SI Article on Declining College Game Attendance

[FeatheredCock]

Could be the end of expanding stadium seating by downsizing to offering more luxury, like making less space for fans by improving seating areas, bathroom entertaining areas etc.

Interesting look at declining attendance. The noncompetitive nature of so many games is a major problem. TV, streaming, and the overall cost of college are draining student attendance. And, a lot of us old folks are pulling back too. This article does not address poor play, but it's a given that would just enhance lower attendance.

LINK: https://www.si.com/college/2020/01/10/college-football-attendance-decline-ncaa

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Could be the end of expanding stadium seating by downsizing to offering more luxury, like making less space for fans by improving seating areas, bathroom entertaining areas etc.

Interesting look at declining attendance. The noncompetitive nature of so many games is a major problem. TV, streaming, and the overall cost of college are draining student attendance. And, a lot of us old folks are pulling back too. This article does not address poor play, but it's a given that would just enhance lower attendance.

LINK: https://www.si.com/college/2020/01/10/college-football-attendance-decline-ncaa

It's not just college football. All of live sports. 

Increasing ticket costs

Every game is on TV

Competing entertainment options from streaming, video games, etc.

Every stadium upgrade is for the premium fans, but god forbid they ever replace a 30 year old pee wall for the average joe fans. 

Doo Doo Ice

 

[FeatheredCock]

Yeah average Joe and family on Saturday at a game is becoming rarer and rarer these days now that just one ticket are 100.00 each average these days, not counting spending 3 to 5 dollars just for a bottle of water and money you have to give for the different club levels just to get the tickets. I spent average like 3000.00 when all said and done. 

 

[cocky0]

I read that article earlier today. Well, most of it. If anything, it tells me that there is a multitude of reasons behind it. Sure every game being on television these days hurts things. I mean it wasn't that long ago that we had certain games only on PPV through Jefferson Pilot with the rest being scattered between the ESPN channels and CBS.

What I took from this guy's perspective is the disparity that exists between the haves and the have-nots.  His first two segments focused on  a UF/Vandy where literally nobody was excited to see that game and the tater / Wake game where the score was out of hand before half time. I mean even the OSU/Penn State segment illustrated it, because it's not like Penn St. has been anywhere close to as dominant in that league like OSU has. 

Of course it doesn't really matter, because the loss of those asses in the seats is more than made up for by ad revenue from the television broadcasts. However if anyone really wanted to maximize both the TV and in person markets, they might look at narrowing down the levels of competition. I personally would start with reducing the number of teams in the FBS. After that, something would need to change with recruiting in order to minimize the chances of a handful of teams stockpiling top talent year after year. 

 

[JimG]

Playing in the hot sun is a factor.  Once you get roasted, you don't want to come back. 

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Yeah average Joe and family on Saturday at a game is becoming rarer and rarer these days now that just one ticket are 100.00 each average these days, not counting spending 3 to 5 dollars just for a bottle of water and money you have to give for the different club levels just to get the tickets. I spent average like 3000.00 when all said and done. 

Yep - Not even 15 years ago I remember getting tix to a UT game at face value for like $25 ( and that was when they were still a top ten team).

Been thinking about taking the kids to a game for the past few years. But now for a family of 4 to a game I'm looking at $300-400 or more in just tickets, plus parking, plus food and drink during the game it's close to $500 o more. Coming from out of state ,  I'm looking at a hotel room and gas money. We're talking $750+ easy for a weekend trip to Cola to see a game that the kids may or may not be bored with, too hot, too cold or something else by halftime. 

I don't have that kind of cash laying around. I'll just watch the game on TV. 

 

[Uscman]

I love going to the games but getting tired of the hassle and expense.  My wife is a Clemson fan and I’m tired of her BS too

 

[Ledcock]

Playing in the hot sun is a factor.  Once you get roasted, you don't want to come back. 

Yep, not like it used to be when our first few games of the year were in the evening just for that reason.  TV dictates game time now.

 

[Cockyandproud]

I used to be a season ticket holder, but the cost is ridiculous.  The face value of the ticket isn't too bad, or wasn't, but the added taxes and crap are stupid.  Living in the Upstate, by the time I drive down, park, hang out for a bit with friends, watch the game, and then drive back, it's a minimum of twelve hours.  Then add on top of that having to jostle through wall to wall people (I'm not a big fan of people in general, and especially not crowds), to sit in the heat in the beginning of the season, and the cold in the latter part of the season, and now add on top of that people will be drinking in the stadium, so that compounds on top of all the existing drunks, and we suck!  It's just not worth it to me.  I can sit in comfort in my recliner, get snacks without taking out a second mortgage, and not pee on a wall or in a trough, with everyone splashing around me.

I think the game that ruined it for me was the UNC opener when we had the bad storm, and the stadium got cleared for lightning. People were already hot and sweaty, then got rained on.  The smell was delightful.