Attendance

[Sean Miller Fan]

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

 

[JoeScaz]

I

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

It is the dynamic of the 3-pack this year. There are unsold tickets because of that maneuver. NOT a good thing to consistently get people to Heinz. Huge areas of unsold seats on the East Upper sideline and Endzone upper because people buy 3 instead of 6....This was a bad game in that mix, because of the holidays, etc. The "casual fan" will opt for 3, and not 6.. or ONE as single-tickets went on sale in advance for the ND game.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

We'll never know the exact numbers but I really doubt Pitt sold many 3 game packs.

 

[dooz3]

We'll never know the exact numbers but I really doubt Pitt sold many 3 game packs.

Cheap SOBs esp SMF have no right to say anything because it is the SOBs like you fraud who are the problem.

 

[Saboteur]

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

Beg to differ on some of your observations. One glorious season does not a fan base make and neither does one good season. It takes years to build a fanbase and over the years (as you point out) we have crapped the bed.
Majors II was one culprit but do not discount the recent circus presided over and caused to a large extent by Steve. I love Pitt but I could not stand the guy and was convinced that Pitt could care less as long as he was on the job. Lots of people had that point of view and I too grew disinterested. The public humiliation brought on by that coaching fiasco can never be undone....only time will heal that wound.
We also had the legacy of Steve in that when college football was in full swing, we had the grand total of two games after 8 weeks of the season was complete. Now I know Steve did not force the ACC to schedule as it did, but he was responsible for Akron away and our AD has outlawed that type of contract for the future.
In short, just about everything that could be done to ruin a program occurred at Pitt.
Candidly, that we have a strong fan base of 35-40 thoussand is a friggen' miracle.

 

[Teh Teh]

One glorious season does do the trick. Someone posted attendence numbers last week and it was clear after big year we had big numbers and after poor years we had poor numbers. The is pittsburgh home of the fair weather fan

 

[Saboteur]

One glorious season does do the trick. Someone posted attendence numbers last week and it was clear after big year we had big numbers and after poor years we had poor numbers. The is pittsburgh home of the fair weather fan

I mean a fan base that endures, not the fair weather fan (is that redundant?) of whom you correctly write.

 

[Pittnerski]

45k is fine for a game especially in the city. My problem is how many of these 45k are making noise and trying to make a positive impact on the game and recruits? Seems most people sit on their hands the whole game, don't stand on 3rd down or important plays, and wait for somethings bad to happen. Essentially most make it an anti-college atmosphere. The stadium was rocking that first half vs Louisville and I hope that continues going forward.

 

[CentPaPittFan]

I sit in 136.........fans far more willing to stand this year on big plays and 3rd downs. I'd love to see it on 2nd and long, or even right away on 1st down when you have a team pined and momentum swings. Heck I'd stand the whole game like you see at a lot of SEC schools and many others for much of the game.

That being said in the past people COMPLAINED TO THE USHER when we stood on 3rd down...he pretty much ignored it and never said anything to us, but that is part of the problem, this is not an opera or a stage show, get up and cheer!

The ushers should be more worried about idiots standing in the back aisle blocking people.
Don't get me started on the stupid fences outside the gate by the river. Total nonsense and stupidity.

 

[mdpitt]

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

Add beer and mixed drinks on every level. I bet you see a 10% bump up.

 

[ratking17]

Part of the problem is we still lost 2 games at home this year. We need to make coming to heinz not only enjoyable, but for the casual fan, if it is not a name brand opponent, we need to pile up wins.

 

[cbpitt2]

Part of the problem is we still lost 2 games at home this year. We need to make coming to heinz not only enjoyable, but for the casual fan, if it is not a name brand opponent, we need to pile up wins.

I agree with this. The two best teams we played at Heinz Field, the two games on national TV, we laid an egg. That's why we're not in the top 25.

 

[Delpanther]

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

Why don't u give the attendance issue a rest, Go read a book for about a month. Over and over .....

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

we had the grand total of two games after 8 weeks of the season was complete. Now I know Steve did not force the ACC to schedule as it did, but he was responsible for Akron away and our AD has outlawed that type of contract for the future.

So if we would have had three home games in that stretch instead of two, say the Akron game was a home game instead of an away game, it would have made some sort of significant difference? No offense, but no way. Not even close.

 

[pbrad]

I don't know what the problem is, but my group will be there tomorrow. You can buy Steeler tickets at face value or less if you wait and if they had lost to Manziel the Indy game tickets would be about $10. Who knows, the excuses are many.

 

[BurghGuy68]

Someone in the Pitt Panthers Fanatics Facebook group posted that he sits in the upper section and was sent an email by Pitt that the ushers will move him down from the upper section to the lower sections as spots are available...are we tarping upper sections tomorrow?

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Several credible seasons like this one will help, but not enough for Heinz. They're doing alot trying to increase demand.
I'd try re -configuring the stadium for Pitt games lowering the ticket supply.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Pitt will average 50K+ easy next season. Goodwill from this season will spillover into increased season ticket sales. And, Penn State being home early helps too.

But, yeah, reconfiguring the seating and employing some tarps is key. Again, the end zone bleacher seats need srctioned/tarped. That would drop capacity to about 58K. Much more reasonable.

 

[Burgh15]

The stadium was rocking that first half vs Louisville and I hope that continues going forward.

I agree. It was a small crowd, but everyone was into the game. The third quarter and the colder temperatures killed the momentum, but I loved the energy early on and want to see that every week, every quarter.

 

[docden]

Pitt will average 50K+ easy next season. Goodwill from this season will spillover into increased season ticket sales. And, Penn State being home early helps too.

But, yeah, reconfiguring the seating and employing some tarps is key. Again, the end zone bleacher seats need srctioned/tarped. That would drop capacity to about 58K. Much more reasonable.

I don't see attendance increasing next year, simply because I think the team will struggle next year, unfortunately.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Someone in the Pitt Panthers Fanatics Facebook group posted that he sits in the upper section and was sent an email by Pitt that the ushers will move him down from the upper section to the lower sections as spots are available...are we tarping upper sections tomorrow?

Unless he got a different email than I got, that isn't what it said. What it said was that since there will be few students at the game because of the break that if you want to sit in the student sections you could print out the email that they sent and show it to the usher in those sections along with your ticket and they would let you sit there. They aren't tarping anything, and they aren't requiring people to move down at all. They have done the same thing occasionally at the basketball games when the students aren't around, they allow people with tickets in the upper level to move down to the student seats. It has never be a requirement that people had to move, only that they could move if they so chose.

As for me, I really doubt we will take advantage of the offer. Our seats in the front row of the upper deck close to the 50 yard line are much better seats for actually watching a football game than any of the student seats are.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I don't see attendance increasing next year, simply because I think the team will struggle next year, unfortunately.

I'm not sure why you would expect the team to struggle next year, but Pitt will sell many more season tickets next year because of the Penn State game. That alone will almost guarantee that overall ticket sales are higher, because season tickets make up the huge majority of Pitt tickets sold. And that makes it very likely that actual attendance will be higher too.

 

[littlemoe]

You need to out butts in a seat for attendance, not tickets sold. This would immediately show the real attendance and the powers to be could come up with real promotions.
Another problem is the football rep of the ACC. It is not good. Just 4 ocr 5 teams have a true fb rep.

 

[GT74]

Chris was talking attendance on his podcast and raised the interesting point that if you take away the ND game, Pitt's attendance has gone down every game this season as we've won more games. I expect that trend to continue against Miami. Its still a workday for some people and there is the built-in excuse of family plans, shopping, etc.

Chris was perplexed as to why the fans havent been responding to this team butt not me. And here's why:

Its just us! Aint nobody else.

Pitt never had a big fanbase but Majors II killed whatever base we had. We slowly, very slowly built the base back up under Walt to reach the crescendo of Larry's soph year and while falling off after that, there was still a pretty good fanbase up until the Wanny Miami Thursday night beatdown. I think that coupled with Mardy Gilyard the year before made a lot of people just give up. They realized it was never going to happen for us. Haywood/Graham/Chryst confirmed their beliefs. They're not coming back. They like Narduzzi but while we are ready to interview contractors for the statue, they've seen this before and arent being fooled again.

Its my opinion that Pitt lost a good portion of its more casual fanbase FOR GOOD and 9-3 or 10-2 isnt going to win them back. It may take a playoff bid to get these folks back. This is a pro town with lots of competition. People just aren't going to make special plans for Pitt/Miami.

I keep hearing "just win and they'll come" but I think its more like "just win every single game it'll just be us"

I think you're going to see crowds 40-45K pretty much forever unless we become Clemson.

Disagree on some points. Firstly, you can't solicit attendance. I don't believe discount pricing or over-advertising will affect attendance much. Pitt has a base attendance right now, with many older loyal fans and some newer ones who are alumni or locals. Pitt doesn't get many last-minute walk-ups. The big difference, I believe, will be with the younger people, who are won over by the success and attention the team is getting. Some of this will be created by the 'local heroes' that matriculate and are well-known by the younger crowd from HS on down. These will be the 'next generation' of fans that will be there for awhile. Pitt just hasn't won over many younger people in recent years that want to go to the games. If Pitt continues to win and draw attention, the 'new' fans will be loyal and that will help a new 'base' group. With time, the attendance will snowball due to success and a newer generation of fans. It still will be tough selling out (except for the big games), because of the competition of the pro teams. Pro cities have a definite disadvantage, but Pitt can still make the best of it. This year was a good start with the results, and attention the team is getting. Let's hope it continues.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

You need to out butts in a seat for attendance, not tickets sold. This would immediately show the real attendance and the powers to be could come up with real promotions.
Another problem is the football rep of the ACC. It is not good. Just 4 ocr 5 teams have a true fb rep.

Pitt doesn't do either of those. However the notion that the powers that be can't come up with real promotions because they don't know how many people are actually there is silly. The powers that be know exactly how many tickets are sold, exactly how many tickets they gave away for free, exactly how many people are actually there, and not only that but they know exactly which of all of those tickets get used. That's one of the advantages of scanning tickets at the gate. When the game is over Pitt knows exactly who used their tickets to the game and who didn't. On numerous occasions in the past I have gotten emails after a football or basketball game thanking me for attending. Because my ticket got scanned at the gate, so they know I was there.

By the way, how many Big 12 teams have true football reps? Oklahoma and Texas, sure. And then.... Well, none of them. The best "other" teams are all Johnny come lately types. TCU. Baylor. Oklahoma State. None of those schools have any sort of real, long term football reps.

 

[PantherRJ]

I love analysis that begins with "if you take away...". That tells me the analysis is crap. Why should the Notre Dame game be disregarded? Most teams have games that are higher interest/attendance, such as rivalry games.
Fact is, the Notre Dame game had higher attendance because there are a lot more Notre Dame fans there than visiting fans for other games. The fact also is that Youngstown State is very nearby, so they were able to bring a lot of fans at that first game. More distant programs bring fewer fans. In the latter part of the schedule, the students being on break hurt attendance as the students were effectively beginning their break last game and the same will be true for Miami.

 

[OriginalEther]

When trying to figure out what a program is capable of attendance wise, fans of the other team shouldn't count. Why do folks here think that 10-15+ thousand people cheering for the opponent is a good thing?

 

[OriginalEther]

As for smfs question, while I still thinking winning will help, I think the consistent ceiling for this program is about 55,000.

I think back to a post I saw elsewhere years ago that looked at the 2006 Rutgers game. In that game there:
......no Steve Pederson
......a then popular head coach
.......homecoming
.......top 15 opponent
.......Pitt was 6-1
.......the late Ironhead heyward was honored
........game was at night

This was a big game. How many showed up? About 51,000 with most of them late.

 

[WNYPanther]

I'm not sure why you would expect the team to struggle next year, but Pitt will sell many more season tickets next year because of the Penn State game. That alone will almost guarantee that overall ticket sales are higher, because season tickets make up the huge majority of Pitt tickets sold. And that makes it very likely that actual attendance will be higher too.

I wonder how many of those new season tickets will be purchased by Nitters who will then try to sell the other 6 games but since there is no secondary market demand for Pitt tickets they will likely go unused.

 

[ratking17]

There has been a group of 4 in 110 that has shown up to every pitt game this year wearing psu gear. They probably are supporting pitt this year and next.

 

[rpost3]

Many of the previous administrations killed the fanbase by deciding winning wasn't important. It's gonna take a lot more than one year of wins, correct logos, and new admins who actually value customers to make up for a generation of lost fans. Not to mention the generations of previously lost fans courtesy of Chancellor Bowman and the Pitt fans those lost fans would've produced. This program is lucky it has the few hardcore fans it does have.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I wonder how many of those new season tickets will be purchased by Nitters who will then try to sell the other 6 games but since there is no secondary market demand for Pitt tickets they will likely go unused.

A few, but not many. Will it really be cost effective to buy a season ticket in order to go to one game and then attempt to sell all the rest on the secondary market as opposed to just buying Pitt - Penn State tickets on the secondary market in the first place? If so, that tells you that the price of our season tickets needs to be raised. By a pretty significant amount.

 

[WNYPanther]

A few, but not many. Will it really be cost effective to buy a season ticket in order to go to one game and then attempt to sell all the rest on the secondary market as opposed to just buying Pitt - Penn State tickets on the secondary market in the first place? If so, that tells you that the price of our season tickets needs to be raised. By a pretty significant amount.

Considering that we received an email months ago saying that we have the opportunity to request extra seats for the PSU game I'm guessing there isn't going to be a lot available when Pitt puts single game tickets on sale. Ive also heard that the demand for the tickets Pitt gives them already far exceeds the number of tickets PSU is going to have and they may end up taking names and offering their allotment via lottery. The only guaranteed way a Nitter might be able to get their hands on tickets is to buy seasons in the Spring.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I'm guessing there isn't going to be a lot available when Pitt puts single game tickets on sale.

I'm guessing that there won't be ANY single game sales. Which doesn't have anything to do with my point.

Again, if it's a better deal for someone to buy a season ticket just to go to one game and then try to sell the rest of the tickets on the secondary market as opposed to just buying a Penn State ticket on the secondary market then that will mean that our season tickets are seriously underpriced.

 

[DruidTM]

Burghers need an attitude adjustment on college football.... What's this crap about not knowing/respecting/understanding that every conference opponent counts? Worse what's this ignorant attitude regarding perceived "strength" of the ACC?.... What is the Big 10? 3-4 tough teams and a whole lotta filler...that's what...

You support your team...it shouldn't be about the opponent...it's a weak misguided way of looking at things that simply makes no sense

 

[Pittx9]

Burghers need an attitude adjustment on college football.... What's this crap about not knowing/respecting/understanding that every conference opponent counts? Worse what's this ignorant attitude regarding perceived "strength" of the ACC?.... What is the Big 10? 3-4 tough teams and a whole lotta filler...that's what...

You support your team...it shouldn't be about the opponent...it's a weak misguided way of looking at things that simply makes no sense

Totally agree. The filler teams in the Big Ten though, I'd say you're being quite generous. 3 or 4 tough teams, maybe some average ones in there, but the bottom 4 or 5 teams are just plain awful.