Whatever is done to improve game attendance/dome atmosphere, it absolutely HAS to start with the student section. You will not find an exciting college stadium without a large, involved student section, these days dressed in whatever 'color-out.'.
Could not agree with this any more. From a dollars and cents POV, the students on their best day are a fraction of the attendance (ie $$$). However, college arenas, as we see with our home bball games, are fueled by the student energy. On a smaller scale, I see it with my father-in-law. Guy doesn't say more than 10 words all day, but when we go to or watch games together and he sees me getting animated (still act like part mascot/part 19 year-old hopped up on Bartons vodka and OJ), watch the out.
The key to the students as a customer segment is that you have them, not even in your back yard, but in your living room seven days a week. Athletics needs to find a way to capivate the student base, which will help build buzz, create a better experience, bring in more fans, help sell recruits...and so on.