USMCOWL said

from what I read on twitter, everyone has been giving kudos to the university, the city and the committee.

Posted On: Dec 23rd 2014, 10:47 PM #340082

Yep. Sounds like everyone did a great job and the stadium was received very well.

The one PBP guy who wrote the biased article about the new Athletic Complex was kind of a douche about attendance though. Good to know he's consistent, I guess.

owl2Doc said

USMCOWL said

from what I read on twitter, everyone has been giving kudos to the university, the city and the committee.

Posted On: Dec 23rd 2014, 10:47 PM #340082

Yep. Sounds like everyone did a great job and the stadium was received very well.

The one PBP guy who wrote the biased article about the new Athletic Complex was kind of a douche about attendance though. Good to know he's consistent, I guess.

Posted On: Dec 23rd 2014, 10:58 PM #340084

Bias at the palm beach post against fau shocking. Lol. 

I was there. I estimate the crowd at 25,000. It was a late arriving crowd due to I-95 traffic and tailgating. I saw some people cooking and socializing under tents behind the PBCC buildings near the curve (coming from Spanish River Blvd.) 20 minutes before kickoff.

I have never seen so many lots full or so many tailgaters.

The only larger crowd (but very similar looking) was the inaugural stadium game.

Both decks on both sidelines were essentially full. There were some holes on the upper north (NIU) side.

The FAU student end zones was about two-thirds full. The closed in end zone was full on the lower deck and had decent numbers above that.

Great use was made of the lawn behind the west side of the stadium with all kinds of tents (food, bars, Christmas trees, etc.), activities, booths and attractions.

Great use was made of the video board and sound system with the Andrea Ocampo show, contests, funny videos, Dance Cam (hugely popular), etc. The FAU announcer was used and with all the red uniforms on the home side, I got confused a couple of times thinking I was at an FAU game!

The photo room and press conference rooms were packed. Extra tables has to be brought in.

I've covered and been to many bowls. This was very well presented and showed off this area very well, even with great tourism and such commercials on the video board. I liked the way the bowl involved the entire county and had events, including pep rallies and the luncheon, in West Palm Beach as well.

The only issues I noticed were the video board's failure with about 4 minutes to play (ugh) and a horribly designed trophy presentation (no riser was used, the crowd could not hear the interviews and the media was almost totally blocked by official TV and still photos crews).

bmarkey said

I was there. I estimate the crowd at 25,000. It was a late arriving crowd due to I-95 traffic and tailgating. I saw some people cooking and socializing under tents behind the PBCC buildings near the curve (coming from Spanish River Blvd. 20 minutes before kickoff.

I have never seen so many lots full or so many tailgaters.

The only larger crowd (but very similar looking) was the inaugural stadium game.

Both decks on both sidelines were essentially full. There were some holes on te upper north (NIU) side.

The FAU student end zones was about two-thirds full. The closed in end zone was full on the lower deck and had decent numbers above that.

Great use was made of the lawn behind the west side of the stadium with all kinds of tents (food, bars, Christmas trees, etc.), activities, booths and attractions.

Great use was made of the video board and sound system with the Andrea Ocampo show, contests, funny videos, Dance Cam (hugely popular), etc. The FAU announcer was used and with all the red uniforms on the home side, I got confused a couple of times thinking I was at an FAU game!

The photo room and press conference rooms were packed. Extra tables has to be brought in.

I've covered and been to many bowls. This was very well presented and showed off this area very well, even with great tourism and such commercials on the video board. I liked the way the bowl involved the entire county and had events, including pep rallies and the luncheon, in West Palm Beach as well.

The only issues I noticed were the video board's failure with about 4 minutes to play (ugh) and a horribly designed trophy presentation (no riser was used, the crowd could not hear the interviews and the media was almost totally block by official TV and still photos crews).

Posted On: Dec 25th 2014, 11:44 PM #340129

No way there was 25,000 the box score has just under 15k

it was still hugely successful for a ignaural bowl game. just wish the game could have been closer.

owlcountry40 said

bmarkey said

I was there. I estimate the crowd at 25,000. It was a late arriving crowd due to I-95 traffic and tailgating. I saw some people cooking and socializing under tents behind the PBCC buildings near the curve (coming from Spanish River Blvd. 20 minutes before kickoff.

I have never seen so many lots full or so many tailgaters.

The only larger crowd (but very similar looking) was the inaugural stadium game.

Both decks on both sidelines were essentially full. There were some holes on te upper north (NIU) side.

The FAU student end zones was about two-thirds full. The closed in end zone was full on the lower deck and had decent numbers above that.

Great use was made of the lawn behind the west side of the stadium with all kinds of tents (food, bars, Christmas trees, etc.), activities, booths and attractions.

Great use was made of the video board and sound system with the Andrea Ocampo show, contests, funny videos, Dance Cam (hugely popular), etc. The FAU announcer was used and with all the red uniforms on the home side, I got confused a couple of times thinking I was at an FAU game!

The photo room and press conference rooms were packed. Extra tables has to be brought in.

I've covered and been to many bowls. This was very well presented and showed off this area very well, even with great tourism and such commercials on the video board. I liked the way the bowl involved the entire county and had events, including pep rallies and the luncheon, in West Palm Beach as well.

The only issues I noticed were the video board's failure with about 4 minutes to play (ugh) and a horribly designed trophy presentation (no riser was used, the crowd could not hear the interviews and the media was almost totally block by official TV and still photos crews).

Posted On: Dec 25th 2014, 11:44 PM #340129

No way there was 25,000 the box score has just under 15k

Posted On: Dec 26th 2014, 11:06 AM #340132

Don't know what outlet you are looking at for a box score, but ESPN listed the game as a sell-out at 29,419. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=400610203.

And there likely was around 25,000, but all seats were "sold". Marshall and NIU bought up their allotments, the student section was sold-out, and the other end-zone was "bought" (I don't know how much they paid for it) by charities for underprivileged families/children.

The only empty areas was the North end-zone and pockets within NIU's area. I figure those areas were empty because people were hanging out in the Tiki bar area.

Also: I have been to the Champs Sports Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Miami Beach Bowl, Orange Bowl, and now the Boca Raton Bowl. Our Bowl had BY FAR the best entertainment and pregame festivities. It felt like a real celebration and was PACKED. The game also showed fairly well on television (I recorded it to watch our stadium). The entertainment was subpar but no one really cared, as long as there was someone singing. I have never seen such tailgating on our campus. It stretched from the stadium all the way to the research park, over to PBSC parking lots, and over to the lots in front of the new engineering & medicine buildings. There were also numerous vendors both giving out free stuff & selling food & apparel. I was also impressed with the alumni tailgates both schools had set-up by the participating schools.

Overall, this was definately the best bowl game I have been to in terms of preparation, entertainment, and attendance. Could the game have been closer? Sure, but you really cannot fault Cato for running up the score in his last collegiate game.

Sidenote: even if you were to disagree & say attendance was not as much as ESPN says it was:

- There are bowl games that have less than 8,000 actual butts in the seats (see Bahamas bowl, Hawaii bowl, and even the Miami Beach Bowl).
- ESPN doesn't really care what attendance is. They care about viewership on their network, which is where the real money is made; and it seemed many who had no affiliation to either school tuned in.

This was a great experience & bowl game that definately surpassed my expectations. I cannot wait to go to the next edition. Our university really got showed off to a lot of fans both in the area and from around the country. Great job FAU & ESPN, I really don't think it could have gone over better.

I have heard nothing but good about our Boca Bowl with the exception being one AP piece which says less than 15K in our 30K stadium.

A late arriving crowd is bound to happen with tailgaters having a great time. And a 6 pm start on a Tuesday is NOT a time condusive to the fans who buy the tickets. It is a workday, at rush hour, just before Christmas. Put those 3 together plus the tailgating you get a late arriving crowd.

Thanks to all whom have posted their experience and pics too. Would have liked a closer game for the viewers too but CUSA kicking the MAC back up north was great too! Rice beating up on Fresno St. and even WKU beating CMU is helping put CUSA right up there next to the AAC!

The C-USA members are discussing this bowl, positively, as well.

FAU

Now let's remember Espn set the date and time of the game not boca or fau. From what I've read fans said they loved the area the weather the stadium etc. the announce team raved about the stadium and campus. You had the city produce two commercials to try to bring residents and businesses to the area. If people watching at home heard boca raton they would think "I thought that was a retirement area". It's a win for the university the city and county because it changes the mindset. 

The bowl was a 100% successs I just know there was only like 15k there which isn't bad compared to some of the other bowls.
It does kinda stink the best bowl C-USA offers in this one and it's our home stadium.

Does any one have a link to the Boca commerical?