Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

[Trapped in California]

Just a thought related from the Spring Game thread. We were talking about the upcoming spring game, with the attendance likely to be 2 – 3 K. Just wondering what it would take to boost that number, and the 2008 (even year) attendance? A car giveaway, a year’s tuition, or season tickets for life? I remember the car thing being done at one time back in the early 90s.

Also, should there be a boost in ticket prices? Iowa charges students more per game for season tickets @ $22.00 than we charge for premium seats for the public @ $20.00 each.

Obviously attendance flows through to providing more benefits to the athletic department. FYI –

2006, the attendance was about 66,721 over 6 games or about 11,100 per game.

2007, the attendance was about 81,006 over 5 games or about 16,200 per game (non-playoffs)

2008, 5 games scheduled so far at home

Thoughts?

[JayJ79]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

I don't think anyone in the athletic department really cares that much about spring game attendance. Yeah, it's fun for the athletes to play in front of a crowd, but I really don't think there will be any effort made to draw bigger attendance.

As far as attendance for the 2008 season, I'm sure it will continue to be strong. Probably not sell-out strong, but good numbers. Hopefully the athletic department will continue promoting the games to businesses and such, like they did at the start of last year. And then it will probably depend on how the team plays. If they win, attendance should remain strong, but if they stumble, unfortunately, it might drop back to the levels that we'd seen previously.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

It would seem that the time is now to capitalize on the frenzy and get season ticket orders locked up. The spring game is gravy for the department - its all found money / more scholarships. If not now, when?

[JayJ79]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

are you suggesting that they charge admission to the spring game?
if they did that, there would be even fewer people attending.

Promoting season ticket sales at the spring game is a good idea (and I think they do that already), though it's likely that most of the people that attend the spring game probably already buy season tickets.

Anyhow, I've heard more ads for '08 season tickets already that I don't recall hearing in previous years. Though I haven't always paid that much attention.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

Charging for the Spring Game is absurd. It is a scrimmage and nothing more.

[Mountain Panther]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

Charging for the Spring Game is absurd. It is a scrimmage and nothing more.

I'm as big a fan as anyone on here, but I wouldn't pay to see the Spring Game.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

To add to the original post. Being in the NC game has nothing to do with attendance the following year. In 2006 the team did not perform as well and the gate showed. This years team sold out for INDIANA STATE.

The key for good attendance will always be on field success of that year's team.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

I guess the discussion point I was trying to raise, if you sell out the Dome on season tickets - which is wishful thinking at this point, does that provide a window of opportunity to do some things in the program that it would not otherwise be able afford? Think Montana. I know that we are not the same game as Montana, but you have to have goals.

Or is attendance always going to be driven by performance?

Please do not argue the extremes - we are not Appy State not Indiana State. What happens if we are 8-4 to 10-2?

[Trapped in California]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

I'm as big a fan as anyone on here, but I wouldn't pay to see the Spring Game.

I would love for us to be able to get to a point where we could charge something for the spring game. That means we are rolling consistently.

My high school used to charge a bar of soap for admission. A nominal amount, but the concept is there.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

I guess the discussion point I was trying to raise, if you sell out the Dome on season tickets - which is wishful thinking at this point, does that provide a window of opportunity to do some things in the program that it would not otherwise be able afford? Think Montana. I know that we are not the same game as Montana, but you have to have goals.

Or is attendance always going to be driven by performance?

Please do not argue the extremes - we are not Appy State not Indiana State. What happens if we are 8-4 to 10-2?

Selling out season tickets is the ultimate goal of every program. That is guaranteed money regardless of who shows up.

[BCPanther]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

Trapped,

What do you mean we are not in the same league as Appy?? We are both elite FCS programs. I see some similarities with them. It took them forever to get over the hump and win it, just like us, and then they have rolled off three in a row. I really expect similar results once we break the rock, which we will...

[GonzoCat]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

He's talking about our attendance, the thread topic, not the quality of our team.

This year was the first ever this team got the kind of support it deserves attendance wise. We will see if it continues. My guess is if mediacom works out a deal with the B10 network it won't.

[BCPanther]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

Oops, my bad...

In that case, if we continue to put an elite product on the field I think we will still see strong attendance...

[UNIPNTHR]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

The pricing is just fine.

Agreed. If we have two or three sellouts next season then we might have the demand to warrant an increase in price.

[Durf73]

Re: Attendance = NC or NC = Attendance?

Attendance will be strongly afffected by the season record, but I do think season ticket sales will go up cuz some people found themselves unable to get play off tickets because they were not season ticket holders !

I also think sell outs will be affected by our record, rankings, and what product is being put on the field at Iowa & Iowa State plus the media com connection with the Big Ten could still be a factor. Remember a lot of people in eastern Iowa couldn't get their college football fix with the hawks this year because of the Big Ten network and I think they came to the Cedar Valley to check out our product !

I for one will be at every home game & I don't care what the hawks & clones are producing. I do enjoy watching the hawks at 11:00 am and then heading to the Dome at halftime to tail gate. It keeps me from doing all those fall work projects or puts them off until sunday !