People refuse to understand. College football is thousands of times more popular now compared to back then. Thanks to the ESPN's and Fox sports TV stations.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
If Pitt would win now like they did back then. Pitt would get at least 55,000 to 60,000 a game.
Shame Pitt didn't capitalize on the cable TV surge. Like many programs did back then.
Seriously, i can't believe people continue to bring up attendance numbers from the late 70's early 80's. Nobody really cared about the college game back then.