USA Today re: Akron attendance

[scottditzen]

This is not good. I'm embarassed that the Zips, and other MAC schools, are on this list that the USA Today calls "the dismal dozen."8/17/2006Schools scramble to fill more seats, retain I-A statusby Jack Carey and Thomas O'TooleUSA TodayA dozen schools will start the 2006 season with the clock ticking on their status as full-fledged members of the NCAA's highest football playing division.And when the season kicks off in about two weeks, it will be important for those schools to get the turnstiles spinning.The NCAA's attendance requirement for continued full fledged status in the Football Bowl Subdivision (Div I-A) can be met if a school averages 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home games one time during a rolling two year period.Twelve teams fell short of that goal last year and were sent a "courtesy letter: by the NCAA, reminding them of the requirement, NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said.SIX OF THE TEAMS ARE IN THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE. Three are in the WAC.Losing records are a common trait of many of the teams. The doxen had an average winning percentage of .259 last season.Eastern Michigan spokesman Jim Streeter said the school, last nationally at 5,219 spectators a game, is making a concerted effort to reach out to corporate customers, youth groups, church groups, students and alumni."We will find a way to get tickets sold," he said. "You can count tickets paid for, even if the purchaser is not there. Although we want them to come."Bowling Green, which went 6-5 in 2005, just missed the 15,000 cutoff, averaging 14,929."Our attendance hadn't been below 15,000 in four years," said spokesman J.D. Campbell. "WE DIDN'T PLAY A HOME GAME UNTIL OCT. 1, AND WEATHER IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY."THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM THIS YEAR. THE FALCONS PLAY THREE HOME GAMES IN SEPTEMBER, INCLUDING THE OPENER AGAINST WISCONSIN AT CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM, WHICH COUNTS AS A HOME CONTEST FOR BG, CAMPBELL SAID. THE SCHOOL IS ANTICIPATING 30,000-40,000 FOR THE BADGERS CONTEST.Temple, in anticipation of joining the MAC next year, is changing its scheduling to lay more teams from cities closer to Philadelphia and is marketing tickets more aggressively.If schools do not meet the requirement this season, they will receive a letter of non compliance which triggers a 10-YEAR PERIOD DURING WHICH TIME THEY MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENT OR BE PLACED ON RESTRICTED MEMBERSHIP. THAT WOULD RESTRICT THEM FROM BOWL OPPORTUNITIES, THOUGH ONLY AKRON OF THE 12 SCHOOLS QUALIFIED FOR A BOWL LAST SEASON. AND IT WAS THE ZIPS FIRST BOWL GAME."Should they get placed in restricted membership they would have to correct the deficiency the following year orf else they would lose their status as a Div-1 institution," Christianson said.WAC commisioner Karl Benson said his schools knew the letters were coming and anticipates an attendance increase."They've all put addicitonal dollars into marketing and promotion," he said. "I'm confident that our member institutions will meet the challenge."The dismal dozenBowling GreenLouisiana-MonroeBall StateTempleNew Mexico StateSan Joese StateUtah StateAkronRice BuffaloCan't StateEastern Michigan

[zen]

I was thinking about buying some season tickets just to support the team, but because of my job and other obligations, I'm not sure how many games I would get the opportunity to be there, and I almost feel like there is something wrong with buying tickets that you don't use, particularly if you are taking seats from someone else. Obviously, that wouldn't be the case.

[GP1]

I was thinking about buying some season tickets just to support the team, but because of my job and other obligations, I'm not sure how many games I would get the opportunity to be there, and I almost feel like there is something wrong with buying tickets that you don't use, particularly if you are taking seats from someone else. Obviously, that wouldn't be the case.

Don't hesitate for one second. Buy some tickets. This season, the most important thing a Zips fan can do to support the team is to buy extra tickets whether they get used or not. Don't give away extras outside of the ticket booths the day of a game either, make those people buy a ticket just like you did. The citizens of Akron need to start taking ownership of this team. For basically $100, you can buy a Family Pack to the games. That's 20 total tickets toward the 75,000 we need to average 15,000 per game.It is also up to all of us to help sell tickets for the University. There are enough concerned people out there that the University is doing well with it's Fund Drive. I would challenge each of you to participate in this Fund Drive effort. It's one thing to talk about the problems selling tickets, but it's another thing to actually do something about it. It's time for all of us to start doing.

[RowdyZip]

Do students count? Anyone know?Oh...and I was crunching some numbers:2005: 10,892 per game2004: 15,849 per game2003: 14,951 per game2002: 11,599 per gameA little disheartening when you look at our first ever MAC championship season being our lowest attendence in the last four years, even to that dismal 2002 season. The showings vs. Penn St and NC State are crucial for our attendence for the rest of the season.

[sgm405]

Weren't some people predicting sellouts?

[ziptrumpet87]

A little disheartening when you look at our first ever MAC championship season being our lowest attendence in the last four years

I'm sure the "frozen Turkey Bowl" didn't help that. We were thinking of going to that game but wimped out.

[RowdyZip]

I think the home opener will sell out. Not getting complacent or anything, but if the U starts putting some money into advertising, reminding that swath of blue and gold that showed up twice in Detroit of what happened last year, we should be able to hit 22k easy. I wouldnt be making this prediction if the RB was still a 30k+ capacity.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think the home opener will sell out. Not getting complacent or anything, but if the U starts putting some money into advertising, reminding that swath of blue and gold that showed up twice in Detroit of what happened last year, we should be able to hit 22k easy. I wouldnt be making this prediction if the RB was still a 30k+ capacity.

I hope the tarp over the endzone is removable. To seat only 22k for the home opener is suicide for a program that wants to draw 15k per game. We will turn away 5,000 fans if that is the case. I don't get it.

[danalleman]

A little disheartening when you look at our first ever MAC championship season being our lowest attendence in the last four years

I'm sure the "frozen Turkey Bowl" didn't help that. We were thinking of going to that game but wimped out.

Yeah...the frozen turkey bowl didn't help at all. I was there with my girlfriend and parents and we stayed the whole game, it took 2 weeks to thaw out. That was the MAC East clincher and it was against can't, two things that would surely bring more people if it had been played a week earlier when the temps were in the 60's during the Ohio game.

[GP1]

Do students count? Anyone know?

I'm not 100% certain, but I think they do. Something to do with student fees to attend sporting events.I think that whether or not the tarps get removed depends on how many tickets are sold prior to the game. They probably know what the average walk up crowd is for the first game and combined with pre-season tickets, I'm confident they will know whether or not to remove the tarps.Here is the question: What has anyone done to sell a ticket today? I sold a family pack to the bartender at one of my favorite restaruants today. I'm looking at the form and her check right now on my desk. For those not in sales and marketing, it is called a one call close. Very few can pull it off.

[ZachTheZip]

I don't think this year will be as bad as last year. Returning champions should have higher attendance. I wonder how the shedule will affect attendance, though. Too many home games are late in the year, and if it is cold outside the RB will be more empty than it should be. We all have to hope for a warm fall and winter. Does the championship count as a home game for one of the teams? What about a bowl game?

[zipsbandman]

I think the home opener will sell out.  Not getting complacent or anything, but if the U starts putting some money into advertising, reminding that swath of blue and gold that showed up twice in Detroit of what happened last year, we should be able to hit 22k easy.  I wouldnt be making this prediction if the RB was still a 30k+ capacity.

I hope the tarp over the endzone is removable. To seat only 22k for the home opener is suicide for a program that wants to draw 15k per game. We will turn away 5,000 fans if that is the case. I don't get it.

They must not expect to draw too much.

[zippyrifle32]

aside from our own worries, what happens to our conference if other schools can't get their attendance up. i'm sure schools will be practically be giving away tickets before they ever got dropped, but our whole conference looks bad. i also think a lot of this is dependent upon the students to come, and i know i'm going to every game that i can with friends in tow.

[PSU_Nut]

1. Students count towards the average if they are charged for tickets or if there is a student fee to support athletics.2. Bowl games and championship games do not count.3. Many schools have gone to neutral sites to improve attendance average. BG going to cleavland and Temple moving a game against clemson to North carolina.

[RowdyZip]

aside from our own worries, what happens to our conference if other schools can't get their attendance up. i'm sure schools will be practically be giving away tickets before they ever got dropped, but our whole conference looks bad. i also think a lot of this is dependent upon the students to come, and i know i'm going to every game that i can with friends in tow.

ditto.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Here is the question: What has anyone done to sell a ticket today?

I took a bunch of Zips posters to my son's day care and handed them out to all the kids. Seemed to go over well.

[bobbyake]

I know people that could use those tickets that are bought but going unused. I'd give them to the students that play football at my old high school. They'd love to go to an Akron event since most of them will probably end up Akron students.I think that's a good idea for the University. Create a cheap package that high school coaches can buy to take their teams to watch a college football game.I think Akron is going to struggle with attendance this year. No way will we average 15,000. 2 games are on Thursday. Thursday I have class until 9 so I won't be able to go. I know there are going to be many students out there like me who want to go but can't skip class for it. Thursday games are such a bad idea. I bet we average less than 7,000 for both of those games.

[gozips19]

you can't have it both ways if the mac wants national t.v. games it is going to have to play on odd days that's just the way it is.... we will be fine in attendance as long as we are winning games and most of of feel that way. had akron not played in a monsoon (army) and a blizzard (Can't State) they would have been over 15k easy and i am perdicting a large crowd for the final game as its the day after thanksgiving and people will need something to do.

[ZachTheZip]

If the day after thanksgiving is anything like last year's frozen turkey bowl, we will be lucky to get 7,000 in attendance unless the Zips are undefeated or only have 1 loss (both of which I feel are possible this year)

[bobbyake]

The MAC is playing on ESPN U, big deal. Does anyone even get that channel????

[gozips19]

not all mac vs mac games are on the U... it sucks that akron got some bad games but such is life and more people will get the U than people will be at the bowl

[Ryno aka Menace]

aside from our own worries, what happens to our conference if other schools can't get their attendance up. i'm sure schools will be practically be giving away tickets before they ever got dropped, but our whole conference looks bad. i also think a lot of this is dependent upon the students to come, and i know i'm going to every game that i can with friends in tow.

This is a good question does anyone have an answer, hmmm sounds like a blog entry for Razor!

[msopher]

I was thinking about buying some season tickets just to support the team, but because of my job and other obligations, I'm not sure how many games I would get the opportunity to be there, and I almost feel like there is something wrong with buying tickets that you don't use, particularly if you are taking seats from someone else.  Obviously, that wouldn't be the case.

Don't hesitate for one second. Buy some tickets. This season, the most important thing a Zips fan can do to support the team is to buy extra tickets whether they get used or not. Don't give away extras outside of the ticket booths the day of a game either, make those people buy a ticket just like you did. The citizens of Akron need to start taking ownership of this team. For basically $100, you can buy a Family Pack to the games. That's 20 total tickets toward the 75,000 we need to average 15,000 per game.It is also up to all of us to help sell tickets for the University. There are enough concerned people out there that the University is doing well with it's Fund Drive. I would challenge each of you to participate in this Fund Drive effort. It's one thing to talk about the problems selling tickets, but it's another thing to actually do something about it. It's time for all of us to start doing.

I don't support the buy a ticket even if you don't go policy. What a waste of money.

[Ryno aka Menace]

If we had a new stadium we wouldn't have this problem, this is just another example of why we need another successful season. We got that ball rolling now let's just keep it going.

[a-zip]

This is a stupid question but I will ask anyway. Regarding attendance......is there any consideration given to the compromises we make to play on Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Thanksgiving day blizzards. Needless to say it does create conflict with the fans.I can't imagine many programs filling a stadium on Thanksgiving with the weather we had.Dont blast me!