ABJ Notices Low InfoCision Attendance

[Captain Kangaroo]

Why, oh why is attendance so low?

Maybe the University can commission a $100,000 study to determine the cause of the empty seats?

[akzipper]

No one wants to watch a team lose. It's as simple as that! People can blame the marketing dept or Tom W himself. But what do people expect? sell outs every week to watch a team that is in all reality, painful to watch. Give it time people...

[RootforRoo44]

Anyone notice the attendance for the last game went up as the week went on?

Wednesday night: GoZips.com originally says attendance was just over 6,000 (Take my word for it)

Early Thursday: Official box score states 7,671 as the "official" attendance.

Sunday: Akron Beacon Journal claims 11,178 as the attendance.

What the heck?

[KentZip]

Anyone notice the attendance for the last game went up as the week went on?

Wednesday night: GoZips.com originally says attendance was just over 6,000 (Take my word for it)

Early Thursday: Official box score states 7,671 as the "official" attendance.

Sunday: Akron Beacon Journal claims 11,178 as the attendance.

What the heck?

IMO, there were no more than 3.500 people in the seats and that might be generous.

One thing that surprised me was the very large number of comments on the ABJ article.

Usually, Zips football only draws a few comments - mostly from our board members.

[Hilltopper]

Why, oh why is attendance so low?

Maybe the University can commission a $100,000 study to determine the cause of the empty seats?

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."

So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So They created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an

Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one Year and we are $918,000 over budget, we must cutback." So they laid off the night watchman.

[Lee Adams]

Why, oh why is attendance so low?

Maybe the University can commission a $100,000 study to determine the cause of the empty seats?

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."

So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So They created two positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.

Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an

Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one Year and we are $918,000 over budget, we must cutback." So they laid off the night watchman.

I worked for th Ohio Dept of Correction and Rehab.(they had to call it something). This is the type of thing the administrators of that agency did. Said we have to lay off to save money. But they hired more central office people jsut before the layoffs and canned the real workers out in the field.

[GP1]

Rumor has it the headline of tomorrow's ABJ will read, "Japanese Surrender".

[MaxZIP]

Akron Zips must forfeit last game due to player shortages.

[skip-zip]

I've wrestled with this attendance issue for decades, and posted many of my own conclusions on here. And I'm sure many of the other old timers have as well.

But over the last couple of years, I now at least have some new answers.

1) The new stadium wasn't the "big solution".

and

2) The increase in convenience for on-campus students had a very short-lived effect.

I mean. Come on. Poor season or not, nearly 30,000 of you students were on campus during the day last Wednesday, and by 6pm only a few of you made it over to the stadium? Even to just enjoy a college football game? Even if you aren't a big Zips fan?

I think the new stadium has made the fan experience much better....but sadly, only for those who had an interest in Akron football already.

[Quickzips]

I'm surprised that anyone was at InfoCision last week to even notice the low attendance.

Seriously, what it all comes down to is winning. This idea of build the new stadium and they will come doesn't work in today's instant gratification, countless entertainment options society. On a Wednesday night in mid-November, if the choice is between staying at home where it is warm and watching TV or playing video games or going out and watching an 0-10 team get what will probably be another severe beatdown, 99% of people are going to stay home, and you know what, those 99% will be making the right decision. Those who disagree with that 99% are simply blinded by their blue and gold goggles. Find me a team, any team, in any sport, in any corner of our country that has been as consistently anemic as Zips football but can still fill a 25,000+ seat stadium. You can't do it. That team doesn't exist. The bottom line is winning breeds interest and butts in seats, losing breeds apathy and empty stadiums. I don't know how to make it much simpler than that.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The lack of attendance is not the story.

The story regarding Akron football is the horrific, pathetic results after 5 years of the Stile Center, and 2 years of InfoCision. And - What is being done to correct it? And - When will the fruits of this corrective action be seen on the field? Can someone ask the AD?

UA Athletics with InfoCision is like an armless man with a Steinway piano.

[Zipmeister]

My proposal would correct the attendance problem at once and regardless of the team's performance. In case you have forgotten - naked cheerleaders.

[Captain Kangaroo]

My proposal would correct the attendance problem at once and regardless of the team's performance. In case you have forgotten - naked cheerleaders.

And - free beer

[RootforRoo44]

I'm surprised that anyone was at InfoCision last week to even notice the low attendance.

Seriously, what it all comes down to is winning. This idea of build the new stadium and they will come doesn't work in today's instant gratification, countless entertainment options society. On a Wednesday night in mid-November, if the choice is between staying at home where it is warm and watching TV or playing video games or going out and watching an 0-10 team get what will probably be another severe beatdown, 99% of people are going to stay home, and you know what, those 99% will be making the right decision. Those who disagree with that 99% are simply blinded by their blue and gold goggles. Find me a team, any team, in any sport, in any corner of our country that has been as consistently anemic as Zips football but can still fill a 25,000+ seat stadium. You can't do it. That team doesn't exist. The bottom line is winning breeds interest and butts in seats, losing breeds apathy and empty stadiums. I don't know how to make it much simpler than that.

Maybe im crazy but I would no doubt rather tailgate, hammer 12 beers, and watch football (even terrible football) than stay inside. Especially when it's my team! I know that most college students would find any excuse to drink, so what gives? Where are all of the students?

It really doesnt make sense to me and i'm someone who plays WAY too many video games.

[Big Zip]

I have season tickets and I had a choice to make last Wednesday....hurry home from work and head down to the stadum foregoing an evening with my family (because they would not go with me) or stay home with my family don't rush around and watch the game on TV in HD no less. I chose to say home with my family. If the team was winning I can assure you my family would have been interested and we all would have rushed around after work to get there in time. Heck we may even have taken a half day so we could tailgate.

I agree the product is what drives attendance, but at least that had my four tickets to count.

[Quickzips]

I'm surprised that anyone was at InfoCision last week to even notice the low attendance.

Seriously, what it all comes down to is winning. This idea of build the new stadium and they will come doesn't work in today's instant gratification, countless entertainment options society. On a Wednesday night in mid-November, if the choice is between staying at home where it is warm and watching TV or playing video games or going out and watching an 0-10 team get what will probably be another severe beatdown, 99% of people are going to stay home, and you know what, those 99% will be making the right decision. Those who disagree with that 99% are simply blinded by their blue and gold goggles. Find me a team, any team, in any sport, in any corner of our country that has been as consistently anemic as Zips football but can still fill a 25,000+ seat stadium. You can't do it. That team doesn't exist. The bottom line is winning breeds interest and butts in seats, losing breeds apathy and empty stadiums. I don't know how to make it much simpler than that.

Maybe im crazy but I would no doubt rather tailgate, hammer 12 beers, and watch football (even terrible football) than stay inside. Especially when it's my team! I know that most college students would find any excuse to drink, so what gives? Where are all of the students?

It really doesnt make sense to me and i'm someone who plays WAY too many video games.

All of the students are inside drinking, watching TV, playing video games, and, well...doing what college students do. They don't care about the game because nobody has given them a reason to. Not the University, not the athletic department, and certainly not the team. They can get drunk and keep themselves entertained in other ways and until someone steps up and gives them a reason to care about the football team they will.

[tbozeglav]

All of the students are inside drinking, watching TV, playing video games, and, well...doing what college students do. They don't care about the game because nobody has given them a reason to. Not the University, not the athletic department, and certainly not the team. They can get drunk and keep themselves entertained in other ways and until someone steps up and gives them a reason to care about the football team they will.

+1

This is pretty much THE issue here. UA Athletics does a horrible job promoting the teams (soccer included) to get students to come out. Wow... pizza and pop... big whoop. EVERY time they attempt that pathetic marketing ploy, 1 of 2 things happens: 1) students show up, do nothing, wait till they get their free "stuff" and leave, or 2) they don't show up because honestly... pizza and pop are the 2 most lame things to "give away".

Let's not forget that these are STUDENTS here. They aren't paying thousands every semester to go to every athletic event. A lot of them have classes, homework, or hell... even JOBS that get in the way of these stupid weekday games. I for one couldn't make the game because I was slammed with homework due the next day. Students will never come out in large numbers for weekday games. Never will happen. Play on Saturdays and they'll come in larger numbers. But to sit there and say that there should be hundreds upon thousands of students at a Wednesday 6pm game is absolutely absurd.

Want to fix the attendance problem? WIN GAMES. End of discussion. You all can wallow on about ticket prices and stupid details like that, but none of them are long-term solutions. To put butts in the seats, win games, win the conference, play in bowl games, get national exposure. Also, let's be realistic here... any MAC team has about no chance at regularly selling out for all their home games. I would be plenty happy to see ~20k for every game.

[akzipper]

All of the students are inside drinking, watching TV, playing video games, and, well...doing what college students do. They don't care about the game because nobody has given them a reason to. Not the University, not the athletic department, and certainly not the team. They can get drunk and keep themselves entertained in other ways and until someone steps up and gives them a reason to care about the football team they will.

+1

This is pretty much THE issue here. UA Athletics does a horrible job promoting the teams (soccer included) to get students to come out. Wow... pizza and pop... big whoop. EVERY time they attempt that pathetic marketing ploy, 1 of 2 things happens: 1) students show up, do nothing, wait till they get their free "stuff" and leave, or 2) they don't show up because honestly... pizza and pop are the 2 most lame things to "give away".

Let's not forget that these are STUDENTS here. They aren't paying thousands every semester to go to every athletic event. A lot of them have classes, homework, or hell... even JOBS that get in the way of these stupid weekday games. I for one couldn't make the game because I was slammed with homework due the next day. Students will never come out in large numbers for weekday games. Never will happen. Play on Saturdays and they'll come in larger numbers. But to sit there and say that there should be hundreds upon thousands of students at a Wednesday 6pm game is absolutely absurd.

Want to fix the attendance problem? WIN GAMES. End of discussion. You all can wallow on about ticket prices and stupid details like that, but none of them are long-term solutions. To put butts in the seats, win games, win the conference, play in bowl games, get national exposure. Also, let's be realistic here... any MAC team has about no chance at regularly selling out for all their home games. I would be plenty happy to see ~20k for every game.

What the hell do you expect. THE TEAM HASN'T WON A GAME ALL YEAR! What is the school supposed to do? pay each student $100 to come? really I would like to know what you people expect to happen. Just deal with it that this team is awful, they gave out free t-shirts, free food, free soccer tickets, and plenty of other promotions this year. I don't know what you want.

[GP1]

The lack of attendance is not the story.

The story regarding Akron football is the horrific, pathetic results after 5 years of the Stile Center, and 2 years of InfoCision. And - What is being done to correct it? And - When will the fruits of this corrective action be seen on the field? Can someone ask the AD?

In bold is what I really want to know. I'm at the point where I really don't care what they do to correct it as long as it gets fixed. I'm done paying attention enough to think about what they are doing to fix it. I will continue to pay attention from a distance and care about the results in terms of Ws and Ls. I'll get excited again when I actually see more results and less of a building process. 25 years of a building process is all I can take....I really mean this, I don't know how some of you pull youselves up to go to a game at this point.

[ZachTheZip]

The lack of attendance is not the story.

The story regarding Akron football is the horrific, pathetic results after 5 years of the Stile Center, and 2 years of InfoCision. And - What is being done to correct it? And - When will the fruits of this corrective action be seen on the field? Can someone ask the AD?

In bold is what I really want to know. I'm at the point where I really don't care what they do to correct it as long as it gets fixed. I'm done paying attention enough to think about what they are doing to fix it. I will continue to pay attention from a distance and care about the results in terms of Ws and Ls. I'll get excited again when I actually see more results and less of a building process. 25 years of a building process is all I can take....I really mean this, I don't know how some of you pull youselves up to go to a game at this point.

The answer to what they are trying to do appears to be removing bad elements from the team. Addition by subtraction. That's what they're doing. It takes longer to pay off than other methods because it takes time to find replacements and until you do you're stuck with no depth and barely enough players to run an effective practice.

So, I guess i don't know the answer to CK's question. But i do know that it takes time, which is something we never had in the environment of a new stadium and massive debt.

[GP1]

The answer to what they are trying to do appears to be removing bad elements from the team. Addition by subtraction. That's what they're doing. It takes longer to pay off than other methods because it takes time to find replacements and until you do you're stuck with no depth and barely enough players to run an effective practice.

I understand what you are saying and I don't disagree.

Let's go back one year. At some point, TW made a decision to fire JD and hire a new guy. Was it his intent to dismantle the program and bring in all new players or did he think they could win at least the same number of games as the year before with 17 returning starters?

If his intent was to bring in CoachI to dismantle the team, he had to have an idea of how long it would take to rebuild the team...wouldn't he? Wouldn't he ask CoachI how long the dreaded building process would take? One year? Two years? Three years? JD won the MAC in his second season. A lot of coaches come to the MAC and have immediate success within two or three years.

TW has been a terrible AD since the day he walked on campus. I don't know the guy personally so this isn't a personal attack. He is a terrible AD and should be removed sooner rather than later. I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that if he decided to dismantle the program, he had no idea how long it would take to get the team back to winning at least six games. That is what makes him a terrible AD...he has no idea what to do or even how to start doing what needs to be done. There just isn't anything there. He would be a "C" player at General Electric and lose his job. It isn't just bad for UofA to have him in this job, it is bad for him and is immoral to keep a person in a position where he will have no success...that's why Dr. Proenza needs to act sooner rather than later.

[ZipRoo]

You folks who truly believe that Wistrcill and Ianello had this "master plan" to "remove the bad elements" (whatever that's supposed to be) from the team to ensure future success....REALLY?! SERIOUSLY?! Do you believe that, or are you hoping that's the case (excuse)?

Because, from where I'm sitting, you're giving two know-nothings a WHOLE lot more credit than they deserve. Honestly, what have either of those guy shown you that makes you believe they have such a grandiose scheme in progress?

It's laughable to even suggest such a thing.

[ZachTheZip]

I believe that's what they think they are doing. How many of the leaving players are actually bad for the team is up to debate, as some of them had great character.

[Dave in Green]

No one wants a building process that goes on endlessly with consistently negative results. This season is rock bottom. You can't get any lower than #120 of 120 FBS teams. The only two options left are to remain at rock bottom or demonstrate a building process that produces positive results. I'm open to a building process that produces positive results starting next season.

[Spin]

You folks who truly believe that Wistrcill and Ianello had this "master plan" to "remove the bad elements" (whatever that's supposed to be) from the team to ensure future success....REALLY?! SERIOUSLY?!

How could he do that, there shouldn't be any bad elements left after JD got rid of them all, which is the reason he used for sucking.