Football attendance

[westender]

Just so you all can see fan attendance is not just an Iowa / Gary Barta issue it is made out to be by some.


https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ion-with-largest-attendance-drop-in-34-years/

 

[mopkins]

Its an interesting article, which is surprising coming from Dennis Dodd. Couple things I thought about...

1) Iowa is doing what several other schools are doing...decreasing capacity, increasing premium seats (the north End Zone renovation)

2) Student attendance is down all across college football. Students dont care as much about college sports as most of us did.

3) Technology has gotten to the point where people value the TV experience over spending money on tickets/parking and waiting in lines

4) Football attendance is down across all of football, not just the NFL.

5) Its 2018 and Kinnick still doesn't have wifi.

 

[uihawk82]

those of us who have been going to games for a long time love that feeling of the air, the wind, the noise, the sounds which are different than the noise, etc. many younger students and people may not ever get into that feeling which will really hurt attendance down the road but their world and life experience is different. And maybe a lot of the younger millenials are not that much into the gladiator type competition.

But the opposite piece of info is how is TV viewer ship this last season, is it still high? That is important as that is where the money cow is.

I think the TV networks need to get back to being creative with commercials and have short spots on part of the screen maybe without audio during game time between plays. I hear a lot of people in the stands and myself included moan and groan when there are 2 minutes commercial breaks during game time.

 

[DunderMifflinHk]

The simple solution to increase attendance is to lower ticket prices. Supply and demand. It’s too much of a burden to go to a game these days with ticket prices so high. Some people make the sacrifice but others can’t. You drop prices and you’ll see a sold out Kinnick Stadium every Saturday.

 

[Seth53]

Its an interesting article, which is surprising coming from Dennis Dodd. Couple things I thought about...

1) Iowa is doing what several other schools are doing...decreasing capacity, increasing premium seats (the north End Zone renovation)

2) Student attendance is down all across college football. Students dont care as much about college sports as most of us did.

3) Technology has gotten to the point where people value the TV experience over spending money on tickets/parking and waiting in lines

4) Football attendance is down across all of football, not just the NFL.

5) Its 2018 and Kinnick still doesn't have wifi.

#3 and #5 right on

 

[Seth53]

The simple solution to increase attendance is to lower ticket prices. Supply and demand. It’s too much of a burden to go to a game these days with ticket prices so high. Some people make the sacrifice but others can’t. You drop prices and you’ll see a sold out Kinnick Stadium every Saturday.

And wins. Wins put butts in seats.

 

[NCHawker]

how much does a coke and a hot dog cost at Kinnick?

 

[judzeehawk]

how much does a coke and a hot dog cost at Kinnick?

I know 2 hot dogs and a small pop corn in Carver costs $13.50 and a pop is 4.50.

 

[okeefe4prez]

The simple solution to increase attendance is to lower ticket prices. Supply and demand. It’s too much of a burden to go to a game these days with ticket prices so high. Some people make the sacrifice but others can’t. You drop prices and you’ll see a sold out Kinnick Stadium every Saturday.

That might put more fans in the seats, but it will crush revenue. You're better off with 60k in the stadium at an average price of $100 per ticket than 70k at $60 a ticket. If you buy individual game tickets from the school after the season ticket sales are over, they're not too expensive.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Its an interesting article, which is surprising coming from Dennis Dodd. Couple things I thought about...

1) Iowa is doing what several other schools are doing...decreasing capacity, increasing premium seats (the north End Zone renovation)

2) Student attendance is down all across college football. Students dont care as much about college sports as most of us did.

3) Technology has gotten to the point where people value the TV experience over spending money on tickets/parking and waiting in lines

4) Football attendance is down across all of football, not just the NFL.

5) Its 2018 and Kinnick still doesn't have wifi.

On point 2, younger males these days consume too much soy and wear tight jeans. Testosterone counts have absolutely plummeted. It's not surprising that the current crop of kids aren't interested in football.

On point 5, can you imagine Mediacom running wi-fi into Kinnick? They would probably charge like $2 million a year for the contract and it would be one internet line that runs somewhere between 1 and 3 megs. 20,000 people would try to access it at once and it would be even worse than the cellular connection.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Just so you all can see fan attendance is not just an Iowa / Gary Barta issue it is made out to be by some.


https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ion-with-largest-attendance-drop-in-34-years/

Interesting piece, but watch the false premises.... attendance concerns laid at Barta's feet were a result of the disaster of 2014, which capped a downward trend after the dreaded "extension". (The first one). That blip was clearly outside of the general trend of softening attendance around college campi. I don't think anybody blames Barta for general trends in college football.

 

[westender]

how much does a coke and a hot dog cost at Kinnick?

Not sure that is the problem, although the food is not the best. I am always amazed at how full restaurant parking lots are even during recession. I always commented to my wife, :"don't these people know there is a recession on?". And at least they do allow food in the gate. Gallon zip lock bag unopened (we just usually take granola bars / fruit snacks or stuff like that), and they have never denied it in. Eat out on Melrose before going in or after game. After game most have specials to get rid of what they have left. we don't even park where it costs money. We park along a street and walk it.

 

[westender]

Interesting piece, but watch the false premises.... attendance concerns laid at Barta's feet were a result of the disaster of 2014, which capped a downward trend after the dreaded "extension". (The first one). That blip was clearly outside of the general trend of softening attendance around college campi. I don't think anybody blames Barta for general trends in college football.

False premises my @@@. This board is full of premises and that Barta caused attendance to crater is one of them. Not an Iowa problem alone.

 

[westender]

those of us who have been going to games for a long time love that feeling of the air, the wind, the noise, the sounds which are different than the noise, etc. many younger students and people may not ever get into that feeling which will really hurt attendance down the road but their world and life experience is different. And maybe a lot of the younger millenials are not that much into the gladiator type competition.

But the opposite piece of info is how is TV viewer ship this last season, is it still high? That is important as that is where the money cow is.

I think the TV networks need to get back to being creative with commercials and have short spots on part of the screen maybe without audio during game time between plays. I hear a lot of people in the stands and myself included moan and groan when there are 2 minutes commercial breaks during game time.

On board with that. It's the memories as much as anything. I'll never say to someone, "remember that time we watched that game on tv together?". My nephew and myself went to the 7 got 6 game. Neither will ever forget it.

 

[Fryowa]

The simple solution to increase attendance is to lower ticket prices. Supply and demand. It’s too much of a burden to go to a game these days with ticket prices so high. Some people make the sacrifice but others can’t. You drop prices and you’ll see a sold out Kinnick Stadium every Saturday.

I live 5 hours away, and to take my kid and get semi decent seats it’s a $400 bill minimum with tickets, gas, food, and a night in a motel.

 

[EstronHawkKing]

seems like the Iowa student section is never full unless it's a really big game and late start

 

[Fryowa]

False premises my @@@. This board is full of premises and that Barta caused attendance to crater is one of them. Not an Iowa problem alone.

Are you Barta’s kid or something? Serious question.

I swear to god you’d defend Barta and Ferentz if they TP’d the children’s hospital. What is your goddamn infatuation with those two?

I can understand being a Ferentz fan somewhat, but Barta??? What the hell is your deal in being such a Barta warrior? The guy is a huge part in ruining Iowa sports.

 

[hawkinn3]

It only took 2 responses for somebody to blame millennials, impressive.

 

[westender]

Are you Barta’s kid or something? Serious question.

I swear to god you’d defend Barta and Ferentz if they TP’d the children’s hospital. What is your goddamn infatuation with those two?

I can understand being a Ferentz fan somewhat, but Barta??? What the hell is your deal in being such a Barta warrior? The guy is a huge part in ruining Iowa sports.

And that is your opinion. I have issues with people who give him no credit for anything. Pretty nice facilities going up I'd say. Most major sports heading in the right direction. men's basketball needs another year or so and it will turn. Then you all can change your usernames and post how great things are.

 

[westender]

I live 5 hours away, and to take my kid and get semi decent seats it’s a $400 bill minimum with tickets, gas, food, and a night in a motel.

Yet they have youth games where you can get a kid in for like $25 and you can get those in premium seat areas once singles go on sale. I am sure any hotel nearby jack the price up on home weekends. If the kid likes camping I'd seriously find a camp ground and pitch a tent. They will love it.