Most schools make homecoming a big event. At UA it's kind like, "Hey. it's homecoming" Let's go to the bar.
TBH, when I was a student I didn't even care about it either. But I also went to every home game when I wasn't working and 1-2 away games every season too. Even after I graduated I continued to go up until I moved 10 years ago. Now we come home every year at Thanksgiving and I hope there is a home game or close enough road game to attend.