Attendance

[AugieJackFan]

Re: Attendance

Guess its all relative but usd has its big rivalry game of the year and will max out like 9000ish. That's a record attendance for them.

I don't think you build a stadium that seats 20k and then be happy with 9k vs #2 on a perfect day.

[goon]

Re: Attendance

I don't think you build a stadium that seats 20k and then be happy with 9k vs #2 on a perfect day.

Well its 17K this year and if that's the lowest we have that's not bad. If that's our biggest crowd we have issues more then we think. Its not great but what's the lowest attendance for every game over the last 10 years?

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Attendance

Attendance is getting there. As it has been mentioned in other threads, laying complete eggs vs NDSU and UNI (our two highest attended games) was really really bad for the casual fan who just wanted to check out the new stadium. I think those two games did more damage to our attendance then many of us want to admit. My mom couldn't make it to the game so my dad brought his friend to his first Jacks game and he had a blast and is now talking about buying a season ticket so he can come with next year. If we want casual and new fans to return, we have to provide a quality product.

The students on the other hand... I talked to so many advisees last week who were going home to hunt. Archery and pheasant still in South Dakota and deer opener in Minnesota. Right now the student body is in a place where they go out and party on Thursday night and then book it home after their last class on Friday. Its weird and feels alot different then when I was a student. I don't know whats going to change it. The students who run the Barnyard Cadets are already very busy and I think their passion for the group faded as the season went along and more students didn't get involved. Again, I think the NDSU and UNI performances didn't make a good impression on many students. But lets face it, we have always had trouble drawing students after Hobo Day unless it is USD. I don't have the answers, but I know there are folks on campus working on it.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: Attendance

No worries. The fans that were there were loud so well done there but I still think we need more fans in the stands on a perfect day vs the #2 team in the country. A lot at stake on Saturday and the stands were pretty empty. I'm sure the suits aren't happy with less than 10k with two top 10 teams playing.

Agreed. More gotta show up. As I mentioned elsewhere, I think a lot of distant casuals were kept away by poor games vs NDSU and UNI.

[goon]

Re: Attendance

Attendance is getting there. As it has been mentioned in other threads, laying complete eggs vs NDSU and UNI (our two highest attended games) was really really bad for the casual fan who just wanted to check out the new stadium. I think those two games did more damage to our attendance then many of us want to admit. My mom couldn't make it to the game so my dad brought his friend to his first Jacks game and he had a blast and is now talking about buying a season ticket so he can come with next year. If we want casual and new fans to return, we have to provide a quality product.

The students on the other hand... I talked to so many advisees last week who were going home to hunt. Archery and pheasant still in South Dakota and deer opener in Minnesota. Right now the student body is in a place where they go out and party on Thursday night and then book it home after their last class on Friday. Its weird and feels alot different then when I was a student. I don't know whats going to change it. The students who run the Barnyard Cadets are already very busy and I think their passion for the group faded as the season went along and more students didn't get involved. Again, I think the NDSU and UNI performances didn't make a good impression on many students. But lets face it, we have always had trouble drawing students after Hobo Day unless it is USD. I don't have the answers, but I know there are folks on campus working on it.

I don't get it because I had a blast on weekends and stayed most of the time. The summers I lived in brookings were some of the best time I had in brookings. I wish I would have spent even more time during my college years.

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Attendance

I don't get it because I had a blast on weekends and stayed most of the time. The summers I lived in brookings were some of the best time I had in brookings. I wish I would have spent even more time during my college years.

100% agree. When I talk to them and they tell me they are going home, I ask why. There response is to see family and high school friends. Part of the problem is the new dorms. Because of fire codes the doors close automatically. The obvious question is, why don't they just leave them open? I think they should give out door stops on move in weekend to encourage people to keep the door open. There definitely isn't the sense of community that many had before in the halls. A lot of students just go home because they aren't connected on or too campus. Sounds sad and like a bad excuse, but its the reality for a lot of the students.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Attendance

No worries. The fans that were there were loud so well done there but I still think we need more fans in the stands on a perfect day vs the #2 team in the country. A lot at stake on Saturday and the stands were pretty empty. I'm sure the suits aren't happy with less than 10k with two top 10 teams playing.

Not intended to be confrontational, but why weren't you there on a perfect day vs the #2 team in the country? A lot of folks probably had similar reasons.

Another factor at play that is likely keeping casual fans away late in the season, if you dropped $40 on NDSU and UNI and maybe one other game that's probably your budget for the year. Not sure what you do about it because you have to maximize revenue, but for comparison at MSU 2 weeks ago a ticket cost $10.

[CappinHard]

Re: Attendance

I don't think you build a stadium that seats 20k and then be happy with 9k vs #2 on a perfect day.

I think you do. You're building the stadium to last 50 years. You can't expect it to be at capacity for every single game from the get go. I don't understand people that say "Why did you build it so big?!?!?!" when it's not completely full at the start, but when a stadium is built too small and it needs more seating after 5 years, the same people say "you idiots, why didn't you build for the future?!?!?!".

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Attendance

I think you do. You're building the stadium to last 50 years. You can't expect it to be at capacity for every single game from the get go. I don't understand people that say "Why did you build it so big?!?!?!" when it's not completely full at the start, but when a stadium is built too small and it needs more seating after 5 years, the same people say "you idiots, why didn't you build for the future?!?!?!".

*Cough* Denny Sanford Premier Center *Cough*

[CappinHard]

Re: Attendance

*Cough* Denny Sanford Premier Center *Cough*

Exactly. Honestly, I would have been alright with that being bigger considering the way Sioux Falls is growing.

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Attendance

Exactly. Honestly, I would have been alright with that being bigger considering the way Sioux Falls is growing.

Yeah, that is what I meant. It is already too small and they are trying to figure out how to add more seats.

[Theee Catrabbit]

Re: Attendance

but the Let's go Rabbit chants when we are on offense have to stop .

I started those specifically so people on the board would have more insignificant things to bitch about.......

[JackJD]

Re: Attendance

Here are the attendance figures for the year:

2015 season attendance at CAS: 77,394
Average (6 home games): 12,899

Game attendance
SUU 13,423
RMU 12,153
NDSU 17,348
ISU-b 9,347
UNI 16,042
ISU-r 9,081

Its the trend that I like. We are now universally disappointed in getting 9,081 to a game. Game day Saturday in Brookings is constantly evolving and becoming a bigger deal. Let's see, we've been DI how long?

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Attendance

Its the trend that I like. We are now universally disappointed in getting 9,081 to a game. Game day Saturday in Brookings is constantly evolving and becoming a bigger deal. Let's see, we've been DI how long?

100% agree. We were talking at tailgating that it was a pretty disappointing crowd, but 10 and even 5 years ago it would have been a huge turnout for a post-Hobo Day crowd. I think we are certainly moving in the right direction.

[jacksfan29]

Re: Attendance

100% agree. When I talk to them and they tell me they are going home, I ask why. There response is to see family and high school friends. Part of the problem is the new dorms. Because of fire codes the doors close automatically. The obvious question is, why don't they just leave them open? I think they should give out door stops on move in weekend to encourage people to keep the door open. There definitely isn't the sense of community that many had before in the halls. A lot of students just go home because they aren't connected on or too campus. Sounds sad and like a bad excuse, but its the reality for a lot of the students.

I don't think it has anything to do with doors. The reality is that SDSU students have been going home on weekends for years. We have a lot of small town students, people from South Dakota and SW Minnesota. It isn't a new trend, it was around in the 90s just like today and my guess is back in the 80s. I never really understood it, I loved Brookings; stayed the summers and weekends and always had a blast. But a lot of people want to go home. Why? No idea.