Attendance Thoughts

Falcon137 · Post by **Falcon137** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:23 pm

Just checked the Temple website it showed the final attendance at 16482. From where I was it looked like the West Stands were pretty full while the East side was somewhat full in the middle and sparse towards each endzone. So I ask the question, do people just not care or was it the fact that it was Temple?

PS- Looked like a lot of students for the 12 o'clock kickoff.

BGSUfalcons · Post by **BGSUfalcons** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:47 pm

The crowd looked bigger than 16,482. I would have guessed around 18,500. I still maintain that we were lied to about attendance up until last year.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:56 pm

Wow, only 16k? It looked closer to 18 or 19k midway through the first half, but got real sparse late in the 2nd half as people decided to go home in time for OSU-NW. I say we have a real problem with this "Primo seat section" between the 35 yard lines in the lower level. It was pretty empty for a while before some students and others leaked into it later in the game. These are apparently the $18 seats that no one apparently wants to pay for. Many students right at kickoff were trying to get into this section but the "stadium staff" or whatever kept telling them they were "reserved". Reserved my AZZ. I snuck in there pretty easily when the guy wasn't looking and had very nice view the whole game. I would've gladly moved if someone had came and claimed the seats with a ticket for it but there were practically no one who actually had a $18 ticket in there.

That whole area used to be students anyway before a couple of years ago when they decided to reconfigure the seating. It think its moronic. There are apparently no more than 10-20 people who are willing to pay $18 for seats ,even in the best section you could want.

So for myself, if that area continues to be practically empty at game time , I'm just going to get my $7 walk-up tix and sneak into the "primo section" and have a great view.

Back to attendance , the east side has always had problems filling up. West stands usually have no problem getting to 85-90% capacity. If 16k is really the attendance number, than I have real low expectations for the rest of the year. But then again , this could be just what happens when you sub a prime time opponent in Boise St for one of the bottom teams in all of Div1-A.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:03 pm

Falconboy wrote:Many students right at kickoff were trying to get into this section but the "stadium staff" or whatever kept telling them they were "reserved". Reserved my AZZ. I snuck in there pretty easily when the guy wasn't looking and had very nice view the whole game.

I'll make sure to point you out to security next time

They made us move right at the beginning when they opened the stadium and told us the seats were now reserved and comp tickets as well. What can you do I guess...

Falcon137 · Post by **Falcon137** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:04 pm

BG lists the attendance at 16k also. This is troubling for me knowing that there were a lot of students there, there were no other games conflicting with it (OSU and Mich. at 3:30), to go along with the unveiling of the Sebo and fieldturf.

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:09 pm

Given the SEBO opening, weather, good start to the season, and lack of conflict with other games, I was hoping for a huge crowd (i.e. sellout), but that did not happen. Keep winning and more people will come to each game.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:14 pm

BGGrad01 wrote:Given the SEBO opening, weather, good start to the season, and lack of conflict with other games, I was hoping for a huge crowd (i.e. sellout), but that did not happen. Keep winning and more people will come to each game.

Playing quality opponents also helps big time. When your a non-BCS team its not enough to just be playing at home , the quality of opponent factors in alot. Whether it should or not is beside the point.

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:27 pm

Falconboy wrote:
BGGrad01 wrote:Given the SEBO opening, weather, good start to the season, and lack of conflict with other games, I was hoping for a huge crowd (i.e. sellout), but that did not happen. Keep winning and more people will come to each game.
Playing quality opponents also helps big time. When your a non-BCS team its not enough to just be playing at home , the quality of opponent factors in alot. Whether it should or not is beside the point.

We have played some I-AA opponents in recent years and drawn 20k+. If people want to watch BG football, they will watch BG play anybody. I'm not convinced that the opponent would make much difference, unless it is a top tier team like OSU or Michigan.

Tricky_Falcon · Post by **Tricky_Falcon** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:52 pm

1) The students were out in full force today. Can't blame them...

2) I noticed that most of the "traditions" weren't executed today. Most probably wont catch on but the students did a pretty good job of staying pumped up for the game.

3) They need to turn the speakers down when music is playing before the game and definitely when the falcon screech plays after each first down. Many people in my section were hoping we wouldn't get a first down so we wouldn't have to plug our.

4) Never knew the Spurs played in San Diego. That was very embarassing.

5) Concessions were very crowded. A few students got tired of waiting in line so they decided just to head back to the dorms.

6) I was pretty mad that I wasn't able to tour the SEBO with my dad but hopefully will be able to next Saturday.

7) Nothing is free in the Falcon Club tent anymore. Beer is served in a dixie cup.

Other than that I did have a good time. The game was exciting despite how flag happy the refs were today. The Falcons got a W that's always good.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:02 pm

Tricky_Falcon wrote: 4) Never knew the Spurs played in San Diego. That was very embarassing.

Down in the student section we couldn't really hear much. I'm glad I didn't hear that though...that is embarrassing.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:05 pm

Tricky_Falcon wrote:1) The students were out in full force today. Can't blame them...

4) Never knew the Spurs played in San Diego. That was very embarassing.

Yeah, from what I could tell, a very nice contingent of students were out. I guess mabaye it is the townies that are still slow to get into these games. It could be that after what has happened the last two years people around BG in general still don't know what to expect out of the team yet and it was on local tv as well. Maybe some of the "on the fence'ers" are still not sold on the team yet and decided to stay home and watch it. But on the other hand , with $7 walk-up tix, ah...just continue to win and they'll slowly come back I guess...I hope.

Falcon137 · Post by **Falcon137** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:16 pm

Yea, the concessions was rediculously long....another thing is the students getting into the game. If your going to swipe the ID cards have more than 4 people doing it! I stood in line for almost 20 minutes waiting to get my ID swiped.

aaronBG10 · Post by **aaronBG10** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:39 pm

Yeah the line to get through the gates for students was rediculous. On top of that, some ID's were not swiping so they made the students walk all the way to the ticket booth to get some sort of sticker or something. Oh well, I guess not everything can be perfect.

Also, it really blows that you can no longer use your meal plan money at the stadium, only the brilliant new BG 1 card. With this and the new thing about on campus activities having to have their food sponosered by University Dining services, they must be making an absolute killing this year... maybe we will see some of that money go to a parking garage or something. haha who am I kidding.

But all in all the attendence was alright. Should have been higher with how nice the day was but with a noon start and a game against Temple I know a lot of people that didn't have any desire to go. Not good reasons for not going but legit none the less.

The only game that has any draw as far as the opponent goes is Toledo and it is at 2:30 on the day after Thanksgiving blah.

Altoid_storm · Post by **Altoid_storm** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:52 pm

aaronBG10 wrote:
Also, it really blows that you can no longer use your meal plan money at the stadium, only the brilliant new BG 1 card. With this and the new thing about on campus activities having to have their food sponosered by University Dining services, they must be making an absolute killing this year... maybe we will see some of that money go to a parking garage or something. haha who am I kidding.

I agree. I heard about this before because I am an RA on campus, but most people waited in ridiculously long consessions lines only to find out their meal plan wasn't accepted. I know it was announced a few times, but obviously not well enough if 85% of people had no idea.

I know the attendance wasn't spectacular, but from where I was sitting in the front of the West side it looked pretty packed except for the top corners and the sides of the East side... I couldn't see those high rollin' seats though. I know during the first half everyone was pretty pumped, but once it was made obvious that we would more than likely win people started to leave.

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:11 pm

Four things about the overall experience today:

1.No longer being able to use meal plan money at the Doyt sucks. No matter what, you now have to pay extra money in addition to meal plan to get food at athletic events. That sucks balls.

2.The "traditions" aren't really catching on, although the Ay-Zig after first downs is doing very well.

3.The first down screech is VERY loud. They need to turn that down about 2 or 3 notches.

4.The student attendance today was awesome. The townie attendance sucked. Students 1, Townies 0