Spring game attendance nationally

[huskypantz]

Here are some numbers for spring attendance nationally - OSU broke a record with their crowd.

School Attendance
Ohio State 100,189
Georgia 93,000
Alabama 76,212
Tennessee 67,027
Clemson – 50,000
Florida State 49,913
Florida 46,000
Auburn 45,723
Oklahoma – 42,436
Michigan – 35,000
South Carolina 32,916
Kentucky 28,441
Texas A&M 27,412
Missouri 24,473
LSU 21,000
BYU – 18,000
Mississippi State 15,717
Boise State – 6,100
UConn 5,500
Colorado – 5,100
Syracuse 4,000
Vanderbilt Est. 3,500
UNLV – 2,800
Stanford – 2,500
Wake Forest – 2,100
Nevada – 600
Air Force – 500
BC - 8 points

 

[Palatine]

Spring game attendance is clearly NOT a priority for UConn. The game is barely publicized and there are many easy things to do to increase the size of the crowd --if they were interested. It remains a event for the hard core.

 

[Excalibur]

It's an event for the hard core everywhere. There are simply more hard core college football fans in most of the places above us.

 

[minidarren]

If we didn't have a million things going on yesterday we were going to head to Athens to try and catch the UGA spring game.

 

[whaler11]

I thought the crowd was pretty decent yesterday.

Not sure why you'd spend a bunch of money promoting a game you don't generate any revenue from...

 

[Palatine]

It's an event for the hard core everywhere. There are simply more hard core college football fans in most of the places above us.

Nice slap at UConn.

At other places many go because it is an event.

At Ohio State a lacrosse game versus Michigan precedes the spring game.

At halftime they featured Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett facing off in a quarterback skill challenge.

They hold a offensive line versus defensive line catch-a-punt competition, with Buckeye legends Anthony Schlegel, Kirk Barton, Jimmy Cordle, Bobby Carpenter and Jack Mewhort.

More footballl alumni judge the OSU fastest student competition at halftime

It's know as spring game week on campus.

Las week Urban Meyer was all over TV trying get 100,000 people to attend.

I'm not saying that UConn has as many fans as OSU. I am saying that even with many more fans OSU drums up the crowd, they make it a big deal. They work it. Last year some players wore helmet cams. They work it. That wasn't just the hard core football crowd.

 

[BugsyCT]

Last year we only had 3,500 with virtually the same weather so I guess 2K more is a decent improvement. More buzz around the team after last year.

UCF had 23K for their game - guess they're excited about their new coach.

 

[Stinger92860]

I enjoyed it. I upgraded to chair backs, so I'm 10 toes in.

 

[Waquoit]

Those who were there had a good time. I'm just not going to get too upset over who weren't there. Just not a big deal.

 

[SubbaBub]

When grandparents who went to games go with there kids who went to games who are bringing their kids to games because that is what they do and when regular season game tickets are so hard to get that scoring a ticket to the spring game is decent substitute for a good portion of the fan base, then we can wring our hands over the attendance numbers.

Even then, we will still have to deal with blowing off the first decent Saturday's yard work or whatever else is going on.

I'll wager that in GA, little league games, karate lessons and even ballet classes aren't held on Saturday afternoons in large numbers.

 

[Ldandy]

I think it is very important to promote Spring Games. Anyone that walks through the gate is either a current ticket holder, or a potential future one. Show these people and their families a good time, and odds are a good number of them will be back for a game or two later that year. Bob Diacco was all but begging people to come out and support the team in his post game presser. That's a tough position for a guy who is likely very proud of his team.

Fan support matters. It matters to the players and coaches, it matters to the AD toward his bottom line, and it matters for how the program is perceived nationally in the media and by other schools. If I was your AD I would be doing everything I could think of to get 25-30 thousand fans in the stadium next year. UCONN has a large alumni base, and millions of people living within 2 hours from the stadium. You need to tap into that somehow. Make the Spring Game an event beyond just a glorified practice. Show them a good time in April, and many will be back when it counts in September.

 

[CL82]

Nice slap at UConn.

At other places many go because it is an event.
::::
It's know as spring game week on campus.
::::
I'm not saying that UConn has as many fans as OSU. I am saying that even with many more fans OSU drums up the crowd, they make it a big deal. They work it. Last year some players wore helmet cams. They work it. That wasn't just the hard core football crowd.

This is one of the places where not having a stadium on campus hurts us because the U can't develop complementary events to draw in a broader crowd. I like the Rent. It is a great place to see a game, and a teriffic tailgate location, but the access that it affords fans being by centrally located and off a major artery does come with a price.

 

[Dooley]

At halftime, I stood within 50 feet of about a half dozen or more former players. I would have loved to see them not the field being recognized. For example, Andre Dixon scored a TD that I will NEVER forget: his OT game winning romp at Notre Dame. Show a clip of that play and get the crowd pumped for him...he certainly deserves it. Instead, he was roaming around the stadium virtually unnoticed signing autographs on his own personal business cards. Seems like a shame to me and a disservice to this young man who was nothing but a GREAT teammate and beloved Husky.

The stadium location prevents it from being a shuttle to another UConn sporting event (ex - UConn baseball is playing Houston this weekend...on campus). But the day can absolutely be used to "thank" former players for their contributions in making UConn football one of the fastest rising programs in the country. These guys came back because they love UConn and loved their time here. They all paid their respects to #6 at halftime. How's about running a 2009 clip at halftime? Honor Jazz and also thank these guys for showing true Husky grit that year in overcoming tragedy...eventually taking down Notre Dame and stomping all over South Carolina.

At the end of the day, I'm not going to get all fired up over Spring Game attendance. But I do think that the former players who do come back to the stadium need to be recognized a bit more than what they do. And like others said, an enjoyable spring game could translate into increased season tickets for the regular season. And that does fire me up, very much.

 

[whaler11]

There were a decent amount of people sitting in the second level yesterday. The attendance was pretty solid. Odd thread.

Sure honoring someone like Dixon at halftime would be fun for the die hards that already attend but it's not like someone is deciding to go for stuff like that.

 

[Waquoit]

It was cool to see that the PA guy was mid-season buffoon form. They had some sort of tug-a-war thing with the band during a time-out. All I could think was "end this quick before you tear up any turf". When it was over the chucklehead says. "Two out of three?" Fortunately, the crew didn't listen to him.

 

[whaler11]

I was cool to see that the PA guy was mid-season buffoon form. They had some sort of tug-a-war thing with the band during a time-out. All I could think was "end this quick before you tear up any turf". When it was over the chucklehead says. "Two out of three?" Fortunately, the crew didn't listen to him.

He was bad even for him. Did he not have a spotter or a copy of the roster?

 

[BoatShow]

Best turnout I think I've seen in quite a few years. Weather was a big help. As far as students...I feel like The Dog House Party is their vision of the spring gsme. Silly to expect they'd do both events. Anyone else pick up on the insanely cheap merch?

 

[huskypantz]

I'll add a few more:

Penn State 65,000
Miami 14,000
Nebraska 72,992
USF 4,418
Pitt 8,033
UCF 23,147
Temple 3,500

 

[Ldandy]

Best turnout I think I've seen in quite a few years. Weather was a big help. As far as students...I feel like The Dog House Party is their vision of the spring gsme. Silly to expect they'd do both events. Anyone else pick up on the insanely cheap merch?

Why is it silly? It was beautiful on Saturday, why not be outside enjoying the weather, tailgating, and watching some football? It costs next to nothing but a few hours of your time. I'm always confused by this line of thinking. Give people a reason to attend and they will. If you portray it as some glorified practice, a lot of people are going to be indifferent. Portray it as an exciting event while promoting the heck out of it, and I bet people will care.

Do you have a lot of land near your stadium? How about a stage with musical acts, amusement rides, and tons of food vendors. How about past UCONN Football and basketball legends signing autographs? How about discount merchandise and ticket packages available the day of the game at kiosks around the stadium? Throw in a bunch of in stadium only giveaways and you have another reason to be in the stadium. These are all things that can be done, because I've seem them all. The ultimate goal is to get people interested in buying tickets and supporting the program financially. If you don't try some new things, it will be the same 5000 people every year, who are likely already season ticket holders.

 

[Ldandy]

I'll add a few more:

Penn State 65,000
Miami 14,000
Nebraska 72,992
USF 4,418
Pitt 8,033
UCF 23,147
Temple 3,500

I was at PSU. There were easily 20,000+ fans who never left the lots. You couldn't ask for better weather to watch a game, or to sit in folding chairs and drink Yuenglings apparently.

 

[FartMan69]

Why is it silly? It was beautiful on Saturday, why not be outside enjoying the weather, tailgating, and watching some football? It costs next to nothing but a few hours of your time. I'm always confused by this line of thinking. Give people a reason to attend and they will. If you portray it as some glorified practice, a lot of people are going to be indifferent. Portray it as an exciting event while promoting the heck out of it, and I bet people will care.

Do you have a lot of land near your stadium? How about a stage with musical acts, amusement rides, and tons of food vendors. How about past UCONN Football and basketball legends signing autographs? How about discount merchandise and ticket packages available the day of the game at kiosks around the stadium? Throw in a bunch of in stadium only giveaways and you have another reason to be in the stadium. These are all things that can be done, because I've seem them all. The ultimate goal is to get people interested in buying tickets and supporting the program financially. If you don't try some new things, it will be the same 5000 people every year, who are likely already season ticket holders.

He was talking about students who literally care about zero of those things.

 

[BoatShow]

Why is it silly? It was beautiful on Saturday, why not be outside enjoying the weather, tailgating, and watching some football? It costs next to nothing but a few hours of your time. I'm always confused by this line of thinking. Give people a reason to attend and they will. If you portray it as some glorified practice, a lot of people are going to be indifferent. Portray it as an exciting event while promoting the heck out of it, and I bet people will care.

Do you have a lot of land near your stadium? How about a stage with musical acts, amusement rides, and tons of food vendors. How about past UCONN Football and basketball legends signing autographs? How about discount merchandise and ticket packages available the day of the game at kiosks around the stadium? Throw in a bunch of in stadium only giveaways and you have another reason to be in the stadium. These are all things that can be done, because I've seem them all. The ultimate goal is to get people interested in buying tickets and supporting the program financially. If you don't try some new things, it will be the same 5000 people every year, who are likely already season ticket holders.

It's silly because they had a student only event with free food, music, merch, and football on campus like 10 days ago. On the first really nice Saturday of the semester watching a football scrimmage was probably like 30th on students lists of things to do.

BTW I'd love to see footage of these 23k fans at UCF

 

[jdb50]

First off, you had to be living under a rock to not know the Spring game was at 3 on Saturday. I don't think that there is anything else the AD could have done to increase attendance. Not having the stadium on campus is a factor for this game. There is a big opportunity this year and when we line up for Virginia we will see if the talent level of this team can bring back the casual fan. If they don't show up it is their loss.

 

[ZOOCONN]

There were a decent amount of people sitting in the second level yesterday. The attendance was pretty solid. Odd thread.

Sure honoring someone like Dixon at halftime would be fun for the die hards that already attend but it's not like someone is deciding to go for stuff like that.

that may be true but I think it all goes back to creating a certain type of atmosphere, I believe this again all goes back to the marketing department making this into an "event" or experience. you may not get the gate fees at this game but this needs to be looked at as a long term investment, not so short sighted. the free admission needs to be used to get the casual fan into the stadium and the experience that they have that day is what needs to drive them to come back for the regular season. we are the hardcore fans that love this team but unfortunately until these games become the ticket to have we are not the ones that need to be targeted and catered to.

 

[uconnphil2016]

It's silly because they had a student only event with free food, music, merch, and football on campus like 10 days ago. On the first really nice Saturday of the semester watching a football scrimmage was probably like 30th on students lists of things to do.

BTW I'd love to see footage of these 23k fans at UCF

I guess I'm the exception...I counted down the calendar for like two months in anticipation of the spring game