Attendance is Barta's fault - Iowa only issue
- Thread starter westender
- Start date
Section215
New Member
Iowa's football attendance went up to an average of 68,043 in 2018 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Iowa_Hawkeyes_football_team). Say what you want about Barta but the attendance issues discussed in that article relate to the rest of the Big Ten more than they do to Iowa.
I just don't think anyone should complain if they reduce seating capacity to more it more comfortable. I did renew again. I compare to going to a concert versus just listening to music on an electronic device. It is costly. They need to market more toward 1 or 2 game attendance type folks too. I am a dinosaur though. I have never snap chatted or instagrammed and have 0 desire to do so.
GesterHawk
Well-Known Member
They do? Hmmm, weird.
Fryowa
Administrator
It's too expensive for the experience that you get now that you can watch it in 720p curled up on your couch for free. With better views, no buyer's remorse if your team get's blown out, 10 steps to the bathroom, no OWI risk for those of you who drink, and all the taco dip and pickle rolls you can stuff in your fat face. And if Stanley starts playing soft toss with Penn State's DBs, you can go mow grass.
Seriously though...for a family of 4 that lives, say 2 hours away, you've got $200 in tickets minimum, $50 round trip in gas, $100 in meals, popcorn, miscellaneous stuff, and that's just the bare minimum. So you spend $350-$500 to go watch Kirk Ferentz not play Noah Fant against NW and get beat when it's 17 degrees outside with a hammered tailgater swaying into you for three hours.
If you have to hotel it one night then you're in even deeper.
The people wondering why attendance declines are also people who think every family pulls two $100K plus incomes.
Seriously though...for a family of 4 that lives, say 2 hours away, you've got $200 in tickets minimum, $50 round trip in gas, $100 in meals, popcorn, miscellaneous stuff, and that's just the bare minimum. So you spend $350-$500 to go watch Kirk Ferentz not play Noah Fant against NW and get beat when it's 17 degrees outside with a hammered tailgater swaying into you for three hours.
If you have to hotel it one night then you're in even deeper.
The people wondering why attendance declines are also people who think every family pulls two $100K plus incomes.
Last edited:
homes
Well-Known Member
Tailgating, walking up to the stadium among the crowd with the expected (hope)of an Iowa win, the Iowa band marching into the stadium, the kid captain coming on the field with the honorary captain, the Boom, the Fight Song and On Iowa, Back in Black/Enter Sandman, the Swarm, Nile Kinnick's speech, the opening kickoff, the Wave, honoring our military hero, I-O-W-A after every touchdown, high fiving the guy next to you and below you and above you, the ups and downs of the game, walking back to your car replaying the key plays in the game (good and bad). It's all worth it to me. To each his own.
Fryowa
Administrator
I’m not saying it isn’t fun, and I drive 5 1/2 hours one way twice a year to football games, but it’s becoming so that the experience isn’t worth the money you drop. I like it, but the main reason I go as often as I do is because my young son really likes it. If and when he gets to the point where hanging out with friends is more fun than dad and he doesn’t care to go for a period of time, my attendance will be probably be limited to less frequent trips that I’m pickier about.
Right now I want him to get the experience of live games and all the stuff that goes with it, memories, etc so that hopefully if he has kids he’ll do the same. I will say that if it’s just me, the ridiculous amount of money isn’t justifiable, especially twice a year. And I sure as hell wouldn’t drop over a grand per seat even if I lived in Iowa City.
Last edited:
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Add into that families with children are often in so many activities now and many games, tournaments are on the weekends. That cuts your potential ticket buyers down by 30%.
I agree with what was mentioned above. I think the UofI should really consider 2 game ticket packages. Nobody wants to commit to a whole season anymore, or many times even 3-4 games.
Everybody has DVR now so is so convenient.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
Could not have said it better!
Season tickets for years, but went from four seats to two after the 2012 debacle. I love the atmosphere and game day experience, even when Iowa is playing nobodies in the non-conference schedule. What would make me quit going (and I am close) is the over commercialization and over orchestration of the game day inside Kinnick.
Picture the crowd into the game screaming during timeouts....then the announcer decides to recognize the U of I employee of the month, or some other bullshit. Or the many idiotic commercials......Delta Dental, Pancheros, etc. All of this crap takes the crowd out of the game. I came to watch the game. If I wanted commercials, I would stay home and watch, so that I could get up and get another beverage during commercials.
Maybe, I am the only one dreading another huge scoreboard, because instead of using it for more football related video. Barta and his Band of Twits will use it as a billboard to sell more crap. Rant over, thanks for reading.
Picture the crowd into the game screaming during timeouts....then the announcer decides to recognize the U of I employee of the month, or some other bullshit. Or the many idiotic commercials......Delta Dental, Pancheros, etc. All of this crap takes the crowd out of the game. I came to watch the game. If I wanted commercials, I would stay home and watch, so that I could get up and get another beverage during commercials.
Maybe, I am the only one dreading another huge scoreboard, because instead of using it for more football related video. Barta and his Band of Twits will use it as a billboard to sell more crap. Rant over, thanks for reading.
MoseSchrute
Well-Known Member
Have to agree with that. Do other stadiums pull that crap?
The State of IA could fill a the largest stadium in the country every weekend
eyekwah
Well-Known Member
A lot of factors influence attendance, but when the home games are played have a large influence. Home or away the weather was brutal for a majority of Saturdays in 2018. The 11 o'clock starts also impact attendance. If you live 3 hours away from IC your looking at leaving home by 7:30 at the latest. If you worked all week and need some rest then getting to the game just seems like work.
I believe those that mention the cost factor. In the competitive world of college football recruiting facilities influence recruits. Unfortunately it has led Universities to extract money where ever they can get it. The football program basically supports the entire athletic department at most colleges. The TV revenue did not make ticket prices any less expensive nor has the fan experience benefited, unless you sit at home. The Title IX legislation has a direct influence on prices for tickets as well. Salaries for coaching staffs have escalated dramatically. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not simple economics 101 still applies.
I believe those that mention the cost factor. In the competitive world of college football recruiting facilities influence recruits. Unfortunately it has led Universities to extract money where ever they can get it. The football program basically supports the entire athletic department at most colleges. The TV revenue did not make ticket prices any less expensive nor has the fan experience benefited, unless you sit at home. The Title IX legislation has a direct influence on prices for tickets as well. Salaries for coaching staffs have escalated dramatically. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not simple economics 101 still applies.
HerkyNeedsaTan
Member
I couldn’t agree more and made sure to mention it on my last gameday experience survey. We have a band and cheerleaders for a reason- but every time the crowd gets roaring, the P.A. announcer interrupts with some stupid announcement or contest. I love the college atmosphere-way better then pro football-but all the commercials dilutes the experience! Good post!
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
You may have missed TK's sarcasm
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
You've got it Fry.
I'd be curious how many season ticket holders come from outside Eastern Iowa or Des Moines. I'd suggest many of them are in the shrinking season ticket base for the reasons you list above. Most are in the demo that remembers the pre- buzz kill era around Kinnick.
I did the math on a 600 mile round trip, at least one hotel night, consumables, X 5-7 games plus the cost of season tickets AND the required seat donation... and after 25 years with season tickets, we chose an extra week of winter vacation every year and cash in pocket. It's also about the time commitment. Most of your weekend is shot if you drive more than 250 miles. We've often said, "Man is would be great if we lived in North Liberty...grilling at home after a game". 11:00AM starts don't help either...driving up on game day isn't an option for many.
I still make a couple of games, tickets are always available on the open market. FWIW we fall into that $100K+ household demo. We're just putting the money elsewhere.
Last edited:
This will sound old-fashioned but I really miss the 1:00 start times in the 1980s and early 1990s when Iowa wasn't on TV. We didn't have to get up so early to get to the game and we stopped about halfway home to grab some food and were usually home by 9pm.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
At the risk of "back in my day"....yeah, 1:00 start was primo. The perfect game day. Plenty of time to tailgate without getting up at 6:00am (even the students made kickoff) Game over in time to go out for dinner, etc. Referring back to my post, it also allowed most out-of-towners to do it same day with a DD..especially the Chicago burbs fans. 11:00 and 2:30 are great for TV money...not so good for putting butts in the stands.
