FB: Empire 8

Sir Spiedie · January 23, 2007, 08:59:11 AM

LL & E8, anyways.

AUPepBand · January 23, 2007, 09:03:48 AM

Quote from: Sir Spiedie on January 23, 2007, 08:55:43 AM
I don't know if this has ever been explored before, but here are comparative attendance figures for 2005 for all DIII schools (all schools for that matter), also by conference. Sorry if this is old news. How does your school/conference "stack up"?
http://www.ncaa.org/stats/football/attendance/2005/2005_football_attendance.pdf

Pep has actually looked at these stats and is eager to see the 2006 attendance statistics. Attendance was way up at Merrill Field in 2006, partly due to the team's success of late and also the familiar opponents...Hobart, Ithaca, Fisher.

Pep notes that he inquired of AU's SID who figures attendance at games because Pep thought the numbers in 2005 appeared low. The SID said he makes an estimate, which I think is probably done at a majority of D3 venues. His numbers in 2006 were much more generous and Pep thinks more accurate than in 2005.

AUPepBand · January 23, 2007, 09:05:47 AM

Quote from: Sir Spiedie on January 23, 2007, 08:58:14 AM
In 2005 it appears the Bomberers rule in attendance, with St. John a fairly distant second.

The Cortaca was in Ithaca in 2005. That is a big boost for Bomber attendance figures. AU hasn't seen a crowd exceeding 7,000 since the early 1970s.

AUPepBand · January 23, 2007, 09:17:02 AM

Attendance at Alfred's Merrill Field Football Games in 2006:

AU 14, Thiel 0 (att. 3980)
AU 48, Norwich 13 (att. 3155...Homecoming)
Hobart 21, AU 14 (att. 990....rain)
AU 28, Ithaca 17 (att. 3250)
Fisher 41, AU 13 (att. 4055)
AU 40, UR 34 (OT) (att. 1004...cold)

Total attendance for 2006: 16,434 for average of 2,739 per game
Total attendance for 2005: 5,023 for average of 837

realistic · January 23, 2007, 10:02:22 AM

Quote from: AUPepBand on January 23, 2007, 09:05:47 AM
Quote from: Sir Spiedie on January 23, 2007, 08:58:14 AM
In 2005 it appears the Bomberers rule in attendance, with St. John a fairly distant second.

The Cortaca was in Ithaca in 2005. That is a big boost for Bomber attendance figures. AU hasn't seen a crowd exceeding 7,000 since the early 1970s.

Having seen games at 4 of the top ten, I was surprised to see Ithaca up as high as they are, but I think they would have to have a pretty solid average even without the Cortaca game factored in. Though that game may have moved them up through the top ten.

Sir Spiedie · January 23, 2007, 11:33:39 AM

How many attend the Cortaca game? I imagine the Hobart-Union game is very well attended.
I also come back to something I said earlier, I think attendance would improve with the addition of some strategically placed night games.

realistic · January 23, 2007, 11:56:45 AM

Cortaca usually runs between 9,000 and 12,000 reported. These numbers have gotten more exact in recent years with only ticketed fans being let in at Cortland (no student, faculty ID's and such).

As for night games, a lot of schools don't have lights and also I think a lot of schools enjoy the daytime atmoshpere for the games. I don't think you will see too many more D-III schools adding lights just to have one or two night football games.

superman57 · January 23, 2007, 01:08:17 PM

not only did Ithaca have cortaca last year but they also had fisher which is a huge attendance booster...Fisher Ithaca this yead pulled in 2661

Sir Spiedie · January 23, 2007, 01:26:05 PM

I have heard that some schools do not have lights. Frankly, this puzzles me. Doesn't virtually every HS in NY have lights and play their games Friday nights?
A few, say two, night games could create a lot of buzz on campus. The night games tend to be popular with students, especially at schools where the students tend to remain on campus during the weekends.

realistic · January 23, 2007, 01:30:52 PM

I would say, most HS fields have light and most play Friday Night games. The exceptions to this are many of the city schools (syracuse for sure and I think Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, etc) play Friday/Saturday afternoon games or off-site games Friday night for safety reasons.

I can only speak (somewhat) intellegently for Ithaca, and I really don't see them adding lights. Butterfield Stadium is only used for football and I can't see them spending the money it would take to upgrade just football like that. The school is very fair in facilities, access, etc for all sports.

Sir Spiedie · January 23, 2007, 02:01:37 PM

That being the case, perhaps the alumni and boosters need to step up.

Ithaca already has a great attendance record. The new facility is going to be great. Make these bold moves while you have the momentum!

superman57 · January 23, 2007, 02:29:17 PM

Fisher usually has one to two night games a year including UofR which is packed

realistic · January 23, 2007, 02:43:12 PM

Quote from: Sir Spiedie on January 23, 2007, 02:01:37 PM
That being the case, perhaps the alumni and boosters need to step up. Ithaca already has a great attendance record. The new facility is going to be great. Make these bold moves while you have the momentum!

1) The Alumni and boosters have stepped up in just about every situation. From at least 6 new buildings on campus since 1997, at least 4 more in the works...including the athletic facility and many endowed programs and scholarships. I know you were joking on this one, but I just wanted to put that out there that there has been a ton of construction on campus in recent years.

2) I don't understand the obsession with night games. Does that make a program? Obviously Ithaca does OK in attendence. Saint Johns does pretty well too with no lights, Linfield was in that top 10 and has no lights. I guess I just don't see the absolute need. Furthermore, students do not make up the majority of (or probably even 1/4) of the fans. I don't see night games making any difference in numbers, income, recruiting, or scheduling. Maybe its just my opinion.

superman57 · January 23, 2007, 03:10:08 PM

for the most part fisher's night games do better attendance then the afternoon games...but then again part of it has to do with the fact that the only night games are usually homecoming and maybe parents weekend

Sir Spiedie · January 23, 2007, 03:37:55 PM

It's absolutely not an obsession. It is all about maximizing value by maximizing attendance and competitive advantage. I suggest that someone at Fisher has concluded that Homecoming and "maybe" parents weekend games are best held at night. One thing not mentioned so far is that players LOVE to play under the lights. As I said, Ithaca's attendance record is clearly very good. How much attendance ,though, is being left on the table? Ithaca has had very good records. A home team playing at night before a pumped up home crowd has a definite competitive advantage, and I think that holds true at all Divisions. If none of that is worth the installation of lights, so be it, and I respect that decision. But at every institution someone needs to at least weigh the pros and cons.