20 minutes to game time and probably less than 10k here

[McKee Place]

They aren't fools. Seeing a team play in a half empty stadium that clearly is designed for another team is an indicator of the type of overall support they will receive as a player.

Like the guy who keeps screaming for Pitt to pay players and give them hookers and weed, which I'd be fine with, I'm all for Pitt getting its own stadium too (which by itself doesn't guarantee great crowds either, I'm sure you realize).

But none of that is happening, not ever.

And while more schools do cheat somewhat more than we do, I actually think our crowds are more like what the middle of bell curve get.

So as I said, if the best players really do insist on those things over the things I listed that are tangible, legit items that players SHOULD use to pick a school, maybe it can't be fixed for us.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Holy heck, if what I’ve seen online is true, it’s not looking good. Might be the emptiest I’ve ever seen it for a game.

nothing screams stupid more than posting about bad attendance from the comfort of your living room

 

[pitt-girl]

Holy heck, if what I’ve seen online is true, it’s not looking good. Might be the emptiest I’ve ever seen it for a game.

Oh - Heinz has been waaaaay more empty than today. Late arriving, but it filled in more than I expected.

 

[HailToPitt725]

nothing screams stupid more than posting about bad attendance from the comfort of your living room

I just don’t get comments like these. I already clarified that it was before the game and it filled in since they were taken.

If you’re calling it hypocritical that I’m not at the game, I’m sorry that we can’t afford to fly into Pittsburgh from KC to watch games each week, though we try to make as many games as we can. Went to Iowa in ‘15, OK State in ‘16, and Notre Dame this year.

 

[Pitt1975]

I thought the crowd wasn’t too bad, considering it was a perfect day to watch football. I do like being able to move anywhere you want in the club section, when it gets too sunny. I park in the 1A gold garage, stayed till games end, and still was able to make Highland Park, in like 15 minutes.

Dinner at Tambellini’s was awesome after, with other friends at the game.

Other than the flea flicker fiasco, it was a pretty awesome day, at a Pitt football game...

 

[Fsgolfdr]

1.) no school has covered up anything worse than what psu covered up

2.) playing in front of 30k vs 109k is FAR down the list when recruits pick schools

The rest, I agree. The ACC sucks balls for football compared to the B10. I don’t care if Clemson wins the national title every year for the next 50 years, the B10 will always have a better perception for fooltball than the ACC and the tv contract confirms that.

I wasn't talking about schools covering up scandels ! Although MSU scandal is easily the equal .
I think your wrong with attendance , a filled stadium with 100,000 maniacs screaming at the top of their lungs vs the atmosphere at Pitt games theres no contest I'm going to the rocking place not the morgue .

 

[WiseAndGlorious]

That game was televised for all to see, and there is no way that there were 34,000 butts in the seats.

I love the posters who bitch about attendance while referencing how bad all the yellow seats look on their tv.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

I thought the crowd wasn’t too bad, considering it was a perfect day to watch football. I do like being able to move anywhere you want in the club section, when it gets too sunny. I park in the 1A gold garage, stayed till games end, and still was able to make Highland Park, in like 15 minutes.

Dinner at Tambellini’s was awesome after, with other friends at the game.

Other than the flea flicker fiasco, it was a pretty awesome day, at a Pitt football game...

Perfect day!

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt does need to start over , in fact every year they get another chance to start over . The Fb program is a problem they can't fix in a single yr unless the Tide start wearing the blue and gold . It probably would take 10 yrs of playing excellant Fb to build any fan momentum for a program so long mired in ineptness .
I know the PSU game is only one game , but that one game cost them any kid wavering between the two schools in the state of Pa for another yr . Honestly ask yourself if you were a 4 or 5* kid and it came down to Pitt or PSU where are you going ? Would you rather play before 109,000 or 25,000 ? Would you rather play conference games against OSU and Michagin or Ga Tech and Wake Forest ? Do you want to go to a meaningful bowl game or the I Don' t Care Bowl every now and then ? The recruits have gotten over PSUs issues and their are larger more revired institutions who have covered up far more .
Until Pitt can compete with PSU , OSU or ND in recruiting how can they ever field a team that the fans will support ?Great coaching is their only chance , but not when they have zero chance of holding on to any assitants who excels (Canada ) and will only hire unproven coordinators w/o any HC exp .
For Pitt to change it's culture they need to empty the vault and go out and hire a great coach . They need to double someone's salary with a 10 yr contract and bring in the best assitants in the country ......it's not going to happen , winning Fb games isn't that important to them .

1.) no school has covered up anything worse than what psu covered up

2.) playing in front of 30k vs 109k is FAR down the list when recruits pick schools

The rest, I agree. The ACC sucks balls for football compared to the B10. I don’t care if Clemson wins the national title every year for the next 50 years, the B10 will always have a better perception for fooltball than the ACC and the tv contract confirms that.

Unfortunately, for football, gameday atmosphere is very high on the list. For basketball, it barely makes the list. Kids think the atmosphere can get them to the NFL

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I just don’t get comments like these. I already clarified that it was before the game and it filled in since they were taken.

If you’re calling it hypocritical that I’m not at the game, I’m sorry that we can’t afford to fly into Pittsburgh from KC to watch games each week, though we try to make as many games as we can. Went to Iowa in ‘15, OK State in ‘16, and Notre Dame this year.

Then shut up about attendance ,

You don’t attend.

Buy season tickets and donate them to tickets for kids to put more butts in the seats, if it disturbs you.

 

[rockypanther]

The people that care most attend the games.. really that simple.

Not really. Some of us love Pitt more as much as anyone but can't get to all the games. I live 6 hours away. And the games that I have been able to get to Pittsburgh for were big games in which Pitt had a chance to take that next step and in each case played poorly and lost.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Not really. Some of us love Pitt more as much as anyone but can't get to all the games. I live 6 hours away. And the games that I have been able to get to Pittsburgh for were big games in which Pitt had a chance to take that next step and in each case played poorly and lost.

Buy season tickets and donate them to tickets for kids to put more butts in the seats, if it disturbs you.[/QUOTE]

No single game takes a program to a next step

 

[jtownknowitall]

Real Pitt fans don’t move away from their team.

 

[ThePanthers]

It was around what I expected

 

[WiseAndGlorious]

Considering the ennui among fans after last week’s showing, I thought it wasn’t that bad of a crowd.

If Pitt had beaten PSU it would have been probably another 5k and people would still be bitching about it. Remember the Duke game the week after beating Clemson?

 

[ThePanthers]

Considering the ennui among fans after last week’s showing, I thought it wasn’t that bad of a crowd.

If Pitt had beaten PSU it would have been probably another 5k and people would still be bitching about it. Remember the Duke game the week after beating Clemson?

Yep. I've learned there is nothing that will change this. Even winning. Sure there may be a random game or two that is not Notre dame psu or WVU that will get a big crowd. But that is the exception. We've had Michigan state Iowa etc come and it bumped it up slightly. We are just a pro town.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I just don’t get comments like these. I already clarified that it was before the game and it filled in since they were taken.

If you’re calling it hypocritical that I’m not at the game, I’m sorry that we can’t afford to fly into Pittsburgh from KC to watch games each week, though we try to make as many games as we can. Went to Iowa in ‘15, OK State in ‘16, and Notre Dame this year.

yeah, I am calling it hypocritical. Someone in my group is from Chicago has season tickets. Goes to about half and gives the rest away. It is a bad look on your part to whine about attendance while sitting at hiome

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Then shut up about attendance ,

You don’t attend.

Buy season tickets and donate them to tickets for kids to put more butts in the seats, if it disturbs you.

this.

 

[counselor10]

You are a pitt fan , congrats.

Marty, agree. You make a lot of great points! Though, I wonder what in the world Lyke is trying to do in building attendance? Nothing is impossible, and a lot of people on this board are spot on about the attendance and reasons for it. Winning will change some of it, maybe a lot of it. However, unless we get ND, WVU or other big programs, we will be in the 25,000 to 40,000 per game. Come on Lyke, share your plan to put more butts in seats.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Marty, agree. You make a lot of great points! Though, I wonder what in the world Lyke is trying to do in building attendance? Nothing is impossible, and a lot of people on this board are spot on about the attendance and reasons for it. Winning will change some of it, maybe a lot of it. However, unless we get ND, WVU or other big programs, we will be in the 25,000 to 40,000 per game. Come on Lyke, share your plan to put more butts in seats.

What is Lyke supposed to do for attendance? For me, I want her to ensure the coaches have all the resources needed to build a winning program. I want her to evaluate those coaches to make sure they are top performers. I want her wining and dining the big fish to get more money in the program (David Tepper???).

But what else is there for game day atmosphere that would draw the casual fan in besides winning?

 

[McKee Place]

There was a thread earlier debating those regular students (not players) who picked a college primarily because it had good football. It was mostly agreed that some certainly might, but that they're fools to do so, and you can't fix stupid.

Much is true here, with football recruits. Perhaps some do indeed base the majority of their decision on crowds. Certainly it's their right, but it's at least as stupid as above. Maybe it is ok to be on the list, way way down, but to be at the top or near it is just stupid. Head coach, asst coaches, style of play, facilities, ability to prep for the NFL, academic support system, even dorms and amenities (yeah, throw in academics too,lol) should all be tons more important. If it isn't, if it comes down mostly to how many fat bubbas and Roseannes are in the seats, then, again, maybe it simply can't be fixed for us.

 

[mcruny42]

Here's my 2 cents as someone who went to grad school at Pitt (really enjoyed my time overall) and has family members who wrestled at Pitt and others who are relatively big donors...

Pitt has not done a good job cultivating a great game day experience. Most of my best memories at Pitt and the people I know who went to Pitt do not put Pitt football games as that high on their list of greatest memories. Sure they went to some games, especially the big games, but not compared to many of the experiences of my friends who went to big time football colleges.

The past weekend for the PSU game, it was obviously pouring and guess what...in the red lot they weren't allowing Canopies? Why? I don't know if this was a Pitt decision but that makes zero sense. Pitt should do everything it can to facilitate a great game day experience for the fans. I remember in school before a game against ND, we weren't allowed in the student lots until a few hours before the game and they kicked you out an hour before hand... Just hard to build up a lot of excitement.
At many schools people come back for the weekend and its a reunion of seeing good friends and tailgating, etc. Yes the game is very important (and 30+ years of average results does not help) but it is only part of the equation and the other stuff around the game Pitt has failed miserably at.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Then shut up about attendance ,

You don’t attend.

Buy season tickets and donate them to tickets for kids to put more butts in the seats, if it disturbs you.

yeah, I am calling it hypocritical. Someone in my group is from Chicago has season tickets. Goes to about half and gives the rest away. It is a bad look on your part to whine about attendance while sitting at hiome

Again, I’d love to do that but that’s just not an option. There’s an outside chance I move back to Pittsburgh next year and would love to purchase season tickets then.

Maybe it is a bad look on my part, but I clarified my original statement and, at this point, it’s water under the bridge. We won and that’s all that matters.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Here's my 2 cents as someone who went to grad school at Pitt (really enjoyed my time overall) and has family members who wrestled at Pitt and others who are relatively big donors...

Pitt has not done a good job cultivating a great game day experience. Most of my best memories at Pitt and the people I know who went to Pitt do not put Pitt football games as that high on their list of greatest memories. Sure they went to some games, especially the big games, but not compared to many of the experiences of my friends who went to big time football colleges.

The past weekend for the PSU game, it was obviously pouring and guess what...in the red lot they weren't allowing Canopies? Why? I don't know if this was a Pitt decision but that makes zero sense. Pitt should do everything it can to facilitate a great game day experience for the fans. I remember in school before a game against ND, we weren't allowed in the student lots until a few hours before the game and they kicked you out an hour before hand... Just hard to build up a lot of excitement.
At many schools people come back for the weekend and its a reunion of seeing good friends and tailgating, etc. Yes the game is very important (and 30+ years of average results does not help) but it is only part of the equation and the other stuff around the game Pitt has failed miserably at.

true, unfortunately we gave up a lot of control when moving to Heinz. In theory the cost savings though should be pumped back into the program. It has been mentioned ad-naseum but the shuttles are very bad for getting students to the game. Heck I was at a high school game this weekend where you had to shuttle over to the field and I found myself leaving early to not get stuck in a mess. So I don't totally blame them for leaving. Every student I talked to hates them.

The Slick plan is to extend the "T" to Oakland.....problem solved.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

The students, who should be there at every game, were a no-show. Their showing was pathetic. I can sometimes understand not paying to see what amounts to a mediocre or worse team for the paying public. The quality of the product just isn't there. But I thought the students would at least show up. When I walked through the entrance to my seats yesterday, I was shocked that it looked like the band might outnumber the students. But maybe I shouldn't be shocked at this point.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Again, I’d love to do that but that’s just not an option. There’s an outside chance I move back to Pittsburgh next year and would love to purchase season tickets then.

Maybe it is a bad look on my part, but I clarified my original statement and, at this point, it’s water under the bridge. We won and that’s all that matters.

It’s not an option to buy season tickets and donate them?

Bullshit

I lived in North Carolina for 15 years and did just that.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

true, unfortunately we gave up a lot of control when moving to Heinz. In theory the cost savings though should be pumped back into the program. It has been mentioned ad-naseum but the shuttles are very bad for getting students to the game. Heck I was at a high school game this weekend where you had to shuttle over to the field and I found myself leaving early to not get stuck in a mess. So I don't totally blame them for leaving. Every student I talked to hates them.

The Slick plan is to extend the "T" to Oakland.....problem solved.

Students left early and came late on campus , too.

In fact even more pronounced.

Hell, we’d only walk up at halftime if we were remotely competitive in the mid to late 90s.

 

[dave97]

When Pitt is winning, they can fill Heinz to north of 55k and then sellout the big games. They did so under Walt and Wanny. Pitt has only been in the ACC for what 5 years? Give coach a chance to build something. We are not as far off as people think. The Penn State game was a one possession game 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter with a QB making his 3rd start in a downpour.

Hail to Pitt!

Dave

 

[HailToPitt725]

It’s not an option to buy season tickets and donate them?

Bullshit

I lived in North Carolina for 15 years and did just that.

More-so buying season tickets in general. Everyone’s situations are a bit different, and we simply can’t afford to do that on an annual basis, at least not anymore. If buying season tickets was an option for us, we’d do it.

Again, I didn’t mean for a simple comment about attendance to unravel into this. I was just saying what I saw from the pictures. It filled in as the game went on, which was why I clarified my post. Souf, we’re all on the same side here. No need to get hostile

 

[PhPanther2]

I only went to a handfull of games at Pitt stadium and thought the stadium while in a cool location, needed a lot of work to update it.

My real question is, when I drive around Oakland today, I don’t see “lots” where you can tailgate. Were there lots before? What was the tailgating experience like in oakland for Pitt football games? If it was just jumping in those dive bars and walking up the hill....gimme a break.

 

[HailToPitt725]

The Slick plan is to extend the "T" to Oakland.....problem solved.

This would certainly help a lot. I think it’d also help the university in the long-run if it ever tries to bring football back on-campus.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The Slick plan is to extend the "T" to Oakland.....problem solved.

The problem with that is that there is a better chance that everyone currently posting on this board will be dead before it ever happens. It was the obvious solution as soon as they proposed the T in the first place, and it's been the obvious solution every day for the four decades since.

That's what you get with Western PA politicians. It's been the obvious solution since they started the project in the late 70s, and in fact it was the obvious solution when it was first proposed back sometime in the 60s. But a project like that is hard. And if there is anything that everyone should be able to agree on, it's when Western PA politicians see "hard" they run the other direction as far and as fast as they can.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

The problem with that is that there is a better chance that everyone currently posting on this board will be dead before it ever happens. It was the obvious solution as soon as they proposed the T in the first place, and it's been the obvious solution every day for the four decades since.

That's what you get with Western PA politicians. It's been the obvious solution since they started the project in the late 70s, and in fact it was the obvious solution when it was first proposed back sometime in the 60s. But a project like that is hard. And if there is anything that everyone should be able to agree on, it's when Western PA politicians see "hard" they run the other direction as far and as fast as they can.

Many crowded cities with transportation issues and political gridlock have opted to elevated rail instead of the more difficult to get done surface or underground rail.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Many crowded cities with transportation issues and political gridlock have opted to elevated rail instead of the more difficult to get done surface or underground rail.

Yeah, if you are extending the system to Oakland and points east or Cranberry and points north you aren't doing that underground. At least not the whole way. You probably would go underground close to the city where the tracks are already underground, but once you get away from the city center you'd come above ground.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Transportation isnt the issue . It's easier to go to and from HF than Oakland . Lets not even talk about parking .The students get bused .
Those clamoring for an on campus stadium forgot how miserable the traffic was and still is in Oakland .

 

[PittFanDan17]

Start cheating, pay players, fake grades, cover up crimes, beat Penn State 51-6 and the place will be full. And we'll all be happy! Who here will admit that if we where top 10 and 10-0 but you knew we where dirty as dog crap, you'd be on here complaining about it trying to end it? Anyone?

You had me at START

 

[McKee Place]

I only went to a handfull of games at Pitt stadium and thought the stadium while in a cool location, needed a lot of work to update it.

My real question is, when I drive around Oakland today, I don’t see “lots” where you can tailgate. Were there lots before? What was the tailgating experience like in oakland for Pitt football games? If it was just jumping in those dive bars and walking up the hill....gimme a break.

A few small lots near Syria Mosque, and the one above the stadium are all i remember.

A lot of students like myself lived in apartments and held 'tailgates' on porches or balconies. As might be guessed I did a lot of that, in my dump on McKee Place that had a (crumbling) balcony. Also had friends with places on Dawson, Semple, and Dithridge, we might do the same there

Occasionally the bars but that was last resort.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

What is Lyke supposed to do for attendance? For me, I want her to ensure the coaches have all the resources needed to build a winning program. I want her to evaluate those coaches to make sure they are top performers. I want her wining and dining the big fish to get more money in the program (David Tepper???).

But what else is there for game day atmosphere that would draw the casual fan in besides winning?

Right. She could send her minions into the streets handing out free tickets and it wouldn't change attendance. It is what it is. People who bitch obviously haven't tried to give tickets away.

Interest needs to be built by a team that wins and competes in big games. Even then, they aren't going to fill Heinz consistently. Best to forget about it and enjoy the game.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

More-so buying season tickets in general. Everyone’s situations are a bit different, and we simply can’t afford to do that on an annual basis, at least not anymore. If buying season tickets was an option for us, we’d do it.

Again, I didn’t mean for a simple comment about attendance to unravel into this. I was just saying what I saw from the pictures. It filled in as the game went on, which was why I clarified my post. Souf, we’re all on the same side here. No need to get hostile

If you can’t afford $170, you need to spend less time on here bitching about attendance

 

[Pitt1992]

than why does a school like miami receive as much talent as they do?they dont get much more people asses in those seats then pitt does, i know its florida but still its about perception not how many people u have in the seats, the local media and national media gave pitt the kiss of death and theres not much more pitt can do, if building an on campus stadium is the only thing they could do its not gonna happen, they have it made at heinz field there not gonna change that