2004 Attendance figures

[bisonguy]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

I was at the SDSU/NDSU game and I think you guys are CRAZY to have games anywhere but right there on campus.  the "Back Yard" is just awesome.  I cna't imagine a better college football atmosphere.  Look at schools like Clemson.  The city is small, but swells by 70,000 or so on game day because it is a big event.  If SDSU fields competitive teams, you will have no problem finding plenty of fans that like to be out in the "BackYard" grill a bit and have a couple refreshments and then go watch a entertaining D-I football game.  Don't change a thing!!

Bisondad

I agree, especially if the rumored Daktonics improvements are a done deal. Make Coughlin "The Place to be" on a saturday afternoon (or evening).

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

Alumguy nailed the most important part, that being building the connection between Sioux Falls and SDSU. This is important for more than just the Athletic Dep't, it will help the entire univeristy. If the entire university is better, than the Athletic Dep't will be better.

As for the Backyard, not sure why that can't make the trip also. The Dakota Bowl and the Presidents Bowl have huge tailgating participants. The last Dakota Bowl I went to there were probably as many if not more tailgaters there than at the Backyard for the NDSU game. This will just require good planning to pull it off, and I know that it will be done.

[m11jacks]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

I was at both the NDSU & Augie games this year and the atmosphere was awesome. Attendance would be even more if we could find a way to get the people from the Backyard to the game. I would estimate that there were at least 1,500 (mostly students) that were in the Backyard and never made it to the game. I live in SF and see a good connection for playing maybe 1 FB game a year in SF for the first couple of years (to create partnerships w/ potential boosters, corporations, etc., but after that, all games should stay in Brookings. Just my opinion, but when you move home games off campus, I think you lose a lot of the student body and being a former player, those are the fans that really get crazy and create the atmosphere that players like to play in front of. Just my opinion.

[Alumguy]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

m11jacks, you hit on something which will be addressed in the very near future. Yes, over a thousand people stayed in the Backyard and partied during a few football games. It's hard to say, but the majority of those people seem to have been students. And, unfortunately, that situation created several alcohol related problems during the evening. This situation will not be ignored and problems will be addressed. Many, many people enjoy the tailgating situation. It would be unfortunate to lose what we have gained because of the irresponsibility of some people.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

It's unfortunate but not surprising the number of students who use the game as a reason to party and then don't participate in the game itself. I think the whole idea of playing in Sioux Falls will not become a long term tradition. It is IMO a wise move in the short term to garner more exposure and interest in the SDSU athletic product. Many Sioux Falls people will not drive to Brookings for entertainement until they have a better understanding of the tradition, excitement and fun. Once they have a better appreciation of this they may make the 50 mile drive.

[NDSU_grad]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

If you think you guys have a problem with students tailgating, you should see Iowa State. I would estimate there's a few thousand students still tailgating during the game. And the student tailgating area is an absolute disaster after the game, with trash everywhere. Before this year the AD move the student tailgating area farther away from the stadium because as he was walking around the stadium on a Sunday after the game he came across a student who was passed out from the preceding day's festivites.

[JackTwice]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

Something to consider about moving games to SF. We have an excellent opportunity to win a conference championship next year with 4 of the 5 games at home. Is it truly worth it to move 1 or 2 (at last I heard Davis and UNC) of those games to SF and lose some of our home field advantage?

[89rabbit]

Re: 2004 Attendance figures  

SDSU finished at #30 in Avg. attendence just behind Northern Iowa* out of 142 I-AA teams. Not bad.

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/Internet/...RkbXde4N1HXqKy

GREAT WEST CONFERENCE . . . Att. . . G . . . Avg
North Dakota State . . . . . 79,614 . 6 . . 13,269
South Dakota State . . . . . 39,384 . 4 . . .9,846
Cal Poly SLO . . . . . . . . . . . .41,974 . 5 . . . 8,395
Cal-Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,010 . 4 . . . 7,253
Northern Colorado. . . . . . . .27,370 . 6 . . . 4,562
Southern Utah . . . . . . . . . .19,197 . 5 . . . 3,839

Go State! ;D






(*SDSU and NDSU's offical attendence figures were counted with D-II teams due to NCAA rules)