SI weighs in on declining college football attendance

78

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Excellent read with a heavy emphasis on what’s happening in Gainesville.

https://www.si.com/college/2020/01/10/college-football-attendance-decline-ncaa

”It’s game day in Gainesville.

“As I enter the stadium a few minutes before kickoff, the audio system rumbles through the cement pillars and I’m ready for an overwhelming surge of energy. But when I make it out into the open air, the first thing I notice are empty metal bleachers reflecting rays of bright Florida sun. While the alumni section I’m standing in is filled, the top third of the student section opposite me is mostly empty, a scatter-plot weighted toward the bottom. I was expecting the frenzied vibe of a rave; what I’ve got is more of a buzzy mimosa brunch.”


”The ramifications for universities are real: Iowa adjusted its school budget by $1 million last year because of falling revenue from ticket sales. And so, nationwide, administrators are scrambling. Six SEC schools, including LSU and Tennessee, started selling alcohol in their stadiums this season, after the conference lifted its ban. Alabama installed a Big Brotherish geo-tracking app to reward students who stay the whole game with better odds of snagging playoff tickets (though that didn’t turn out to be much of a reward this season). Florida brought in food trucks and DJs before games. Clemson lowered concession prices. Ohio State isn’t raising the cost of tickets next year.

”These measures are the equivalent of sticking a thumb in a leaking dam, however, because nobody knows exactly what’s making the dam buckle.”

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NOLAGATOR

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Back to the topic...movie attendance is down, church attendance is down, people don't join organizations like Rotary Club, but kids have best friends they have never met.

If tuition keeps going up...classrooms will be empty also.
 

JDW

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Not virtual classrooms they’re starting to get more n more filled up and there’s no end in sight to the trend slowing down
 

78

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Back to the topic...movie attendance is down, church attendance is down, people don't join organizations like Rotary Club, but kids have best friends they have never met.

If tuition keeps going up...classrooms will be empty also.

All of it true.
 

78

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Hmm interesting because today's Gainesville Sun had an article pointing to a "surge" in attendance and that it was up like 3% this year. The only P5 program to report an increase. Gator game attendance surged in 2019

Took me a few attempts to weave through the road block the Sun put in to try and coerce me into paying to read a Robbie Andreu story. It cites Auburn and FSU on the sked, and then it quotes Stricklin.

“You try to make it where there is something for everyone. We have a diverse fan base, people from a lot of different places, a lot of different backgrounds. We want to create something that everybody can enjoy and understand they’re all kind of connected through the love of the Gators.”

What in the hell ever happened to the concept of going to a football game to watch football?
 

CU-UF

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Oh ya, only one way to go when we are that low. But I agree, the attendance issue is across college sports. Having a winning team is important, but its not just that.
 

Gator By Marriage

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Not virtual classrooms they’re starting to get more n more filled up and there’s no end in sight to the trend slowing down
A lot of kids don't have a choice. My son is taking three classes on-line this semester at UF that are required for his major, but not available in person/live classroom. Can't say I care for it.
 

NOLAGATOR

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Took me a few attempts to weave through the road block the Sun put in to try and coerce me into paying to read a Robbie Andreu story. It cites Auburn and FSU on the sked, and then it quotes Stricklin.

“You try to make it where there is something for everyone. We have a diverse fan base, people from a lot of different places, a lot of different backgrounds. We want to create something that everybody can enjoy and understand they’re all kind of connected through the love of the Gators.”

What in the hell ever happened to the concept of going to a football game to watch football?
Amen
 

Homer J

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I only go to the scrub games because I know the attendance will be low. I got tickets in the Champions Club and had all you could eat tacos. LOVED IT!
 

78

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Ya, that kinda died a long time ago when college football as we know it sold out and went for the $$$$

I think of that as the tail on the dog. We’re talking students. What’s different now? Way too many things to distract them led by the web and social media. I see it as a big hurdle to overcome.
 

LagoonGator68

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The University sold out to TV for setting gametime. That comes with a price to pay. Student tickets is easy...show up before kick off or lose your right to purchase student tickets next year. Decrease student allotment if they don’t show up.
 

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