PSU now selling every other row in some sections

[Joe Pa Thetic]

So much for the "107,000 strong" BS. This is going to just crush the Nitters whose self-esteem is attached to the attendance at a football game.

http://bwi.forums.rivals.com/thread...would-have-never-seen-before-step-file.38460/

The linked thread is extremely revealing What was admitted in the linked thread:

* "I think everyone knows that there are huge 'swaths' of unsold season tickets nowadays."

* "They have been largely unsold for years (filling up only for the occasional games against OSU/Michigan/Alabama etc)."

* ."The thought - clearly - is that the stadium will look fuller with every other row sold, than by having a section '1/2 sold, 1/2 empty'. That is the "advantage" of bench seating....even if an area is 70% sold...it will look full once people spread out a bit."

* "Ever since STEP, no matter where my ticket is - I go over to the ED-EE-EF area and sit up high. For all but the 2 or 3 games in recent years that have been true sell outs, I can always find a nice open spot to be able to sit, stretch out, and be comfortable."

* "Buffalo not selling well - not at all....the "smoke and mirrors" is definitely in play for that one

Thus far Rutgers seems to be selling reasonably well.....won't be anything close to a sell out, but probably won't need to resort to the smoke and mirrors.

SDSU not doing well.....probably smoke and mirrors for that one - maybe will depend on how things go the next two weeks."

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

#78K

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Smoke and mirrors!

 

[geeman2001]

Post Gazette will be all over this.

 

[JHud986]

The post (no truth) gazette will cover it like a pimple on Obama's butt.
I just wonder what Donald Trump would call this lie!

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Post Gazette will be all over this.

I'd like to hear Mark Madden discuss this. I'm sure he'd have a few choice words to say.....

That's an interesting thread. Apparently there's a plan to give away a huge amount of tickets to servicemen/women for their Army game. Where are the tickets coming from? I thought that the place was sold out?

107,000 not-so-strong???

I hope that Pitt's recruiters point-out these lies.

 

[JHud986]

107 my a**!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pghfan]

it's not going to be discussed by Madden or the post-gazette because this board is the only place that considers this news worthy.

 

[ncyajleel]

It sounds to me that over the years, like everything else, they have practice lying and deceit in attendance too. I mean really, is that ALL they practice up there? How to deceive? How to cover things up? How to lie? Is THAT the grand experiment? They are now trying to find ways to make their stadium look full? This has to be one of the most pathetic things I have ever heard.

 

[geeman2001]

it's not going to be discussed by Madden or the post-gazette because this board is the only place that considers this news worthy.

It was irony. Of course it doesn't freakin' matter, for any P5 program, because conference revenue from TV, bowl money, merchandise, et al are what really matter. Attendance is gravy.

But in Pittsburgh, it's part of every Pitt reference. Especially if we happen to win. "Pitt hangs on in front of dismal crowd". And it's never mentioned for others, unless it's in context of a lie, as in, they always sell out and fill every seat. "Penn State rolls by 6 over Buffalo in front of 107Strong"

 

[Jeffburgh]

A couple of factors at play here.

This is primarily the result of their gouging their alumni and fans on football pricing, and they passed critical mass a year or two before Sandusky broke.

I know a LOT of people who pretty much built their budget around their football tickets, who reached a point around 09/10 that they started giving them up, because it was just too much cost, the tickets, the fees and the other expenses.

An aggravating factor was the quality of the schedule. The OSU/Michigan games have lost their new feel (particularly because they can't beat OSU). They had tried to get a home and away with a higher end school to help provide extra appeal, but the two game Bama turn was about the end of that.

When people look at the extraordinary costs, again, not just the tickets and fees, but the whole trip, to get one glamour big 10 game, one or two solid big 10 games, a couple of non descript big 10 games and a couple of complete cupcakes ...

For a program that hasn't won anything in a decade ...

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

many schools and also pro teams are worried about live attendance. If I have a new 80 inch HDTV, what is the motivation to leave home and deal with outrageous parking and concession prices ($5.50 for a fountain coke, $4 bottled water), potential bad weather, and drunk obnoxious fans.

The appeal of attending an event live is dwindling more and more. Maybe teams will start realizing this and not try to stick it to the fans at every turn.

 

[Pghfan]

It was irony. Of course it doesn't freakin' matter, for any P5 program, because conference revenue from TV, bowl money, merchandise, et al are what really matter. Attendance is gravy.

But in Pittsburgh, it's part of every Pitt reference. Especially if we happen to win. "Pitt hangs on in front of dismal crowd". And it's never mentioned for others, unless it's in context of a lie, as in, they always sell out and fill every seat. "Penn State rolls by 6 over Buffalo in front of 107Strong"

I think we are self conscious about the attendance, I really do. I don't think it's as big of a deal outside of pitt fans and this board as we make it internally. LIke many others have said millions of times, we just wont sell out every game, we have a fan base of about 30k die hards and some external factors could lead to 55k crowds but without some of those, we will get about 40k to an average game.. That's just life. Outside of the occasional troll from psu or wvu, it really isn't that big of a deal yet we pitt fans make it one..

 

[pittzap]

I think we are self conscious about the attendance, I really do. I don't think it's as big of a deal outside of pitt fans and this board as we make it internally. LIke many others have said millions of times, we just wont sell out every game, we have a fan base of about 30k die hards and some external factors could lead to 55k crowds but without some of those, we will get about 40k to an average game.. That's just life. Outside of the occasional troll from psu or wvu, it really isn't that big of a deal yet we pitt fans make it one..

"EVERY PSU fan I know (and the number is huge) brings up attendance and how they "sell out every game", which is incorrect. Those that know I'm a Pitt guy always mention that we have awful attendance. It is well outside this board and Pitt fans - "107,000 strong". Have you heard/seen that?

It is funny to see PSU advertise all over the place for available tickets (I have seen them advertise everywhere lately) because they are struggling to sell them. Despite "selling out every game".

 

[Jeffburgh]

many schools and also pro teams are worried about live attendance. If I have a new 80 inch HDTV, what is the motivation to leave home and deal with outrageous parking and concession prices ($5.50 for a fountain coke, $4 bottled water), potential bad weather, and drunk obnoxious fans.

The appeal of attending an event live is dwindling more and more. Maybe teams will start realizing this and not try to stick it to the fans at every turn.

YEP

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Has Pitt tried this scattered ticket sales?

 

[ratking17]

The army game is sold out because psu gave away free tickets to service men and women. I have always stated pitt should absolutely do the same thing for high school and youth teams.

 

[pittdan77]

The army game is sold out because psu gave away free tickets to service men and women. I have always stated pitt should absolutely do the same thing for high school and youth teams.

THIS!!!!!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I think we are self conscious about the attendance, I really do. I don't think it's as big of a deal outside of pitt fans and this board as we make it internally. LIke many others have said millions of times, we just wont sell out every game, we have a fan base of about 30k die hards and some external factors could lead to 55k crowds but without some of those, we will get about 40k to an average game.. That's just life. Outside of the occasional troll from psu or wvu, it really isn't that big of a deal yet we pitt fans make it one..

I think you are right. But no other college (or pro) team has every empty seat colored in by a hi-liter and magnified for all to see. Stupid effing Rooney yellow.

 

[Joe Pa Thetic]

The thing is, I have never seen any other fanbase brag so much about attendance -- and the 107,000 strong claim is just as big a lie as Paterno's "Grand Experiment." That thread on BWI is revealing in how it just nonchalantly mentioned things that are common knowledge to PSU fans about the thousands of unsold tickets and having to use "smoke and mirrors" to make the place look full.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Yep, all this around here was started by Joe and then by his brainwashed minions including the local media to mention attendance everywhere all the time. Wvu then jumped in with it too, but mostly was Joe's baby.

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

How long is the average trip time for an average UPS season ticket holder? 50 miles? 100 miles?

I always wondered how they justified packing their RVs, driving 2 hours, setting up shop etc. etc. for a crappy game. Its expensive to tailgate, its expensive to drive there, and the entertainment factor of the games can't possibly be real.

 

[geeman2001]

I think we are self conscious about the attendance, I really do. I don't think it's as big of a deal outside of pitt fans and this board as we make it internally. LIke many others have said millions of times, we just wont sell out every game, we have a fan base of about 30k die hards and some external factors could lead to 55k crowds but without some of those, we will get about 40k to an average game.. That's just life. Outside of the occasional troll from psu or wvu, it really isn't that big of a deal yet we pitt fans make it one..

It's definitely never a big deal for me. I realize the negativity if the house was like 90% empty. But anything like 40000 people, which is the norm for us even vs a generic opponent, is a solid crowd. It is a lot of people. It won't look as good in a place that seats nearly twice that, and that's just the way it is. Frankly, I appreciate a crowd like that at restroom, concession and departure times. So I never give it thought.

What is irritating about attendance is how it is magnified and used as a weapon by the local media against Pitt in its blatant bias to boost its favored program. I don't mind when criticism is valid, and Lord knows Pitt deserves much of it. But I despise hypocrisy and bias, and it exists in Pgh in hot steaming loads. But that's part of a bigger issue that really won't end until a core of certain individuals who drive media content die off. Of course, they'll likely be replaced with more of the same though. Pitt needs to start pumping out more journalists.

 

[pittdan77]

How long is the average trip time for an average UPS season ticket holder? 50 miles? 100 miles?

I always wondered how they justified packing their RVs, driving 2 hours, setting up shop etc. etc. for a crappy game. Its expensive to tailgate, its expensive to drive there, and the entertainment factor of the games can't possibly be real.

That's easy. There is a major segment of the fan base that shows up on Saturdays that can't tell you the name of the overweight kicker. They show up for the party. Where you park, who is next to you, what your party looks like, are all huge factors.

Also, it's actually common for people to show up, party, and never go into the game. I've been invited to several tailgates and have friends that go just for the party.

Funny story, a good friend was witness to a conversation between two Nits about the area that the cameras always show during the game. How people are too reserved and look too snobby. Worried that recruits will see that and think Penn State is "too good" for them.

Can't make that up...

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Ditto

THIS!!!!!

 

[PittMan 72]

I think we are self conscious about the attendance, I really do. I don't think it's as big of a deal outside of pitt fans and this board as we make it internally. LIke many others have said millions of times, we just wont sell out every game, we have a fan base of about 30k die hards and some external factors could lead to 55k crowds but without some of those, we will get about 40k to an average game.. That's just life. Outside of the occasional troll from psu or wvu, it really isn't that big of a deal yet we pitt fans make it one..

When you say "we" Pitt fans, be aware you are not speaking for me. Because in the case of discussion around the nit attendance issue, it's simply calling a lie, a lie. It has nothing to do with Pitt attendance or anyone else's attendance. The comments and discussions are in reference to PSU's claims that (which based on numerous published reports like the one linked, are bogus) they draw 107K to every game. The "107K Strong" b.s.

People talk about it here on a Pitt site because Pitt and the nits recruit and compete for many of the same athletes, students and financial resources, so there is a natural interest and they are a relevant topic for discussion by Pitt supporters. There is also the proximity issue and intermingling of fan and alumni bases. Also because this attendance issue is something that the nits try to use to hold themselves up as being somehow more "elite" (at least in their own minds, evidently).

They have also historically tried to use other things to infer they were "better". Those things - as the entire country has seen play out over the last several years - for the most part also proved to be lies. The nits draw more than Pitt. No one is saying they don't. They also draw more than the Steelers, for ex. So what? There are many reasons for that and they have been explained pretty thoroughly. But the nits don't sell out their stadium, except for maybe 1 game a year, on a regular basis as they claim to. Them saying they do doesn't make it so. THAT's what the discussion is about. Looking behind the façade to reveal the truth instead of just accepting the claims and bragging.

 

[Joe Pa Thetic]

Outstanding post, PittMan 72. That thread over on BWI was revealing in how nonchalant a PSU fan was in posting what is common knowledge for the rest of the people over there that there are thousands of tickets still left and it will take "smoke and mirrors" to make the attendance look good at many of the games this year.