Syracuse football 14 in '14: Projecting the crowds at the Carrier Dome this season (PS: Axe)

[Chip]

I think and hope things are different this year.

It just seems as if there is more interest these days.

And, it's a Friday night - a fun night out for parents and kids.

The SU Football Community is truly hungry for success - and hungry for a top flight dual purpose QB.

I think a lot of folks are excited about Hunt and the prospects for an exciting offense. I think they love Shafer and love the ACC thing.

My guess is that we draw a lot more than 35,000.

Your lips to God's ears, I hope you're right.

And I do think Shafer says all the right things to endear himself to the local fanbase. All the "I love this town" speeches, and to me, they do sound genuine. Plus his offer to buy a ticket would have to help more than hurt. He's a highly likable coach.

I just think there are forces at work that aren't going to come close to filling that Dome for that particular game. And I haven't even touched the premium pricing issue between the 30s yet.

I think the Maryland game will be a little better pulse check of whether or not the local fanbase is starving for an SU winner. A potential 2-0 team playing Maryland, and hopefully getting a non-noon slot, could be a nice sized crowd for a comparable BCS non heavyweight type program.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

which is why the NFL moved off it.

i wonder if a little thursday-friday all day rain will help attendence for nova??

who am i kidding, the cnyers will probably just go to the movies...

We'll all be in line for the $1 baked potatoes at the NYS Fair.

 

[KaiserUEO]

Your lips to God's ears, I hope you're right.

And I do think Shafer says all the right things to endear himself to the local fanbase. All the "I love this town" speeches, and to me, they do sound genuine. Plus his offer to buy a ticket would have to help more than hurt. He's a highly likable coach.

I just think there are forces at work that aren't going to come close to filling that Dome for that particular game. And I haven't even touched the premium pricing issue between the 30s yet.

I think the Maryland game will be a little better pulse check of whether or not the local fanbase is starving for an SU winner. A potential 2-0 team playing Maryland, and hopefully getting a non-noon slot, could be a nice sized crowd for a comparable BCS non heavyweight type program.

well certainly THE #1 PARTY SCHOOL IN THE G-DAMN COUNTRY deserves to not be given the nooner kickoff.

need time for the all important "recovery sleep/hair of the dog/prep and drink some more period" before the tailgate starts.

 

[CanadianSU]

I live in an igloo in Canada, someone fill me in...

Are the locals excited? Or would they rather...

Go Apple picking...

 

[Finwad32]

You either love it or you don't. Nothing in the world to me like walking up the hill on a crisp fall day. Tailgating, SU Football, it's irreplacable to me.

Being the home opener, Villanova has a chance to see mid-30's, maybe. If you hit 40K, actual 40K and not announced, that's huge for that type of opponent.

I know this has been discussed until no end, but what brings in the casual fan? In my experience it's been two things.
1) Marquee opponent
2) Winning team

You can beat your chest and advertise all you want. You can have the most exciting offense in the world. At the end of the day, if it's not a top-25 opponent or we dont have a good record, attendance will hover where it has been within reason.

Earn a 5-0 or 4-1 record and you'll have to sit on your sticker for Florida State, possibly Louisville if we're 3-1, moreso if we're 4-0.

 

[Trueblue25]

Dont see a reason why we shouldnt sell out vs louisville ... I mean come on

 

[DPCuse]

I do not think high school football starts until the first weekend of September. SU should reach out to all the high school teams in the area to offer them a team discount on tickets. Heck, you could even invite them all down on the field before the game as a way to kick off football season in CNY. That would be an awesome way to generate interest.

 

[Finwad32]

I do not think high school football starts until the first weekend of September. SU should reach out to all the high school teams in the area to offer them a team discount on tickets. Heck, you could even invite them all down on the field before the game as a way to kick off football season in CNY. That would be an awesome way to generate interest.

You are correct. Our team actually opens up Sunday, September 7th in the Carrier Dome! Kickoff Classic baby!

And I'll tell you this, all Section III coaches have tickets available to them for all games. But I think you're onto something like a NYSHS football appreciation day or something for the games with lower anticipated attendance. Get the next generation up there on the Hill.

You'd be stunned to know how many kids have never even been to the Carrier Dome. Literally 70-80% of our roster annually has never set foot in there. It still amazes me.

 

[anomander]

I live in an igloo in Canada, someone fill me in...

Are the locals excited? Or would they rather...

Go Apple picking...

Other then this board...apple picking

 

[upperdeck]

most teams have scrimmages that first weekend, i would think most would be saturday so a friday game gets away from all that.

just go back that last 10 years and look

2004 1-1 blown out by purdue, looked avg vs Buffalo and played a who cares Cinci 32K
2005 0-0 WV new coach 45K labor day weekend
2006 0-1 B10 Iowa 37K labor day weekend
2007 0-0 pac 12 Wash night game. lost of hype 40K labor day weekend
2008 0-1 Akron 31K
2009 0-0 Minn 48K big hype game new coach 49K labor day weekend
2010 1-1 Maine 38K
2011 0-0 Wake ACC night game 41K labor day weekend
2012 0-0 NW b10 34K lots of energy
2013 0-2 Wagner 33K

labor day weekend has not mattered. big name opp have not mattered, its all about the hype, if SU does not market the game there will no energy and no people. they should be trying to promote the team, sell tickets on the cheap get energy in the crowd to come to game one and hope they get them to come back to game 4. Vill should be a 10-20 ticket and sell that price early, instead they are trying to maximize the price and will end up with a 28-34K crowd if the FSU promotion does not work as hoped. and really if people are paying attention they should be passing on the 3 pack because they have to do something to fill the place for the later games.

 

[Full_Rebar]

I just want to point out that selling tickets and what's best for the program are butting heads here. Starting with Nova won't help sell tickets, but this program needs a 2-0 start. As Chip said, the Maryland game would be the bigger test of the interest in the program.

For all the talk about the fast offense, the only glimpse to a casual fan was the Spring game, which was a bunch of bubble screens.. Now if SU were to open up more practices to fans and let some video of big-time plays get on the evening news/online maybe the locals would get excited. I think winning comes first and that's why people like Dan get the big $ to make us want to buy tickets and show up.

 

[CanadianSU]

Other then this board...apple picking

:bang:

 

[Scooch]

And I haven't even touched the premium pricing issue between the 30s yet.

This is a big problem. And here's a real-time example...

I got an email about there being an Alumni pre-sale today for a bunch of games. I'm planning on attending the Maryland game with my family, but haven't bought tickets yet, so I just logged on to check it out.

Four seats in section 129, on the 20 yard line, are $95 each. That seems to be way too high given the market, recent program performance, and demand. A comparable seat in Foxboro for a Pats game is $195. That makes the SU ticket seem more reasonable, but if you consider the vast difference in performance, and that the Pats have sold out every home game for TWENTY years running, it actually makes the Pats ticket look like a steal.

Gotta fix this, I think.

 

[Chip]

This is a big problem. And here's a real-time example...

I got an email about there being an Alumni pre-sale today for a bunch of games. I'm planning on attending the Maryland game with my family, but haven't bought tickets yet, so I just logged on to check it out.

Four seats in section 129, on the 20 yard line, are $95 each. That seems to be way too high given the market, recent program performance, and demand. A comparable seat in Foxboro for a Pats game is $195. That makes the SU ticket seem more reasonable, but if you consider the vast difference in performance, and that the Pats have sold out every home game for TWENTY years running, it actually makes the Pats ticket look like a steal.

Gotta fix this, I think.

It's complicated for them to unwind, but they need to figure it out. Rather than compare it against the likes of the Pats (which is valid), it doesn't compare well to other seats in the Dome. I have a season ticket that cost me just over $95 (might have gone up some this year, but still ridiculously cheap). So for a negligible difference, I sit in the front row of the upper deck, above the team tunnel, versus sitting at the 20 yard line for one single game against a mid range team like Maryland.

 

[Millhouse]

This is a big problem. And here's a real-time example...

I got an email about there being an Alumni pre-sale today for a bunch of games. I'm planning on attending the Maryland game with my family, but haven't bought tickets yet, so I just logged on to check it out.

Four seats in section 129, on the 20 yard line, are $95 each. That seems to be way too high given the market, recent program performance, and demand. A comparable seat in Foxboro for a Pats game is $195. That makes the SU ticket seem more reasonable, but if you consider the vast difference in performance, and that the Pats have sold out every home game for TWENTY years running, it actually makes the Pats ticket look like a steal.

Gotta fix this, I think.

95 for the 20?!? wow

 

[Millhouse]

It's complicated for them to unwind, but they need to figure it out. Rather than compare it against the likes of the Pats (which is valid), it doesn't compare well to other seats in the Dome. I have a season ticket that cost me just over $95 (might have gone up some this year, but still ridiculously cheap). So for a negligible difference, I sit in the front row of the upper deck, above the team tunnel, versus sitting at the 20 yard line for one single game against a mid range team like Maryland.

they would rather have empty seats than risk losing out on finger quote donations. if they people who pay big bucks for the good seats would continue to pay that donation (only now it's a real one) and not get so pissed off that someone near them paid less, no one would be worse off.

 

[Finwad32]

It's complicated for them to unwind, but they need to figure it out. Rather than compare it against the likes of the Pats (which is valid), it doesn't compare well to other seats in the Dome. I have a season ticket that cost me just over $95 (might have gone up some this year, but still ridiculously cheap). So for a negligible difference, I sit in the front row of the upper deck, above the team tunnel, versus sitting at the 20 yard line for one single game against a mid range team like Maryland.

Hey now! You're right next to me partner!

 

[Millhouse]

Hey now! You're right next to me partner!

be grateful that head is next to you and not in front

 

[KaiserUEO]

they would rather have empty seats than risk losing out on finger quote donations. if they people who pay big bucks for the good seats would continue to pay that donation (only now it's a real one) and not get so pissed off that someone near them paid less, no one would be worse off.

the funny thing is, the people who paid all that $$ for the right to a good seat, dont realize that there is likely better seating elsewhere...and cheaper at that.

the school needs to put the focus on the perks and advantages, rather than where they are sitting. do they offer a 'virtual view' from the seats on the web? or maybe send 1 to the donors only. somebody might wake up and go 'hey, i do want to be further away from the bench, up a little...its a better view. plus, im closer to the loo'.

if the school make them feel special that they picked that seat...and the donor knows that its good, it will go a long way towards overlooking the fact that they are sitting next to swish...

 

[Scooch]

It's complicated for them to unwind, but they need to figure it out. Rather than compare it against the likes of the Pats (which is valid), it doesn't compare well to other seats in the Dome. I have a season ticket that cost me just over $95 (might have gone up some this year, but still ridiculously cheap). So for a negligible difference, I sit in the front row of the upper deck, above the team tunnel, versus sitting at the 20 yard line for one single game against a mid range team like Maryland.

It was a bit of a stretch to make that comparison. But I just looked and a comparable 20 yard line seat for the Bills the same weekend is $100. That makes the SU cost look utterly insane. I know the Bills are...well...the Bills. But you can't price your college seats the exact same as the NFL team a couple hours down the road.

 

[Scooch]

they would rather have empty seats than risk losing out on finger quote donations. if they people who pay big bucks for the good seats would continue to pay that donation (only now it's a real one) and not get so pissed off that someone near them paid less, no one would be worse off.

The funny thing is that dynamic plays out all over football. Lots of people pay extortion, err I mean PSLs, and end up with a guy sitting next to them who didn't.

The problem is that there is so little demand for SU football tickets that pricing is just a mess. It's hard for me to believe that if they made the seats I looked at $50, and killed the donation for seats from the 20 to the 35, that they wouldn't ultimately come out ahead by just doing more volume.

I'd like to think they've modeled those scenarios 100 ways to Sunday, but I'm probably wrong.

 

[Millhouse]

The funny thing is that dynamic plays out all over football. Lots of people pay extortion, err I mean PSLs, and end up with a guy sitting next to them who didn't.

The problem is that there is so little demand for SU football tickets that pricing is just a mess. It's hard for me to believe that if they made the seats I looked at $50, and killed the donation for seats from the 20 to the 35, that they wouldn't ultimately come out ahead by just doing more volume.

I'd like to think they've modeled those scenarios 100 ways to Sunday, but I'm probably wrong.

tempted to do it for them. would be taking wild guesses as to the number of seats at each price but those are all inputs they could tweak

 

[Orangejet]

Here's my guessimate regarding this years Dome attendance:
Nova: 38,000 (Cuse fans buy-in to HCSS free ticket)
Maryland: 43,000 (ACC vs. B1G match-up)
Louisville: 47,500 (Fri. nite game and Cuse is 4 - 0 after win in NJ vs. ND)
Florida State: 49, 250 (Sell-out to see #1 team and Heisman Trophy winner)
NC state: 44,000 (Partying SU students/fans are now pysched for football)
Duke: 46,000 (Intense hoops rivalry continues on the gridiron)
Pitt: 47,000 (Cuse fighting for 2nd place in Coastal and better Bowl positioning)
Average: 44,964 (Best since 1999 when team averaged 46,741)

 

[Full_Rebar]

Passed a billboard on 81 this afternoon that shows a tiny glimpse of the new uniform and has the crossed 44 logo...of course it's the one sitting down the hill from the Dome, but baby steps with SU Marketing. Makes you wonder if they had no money tucked away for marketing and had to wait for the new fiscal year at SU to start.

 

[Trueblue25]

No shot we get over 31,000 for Nova. Which is a shame.