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College Football Attendance: Home Crowds Drop To Lowest In 14 Years, LINK!

CaptainSidneyReilly

Chancellor
Dec 25, 2006
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2,630
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Once again, as stated in another Link below Pitt has and always will have less Fans coming to Games even if it sold out their Stadium every game.

Yet, Pitt's Football Program has produced superior and more NFL Award Winning Players and has right now more in the ESPN 2015 Top Talent 100 Players than WVU and Penn State. Now Penn State has produced more NFL Players but not on the same level as Pitt that is closer USC, ND, Miami, Michigan, and OSU than WVU or PSU!

This is because those Recruits that chose Pitt actually were able to start and learn the game of Football to become NFL Stars, 3 Players Of The Years, More Pro Bowls, and NCAA Record Setters and the NFL even though they played before less fans at the Stadiums????

This is the future of College Football as Professionalism continues to over take Amateurship Rules continue to be removed and out of date as the prospect to make $500,000 in one year? This includes just making a practice squad if a player can make a Team that makes the Playoffs, and of course millions more as a starter in the NFL and even more if becoming Rookie, Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, and Pro Bowls.

This will only continue the Trend whereby Pitt Recruits have done just as well and better in the NFL than Penn State and WVU by playing and starting earlier then sitting a bench before 70,000-100,000 Fans?

The point is Pitt has had 5 Coaches in in 7 years, off campus stadium and practice facilities, an Athletic Director that made more as he isolated contributors, lost Commitments on 5 Recruiting Classes and Pitt recruits turned into great players in the NFL anyhow?

It is no longer the smarter and most talented players stays in schools and graduates when he can leave early and learn far more being a younger player in the NFL.

Jesse James of Penn State could have stayed at Penn State and play before 100,000 Fans but was smart enough to know earning over $500,000 a year is more important these days?

The trend is clear and here....Recruits that can play early and often and learn the game are smarter these days, than the ones falling for aspects of a college that can actually lessen then opportunity to play, and learning to block, catch, and run sooner in the College Game, is always more important and makes any Recruit and Player more valuable to the NFL, himself and family than playing for 100,000 fans drunk in the stands?

Players, Owners and TV Sports Entertainment already know Attendance is becoming less important and bigger Stadiums won't make a recruit or player better?

The Players at TCU, BAYLOR, UCLA, and PITT all play before 40,000 to 50,000 Fans on average and far more 50,000 Stadiums are being built than 100,000 and that is because the trend is not towards bigger attendance but playing and leaving college for the NFL As Soon As Possible!

The Link Below Is The Future Trend! Sorry, WVU & Penn State Fans but not one of you whether being at 56,000, 96,000 and 101,000 have produced players in the NFL these past 15 years as Pitt!

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ndance-home-crowds-drop-to-lowest-in-14-years


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LINK & ARTICLE & (Highlights):

Ohio State 106,296 +1%
Michigan 104,909 -6%

Penn State 101,623 +5%

Notre Dame 80,795 0%
Wisconsin 79,520 +1%
Michigan St. 74,681 +3%
Iowa 67,512 +1%
West Virginia 56,686 +7%
Arizona 50,710 +6%
Pittsburgh 41,315 -17%
Northwestern 38,613 -2%


College football attendance: Home crowds drop to lowest in 14 years:

Major college football home attendance in 2014 dipped to its lowest average in 14 years as many schools continue to struggle to fill seats.

Football Bowl Subdivision crowds for home games averaged 43,483 fans per game, down 4 percent from 2013 and the lowest since 42,631 in 2000, according to a CBSSports.com analysis of NCAA attendance data. This marked the sixth straight season crowds were below 46,000 since they peaked at 46,456 in 2008.

FBS Attendance Figures

GO TO LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ndance-home-crowds-drop-to-lowest-in-14-years


College football's fight to keep next generation of fans

The data counts only home games and not neutral-site venues. Figures represent the announced crowd totals schools reported to the NCAA and not necessarily actual attendance.

This was the first year the NCAA counted attendance from six new FBS schools: Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Charlotte, Appalachian State, Georgia State and Texas San Antonio. But even when removing those teams from the calculation, the average for returning FBS schools (44,544) would be the lowest since 2002.

The good news: 72 percent of the top 25 attendance leaders experienced increases or remained the same (all of the top 25 were from Power Five conferences or Notre Dame). The bad news: Only 48 percent of the remaining Power Five schools maintained or increased their crowd average, and many schools in smaller conferences continued to decline.

Ohio State, which averaged 106,296 fans, ended Michigan's 16-year run atop the attendance leaders. Michigan dropped to third at 104,909 behind No. 2 Texas A&M (105,123).

The biggest increases among Power Five schools:
Texas A&M (21 percent),
Maryland (14 percent),
LSU (11 percent),
Mississippi State (10 percent),
Rutgers (9 percent),
Florida State (9 percent)
UCLA (nine percent). Texas A&M, LSU and Mississippi State expanded their stadiums this season. Maryland and Rutgers were new Big Ten members.

The biggest decreases in the Power Five:
Purdue (28 percent), (Bad Season)
Pittsburgh (17 percent), (Year After ACC 1st Year)
Virginia (15 percent), (No Bowl)
Kansas (10 percent), (Bad Season)
Arizona State (9 percent) (Graham Good Season Less Fans?)
Oklahoma State (8 percent).

Three powerhouse programs continue to see declines as they've struggled to win.

Texas dropped to 94,103 per game, down 8 percent since the Longhorns' record-breaking crowds in 2009 when they played for the national championship.

Florida dropped out of the top 10 attendance leaders with 85,834 per game. That's the fourth straight year the Gators were under 90,000 after consistently being above that benchmark.

Michigan is down 7 percent in only two years after peaking at 112,252 in 2012.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, which recently became the first major program to drop football in 19 years, had the second-largest FBS increase in 2014. The Blazers averaged 21,841 fans per game, better than 36 other FBS programs and up 107 percent from last year.

Conference breakdown

SEC: Once again it led the country in attendance, averaging a record 78,018 fans. Aided by expanded stadiums and Tennessee's fan resurgence, the SEC was up 3 percent. Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt were the only SEC teams with a decrease.

Big Ten: Average attendance was 66,939, down from 70,431 last year. That's largely because of introducing Maryland and Rutgers attendance figures -- which are below most Big Ten schools -- into the conference average. Nine of the 14 Big Ten schools improved their crowds.

Big 12: There was a slight dip (1 percent) to 57,624 fans per game. Six of 10 Big 12 schools increased crowds. For the second straight year, the Big 12 had its smallest average since 2005.

Pac 12: Crowds dropped 2 percent to 52,758 and they are down 10 percent since peaking in 2007. Pac-12 attendance leader UCLA ranked 19th nationally. Only four of 12 conference schools had an increase: UCLA, Arizona, Utah and Washington State. A couple of schools' decreases were very minor.

ACC: This league again was last among Power Five schools at 50,016, although its average was up 1 percent in the first year Notre Dame played a condensed schedule against the ACC. Fresh off a national championship, Florida State saw its crowds increase by 9 percent. Half of the ACC's teams had their attendance rise.

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I feel this has a lot to do with the quality of TV broadcasts, plus the amount of games that are televised. A lot of fans like the ability to watch a Pitt game, then turn to Ohio State, West Virginia, SEC game of the week, Penn State, etc. The same can be said for a lot of fans of other teams.
 
I agree, one can see so much more on TV and avoid weather and traffic problems and far less costs. When it was just Radio and TV and Publishing you had a hold on Fans, Attention, and Dollars.

I was talking to an Entertainment Lawyer he told me one of the biggest money makers is almost gone as Porn Publications goes bankrupt, DVDs, CDs are only purchased by 50+ Age Groups since Young People use Streaming and Products that be used anywhere, just as the Lair changed to adapt to more of these devices too.

Casino's are seeing many young people but none care for Slots Machines so they are adapting to Gaming with Video Games for their future market base?

College and Pros will continue to go Corporate Sponsorship but the real money is in High Tech Innovations on watching any game anywhere and at anytime.

College Courses online are ending commuting and the future on campus housing and classes. It will take a number of years but innovations, events, and entertainment are moving at a geometric rate of change. As this Generation of RV Campers starts to die out so will attendance importance and wait until virtual reality put you right in the stands and game?

Dinosaurs on the decline but sports entertainment is still growing because they are like TV Shows no one knows the outcome until it is over?

The real growth in revenues is no longer attendance and bigger stadiums at bigger costs to build and maintain those thinking attendance will keep attracting recruits over playing in the NFL at a higher level and sooner are lost in times are chang


Article:
Outlook for the sports market in North America through 2018..................."Within this environment, the gate revenue (CAGR 2.6%) and merchandise (CAGR 1.4%) segments continue to show respective signs of relative maturity, each with mitigating factors to future growth and the need for further innovation, while the segments of media rights (CAGR of 9.1%) and sponsorship (CAGR 4.8%) continue to realize the increased valuation of sports content by media companies and brand marketers through new inventory and the runoff of prior generation deals."
LINK:
http://www.pwc.com/us/en/industry/e...blications/sports-outlook-north-america.jhtml

Another Article:
Empty Seats Now, Fewer Donors Later?
https://www.insidehighered.com/news...ure-football-fans-student-attendance-declines

Game day. For many college alumni, the phrase alone is enough to conjure autumnal memories of watching football while surrounded by cheering student sections, marching bands, and brisk fall air.

But an increasing number of students, researchers say, now see the experience a little differently. For them, attending a football game more likely means sitting outdoors for hours in chilly weather, with little or no access to cell phone reception and alcohol. Once the tailgate party has ended, why not just cheer on the home team from a bar down the street? There are probably some cheap game-day specials, and there may even be free wifi.

Student attendance at major college football games is declining across the country. By how much varies greatly at each institution, but a recent Wall Street Journal analysis of turnstile data at 50 public colleges with top football programs found that average student attendance is down more than 7 percent since 2009.
 
I feel this has a lot to do with the quality of TV broadcasts, plus the amount of games that are televised. A lot of fans like the ability to watch a Pitt game, then turn to Ohio State, West Virginia, SEC game of the week, Penn State, etc. The same can be said for a lot of fans of other teams.



Dion Lewis nailed it......

I have a 60 inch plasma.......far more enjoyable than watching a 6-6 Pitt team play some jabronis from the middle of nowhere.
 
Yeah definitely, the quality of televisions have a lot to do with it. Quality of schedules also.

Here's another thought.....the continued erosion of traditional and geographical rivalries. Don't discount this. As these conferences go for these money grabs, when you have Texas/Texas A&M, Nebraska/Oklahoma or Nebraska/Colorado, WVU/Pitt, WVU/VT, Pitt/PSU, PSU/WVU, Michigan/ND, Missouri/Kansas, etc...not playing each other......that is not good folks. Not good at all.
 
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I feel this has a lot to do with the quality of TV broadcasts, plus the amount of games that are televised. A lot of fans like the ability to watch a Pitt game, then turn to Ohio State, West Virginia, SEC game of the week, Penn State, etc. The same can be said for a lot of fans of other teams.

The difference then and now is the increased number of schools. These schools bring the average attendance down. Schools like Georgia St have brought down the attendance. It is up among the power 5 schools. Total attendance is up 3,789,295 from 2001 and average attendance is up 4,395 per game.

2001
Institution Accum Attendance Games Avg Attendance
Alabama 576,183 7 82,312
Arizona 266,299 6 44,383
Arizona St. 344,997 7 49,285
Arkansas 424,934 7 60,705
Auburn 512,691 6 85,449
Baylor 214,206 7 30,601
Boston College 254,885 6 42,481
California 200,655 6 33,443
Clemson 473,300 6 78,883
Colorado 284,848 6 47,475
Duke 110,578 5 22,116
Florida 512,590 6 85,432
Florida St. 488,645 6 81,441
Georgia 519,120 6 86,520
Georgia Tech 250,111 6 41,685
Illinois 329,694 6 54,949
Indiana 195,631 6 32,605
Iowa 387,987 6 64,665
Iowa St. 271,034 6 45,172
Kansas 276,450 7 39,493
Kansas St. 291,245 6 48,541
Kentucky 380,881 6 63,480
Louisville 226,094 6 37,682
LSU 633,439 7 90,491
Maryland 304,948 7 43,564
Miami (Fla.) 282,970 6 47,162
Michigan 659,447 6 109,908
Michigan St. 442,292 6 73,715
Minnesota 260,912 6 43,485
Mississippi 274,439 6 45,740
Mississippi St. 296,456 7 42,351
Missouri 315,337 6 52,556
Nebraska 620,436 8 77,555
North Carolina 315,500 6 52,583
North Carolina St. 295,525 6 49,254
Northwestern 173,715 5 34,743
Notre Dame 484,770 6 80,795
Ohio St. 621,192 6 103,532
Oklahoma 527,687 7 75,384
Oklahoma St. 242,157 6 40,360
Oregon 275,556 6 45,926
Oregon St. 182,062 5 36,412
Penn St. 645,457 6 107,576
Pittsburgh 293,492 6 48,915
Purdue 375,506 6 62,584
Rutgers 143,184 7 20,455
South Carolina 578,295 7 82,614
Southern California 346,460 6 57,743
Stanford 309,205 6 51,534
Syracuse 246,619 6 41,103
TCU 110,887 4 27,722
Tennessee 641,059 6 106,843
Texas 415,310 5 83,062
Texas A&M 496,268 6 82,711
Texas Tech 277,610 6 46,268
UCLA 323,067 5 64,613
Utah 172,288 5 34,458
Vanderbilt 203,940 6 33,990
Virginia 393,979 7 56,283
Virginia Tech 321,972 6 53,662
Wake Forest 138,553 6 23,092
Washington 434,811 6 72,469
Washington St. 138,754 5 27,751
West Virginia 289,936 6 48,323
Wisconsin 548,334 7 78,333
Total: 22,846,884 396 57,694
2014 26,636,179 429 62,089
Difference: 3,789,295 4,395

2014
Institution Accum Attendance Games Avg Attendance
Alabama 710,736 7 101,534
Arizona 354,973 7 50,710
Arizona St. 343,073 6 57,179
Arkansas 399,124 6 66,521
Auburn 612,157 7 87,451
Baylor 280,257 6 46,710
Boston College 239,893 7 34,270
California 286,051 6 47,675
Clemson 572,262 7 81,752
Colorado 226,670 6 37,778
Duke 191,039 7 27,291
Florida 515,001 6 85,834
Florida St. 575,478 7 82,211
Georgia 649,222 7 92,746
Georgia Tech 291,113 6 48,519
Illinois 290,842 7 41,549
Indiana 249,941 6 41,657
Iowa 472,584 7 67,512
Iowa St. 365,377 7 52,197
Kansas 204,462 6 34,077
Kansas St. 371,565 7 53,081
Kentucky 403,002 7 57,572
Louisville 317,829 6 52,972
LSU 712,063 7 101,723
Maryland 281,884 6 46,981
Miami (FL) 367,623 7 52,518
Michigan 734,364 7 104,909
Michigan St. 522,765 7 74,681
Minnesota 335,056 7 47,865
Mississippi St. 427,892 7 61,127
Missouri 456,996 7 65,285
Nebraska 638,744 7 91,249
North Carolina 328,000 6 54,667
North Carolina St. 380,785 7 54,398
Northwestern 270,292 7 38,613
Notre Dame 484,770 6 80,795
Ohio St. 744,075 7 106,296
Oklahoma 510,972 6 85,162
Oklahoma St. 326,324 6 54,387
Ole Miss 430,829 7 61,547
Oregon 401,952 7 57,422
Oregon St. 295,230 7 42,176
Penn St. 711,358 7 101,623
Pittsburgh 289,204 7 41,315
Purdue 246,880 7 35,269
Rutgers 303,791 6 50,632
South Carolina 569,664 7 81,381
Southern California 439,630 6 73,272
Stanford 287,174 6 47,862
Syracuse 242,682 6 40,447
TCU 313,036 7 44,719
Tennessee 698,276 7 99,754
Texas 564,618 6 94,103
Texas A&M 630,735 6 105,123
Texas Tech 353,603 6 58,934
UCLA 459,901 6 76,650
Utah 278,619 6 46,437
Vanderbilt 274,063 8 34,258
Virginia 275,243 7 39,320
Virginia Tech 428,099 7 61,157
Wake Forest 163,260 6 27,210
Washington 451,555 7 64,508
Washington St. 184,762 6 30,794
West Virginia 340,117 6 56,686
Wisconsin 556,642 7 79,520
26,636,179 429 62,089
 
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2001
Institution
Accum Attendance Games Avg Attendance
Penn St. 645,457 6 107,576
Pittsburgh 293,492 6 48,915
West Virginia 289,936 6 48,323

Total: 22,846,884 396 57,694
2014 26,636,179 429 62,089
Difference: 3,789,295 4,395


2014
Institution Accum Attendance Games Avg Attendance
Penn St. 711,358 7 101,623
Pittsburgh 289,204 7 41,315
West Virginia 340,117 6 56,686

26,636,179 429 62,089

Thank you PSUNUT I was going to do the NCAA Stats on all three schools for the last 5 years, to get a picture how the ACC, Big-12, and PSU were doing. It is good to look at real numbers like you posted up and even though the Steelers sold out but had no shows in the Playoffs?

Thanks!

http://www.ncaa.org/championships/statistics/ncaa-football-attendance
 
Once again, as stated in another Link below Pitt has and always will have less Fans coming to Games even if it sold out their Stadium every game.

Yet, Pitt's Football Program has produced superior and more NFL Award Winning Players and has right now more in the ESPN 2015 Top Talent 100 Players than WVU and Penn State. Now Penn State has produced more NFL Players but not on the same level as Pitt that is closer USC, ND, Miami, Michigan, and OSU than WVU or PSU!

This is because those Recruits that chose Pitt actually were able to start and learn the game of Football to become NFL Stars, 3 Players Of The Years, More Pro Bowls, and NCAA Record Setters and the NFL even though they played before less fans at the Stadiums????

This is the future of College Football as Professionalism continues to over take Amateurship Rules continue to be removed and out of date as the prospect to make $500,000 in one year? This includes just making a practice squad if a player can make a Team that makes the Playoffs, and of course millions more as a starter in the NFL and even more if becoming Rookie, Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, and Pro Bowls.

This will only continue the Trend whereby Pitt Recruits have done just as well and better in the NFL than Penn State and WVU by playing and starting earlier then sitting a bench before 70,000-100,000 Fans?

The point is Pitt has had 5 Coaches in in 7 years, off campus stadium and practice facilities, an Athletic Director that made more as he isolated contributors, lost Commitments on 5 Recruiting Classes and Pitt recruits turned into great players in the NFL anyhow?

It is no longer the smarter and most talented players stays in schools and graduates when he can leave early and learn far more being a younger player in the NFL.

Jesse James of Penn State could have stayed at Penn State and play before 100,000 Fans but was smart enough to know earning over $500,000 a year is more important these days?

The trend is clear and here....Recruits that can play early and often and learn the game are smarter these days, than the ones falling for aspects of a college that can actually lessen then opportunity to play, and learning to block, catch, and run sooner in the College Game, is always more important and makes any Recruit and Player more valuable to the NFL, himself and family than playing for 100,000 fans drunk in the stands?

Players, Owners and TV Sports Entertainment already know Attendance is becoming less important and bigger Stadiums won't make a recruit or player better?

The Players at TCU, BAYLOR, UCLA, and PITT all play before 40,000 to 50,000 Fans on average and far more 50,000 Stadiums are being built than 100,000 and that is because the trend is not towards bigger attendance but playing and leaving college for the NFL As Soon As Possible!

The Link Below Is The Future Trend! Sorry, WVU & Penn State Fans but not one of you whether being at 56,000, 96,000 and 101,000 have produced players in the NFL these past 15 years as Pitt!

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ndance-home-crowds-drop-to-lowest-in-14-years


images
Michigan Stadium has been under renovation. That is complete and they will likely overtake OSU.

OSU added 3,000 seats last year. The loss to VT hurt their attendance.

The secondary ticket sites like Stub Hub have added an option for ticket buyers and sellers. Add TV out of the butt and it is easier than ever not to go to games.

We stunk last year for the most part and win our last two reg season games.

Our attendance will be around 50k this year, 55 in 2016.

But those stats don't lie...WVU is 10% shy of sellouts and only ND sells out every game.
 
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