Final Box from last night:

owlcountry said

I'm looking at pictures like this and thinking that FIU's arena doesn't seem to be much bigger than ours (in terms of seating)… how are they getting "seating for 5000 people?"



Then I realize how the math may work out. We "sold out" the Burrow at 2916 but if there wasn't a game there, they could pack another 2000 seats in there on the floor (for instance when the Dalai Lama speaks at FAU). So technically the facility could seat 5000… just not during a game. Maybe that's how it works.

Does the FIU arena have as many chairback seats as the Burrow? The Burrow did have a capacity of 5,000 at one time but with the renovation and the addition of chairback seating, it was reduced by about 40%. The chairbacks take up more room than bleacher seating. When people start getting turned away at the door because it is full, then it will be time to talk about something bigger.

illinoisowl said

owlcountry said

I'm looking at pictures like this and thinking that FIU's arena doesn't seem to be much bigger than ours (in terms of seating)… how are they getting "seating for 5000 people?"



Then I realize how the math may work out. We "sold out" the Burrow at 2916 but if there wasn't a game there, they could pack another 2000 seats in there on the floor (for instance when the Dalai Lama speaks at FAU). So technically the facility could seat 5000… just not during a game. Maybe that's how it works.

Does the FIU arena have as many chairback seats as the Burrow? The Burrow did have a capacity of 5,000 at one time but with the renovation and the addition of chairback seating, it was reduced by about 40%. The chairbacks take up more room than bleacher seating. When people start getting turned away at the door because it is full, then it will be time to talk about something bigger.

They do have some chair back seating. Not sure of how many exactly. They had bleachers for the student section and in the upper deck area. We bought lower bowl seats to sit behind the FAU bench. Above us were bleachers that were pushed in since no one was going to be sitting there

fauowl said

I think all of us should worry about how big our arenas are when we both have consistent sellouts.

Just to clarify: I wasn't talking smack or suggesting we're getting too big for our shorts. All I was pointing out is the possible justification for the advertised seat counts (5000) versus what the stands support.

owlcountry said

fauowl said

I think all of us should worry about how big our arenas are when we both have consistent sellouts.

Just to clarify: I wasn't talking smack or suggesting we're getting too big for our shorts. All I was pointing out is the possible justification for the advertised seat counts (5000) versus what the stands support.

I understand.  I was more commenting on the whole: who has a bigger stadium, and was saying: does it really matter when we both struggle with attendance.  FIU can have Madison Square Garden, but 1000 fans equals 1000 fans.  When they have 25% of their arena seats pushed back and hidden behind a tarp, the argument is silly that they have a bigger arena.

The fact that they want to argue that they had 1,200 fans makes me chuckle.  I think they did have 1,200 fans.  So they got that going for them.  That stinks.