Akron, newer stadium, struggling

[TIGER-PAUL]

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/university-of-akron-football-attendance-lowest-in-nation-1.603992

UA is looking for a new athletics director, and football attendance — along with hiring, fundraising, budgeting and planning skills — will be “a key performance indicator,” Scarborough said.

“The university benefits most when football, basketball and soccer are strong programs with great game-day experiences and winning records — both on the field and in the classroom,” he said.

Attendance rebound

The university expects attendance to rebound this year for several reasons.

For starters, five of the six home games will be played on Saturdays and include a Sept. 12 game with the University of Pittsburgh. Last year, the Zips played three of their home games on Tuesdays, thanks to the Mid-American Conference’s television deal with ESPN.

“It’s a great way for us to showcase our football program, but our fans don’t like the weekday games,” UA Senior Associate Athletics Director George Van Horne said.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Of course, with 3 games on a Tuesday, attendance would be down at any school. With 5 of their 6 home games on a Saturday this year (including one against Pitt) I bet attendance doubles.

I'd say the root of their problem here is building a stadium with double the capacity of what they averaged beforehand. That would be like Pitt building a new stadium in Oakland to seat 80,000 people. The correct way is to build a stadium you can fill, with potential for adding more seating if demand calls for it. Look at UNC Charlotte. They spent 20M less and built a stadium with 15,000 capacity, and that is about what they average. Much smarter.

 

[pittizit]

They need to drop down a level

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Agreed and may be the case for most of the MAC teams if the P5 keeps taking more of the $$$$$

They need to drop down a level

 

[Pghfan]

Of course, with 3 games on a Tuesday, attendance would be down at any school. With 5 of their 6 home games on a Saturday this year (including one against Pitt) I bet attendance doubles.

I'd say the root of their problem here is building a stadium with double the capacity of what they averaged beforehand. That would be like Pitt building a new stadium in Oakland to seat 80,000 people. The correct way is to build a stadium you can fill, with potential for adding more seating if demand calls for it. Look at UNC Charlotte. They spent 20M less and built a stadium with 15,000 capacity, and that is about what they average. Much smarter.

Do they really have games on a Tuesday or where you exaggerating? I didn't even know Tuesday games existed..

 

[Saboteur]

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/university-of-akron-football-attendance-lowest-in-nation-1.603992

UA is looking for a new athletics director, and football attendance — along with hiring, fundraising, budgeting and planning skills — will be “a key performance indicator,” Scarborough said.

“The university benefits most when football, basketball and soccer are strong programs with great game-day experiences and winning records — both on the field and in the classroom,” he said.

Attendance rebound

The university expects attendance to rebound this year for several reasons.

For starters, five of the six home games will be played on Saturdays and include a Sept. 12 game with the University of Pittsburgh. Last year, the Zips played three of their home games on Tuesdays, thanks to the Mid-American Conference’s television deal with ESPN.

“It’s a great way for us to showcase our football program, but our fans don’t like the weekday games,” UA Senior Associate Athletics Director George Van Horne said.

Steve Pederson. He is magical in his ability to count empty seats as living humans.
Facts be damned.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Do they really have games on a Tuesday or where you exaggerating? I didn't even know Tuesday games existed..

That's what the article said.

 

[Pantherman43]

That's what the article said.

Without looking at who plays who and when this year I know that in the past few years most of the MAC teams play Tues/Wed night games later in the year on the ESPN networks. Usually late Oct-Nov. I usually watch when I can since the end of the college season is near.

 

[canepain]

Think they had {2} Tuesday night games @ home (1) on da road and like a Thursday or Friday night home game yuk. Now that's worse than a PITT NOONER !!