I thought the stadium was going to be ready oct 1st it will blow opening the season after six weeks and five home games

Rough start to the schedule, but I do like that we finish the year only leaving the state 1 time after Oct. 15th.  I can go to 6 of the final 7 games…can't wait!  ;D

It won't sell out. We will get 20k though and tje media soundbite will be, "20K would have counted as a sellout at Lockhart so I think we're doing okay."

Captain said

NCowl said

I am going for FAU and it doesn't matter who the opponent is, but I think it is better we can pull out a win than getting blown out by a big name opponent on opening day… so I will take WKU… because on that day it is about the OWLS and the new Stadium, not who we can bring in!!!!!

I will be there on opening day, as well; supporting the Owls. I want us to win that game, too. My point is: FAU will have a difficult time selling out this historic game, with an "unattractive" opponent.

Think about it: Owls men's basketball had their best season ever this year, and I don't believe they sold out the Burrow (5,000 seats) once this year. So if FAU can't fill 5,000 seats in a air-conditioned venue with a winning team; how do they plan on filling 30,000 seats outdoors with team that will enter their 2011 home opener (at best) with a record of 2-3?

I think this is wrong. The burrow does not have 5K seats. The burrow was almost sold out during the WKU and FIU and probably some other games. If you have been at lockhart; you know that we bring more than 10K fans, simply because I believe football attracts more than basketball.
Now, I believe it is more important the fact that we finally have a beautiful stadium ON campus that we can call home THAN focusing on the perfect opponent. People will go the game because it is the opening, they want to see the stadium and we will have more students because it is ON campus.
I'll be there regardless of who the opponent is.

AlexFAU06 said

I think this is wrong. The burrow does not have 5K seats. The burrow was almost sold out during the WKU and FIU and probably some other games. If you have been at lockhart; you know that we bring more than 10K fans, simply because I believe football attracts more than basketball.
Now, I believe it is more important the fact that we finally have a beautiful stadium ON campus that we can call home THAN focusing on the perfect opponent. People will go the game because it is the opening, they want to see the stadium and we will have more students because it is ON campus.
I'll be there regardless of who the opponent is.

FAU Arena has 5,000 seats, according to FAU's Athletic's website (Florida Atlantic Owls Official Athletic Site - Facilities).

I agree, fans should go just because its the opening of a brand new on-campus stadium. BUT like you said, FAU usually gets around 10,000 people for football. So assuming the buzz of a new stadium doubles the attendance, we are only looking at 20,000 people with 10,000 empty seats. Meaning one out of every three seats will be empty. Imagine if this game gets picked up nationally, to see a third of the stadium empty during its grand opening makes the program look horrible.

I don;t care that we are playing WKU, but some people do… again… making it hard for FAU sell out the 10,000 empty seats we will likely have.

How many people were at the inagural game vs. Slippery Rock?

walty12 said

How many people were at the inagural game vs. Slippery Rock?

25,632 at Pro Player stadium.

How many were Slippery Rock fans? How much marketing/promotion was done by Pro Player Stadium?

Captain said

walty12 said

How many people were at the inagural game vs. Slippery Rock?

25,632 at Pro Player stadium.

How many were Slippery Rock fans? How much marketing/promotion was done by Pro Player Stadium?

25,632 - 10 years ago for the first game with NO fan base going to Miami-Dade (and I'm pretty sure they were not all slippery Rock fans), we now have a brand spank'n new on campus stadium with more fans, more students, I think we will be damn close to selling out no matter who we play!

NCowl said

Captain said

walty12 said

How many people were at the inagural game vs. Slippery Rock?

25,632 at Pro Player stadium.

How many were Slippery Rock fans? How much marketing/promotion was done by Pro Player Stadium?

25,632 - 10 years ago for the first game with NO fan base going to Miami-Dade (and I'm pretty sure they were not all slippery Rock fans), we now have a brand spank'n new on campus stadium with more fans, more students, I think we will be damn close to selling out no matter who we play!

Agreed.  I think we will sell out no question.  Its every game after the first that I worry about.

Next years schedule has to be the most brutal in the country. 

i bet they sell out. for example, i'm planning on flying in for the game and i wouldn't fly in from up north to watch them play WKU at Lockhart. I think you'll attract a lot of alums and locals that you normally wouldn't.

now the second game….well that's a different story. i just not a believer in this team at all. Wasn't this year and definitely not in 2011.

Ted, can we get a "Hire Mike Leach" holla?