2022 Home Attendance Expectations
- Thread starter MUTHFAN
- Start date
So if the football team isn’t winning…again, thanks for proving my point, Perkins Jr.
I agree but I believe you have to look at it long term. I don't see it really as a reduction in seating but a making the stadium better sort of thing.
The vision is to have a club seating type area there in the future which will offer more premium seating for companies that could introduce their employees to Marshall football and bring in more revenue.
In the meantime, I think it will help to reduce supply and ,if we have success, create demand, maybe leaving some folks who wait around for tickets to miss out on a high demand game. That could lead to more people buying season tickets to ensure they have a decent seat for every game.
We can always add more seat if needed later on.
The visitor’s section is in the same place as it’s been for years. The endzone seats about 8,000. That would be a heckuva group.
I’m going to guess we see attendance back up to 24k average this year. Wednesday night will limit out of town fans but the administration needs to do whatever it takes to get 10k students there.
I’m 5 hours away in Charlotte and have bought season tickets since we left in 2007 even when living in Georgia. We don’t get to as many games but plan to be there for App, Coastal and possibly GA State. We are definitely making the ND trip. Definitely more excitement this year.
I’m 5 hours away in Charlotte and have bought season tickets since we left in 2007 even when living in Georgia. We don’t get to as many games but plan to be there for App, Coastal and possibly GA State. We are definitely making the ND trip. Definitely more excitement this year.
A 24K average without the upper endzone seats would put us at 80% capacity. At the stadium’s current capacity of 38,000, a 24K average is 63%. Should be a big difference when you see it on TV.
I hope the plan isn’t to tarp those sections. Seems like a big expense for one season. I couldn’t imagine it taking more than a week for a good crew to bring down those bleachers and haul them off. Im curious to see what the Gameday improvements they tweeted about will include.
That kicker broke my heart a couple of times over two years. Another thing that killed is was Santonio Holmes breaking those two big plays.
That'd why I also added that I had heard there were structural problems with the erector set.
Im not sure reducing the seating capacity is a good idea, but honestly, how many games have we had over 30k in the past decade?.. If they can take those bleachers out and put in a party deck, or something fan friendly, that increases interest in coming out on a Saturday afternoon then Im good with that.
As for attendance... We have talked about it 1000 times on here. It's massively weather/opponent/record dependent.
Norfolk State -- Good weather, home opener, 24,000... Bad weather, 18,000
Gardner Webb -- Good weather, team is 3-1, 22,000... Bad weather, team is 2-2 or worse, 15,000
Louisiana -- Wednesday night, good weather, 25,000... Bad weather, 20,000
Coastal Carolina -- Good weather, both teams above .500, 25,000... Bad weather, under .500, 20,000
App State -- Good weather, fighting for the East, 30,000... Bad weather, out of the race, 23,000 (ASU will travel)
Georgia State -- Good weather, game matters, 25,000... Bad weather, game doesn't matter, 20,000
As for attendance... We have talked about it 1000 times on here. It's massively weather/opponent/record dependent.
Norfolk State -- Good weather, home opener, 24,000... Bad weather, 18,000
Gardner Webb -- Good weather, team is 3-1, 22,000... Bad weather, team is 2-2 or worse, 15,000
Louisiana -- Wednesday night, good weather, 25,000... Bad weather, 20,000
Coastal Carolina -- Good weather, both teams above .500, 25,000... Bad weather, under .500, 20,000
App State -- Good weather, fighting for the East, 30,000... Bad weather, out of the race, 23,000 (ASU will travel)
Georgia State -- Good weather, game matters, 25,000... Bad weather, game doesn't matter, 20,000
We miss from 25 yards and MIke Nugent hits from 52 at the buzzer after we get off a 12 yard punt from our 40 yard line....probably would have been the biggest win in school history! Oh well!
“Gameday improvements”. = tarps or something close.
Average gate, considering two I-AA games and a team that will certainly be below .500 in its games vs. I-A teams will be about 19K.
Average gate, considering two I-AA games and a team that will certainly be below .500 in its games vs. I-A teams will be about 19K.
If I am Perkins Jr., I'm pretty good at helping people finance homes and stuff, whatever he does.
I had always heard that an audible was called to sneak that FG in and the interior lineman didn't hear it over the the crowd so they didn't block correctly. From what I was told a lane was there for the kicker to almost walk in had everyone blocked correctly.
Since re-entering I-A/FBS play the Joan has hosted 25 games of 30k or more. We've hosted roughly 152 games at the Joan since 1997. So we have only hosted games with 30k or more 16% of the time. The case could be made that removing seats wouldn't be a bad thing. We probably have way too many now. I have always said I'd love to see us redo the entire stadium in those flip down seats like Louisville has. I think it was said that would reduce the total capacity by 5k if we did that, but what does that matter. Even if you go back to 1992 the only games eclipsing 30k were the hosted National Championship Games.
1997
vs OHIO - 32,012
1998
vs Little Miami - 33,204
1999
vs Temple - 30,194
vs Toledo - 30,203
vs NIU - 30,081
2000
vs SE Missouri St - 30,225
vs Little Miami - 30,419
2001
vs BGSU - 32,034
vs CMU - 30,063 (Homecoming)
2002
vs Appy St - 31,042
2003
vs Toledo - 31,511
vs Kent St - 30,128 (Homecoming)
2004
vs Buffalo - 30,128
2005
vs KState - 36,914
2006
No Games - Highest attended was Memphis with 29,204
2007
vs WVU 40,383
2008
No Games - Highest attended was Cincy with 29,237
2009
No Games - Highest attended was ECU with 26,814
2010
vs WVU - 41,382
2011
vs VT - 34,424
2012
vs OHIO - 34,424
2013
No Games - Highest attended was UTSA with 28,837
2014
vs OHIO - 31,710
vs MTSU - 30,210
vs Rice - 30,680
2015
vs Purdue - 38,791
2016
vs Louisville - 40,592
2017
No Games - Highest attended was ODU with 26,097
2018
vs NCST - 33,349
2019
vs Cincy - 32,192
2020
No Games - COVID
2021
No Games - Highest attended was ECU with 24,833
If we had the money, which we don’t, we should replace all the seats with chair backs, and eliminate the end zone seating. This would take capacity down to a level where we can not look empty on TV. Tarps, however, look small time.
The times are changing. Going to one game is different thing today when you can watch that game, and literally every other game played in HD from home.
The times are changing. Going to one game is different thing today when you can watch that game, and literally every other game played in HD from home.
It is a reduction in seating...and such a conversion is going to cost money.
Unless this is being funded entirely by a 3rd party company or sponsor, how will MU get the money for it?
Sorry, being a good mortgage loan officer.
Before it becomes impossible, schedule Big 10 schools to come to Huntington if we want to bolster attendance.
Crazy how Purdue had a higher attendance despite its location, fairly minimal fan support (friends of mine who went to Purdue when MU was there, said plenty of students and locals weren't even aware of a football game), and their historically bad teams...when NC State is not only closer, but has decent fan support, and was 2-0 going into that game.
I'll never forget Yulee's monstrous hit on the kick return.
I'm wondering if the wrong side of the endzone is being focused on.
Why not build atop the Shewey building? Expand upwards and outwards, tunnel the small driveways on each side so the stadium can be flush with it and possibly expand from there? You have the foundation and building already as a base. It could further expand the AD offices and make them larger overall as well.
Sort of a combination of Boone Pickens and ODU's stadiums.
Marshall fans are event fans. The sad truth is they show out for who we are playing and not our own team.
I think it was said that in order to do that the Shewey would have be torn down because structurally it could not support anything on top of it.
I've always like out USM did theirs.
How exactly does anyone expect the program and stadium to grow and improve when most of our fans dont care enough to come in town and watch a game? Even having these discussions is pointless when actually considering our fans pitiful "support".
Exactly.
MU can brag all they want but when push comes to shove, they'll make every excuse under the sun to not show up to a game.
They really are the only fans who complain when MU wins a game too.
You must not read any other teams message boards... Check out Tennessee, Clemson, etc after they win a game "closer than it should be." It's full on meltdown.
I will say this about attendance, yes it can be disappointing sometimes, but often I find Marshall fairly impressive for what it has to work with. Huntington is what it is and I think removing the endzone seats would be understanding what we have to work with and creating the most exciting environment possible.
For prospective (A lot of these statistics aren’t the most current, but it gives you an idea):
Marshall Average - 24k
Huntington population - 46k
Total enrollment - 13k
Ohio State Average - 106k
Columbus population - 889k
Total enrollment - 66k
ECU Average - 40k
Greenville population - 92k
Total enrollment - 28k
Memphis Average - 36k
Memphis population - 650k
Total enrollment - 20k
Cincinnati Average - 31k
Cincinnati population - 302k
Total enrollment - 42k
Temple Average - 30k
Philadelphia population - 1.5 mil
Total enrollment - 39k
UCF Average - 34k
Orlando population - 284k
Total enrollment - 66k
App State Average - 23k
Boone population - 19k
Total enrollment - 18k
Ohio U Average - 19k
Athens population - 24k
Total enrollment - 29k
WKU Average - 16k
Bowling Green population - 71k
Total enrollment - 20k
MTSU Average - 16k
Nashville population - 692k
Total enrollment - 22k
ODU Average - 20k
Norfolk population - 244k
Total enrollment - 24k
Charlotte Average - 13k
Charlotte population - 873k
Total enrollment - 29k
Georgia St Average - 14k
Atlanta population - 497k
Total enrollment - 52k
ULM Average - 13k
Monroe population - 47k
Total enrollment - 8k
For prospective (A lot of these statistics aren’t the most current, but it gives you an idea):
Marshall Average - 24k
Huntington population - 46k
Total enrollment - 13k
Ohio State Average - 106k
Columbus population - 889k
Total enrollment - 66k
ECU Average - 40k
Greenville population - 92k
Total enrollment - 28k
Memphis Average - 36k
Memphis population - 650k
Total enrollment - 20k
Cincinnati Average - 31k
Cincinnati population - 302k
Total enrollment - 42k
Temple Average - 30k
Philadelphia population - 1.5 mil
Total enrollment - 39k
UCF Average - 34k
Orlando population - 284k
Total enrollment - 66k
App State Average - 23k
Boone population - 19k
Total enrollment - 18k
Ohio U Average - 19k
Athens population - 24k
Total enrollment - 29k
WKU Average - 16k
Bowling Green population - 71k
Total enrollment - 20k
MTSU Average - 16k
Nashville population - 692k
Total enrollment - 22k
ODU Average - 20k
Norfolk population - 244k
Total enrollment - 24k
Charlotte Average - 13k
Charlotte population - 873k
Total enrollment - 29k
Georgia St Average - 14k
Atlanta population - 497k
Total enrollment - 52k
ULM Average - 13k
Monroe population - 47k
Total enrollment - 8k
Also speaking to playing the best hand with the cards you are dealt. Looking at non P5 games on here, I honestly feel the athletic department is striking out if they don’t schedule Ohio University every year for an annual rivalry game. Heck name another school whom has brought their 200+ student marching band to Huntington.
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I think that OHIO is being arrogant about it. Also while we should play them, I don't know if it should be every year. Personally I would like to see a rotation of OHIO, Little Miami, and ECU.
Agree 100%. Other than Athens and possibly Monroe, the economy in and around Huntington is depressed compared to others listed. Hopefully Spears and Co. can come up with ideas and plans to increase our gate and butts in seats. First priority is getting students to attend in large numbers - every home game. They have sucked the last several years.
I just don't remember them brining that many fans. I've heard/read more comments over the years saying how pathetic their contingents have bene given they are just under 2 hours away.
Tennesee has no room to brag. I, for one, am glad their program has been a dumpster fire for over a decade now. Nothing better than seeing them ignite piles of money and being passed on notoriety by the likes of Ole Miss, so when tblhey complain about a win, good. I hope they're miserable forever.
As for Clemson? They CAN complain. After winning as much as they do, literally wins is about the only thing worth complaining about.
MU doesn't have this luxury
MU already had the endzone without seats, their winning supposedly was the reason for what we have now.
Why tear them down? IF MU is successful, they'll be expanded again.
Truth be told Marshall is a 30k max fan base without the aide of a P5 visiting team. From what I recall we expanded to 38k because allegedly P5s wouldn't visit small stadiums. I know that was WVU's excuse for a long time for not coming here. Still Marshall is never going to average 35k. If we didn't from 1996-2002 we likely never will.
Some tend to think our fan base is bigger than it is and our place in the college football world more important than it is. That being said, you never get complacent and stop trying to get better. Complacency has killed us the last decade. jmo.
I think going forward, 2023 and beyond, Marshall should focus more on the quality of seating options rather than just the number of seats.
Outside of the west side suites, there is no premium or club seating options in the stadium. And before anyone says it, there’s nothing premium about the current chair backs. If you’ve ever sat in one for longer than 15 minutes you would understand what I’m saying.
Outside of the west side suites, there is no premium or club seating options in the stadium. And before anyone says it, there’s nothing premium about the current chair backs. If you’ve ever sat in one for longer than 15 minutes you would understand what I’m saying.
Agree on both points, but there also needs to be some realism involved. Even when we were in the I-AA playoffs our attendance decreased as the weather got colder and some of those playoff games drew almost no one. You'd think they would have been packed.
In 2014 we were hosting our first Conference Championship game in 12 years and we a whopping 23,711 people in attendance all because the weather was bad and we lost to WKU. This is why I get tired of hearing how much Marshall means to the community and to its fans. That's a load of bull. If it wasn't the entire town would shut down on Saturdays rain or shine and those seats would be full. Instead people one block from the stadium are mowing their lawns (I see it a lot as I drive in) or even worse they stay out in the parking lot and never go on. Then we constantly clown on schools like OHIO because they're "fans" only show up to see their band play. Have you seen our stadium after halftime?
The only way Marshall ever routinely sells 30k+ a game is to be in the SEC and that ain't never happening. We get pissed off when someone like Slob Chuggins takes shots at our small fan base and then turn right around and prove them right. It's mind blowing.
I know what you mean. The first time I ever sat in one of them for a Spring Game the first thought I had was, "Man people pay extra for these?" The rental seats are better than those.
Our stadium empties out at half time due to the students all leaving and people go back out in the lots and never come back. ugh!
