is too big and the yellow seats look atrocious- every other factor is superior to every power 5 stadium that I have been to and it's not even close.

Frankly, the ones who bitch and moan about being 3 miles away from campus don't really care about Pitt football.

From 1973 to 1999, Pitt's average home attendance was 40,902. There were 158 home games played over those 27 years.

<30k: 23
30-40k: 49
40-50k: 40
50-60k: 41
>60k: 5

In 2000, Pitt played at Three Rivers Stadium and averaged 40,866.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 3
40-50k: 2
50-60k: 1

From 2001 to present, Pitt's average home attendance has been 46,298. There have been 104 home games over those 16 years.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 24
40-50k: 50
50-60k: 15
>60k: 15

There have been 20 home Pitt games played in front of 60,000+ fans since 1973... and 15 of those are in Heinz Field.

There have been 77 home Pitt games played in front of 50,000+ fans since 1973... and 30 of those have been in Heinz Field.





Here's Pitt's attendance by year, with stadium capacity in (), and record and final rank since 1973:

1973: 33,609 (56,500) 6-5-1
1974: 41,279 (56,500) 7-4-0
1975: 42,022 (56,500) 8-4-0 (#15)
1976: 45,405 (56,500) 12-0-0 (#1)
1977: 44,181 (56,500) 9-2-1 (#8)
1978: 49,472 (56,500) 8-4-0
1979: 41,029 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#7)
1980: 44,342 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#2)
1981: 50,854 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#4)
1982: 54,809 (56,500) 9-3-0 (#10)
1983: 49,905 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#18)
1984: 32,337 (56,500) 3-7-1
1985: 41,758 (56,500) 5-5-1
1986: 46,498 (56,500) 6-4-1
1987: 47,982 (56,500) 8-4-0
1988: 41,692 (56,500) 6-5-0
1989: 43,866 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#17)
1990: 38,290 (56,500) 3-7-1
1991: 36,362 (56,500) 6-5-0
1992: 32,687 (56,500) 3-9-0
1993: 30,184 (56,500) 3-8-0
1994: 31,566 (56,500) 3-8-0
1995: 33,145 (56,500) 2-9-0
1996: 30,796 (56,500) 4-7-0
1997: 39,710 (56,500) 6-6-0
1998: 39,433 (56,500) 2-9-0
1999: 41,138 (56,500) 5-6-0

2000: 40,866 (59,000) 7-5-0

2001: 48,915 (65,050) 7-4-0
2002: 44,424 (65,050) 9-4-0 (#19)
2003: 59,197 (65,050) 8-5-0
2004: 41,600 (65,050) 8-4-0 (#25)
2005: 40,272 (65,050) 5-6-0
2006: 43,305 (65,050) 6-6-0
2007: 33,314 (65,050) 5-7-0
2008: 49,352 (65,050) 9-4-0
2009: 53,438 (65,050) 10-3-0 (#15)
2010: 52,165 (65,050) 8-5-0
2011: 46,003 (65,050) 6-7-0
2012: 41,494 (65,050) 6-7-0
2013: 49,741 (65,050) 7-6-0
2014: 41,315 (65,050) 6-7-0
2015: 48,150 (68,400) 8-5-0
2016: 48,080 (68,400) 7-4-0

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Not me. I *KNOW* it is all about winning.

In the era you're talking about... it took 5 years of consistent winning before the place sold out for most games.

In 2003, it took a very good schedule and a Heisman candidate.

In 2009 and 2010... it took teams that were competing for BE championships until the final weeks.

*WINNING* is what matters. Not having the stadium on campus.

2003, 2009, and 2010 show what happens when there's a product to sell... as does 1981 and 1982.

Calls to return to an on-campus stadium miss the point entirely.

Pitt is never going to have consistent championship level teams. Few programs do. We dont nees 70K seats for the 1 year out of 10 when we can use them all.

Right-size to 45K whether at HF or Oakland. If demand improves, take off the tarp....or expand an Oakland stadium.

 

[pittmeister]

Not me. I *KNOW* it is all about winning.

In the era you're talking about... it took 5 years of consistent winning before the place sold out for most games.

In 2003, it took a very good schedule and a Heisman candidate.

In 2009 and 2010... it took teams that were competing for BE championships until the final weeks.

*WINNING* is what matters. Not having the stadium on campus.

2003, 2009, and 2010 show what happens when there's a product to sell... as does 1981 and 1982.

Calls to return to an on-campus stadium miss the point entirely.

BRAVO! WELL SAID!

 

[ThePanthers]

For those waiting to have 7 or 8 years of a top 20 football team before showing up are going to be waiting a long time. Very few programs can do that.

People should be showing up to watch this years team. Extremely fun to watch and are winning.

 

[Jpripper88]

Check out 81 snd 82 when Pitt had finally put together 6-7 excellent years. It 's all about condistent performance on the field . You guys over analyze everything and come to all the wrong conclusions.

That isn't very good attendance for what those teams were. In '81 they were 10% below capacity. That isn't good. That is really pretty bad when you are arguably the top program/team in the country.

 

[Delpanther]

That isn't very good attendance for what those teams were. In '81 they were 10% below capacity. That isn't good. That is really pretty bad when you are arguably the top program/team in the country.

It's good after 60 years of $hit, my friend

 

[Delpanther]

Not me. I *KNOW* it is all about winning.

In the era you're talking about... it took 5 years of consistent winning before the place sold out for most games.

In 2003, it took a very good schedule and a Heisman candidate.

In 2009 and 2010... it took teams that were competing for BE championships until the final weeks.

*WINNING* is what matters. Not having the stadium on campus.

2003, 2009, and 2010 show what happens when there's a product to sell... as does 1981 and 1982.

Calls to return to an on-campus stadium miss the point entirely.

Except playing on campus enhances the experience for alums. The North Side does nothing for me.

 

[EastOhioPanther]

I am with the crowd that says "Winning" is what matters.....
These stats tell me, there is a higher average attendance at Heinz field...
There is something to be said for that... With all of the challenges to bus students, etc...
More people are going to Pitt games at Heinz field...
So for those that think, more people will go to an on-campus stadium, these stats don't reflect that...
Many, Many college stadiums are bench seating, without many offerings....
I enjoy my club seats and all of the amenities that Heinz offers....
The tarping idea makes the most sense, economically.....

 

[Pitt Law '04]

How many more people attend college football games than 30 or 40 years ago?

Is the average attendance for college football larger or smaller than 30 or 40 years ago?

Some of you act as though larger attendance now as opposed to 1981 is some kind of accomplishment.

Hint--attendance is up everywhere. And the fact that we average fewer fans in attendance than we did in 1982 is no advertisement for how great Heinz Field is as a home stadium. In fact, it's an indictment.

Oh, by the way, one more thing. If you're looking at the late 1990's as a comparison for attendance purposes (as a way to argue how great Heinz Field is), remember--those Pitt teams were awful during that time.

 

[RocPanther11]

This can't be true... Pitt stadium was always full when it was on campus, everyone says so!

 

[Panthergrowl13]

Pitt needs 45K available seats whether that's at HF or Oakland.

Tarping down to 45K would look pretty cool I think. Google what the Seattle Sounders do. A cool looking tarp would look good. Pitt doesn't need 70K available seats for the Syracuse game.

We are on the same page.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[Panthergrowl13]

Except playing on campus enhances the experience for alums. The North Side does nothing for me.

Saving $400 million by not building a new stadium does a lot for Pitt.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[SVPanther]

Except playing on campus enhances the experience for alums. The North Side does nothing for me.

Insert Face Palm here. Just. Doesn't. Get. It.

 

[Delpanther]

Saving $400 million by not building a new stadium does a lot for Pitt.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

Maybe in the short term... hey but maybe Pitt knows something that 99% of ALL of division 1 schools don't know-Since ALL of them see the benefit of an on campus stadium. Duh...

 

[HailToPitt725]

Before we can even think about building a stadium, we need to focus on other projects, such as expanding the renovating the current facilities, constructing a new track and field complex, and building a new band facility and the student-athlete services building.

 

[Delpanther]

Before we can even think about building a stadium, we need to focus on other projects, such as expanding the renovating the current facilities, constructing a new track and field complex, and building a new band facility and the student-athlete services building.

well I get that Pitt has many capital needs in the athletics sphere but don't forget FB pays the freight!

 

[Delpanther]

I am with the crowd that says "Winning" is what matters.....
These stats tell me, there is a higher average attendance at Heinz field...
There is something to be said for that... With all of the challenges to bus students, etc...
More people are going to Pitt games at Heinz field...
So for those that think, more people will go to an on-campus stadium, these stats don't reflect that...
Many, Many college stadiums are bench seating, without many offerings....
I enjoy my club seats and all of the amenities that Heinz offers....
The tarping idea makes the most sense, economically.....

You completely ignore the correlation between atendance and team quality/performance. The last 15 years Pitt stadium Pit was garbage. Your analysis is completely flawed.

 

[HailToPitt725]

well I get that Pitt has many capital needs in the athletics sphere but don't forget FB pays the freight!

I know. I just figured that since it'd cost hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase land and build a stadium, we should get those out of the way before we move forward or else we may not have the funding for all of those, or may need to jack the tuition prices. If we need money to bring football back to Oakland, we'd get the money somehow, some way. But for the rest of those minor needs? People may not be as willing to fork away all that money. Just my opinion.

 

[TD_istheman]

Check out 81 snd 82 when Pitt had finally put together 6-7 excellent years. It 's all about condistent performance on the field . You guys over analyze everything and come to all the wrong conclusions.

They do it on purpose trust me , they were the same ones who supported Steve till the bitter end, and still think Nordy was good for football

 

[HailToPitt725]

I think it's safe to say everyone here wants an on-campus stadium. The problem is that it's going to be a complicated process no matter how we do it. Where do we put it? Buy the hotel across from the Mosque site and build on Bigelow? Reconfigure upper campus and it fit it in with the rest of the athletic facilities? Panther Hollow? Do we buy South Oakland or tear down the Quad? What about 2nd/5th Ave area? Hopefully Populous gives us a clearer picture going forward regarding this, because it's going to take some creative thinking to squeeze a stadium into Oakland. However, I think it would be worth it.

 

[HailtoPitt]

From 1973 to 1999, Pitt's average home attendance was 40,902. There were 158 home games played over those 27 years.

<30k: 23
30-40k: 49
40-50k: 40
50-60k: 41
>60k: 5

In 2000, Pitt played at Three Rivers Stadium and averaged 40,866.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 3
40-50k: 2
50-60k: 1

From 2001 to present, Pitt's average home attendance has been 46,298. There have been 104 home games over those 16 years.

<30k: 0
30-40k: 24
40-50k: 50
50-60k: 15
>60k: 15

There have been 20 home Pitt games played in front of 60,000+ fans since 1973... and 15 of those are in Heinz Field.

There have been 77 home Pitt games played in front of 50,000+ fans since 1973... and 30 of those have been in Heinz Field.





Here's Pitt's attendance by year, with stadium capacity in (), and record and final rank since 1973:

1973: 33,609 (56,500) 6-5-1
1974: 41,279 (56,500) 7-4-0
1975: 42,022 (56,500) 8-4-0 (#15)
1976: 45,405 (56,500) 12-0-0 (#1)
1977: 44,181 (56,500) 9-2-1 (#8)
1978: 49,472 (56,500) 8-4-0
1979: 41,029 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#7)
1980: 44,342 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#2)
1981: 50,854 (56,500) 11-1-0 (#4)
1982: 54,809 (56,500) 9-3-0 (#10)
1983: 49,905 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#18)
1984: 32,337 (56,500) 3-7-1
1985: 41,758 (56,500) 5-5-1
1986: 46,498 (56,500) 6-4-1
1987: 47,982 (56,500) 8-4-0
1988: 41,692 (56,500) 6-5-0
1989: 43,866 (56,500) 8-3-1 (#17)
1990: 38,290 (56,500) 3-7-1
1991: 36,362 (56,500) 6-5-0
1992: 32,687 (56,500) 3-9-0
1993: 30,184 (56,500) 3-8-0
1994: 31,566 (56,500) 3-8-0
1995: 33,145 (56,500) 2-9-0
1996: 30,796 (56,500) 4-7-0
1997: 39,710 (56,500) 6-6-0
1998: 39,433 (56,500) 2-9-0
1999: 41,138 (56,500) 5-6-0

2000: 40,866 (59,000) 7-5-0

2001: 48,915 (65,050) 7-4-0
2002: 44,424 (65,050) 9-4-0 (#19)
2003: 59,197 (65,050) 8-5-0
2004: 41,600 (65,050) 8-4-0 (#25)
2005: 40,272 (65,050) 5-6-0
2006: 43,305 (65,050) 6-6-0
2007: 33,314 (65,050) 5-7-0
2008: 49,352 (65,050) 9-4-0
2009: 53,438 (65,050) 10-3-0 (#15)
2010: 52,165 (65,050) 8-5-0
2011: 46,003 (65,050) 6-7-0
2012: 41,494 (65,050) 6-7-0
2013: 49,741 (65,050) 7-6-0
2014: 41,315 (65,050) 6-7-0
2015: 48,150 (68,400) 8-5-0
2016: 48,080 (68,400) 7-4-0

I'm on the side of building a stadium in Oakland, but I want to say nice job of putting that data together. It probably was not easy and I commend you for doing so.

 

[Jpripper88]

It's good after 60 years of $hit, my friend

No, it isn't, which is the point. And that was the best period in school history, which will almost assuredly never be matched again.

 

[Delpanther]

No, it isn't, which is the point. And that was the best period in school history, which will almost assuredly never be matched again.

You guys have no idea the thousand of fans Pitt drove away...no concept at all. Pitt purposely sabotaged the FB program.. you do that and it takes years to win people back. You need a history lesson, skippy.

 

[HailtoPitt]

How many more people attend college football games than 30 or 40 years ago?

Is the average attendance for college football larger or smaller than 30 or 40 years ago?

Some of you act as though larger attendance now as opposed to 1981 is some kind of accomplishment.

Hint--attendance is up everywhere. And the fact that we average fewer fans in attendance than we did in 1982 is no advertisement for how great Heinz Field is as a home stadium. In fact, it's an indictment.

Oh, by the way, one more thing. If you're looking at the late 1990's as a comparison for attendance purposes (as a way to argue how great Heinz Field is), remember--those Pitt teams were awful during that time.

Pitt Law 04 is 100% correct. The fact that Pitt attendance is in the same neighborhood now as it was 30 years ago is a sign of failure, not success.

 

[Jpripper88]

You guys have no idea the thousand of fans Pitt drove away...no concept at all. Pitt purposely sabotaged the FB program.. you do that and it takes years to win people back. You need a history lesson, skippy.

I fully understand it, which helps prove my point. When you consider that even the best years they weren't doing well with attendance at Pitt Stadium, before 15 years of essentially giving Pitt fans the finger, the last 15 of underachieving, and almost no chance to replicate that historic 8 or so year run, it certainly says there is no argument attendance will ever justify hundreds of millions to build an on campus stadium.

 

[UPitt '89]

Pitt Law 04 is 100% correct. The fact that Pitt attendance is in the same neighborhood now as it was 30 years ago is a sign of failure, not success.

Pitt Law and you are both wrong.

The population of Pittsburgh has shrunk since the 80s. The population of the local area has been flat.

Yes, college football attendance is up in the south and west... because those areas had a population boom over the past few decades.

Ps. Pitt's attendance in the 16 years at Heinz has been 15% higher than the last 27 years at Pitt Stadium - which coincided with the greatest run in Pitt football history.

Despite a mediocre team during our time at Heinz, we gave drawn 6k more fans per game.

And we're not sitting on shitty metal bleachers in a concrete monstrosity that smelled like piss and dirt and had a track that pushed the fans farther from the field.

There is literally nothing about Pitt Stadium that is better than Heinz except proximity to campus. Nothing.

 

[wbrpanther]

Who's romanticizing it? What is shows is Pitt's fan base is relatively small. And even when we're winning, we don't draw anywhere close to 70,000 fans (and that was 30-40 years ago).

All the more reason not to play in a rented pro stadium and to build our own right sized stadium.

Check the stats from when we had our own right sized stadium. Largest attendance by far was the 54 thou plus in "82. Do you know what else happened in '82? Pro football was on strike. Pitt was the only game in town thru late October.

The crowds wouldn't be bigger in our own stadium. they would only look better.

 

[Delpanther]

I fully understand it, which helps prove my point. When you consider that even the best years they weren't doing well with attendance at Pitt Stadium, before 15 years of essentially giving Pitt fans the finger, the last 15 of underachieving, and almost no chance to replicate that historic 8 or so year run, it certainly says there is no argument attendance will ever justify hundreds of millions to build an on campus stadium.

Your analysis is only valid if Pitt were to continue to mismanage FB or fail to support the program and stink in FB like it has most of the last half century. The aspiration is for the school to commit to the program, produce consistently good teams over a long period and rebuild the fan base which is exactly what they have to do. You sound like a Nordy disciple and he was a dumb JA!!!

 

[Jpripper88]

Your analysis is only valid if Pitt were to continue to mismanage FB or fail to support the program and stink in FB like it has most of the last half century. The aspiration is for the school to commit to the program, produce consistently good teams over a long period and rebuild the fan base which is exactly what they have to do. You sound like a Nordy disciple and he was a dumb JA!!!

1. You expect to have the program be in better shape than 75-83?
2. You expect better capacity % fill by Pitt when even today's deep rooted, huge state universities with top programs and enormous fanbases are having trouble filling to similar %s?

 

[Pitt Law '04]

Check the stats from when we had our own right sized stadium. Largest attendance by far was the 54 thou plus in "82. Do you know what else happened in '82? Pro football was on strike. Pitt was the only game in town thru late October.

The crowds wouldn't be bigger in our own stadium. they would only look better.

Did you read my posts in this thread?

 

[Delpanther]

1. You expect to have the program be in better shape than 75-83?
2. You expect better capacity % fill by Pitt when even today's deep rooted, huge state universities with top programs and enormous fanbases are having trouble filling to similar %s?

I expect the program to reach a level of consistency that goes beyond a period of 8 years which isn't that long of a period relative to how long Pitt's program was in the dumper. And, more importantly, i expect that the Pitt admin, won't pull the plug on the program like they did in 1982 when they pushed out Sherrill and pissed off every Pitt fan because we knew he was one of the top coaches in all of college FB. The attendance will rise with the consistency of the program's on the field performance. Pitt hasn't earned any automatic loyalty from alumni due to their mismangaement of the FB program. Will Pitt ever draw 65-75k per game? Given the size of the alumni base, probably not. I believe they are capable, however, of drawing 55k regularly to a right sized on campus stadium. That's a reasonable objective.

 

[runshadyrun]

For me personally, Heinz field much easier to get in and out of than Oakland was/will be . I remember searching for parking places there. Also, if seating is limited to 45k, seat "licensing fees" and season ticket packages will become significantly more expensive.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Check out 81 snd 82 when Pitt had finally put together 6-7 excellent years. It 's all about condistent performance on the field . You guys over analyze everything and come to all the wrong conclusions.

So, what happened in 1984?

 

[UPitt '89]

So, what happened in 1984?

3-7-1 happened.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Pitt Law and you are both wrong.

The population of Pittsburgh has shrunk since the 80s. The population of the local area has been flat.

Yes, college football attendance is up in the south and west... because those areas had a population boom over the past few decades.

Ps. Pitt's attendance in the 16 years at Heinz has been 15% higher than the last 27 years at Pitt Stadium - which coincided with the greatest run in Pitt football history.

Despite a mediocre team during our time at Heinz, we gave drawn 6k more fans per game.

And we're not sitting on shitty metal bleachers in a concrete monstrosity that smelled like piss and dirt and had a track that pushed the fans farther from the field.

There is literally nothing about Pitt Stadium that is better than Heinz except proximity to campus. Nothing.

Pitt Law 04 and I are both right and I could not disagree more with your analysis. The population has nothing to do with college football attendance. What about those schools in the Midwest were populations have also shrank... yet their stadiums have continued to see the need for expansions. In addition, Pitt and those other schools have all likely seen increased in enrollment over the decades. Population decline is not an excuse.

Pitt's attendance at Heinz has been almost exactly the same as it was at Pitt Stadium in the 1980s. When we were rolling out 2 and 3 win teams in the 1990s, yes the attendance went down from what it is not at Heinz AND what it was previous at Pitt Stadium. In the 90s Pitt avergaed somewhere between 7 and 8 wins per season. In Pitt's 16 years ate Heinz, the average amount of wins is between 7 and 8. But... the same attendance.

Yes, we aren't sitting on shitty metal bleachers, and using an outdated stadium with terrible bathrooms and a track around the field... and yet... attendance is comparable to when similar successful teams were playing in the 80s. Why is that? Pitt's administration pretty much instituted self imposed sanctions on the program. They chose not to update Pitt Stadium. Where was the campaign improve it? (calling a few trustees on the phone doesn't count as a campaign, except at Pitt). Were was the commitment to keep great coaches when Pitt had them? Pitt dropped the ball BIG TIME, and of course, it's the fans fault because we don't donate enough. Laughable.

Bottom line. Heinz Field sucks for college football. An on campus stadium is vastly superior. Until we do something about that, we are going to continue the streak of mediocrity. Recruits know this. Fans know this. Everyone knows this. Some of you try to pretend that this isn't true, but you are only kidding yourselves.

 

[Swervin27]

im as big a proponent of an on campus stadium as there is on this board. North shore is blah, Heinz field is cookie cutter boring. all that said, I have done a lot of looking up attendance with regards to pitt stadium. Now used wiki so who the hell knows where that number comes from but I can tell you, with regards to some decent, above average (But not great) pitt teams in mid to late 80s, the attendance numbers are very surprisingly low.


What jumped out at me is the bad games,, the numbers were disastrously low. I am talking like low 20k low and this is some good pitt teams playing on a Saturday against your typical boring teams. Now the better games, well they weren't as great as I'd suspect either. so take '87, very solid squad, 7-3 team, ranked playing kent state, gets 35k. Kent state sucks but 35k? That's brutal. Take '88, average year, 3 home games in a row, mid season against temple, navy, Rutgers we get 32k, 34, and 20k. 20k? That's a pirate game crowd..


When pushing the on campus stadium angle, do not go the "attendance will increase" route because it wont. There are a thousand other angles to play, a thousand advantages or perks but pure numbers isn't one of them..