Good morning OwlNation,

I was watching a replay of America's team (FAU) in the Boca Bowl. Could not help but wonder: what do we think about the attendance at the Bowl game?

Also: what did you do to improve attendance? I bought 20 tickets and actually got 20 butts in the seats. We all talk about how bad attendance is so I wanted to see what people have been doing to help it.

I even publicly shamed some of my fraternity brothers from when I was in college for not going and questioned the active brothers why they were not there.

So I ask: what did you think of attendance? And what did you do to fill the stadium? 

NJOWL - great job on helping get people there. Your points in our other comment responding to me are fair which is why I also specified season tickets as they are quite high. I do know you can get in cheaper if you sit other than on the sidelines.

I live in N. Ga. and many times wish I were closer so I too could support the school with my attendance at football and other sports events as well!

I actually am embarrassed when I see our stadium 1/3 to "maybe" 1/2 full on any televised game. EVEN WITH A GREAT TEAM/PRODUCT NOW!

Yes, I know  all teams are suffering from this now (even SEC teams the upper bowls and end zones are almost never full anymore) as well and I do feel a real shakeout in college sports, football especially, is gonna happen soon and I hope we are not a victim of this!

Attendance gets brought up in this forum a lot.  I think the dozens of active posters here are the die hards and do their part.  I think it’s lazy to say that tix are expensive, or that there’s so much to do in South Florida.  If they said here’s 30,000 free tickets to see FAU vs Old Dominion our stadium would still be half full.  One thing that has worked in the past for basketball is when Jarvis would go around the city and talk to different groups and get them excited to come to games, add the exciting product we had on the court those years, and the environment was amazing.  I think that’s something Taggart will do a better job of than Lane (I hope).  Other than that, Greek life has a big influence on campus, get them in the game and not just the tailgate, make it a contest with a prize at the end of the season.

Stop laying eggs when we have showcase games with a large crowd. That is also a big issue, IMHO.

Hopefully our BocaBowl blowout of SMU will start to change that issue!

Winning seems like the obvious Step One for attracting attendance.

Community out-reach by Taggart, his staff and the University at-large, if it isn't Step Two, it's near-enough.

Greek involvement, is what, Three(a)? Someone's (I've forgotten who, apologies) pointed out that we're continuing to reward fraternities and sororities, even though their participation has slackened-off. It costs (the University) money to have a few thousand people drink and eat and parking-lot-party for a few hours, and then what, they trickle-off?

(b) Manufacture incentives for the entire student body to attend, a la candy from a stranger. Have the students card-swipe in and card-swipe out. Those who attend five of six (or so) home games are rewarded with early class enrollment or an extra ticket to graduation or a banquet or a ball or a concert or a…and so on. I know it's a cheap trick but it's not exactly using cartoon characters to advertise our cigarette brand.

Greek Housing and a Twentieth Street type-project-thing can thumb-wrestle four Four.

I buy season tickets in the club seats and purchase a parking pass.  I noticed when we went to the UCF game you get a lanyard and one parking pass.  I think it's crowded in the club area because most of the people sneak into the area bc it's super easy.  There are probably 50-70 people hanging in the club.  Security is pretty much a joke and I think if you rectify that it would help with the fan experience.  Also, I want to note that the Navy and UCF game were super humid and that probably didn't help overall fan experience.

I also want to add that it would be nice if they did something special for ticket holders.  I am not asking for much but what about a tour of the new facility or A meet and greet with the coaches/players.  

I was thinking the same. It would be a great gesture to offer tours of the new Schmidt complex for season ticket holders during the Spring Game weekend. 

Rick said

Stop laying eggs when we have showcase games with a large crowd. That is also a big issue, IMHO.

Posted On: Jan 2nd 2020, 1:59 PM #393113

This – both on and "off" the field during these big games. I am pretty sure the UCF game (and game experience for those that went) had an influence on people not coming back, no matter what we were doing on the field afterwards. As a fan I can overlook some of the shortcomings easily – I don't think the casual fan we are trying to get in the stadium (who we ultimately have to try and get in seats) by and large will, just to see us play other C USA teams.