Bowling for Pasadena

[BGSUFootballFan]

the casual fan will say, "Ohio? Eww, let's stay home."

Now, to get back to the 20K average. To average 20, we'll need to be at 83% capacity. We were at about 67% last year. So we're looking at a not all too favorable schedule - Toledo aside - and hoping for a huge increase, about 25% (from about 16,000 in 2004 to 20,000 in 2005).

Anyone willing to step up to the "I'll eat a bug" booth? [/quote]


i dont see why everyone sees 20,000 as so unrealistic, this is the best team we have ever had here IMO and although all of your numbers say we average 16,000... i have us down for 17,819 in 2002.. 20,363 in 2003 (including 2 div 1-AA teams) and 17,407 last year... so no i dont see us averaging 16,000 this season, that seems unrealistic, especially if the marketing is going to be getting better! i see us at least moving gradually into the 18,000+ range and with a little boost maybe a 50% chance at 20k

[Schadenfreude]

First, about the article: I enjoyed it. The author gets far more points in my book for raising the question than any he loses by not answering it (And it's difficult to answer).

I also think Gregg Brandon handled himself very well with that interview.

Some other thoughts on this thread.

It's The Journey: Did Krebs really say "there have been several new season tickets purchased" To me, "several" means "four or five." That can't be.

Attendance: If we win the first three games, we may sell out the season or come very close.

'87 makes a good point about Toledo -- in fact, I'd go further and suggest it is safe to assume we won't be getting 29,000 for that game. Capacity is now a little under 24,000. I guess I would start there.

Hammb also makes a good point: Some people will choose to attend games other than Toledo because of the price. That's fine. The game will still out, because it is must-see football for so many of us -- and that will put more people at our other games. I expect this is what Krebs wants.

All that said, I think the price hike for Toledo is an excellent idea. If we can sell out at that price, why not grab that money? It's worth the price to me...

And, finally, I don't undertstand where '87 comes up with this idea that we would get 11,000 for Ohio.

The only team on our recent schedules that has made fans want to puke to that level is Eastern Michigan. My view is Ohio will hold much more interest for fans.

My theory: We will sell out -- or come close -- for Temple/homecoming (my estimate: 23,000), we will sell out for Toledo (my estimate: 24,000) and will we stay above 15,000 for the other three games.

Projected average: 18,400.

I think that's conservative. If we assume crowds of 18,000 for the middle three games -- which I think can be done -- then we hit 20,000 for the season.

[Rightupinthere]

I think we'll push 20K for Ohio. Solich is now the coach, it's an East game (arguably it will take some time for that fact to register w/ student), and Ohio may very well have some wins under their belt at that point.

We S-H-O-U-L-D sellout Homecoming. I don't believe the school and alumni association spend enough energy to get alums back to the campus for that weekend. It's just a strange assembly of each school "doing their own thing" culminating in a football game - then dinner - if you can find a seat. It's kinda like hunting an elephant with a splatter gun.

Toledo will sell out.

I have a feeling Akron is going to be the stinker. 15k is my modest prediction for that game - even if it is an East game.
WMU is long rivalry and people will go just because they are the folks who rubber neck car accidents. This is presuming that WMU continues their perplexing struggles.

I'm going for around Schad's number for attendance. I'll push to 19K, however. Me, the cock-eyed optimist.

[Flipper]

We come out of the gates at 3-0 and we 22,000 for the four games leading up to Toledo. After we knock off Miami on the 15th, we erect temporary bleachers for the UT game and we draw an SRO crowd of 27,500 with a possible BCS bid on the line.

We destroy the Rockettes twice in a row but wind up in Detroit when BCS voters are swayed when Trev Alberts says "C'mon, it's Bowling Green,...it's a MAC school. Sure they win some games, but they only beat teams who aren't ready to play yet" the weekend of the final polls...

[BGSU-Ph.D.]

First, about the article: I enjoyed it. The author gets far more points in my book for raising the question than any he loses by not answering it (And it's difficult to answer).

I also think Gregg Brandon handled himself very well with that interview.

Some other thoughts on this thread.

It's The Journey: Did Krebs really say "there have been several new season tickets purchased" To me, "several" means "four or five." That can't be.

Attendance: If we win the first three games, we may sell out the season or come very close.

'87 makes a good point about Toledo -- in fact, I'd go further and suggest it is safe to assume we won't be getting 29,000 for that game. Capacity is now a little under 24,000. I guess I would start there.

Hammb also makes a good point: Some people will choose to attend games other than Toledo because of the price. That's fine. The game will still out, because it is must-see football for so many of us -- and that will put more people at our other games. I expect this is what Krebs wants.

All that said, I think the price hike for Toledo is an excellent idea. If we can sell out at that price, why not grab that money? It's worth the price to me...

And, finally, I don't undertstand where '87 comes up with this idea that we would get 11,000 for Ohio.

The only team on our recent schedules that has made fans want to puke to that level is Eastern Michigan. My view is Ohio will hold much more interest for fans.

My theory: We will sell out -- or come close -- for Temple/homecoming (my estimate: 23,000), we will sell out for Toledo (my estimate: 24,000) and will we stay above 15,000 for the other three games.

Projected average: 18,400.

I think that's conservative. If we assume crowds of 18,000 for the middle three games -- which I think can be done -- then we hit 20,000 for the season.

I tend to agree with your estimates. But, I'm expecting more than 24,000 for the Toledo game. We discussed this in a thread about the Sebo, but "capacity" doesn't really mean capacity (yes, I know that you know this). I don't think it is unreasonable to expect 26,000 or so.

Like 87 wrote, much depends on how BG does against Wisconsin and Boise St. (and let us not forget Ball St.) Since, I'm confident BG will win at Wisconsin (and Ball St.) and I think, AT WORST, the BSU game will be a close loss, I think the crowd for the Temple game will be at or near listed capacity.

[It's the Journey...]

All of my comments previously are from what i remember about the article and are subject to my being like a steel trap that hasn't been set in a long time. Please do not take those as direct quotes.

[Dayons_Den]

I think we'll push 20K for Ohio. Solich is now the coach, it's an East game (arguably it will take some time for that fact to register w/ student), and Ohio may very well have some wins under their belt at that point.

Students will be on break......


I agree with Schad's take earlier.

My thoughts on recent attendance- arriving to the stadium from a looong tailgating session just 10 minutes before kickoff I was VERY impressed with last seasons opening crowd vs. SEMO.

I think people will come out this season and the smaller stadium will make tickets be more of a premium. This will especially be true if they make it a ticket pick up situation for the Toledo game. They should do that early so an allotment of 8k student tickets are gobbled up, limiting tickets to be sold. . .

[redskins4ever]

The diminished seating at the Doyt baffles me... I hope Krebs has something up his sleeve... if you had the 6,000 seats that you use to have at $20 a pop for the UT game... which you would sell... that would be an additional 120,000 in your pocket... on top of the average $10 concession consumption per patron... a total loss of $180,000... that isn't money that is easily recouped..

Good luck Falcons... Ideally I'd love to see that NIU, Toledo, Miami, and BG... go through the season with undefeated seasons or just one loss by the time we meet.... what a ball buster would it be if...

NIU beats Miami...
Toledo beats NIU...
Miami beats BG...
BG beats Toledo...

everyone ends up at 7-1 in conference....

WOW!!!

[Flipper]

No need to rely on memories (I could make a mammaries joke, but I won't) because the article is on the OFFICIAL website.

http://bgsufalcons.collegesports.com/sp ... 05aaa.html

[MiamiBando]

They'd have to have a freaking MAC Playoff... GOOD LORD!
Who would win the two divisions?

[BGSU-Ph.D.]

How much did the general admission tickets (that they no longer sell) cost?

[transfer2BGSU]

... if you had the 6,000 seats that you use to have at $20 a pop for the UT game... which you would sell... that would be an additional 120,000 in your pocket...

Students are guaranteed admission to the game, I do not beleive they are guaranteed a seat.

[MiamiBando]

I'd be pissed if I was a student and I couldn't get in to Yager. I'd say the same would go for the Doyt. Other than the UT game, what game would you suggest seeing BG play? Other than at Miami(Be there, unless something goes horrendously wrong.)

[FalconKing]

They'd have to have a freaking MAC Playoff... GOOD LORD!
Who would win the two divisions?

Nope, they wouldn't. In that scenario, the MACC would be Miami vs Toledo. Screw that. I want to see BG vs NIU. 8)

[1987alum]

Attendance: If we win the first three games, we may sell out the season or come very close.

Big assumption, but you're spot on. If we pull into HC at 3-0, look out.

'87 makes a good point about Toledo -- in fact, I'd go further and suggest it is safe to assume we won't be getting 29,000 for that game. Capacity is now a little under 24,000. I guess I would start there.

I'm assuming they'll put up temporary bleachers for the UT game, but 29,000 may be tough to accomplish.

And, finally, I don't undertstand where '87 comes up with this idea that we would get 11,000 for Ohio. The only team on our recent schedules that has made fans want to puke to that level is Eastern Michigan. My view is Ohio will hold much more interest for fans.

I base this projection largely on the fact that the kids are on break. A lot will also depend on the weather. A lot.

I'm guessing Marshall having been played during break, but by my calculations ...

2004 - Marshall (18,187) ... sunny, breezy
2003 - Kent State (12,035) ... cold, rainy, dank
2002 - Away during break
2001 - Away during break

Not much to go on, admittedly. Momentum is also key. Remember that Marshall was the last game of a seven-game winning streak and came on the heels of a 52-0 pasting of Western Michigan. The Kent State game was played after Miami took the wind out of our sails on national television.

And I'm not convinced that Ohio is the draw people are making them out to be. To big CFB fans, Solich is a big name and Ohio is a team on the rise. But to the casual observer, it all generates apathy. We did draw well the last time Ohio came to town, so I'm ready to be proven wrong.

Projected average: 18,400. I think that's conservative. If we assume crowds of 18,000 for the middle three games -- which I think can be done -- then we hit 20,000 for the season.

I think it can be done, too. Historically, it's quite a challenge, though.

Think back to 2003. GameDay visits BG for the NIU game; we play host to Toledo. We're having a great year. Yet we averaged just a hair more than 20,000. According to my math, 20,359 to be exact. Remember, that average includes 29,700 for Toledo and 31,000+ for the NIU game.

Last year we averaged 17,000 with an admittedly weak home schedule.

I'd argue that this year's home slate is not as good as 2003 but not as weak as 2004.

In the end, this season may end up being a great test for just how much our fan base has developed over the past three or four years.