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I graduated from BG back in 1975 and live far enough away that I don't get up to many games. I do follow the team very closely and have often wondered why it has, with few exceptions, been so difficult to draw consistent crowds of 20,000 plus for every game. I understand it is difficult to get many big-time teams to come to BG for a game so that is a factor. Can anyone tell me how well the students support the football team and how many regularly attend each game. Also give me an idea how well the town supports the football program and what percentage of each crowd they make up. My feeling has been that the town and surrounding area are not particularly supportive preferring. Finally, how extensive is the promotional outreach of BG in trying to promote the program. I would appreciate any insight any of you could share.

There is an Ohio State flag flying over Wood County now. When you were in school half the city and three to five thousand students went to games. No more.

Next year is a big year for BG football. There will be big expectations, after a good year, with lots of players returning. Coming off an 8-4 season (depending on bowl), open the season with one of the best C-USA teams, Tulsa. Winnable road game vs Indiana, get Toledo, and OU at home.

There should be a considerable buzz about BG football going into next year.

The problem the past 8-10 years has been consistency. Up year, down year, down year, down year, up year, down year. That wears on fan bases.

I have asked this question MANY times re: Why we could draw in the 20K range for many years, and now we struggle to get 15K.
Some have said it's because there are so many games on TV now compared to yrs. ago...others cite the Columbus Tech factor....not sure that anyone REALLY knows what has happened ... or WHY... students have taken so little interest in BG sports (can't believe they're all in their rooms studying on SAT. afternoons)...to be fair, I saw a bit more student involvement this year....KSU game drew well, understand that Miami game too (we were out of state and missed that one)...

All I know, the old codger that I am, is that I didn't miss games in MOST sports when I was a student..have a hard time understanding the apparant apathy that exists now... either from the student body or the surrounding area. I've suggested to alumni "officials" that we do something special like having local alum chapters sponsor bus trips to bring larger groups of alums to games...but it seems to have been, "great idea" and no one follows thru.

You know...2003 was a blast. The "kids" that were on campus that year are now in their late 20's to early 30's...hopefully, if we start off next year with a good OOC run, some of them might remember how much fun they had watching a winner and come back for a game or five....

Simple, it basically comes down to three things. 1. Win. 2. Good weather. 3. Not up against an Ohio State game. Getting or having decent matchups can also help too (Toledo, another MAC team having a good season, or a decent non-conference opponent). But if we start consistently winning again, have good weather and aren't up against Ohio State, the numbers will increase and be better. We may not like it, but that's how it more or less is. We can dump all the money we want into marketing or promoting our games, but those three things are the key.

Class of 61 wrote:I have asked this question MANY times re: Why we could draw in the 20K range for many years, and now we struggle to get 15K.
Some have said it's because there are so many games on TV now compared to yrs. ago...others cite the Columbus Tech factor....not sure that anyone REALLY knows what has happened ... or WHY... students have taken so little interest in BG sports (can't believe they're all in their rooms studying on SAT. afternoons)...to be fair, I saw a bit more student involvement this year....KSU game drew well, understand that Miami game too (we were out of state and missed that one)...

All I know, the old codger that I am, is that I didn't miss games in MOST sports when I was a student..have a hard time understanding the apparant apathy that exists now... either from the student body or the surrounding area. I've suggested to alumni "officials" that we do something special like having local alum chapters sponsor bus trips to bring larger groups of alums to games...but it seems to have been, "great idea" and no one follows thru.

I have said this for years, and I don't really know if it will work, but I think its worth a try. People don't really care about BG football, so you have to make the day an event. Hire a great pr guy from minor league baseball and do catchy fun things for the games that make it family friendly. Make a huge tailgate area outside of the stadium with a huge big screen that will draw students in.

BGSU33 wrote:Simple, it basically comes down to three things. 1. Win. 2. Good weather. 3. Not up against an Ohio State game. Getting or having decent matchups can also help too (Toledo, another MAC team having a good season, or a decent non-conference opponent). But if we start consistently winning again, have good weather and aren't up against Ohio State, the numbers will increase and be better. We may not like it, but that's how it more or less is. We can dump all the money we want into marketing or promoting our games, but those three things are the key.

Agree with all of that. I think you make those 3 things the concrete premises (Only one you can entirely control) and then do aggressive marketing as well.

The single biggest factor is weather.

Minor league baseball execs are overrated.

Dayons_Den wrote:The single biggest factor is weather.

Minor league baseball execs are overrated.

Uhh...no, the biggest factor is WINNING.

We had great weather for all but one of our home games at the Doyt this year...didn't help much because we were coming off of two losing seasons and expectations were relatively low. Now that we've won this year and have expectations for next season we'll definitely see a bump. Win big next year, and you'll start seeing crowds like you saw in 2001-05.

bgsufalcon24 wrote:

Dayons_Den wrote:The single biggest factor is weather.

Minor league baseball execs are overrated.

Uhh...no, the biggest factor is WINNING.

We had great weather for all but one of our home games at the Doyt this year...didn't help much because we were coming off of two losing seasons and expectations were relatively low. Now that we've won this year and have expectations for next season we'll definitely see a bump. Win big next year, and you'll start seeing crowds like you saw in 2001-05.

I'll stand by that weather is the single biggest determiner in BGSU football attendance. The largest crowds I've experienced at Perry Stadium have not been based on how the team is playing but rather by the temperature and weather conditions.

Take 2003- we are ranked #25 in the country and play a dynamic Kent State team that features Josh Cribbs and that game started with maybe 5,000 fans in the stadium (12,000 announced) and closer to 500 by the time the final gun went off. That was as freezing cold as I've ever been at a BG game it was just bitter cold. Earlier that year we put in 15k and 13k for 1AA foes.

zete wrote:There is an Ohio State flag flying over Wood County now. When you were in school half the city and three to five thousand students went to games. No more.

News flash: that flag has been flying over Wood County FOREVER. It's not a new thing.

I was in school back then, and I'd say about 5,000 students regularly went to games; that meant about 1 of every 3 students attended, which isn't a bad ratio, especially considering we paid extra for tickets. We didn't get in free with our student ID.

However, BG did regularly have winning seasons back then, which may be why the crowds were typically in the 20,000 range for games, even when they went head to head with Ohio State.

Yes, weather was a big factor for a lot of folks. If the wind was howling and it was bitter cold, attendance fell like a rock. But if the sun was out, there was usually a decent crowd on-hand.

I think if BG put together a season like Kent had this year, you'd see attendance jump accordingly. It's not rocket science. People like to go watch exciting, winning football.

If Clawson can build on this season and start getting to MAC title games, and win a few, attendance will rise.

Product...economy...weather...stadium amenities...no blackouts for any TV games...

And likely the biggest culprit, many more alternatives on TV. Years ago, you couldn't stay home and watch games on ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports Net, CBS Cable Channel, NBC Cable channel, Big Ten Network...and I know I'm likely leaving a couple more out. Not to mention you can watch even more games on your computer through places like ESPN3.

It takes years to build interest...and weeks to kill it. The last year or two of Gary Blackney's reign were tough. Student and local interest were so low you could sit in the student section and put your feet up on the bench in front of you. We built a nice attendance number in 2003 by doing well in 2001 and 2002. In 2004 were opened at home with an FCS school and drew 24,000. We got beat by NIU a week or so later and it killed attendance for the rest of the year even though we were almost ranked at the end of the year and went to a second staright bowl. we go into 2005 with high expectations and fall flat...we never have rebuilt the interest level we had in 2003 and early 2004.

You would hope that we go bowling this year and win. That will send a message that we're legit. We have a shot at being a very good team next year and in year's after that. If we can get out of the gate with 3 or 4 OOC wins next year, with OU and Toledo on the home schedule, we could have a nice year at the gate.

Winning helps but it's not everything. We saw some sparse crowds from 2001-2006 too.

You got to make it a fun place to come to win or lose because unfortunately we will have losing seasons. Globe might be pointed in the right direction.