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2008 Final Attendance Numbers

Kadeezy

Kadeezy

Active member
So, this year we topped last year's Total and Average Attendance numbers. Remember that last year we hosted Montana and the Causeway Classic. The average attendance was 8,133 per game.

There's no reason that with a competitive team and the boost of hosting key games we can't bring in 10-12K per game. If we make a playoff push, we could be looking at 15ish.
 
I was very surprised at the turnout at the UNC game, my buddies and I tailgate at every home game and the atmosphere at the UNC game was the best this season. Winning really does make a difference, it showed at the UNC game.

Of course, there were a lot of youth league players at the game that day, I believe it was the Shriners Bowl or something. Regardless, it was an awesome day.

I think that with a win against ISU and some good recruiting in the offseason, theres no reason we couldnt beat this years attendance averages next year.

GO HORNETS!
 
We can look for a boost next year hosting Montana and the Causeway. And winning don't hurt either!
I think that its realistic for us to average 13,000 to 15,000 next season.
 
StungAlum said:
I was very surprised at the turnout at the UNC game, my buddies and I tailgate at every home game and the atmosphere at the UNC game was the best this season. Winning really does make a difference, it showed at the UNC game.

Of course, there were a lot of youth league players at the game that day, I believe it was the Shriners Bowl or something. Regardless, it was an awesome day.

I think that with a win against ISU and some good recruiting in the offseason, theres no reason we couldnt beat this years attendance averages next year.

GO HORNETS!
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And hopefully with all those that came strictly for the Shriners game afterwards, we made them fans of the Hornets. And with the score we ran up on UNC, I think we made a great impression.....
 
Green Cookie Monster said:
Why don't we have events like this after every home game? Or a band.
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Because the focus should always be on the team. If they win, you don't need gimmicks to get folks to a game. They will show and I think most did after the Causeway win. I cannot recall that large of a crowd at the end of the season (non-Causeway) in 20 years.

We do have a band: the Sacramento State Marching Band ;)
 
It's great to hear about the numbers being up. With a little creative marketing from the Athletic Dept. they should be able to top this year, next year. My personal pet peeve is the scheduling of the games during the middle of the day. Come on, for most of us Sat & Sun are the only days off. Putting the games smack in the middle of the day makes for a short weekend, especially if you take in all the game day activities. Additionally, I took my folks to a game this year ( 65+ years old ). They had to escape to under the stands to avoid getting heat stroke ! These gray hairs would love to come back, but the Sept / Oct. games can literally be killers. Stadium staff will not even let you bring an umbrella to shade yourself. End result , lost ticket sales. Let's see... a couple icey cold ones, a 65 - 70 degree evening in the valley and the hornets playing vs. the same on a 90 - 95 degree afternoon . It's a no brainer. More students, more public.. pick up 2000 more seats per game easy.
 
I agree that games should be at night, only early on in the season. Then at about mid-October switch them to day games....I like to be able to have Saturday evening free to party after a Hornet win.
 
Let's face it, the only reason they moved the games to the middle of the day was to avoid an expensive electricity bill. The bottom line is that if they continue to win, attendance will continue to climb. I'm not sure how I feel about day games, when I was a student it was easier to take some deep swigs from my flask at night games (which was always required during the Moosh years), but as someone pointed out, night games have a huge potential to cut into Saturday night partying. As important as it is to have students go to the games, their attendance is not directly resulting in ticket sales. So looking at it from a profitability standpoint, the athletic department needs to market to people who don't get into games for free and figure what start time would generate more revenue.
 
I remember many a night game where large swaths of the students left at halftime, back to tailgating. Maybe start at 4? At least get some shade for the homeside.

I like the idea of having a HS game right after the Hornets game, or before. It draws prospects, trafficflow, exposure and added seats. Logistics would be an issue.
 
I think that night games would help attendence in Sept through mid Oct. I used to like the night games but I have to admit that since we went to afternoon games I have adjusted and they seem to have more of a "big time college' feel to them. I understand that coach has requested the day games. The heat during the early season probally has held the crowds down a bit but they might also give us a advantage over some of the Big Sky teams not used to it. I remember last year it was warm for the Montana game and they were using misters and big fans on the sidelines. I sat on their side and they were sucking air pretty bad in the second half! If we can keep improving I am sure that we will have some great crowds next year! GCM's suggestion of having a high school game before or after a Hornet Game probally couldn't be done because the NCAA considers contact between high school and college programs a recruiting violation.
 
Green Laser said:
GCM's suggestion of having a high school game before or after a Hornet Game probally couldn't be done because the NCAA considers contact between high school and college programs a recruiting violation.
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That is correct. Youth football is fine, high schools are a no-no.
 
One idea might be to allow high school players to attend the games for free or for a discount if they wear their high school jerseys. They used to do this once a year, but doing it every home game would not cost us much in relationship to the potential benefit. It might be a good way to have them bond with the school.
 
Green Laser said:
One idea might be to allow high school players to attend the games for free or for a discount if they wear their high school jerseys. They used to do this once a year, but doing it every home game would not cost us much in relationship to the potential benefit. It might be a good way to have them bond with the school.
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Again, they cannot due to NCAA rules. HS players have to purchase a ticket just like everyone else.
 
Why is this a rules violation? We give (or used to give) free tix to grade school and middle school kids all the time. It makes no sense, and I don't really see how it's enforceable anyway. It's free advertising for the university, and it generates some badly needed revenue in the form of concession sales, particularly from their parents buying overpriced stale beer.
 
Super Hornet said:
Why is this a rules violation? We give (or used to give) free tix to grade school and middle school kids all the time. It makes no sense, and I don't really see how it's enforceable anyway. It's free advertising for the university, and it generates some badly needed revenue in the form of concession sales, particularly from their parents buying overpriced stale beer.
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Casey, you are not listening. High school students, not grade or middle school, cannot because of the implied notion of recruiting. Its been in the NCAA regs for years....please go a read them. Its says unequivocally that free tickets cannot be issued to high school students.
 
Super Hornet said:
Why is this a rules violation? We give (or used to give) free tix to grade school and middle school kids all the time. It makes no sense, and I don't really see how it's enforceable anyway. It's free advertising for the university, and it generates some badly needed revenue in the form of concession sales, particularly from their parents buying overpriced stale beer.
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Beer hasnt been sold at a game in a few years now :) , remember the ban on alcohol at athletic events. They'd be buying overpriced hot dogs etc.
 
Not that it would happen, but you're saying that it would be a rules violation if we gave free football tix to a VB or gymnastics team? I know that I'm taking that to an extreme, but it still makes no sense to me.

Of course, since when has the NCAA made any sense? This is an organization that allowed a hoopster to do a video diary during the NCAA Tournament, but wouldn't let a football player accept transportation, food, and lodging for an unpaid acting gig in another country. No sense whatsoever.
 
Super Hornet said:
Not that it would happen, but you're saying that it would be a rules violation if we gave free football tix to a VB or gymnastics team? I know that I'm taking that to an extreme, but it still makes no sense to me.

Of course, since when has the NCAA made any sense? This is an organization that allowed a hoopster to do a video diary during the NCAA Tournament, but wouldn't let a football player accept transportation, food, and lodging for an unpaid acting gig in another country. No sense whatsoever.
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ANY high school student. Please read the rules and regs in the NCAA manual. I know its cumbersome (as is the NCAA), but its what the school agreed to, to be a member.
 
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