If we went undefeated, would the fans come back?

[NHRich]

There was a lot of excitement on the move from 1aa. The stadium was full for a lot of games back then. A lot of that was based on who we were playing. Even if we were now undefeated in this conference, would most fans come back? I watch a lot of AAC games on tv. There are empty stadiums all around the conference. We have 3 ranked teams now? Does anyone (besides people on this board) care?

 

[BlueMAB]

You're shocked that fans in Texas and Florida aren't overly interested in AAC programs?

Ever heard of the Aggies, Longhorns, Sooners, Gators, Seminoles, and Canes?

 

[UCPusky]

There was a lot of excitement on the move from 1aa. The stadium was full for a lot of games back then. A lot of that was based on who we were playing. Even if we were now undefeated in this conference, would most fans come back? I watch a lot of AAC games on tv. There are empty stadiums all around the conference. We have 3 ranked teams now? Does anyone (besides people on this board) care?

Going undefeated would bring more fans but it'll take a conference upgrade to get back to where we were in terms of sellouts. I miss seeing our former Big East rivals on the other side of the field. In the mean time, I'll be in my seat at all home games and play the agonizing waiting/hoping game for future conference realignment (ACC or B1G invitation) that benefits UConn.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

It was also new then. It was trendy to like UConn football. Now people would be embarrassed to say they go to games.

 

[mikedog10]

It was also new then. It was trendy to like UConn football. Now people would be embarrassed to say they go to games.

You should be proud to tell people you attend the UConn football games, you punk Greg.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

You should be proud to tell people you attend the UConn football games, you punk Greg.

IIIIII am. Johnny Frontrunner has a “I’m just here for the tailgate” trampstamp.

 

[UConnDan97]

I don't know about being sold out, but if we were undefeated we would likely be in the top 25 like the directional Floridas are. And a top 25 UConn team would have 35k+ in the stands for sure.

It's not even that much of a stretch to say that. I mean, we got 24,800 to see a 2-4 team play against Tulsa! People would come back for a big winner, and I'm not the slightest bit doubtful about that...

 

[BugsyCT]

What has hurt is the simultaneous combo of CR apocalypse and absolute crap football since 2011.

If we start winning, even in this conference, some people will come back. An undefeated season would bring more back.

And if we ever got that winning lottery ticket to the P5, I'd bet we'd finally see near sellouts again. But we need to be good and be good while playing other good P5 schools.

Dare to dream.

 

[NavinRJohnson]

People would come back but enter late into the stadium and leave early.

 

[RSTuthill]

Winning solves everything. Full stop.

 

[BlueDogs]

We would have 35K if we were in the top 25. There is enough memory of what things were like. If we continue to improve and win and pick up a couple of Class A opponents, the crowds will be there. Think about Michigan under the devil twins. The place was rocking like days of old even with the dumpster burning.

 

[Excalibur]

Attendance had been trickling downward even before Edsall's departure. If we had a top 25 team, we could probably get back to 22,500 season tickets and 35k average attendance.

 

[Wordbomar]

UConn needs to decide whether they're in the interest of filling the rent or not. 30$ top of the rent tix are just not gunna cut it with the casual fans. Need to lower prices to boost attendance

 

[Waquoit]

People would come back but enter late into the stadium and leave early.

Didn't see many early leavers last Saturday. Were you there?

 

[Colt house75]

Yes. The Fan base would come back.
May take awhile, several good campaigns.

 

[NavinRJohnson]

Didn't see many early leavers last Saturday. Were you there?

Ha. I wasn't. Unfortunately I had to attend a funeral as an uncle passed away. Missed my 6th game since The Rent opened. I don't leave early either. Tulane last year I did because I just couldn't take it anymore. Sat through the SMU loss in the rain. All of it and had a great laugh when SMU got called numerous times for illegal procedure when lining up for the victory formation.

 

[TheDoggPound]

No, they would just find new excuses.

 

[J187Money]

2003: 37,059
2004: 39,188
2005: 40,000
2006: 38,939
2007: 38,205
2008: 39,331
2009: 38,229
2010: 38,248 (last year of Edsall - no dropoff)
2011: 36,668 (year 1 of PP)
2012: 34,672
2013: 30,932 (helped by 38,916 for MD and 42,704 for Michigan, then it basically cratered and ended up with 17K for Memphis at the end of the year)
2014: 27,461 (year one of Diaco)
2015: 28,224
2016: 26,796
2017: 20,629 (year one of RE 2.0) - the ECU game was 14,036 which hurts but still.

The only reasons most of the Edsall years weren't 100% sellouts is that we didn't sell out the FCS games. Even year 1 and 2 of PP had pretty good attendance.

Diaco era - 30K for Boise State, 33K for Navy, most other conference games in the mid to upper 20s. Virginia 31K, Cuse 32K.

Opponents matter.

Our Thanksgiving weekend and December attendance is just bad. Partially because it is cold, and partially because we are out of it by then. Even last year with Diaco we were averaging about 30K until Temple (22K) and Tulane (20K).

Distributed v. gate - sure. But I don't think the problem is as dire as people make it out to be. We need to win and be in contention at the end of the season.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

We didn’t have a crowd below 30k until 2013. Now 4 years later it’s our benchmark for a good crowd. Times they are a changing.

 

[Waquoit]

No, they would just find new excuses.

Define they. And why would they need an excuse?

 

[Husky1964]

Win and they will come!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheDoggPound]

Define they. And why would they need an excuse?

"If we went undefeated, would the fans come back?"

 

[UConnJim]

The losing has worn down the fans, so first, the team needs to start winning again to bring back the fans. With the remaining schedule, getting to 5 wins may be a stretch, but the team looks better than under Diaco.

Next, the home schedule on paper looked attractive this year, but the game times were bad and they moved the most popular home game, BC, to Fenway Park. BC at home would have helped mini pack sales which would have boosted attendance for a couple of other games. And, the USF game was postponed (I don't blame anyone) and the East Carolina game was moved to a Sunday. So the home schedule this year has turned out to be an FCS opponent on a Thursday night, ECU on a Sunday, Memphis on a Friday night, and then Tulsa on a Saturday at noon. Now, we have Missouri, which is not having a good year. A home schedule that appeared good on paper has turned out to be not so good.

 

[len0322]

The offense is far more exciting to watch. If we win, they will come

 

[Exit 4]

2003: 37,059
2004: 39,188
2005: 40,000
2006: 38,939
2007: 38,205
2008: 39,331
2009: 38,229
2010: 38,248 (last year of Edsall - no dropoff)
2011: 36,668 (year 1 of PP)
2012: 34,672
2013: 30,932 (helped by 38,916 for MD and 42,704 for Michigan, then it basically cratered and ended up with 17K for Memphis at the end of the year)
2014: 27,461 (year one of Diaco)
2015: 28,224
2016: 26,796
2017: 20,629 (year one of RE 2.0) - the ECU game was 14,036 which hurts but still.

The only reasons most of the Edsall years weren't 100% sellouts is that we didn't sell out the FCS games. Even year 1 and 2 of PP had pretty good attendance.

Diaco era - 30K for Boise State, 33K for Navy, most other conference games in the mid to upper 20s. Virginia 31K, Cuse 32K.

Opponents matter.

Our Thanksgiving weekend and December attendance is just bad. Partially because it is cold, and partially because we are out of it by then. Even last year with Diaco we were averaging about 30K until Temple (22K) and Tulane (20K).

Distributed v. gate - sure. But I don't think the problem is as dire as people make it out to be. We need to win and be in contention at the end of the season.

Excellent job putting this all together and with the right notes. This post should be pinned or somehow stored in a Boneyard drawer of sorts.