Leatherneck Nation

Leathernecks rally to top Montana, 31-27.

From the McDonough County Voice:
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/sports/20 ... sfeed=true

wiu712 wrote: Sat Sep 15, 2018 9:01 pm The west side stands had a big crowd. Very few on the east side other than the Band, Band parents, and a group of Montana fans. The east side was in the sun for most of the game. Not the place to be on a hot day.

There was a large group of fans standing in the shade of "Rocky's Tree" at the southwest corner of Hanson Field. And a sizeable group sitting on the west hillside.

I saw a group of Monmouth College football players at the game. Today was their Bye Week.

Today was a Discover Western day. So lots of high school students on campus

The beer stand at the southeast corner seemed to be a popular place.

Looked like all of the Western students were sitting on the west side. Very large group of them.

Today's crowd of 4,011 was larger than last year's Family Day attendance of 3,217.

To anybody that was at the game, Does the announced attendance seem accurate?

From the Missoula newspaper (The Missoulian):

Western Illinois shocks No. 15 Montana, Leathernecks upset Grizzlies, 31-27.
https://missoulian.com/sports/college/b ... c5b5d.html

Griz notebook: Turnovers prove costly, Flowers' kick return impresses, Hauck explains fourth-and-1 play.
https://missoulian.com/sports/college/b ... aee8f.html


“We didn’t finish”: Montana Grizzlies fall late at Western Illinois.
From KPAX-TV, Missoula:
https://montanasports.com/cat-griz/mont ... -illinois/

meganeck wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:49 amTo anybody that was at the game, Does the announced attendance seem accurate?

The posted attendance of 4,011 fits in with the numbers given for the 2017 games. Saturday's Family Day crowd appeared to be larger than the 3,217 at last year's Family Day game. But it also appeared to be smaller than the 5,631 posted for the 2017 Homecoming game.

I entered thru the main gate at the north corner. I did not notice the ticket-takers using a "clicker" to keep count on those who enter without a paper ticket: students, etc. So maybe the 4,011 figure might be on the low side.

With the Western students now sitting on the west side -- to be with the team -- the east side is now essentially empty. The only people sitting on the east side were the Western Band, a few Band families, and a small group of Montana fans.

The beer stand at the southeast corner seemed to be very popular with a group of Montana fans. They watched most of the game from that corner.

wiu712 wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:08 am

meganeck wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:49 amTo anybody that was at the game, Does the announced attendance seem accurate?

The posted attendance of 4,011 fits in with the numbers given for the 2017 games. Saturday's Family Day crowd appeared to be larger than the 3,217 at last year's Family Day game. But it also appeared to be smaller than the 5,631 posted for the 2017 Homecoming game.

I entered thru the main gate at the north corner. I did not notice the ticket-takers using a "clicker" to keep count on those who enter without a paper ticket: students, etc. So maybe the 4,011 figure might be on the low side.

With the Western students now sitting on the west side -- to be with the team -- the east side is now essentially empty. The only people sitting on the east side were the Western Band, a few Band families, and a small group of Montana fans.

The beer stand at the southeast corner seemed to be very popular with a group of Montana fans. They watched most of the game from that corner.

If I lived in Macomb and there was a bit of a berm up on the south hill where I could park my fold-up chaise lounge seat, complete with beer holder and sunshade, that would be my preferred seating location amongst them all.

sealhall74 wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:22 am

wiu712 wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:08 am

meganeck wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:49 amTo anybody that was at the game, Does the announced attendance seem accurate?

The posted attendance of 4,011 fits in with the numbers given for the 2017 games. Saturday's Family Day crowd appeared to be larger than the 3,217 at last year's Family Day game. But it also appeared to be smaller than the 5,631 posted for the 2017 Homecoming game.

I entered thru the main gate at the north corner. I did not notice the ticket-takers using a "clicker" to keep count on those who enter without a paper ticket: students, etc. So maybe the 4,011 figure might be on the low side.

With the Western students now sitting on the west side -- to be with the team -- the east side is now essentially empty. The only people sitting on the east side were the Western Band, a few Band families, and a small group of Montana fans.

The beer stand at the southeast corner seemed to be very popular with a group of Montana fans. They watched most of the game from that corner.

If I lived in Macomb and there was a bit of a berm up on the south hill where I could park my fold-up chaise lounge seat, complete with beer holder and sunshade, that would be my preferred seating location amongst them all.

We need some solar panels to hang on top and over the east side, maybe even the new west side. They could be a nice cost-effective shade structure for fans sitting on those hot aluminum bleachers. We would not be the first university to embark on such a venture. Arizona State outfitted their softball stadium with some solar panel shading. From what I can gather, orginal 2014 solar panel cost was $2.75M.

https://thesundevils.com/facilities/?id=10

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I would say that number was a low estimate, but it was every bit of the 4,000+ reported. Still completely baffles me how we can't get twice that at the games.

A comment on the beer sales. I talked with the Supervisor, she said the school really isn't sold on the beer sales yet. But, their numbers were very positive, and I for one didn't notice any rowdy or unruly fans. Then again, maybe that was me? LOL

GV Dad wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:12 pm I would say that number was a low estimate, but it was every bit of the 4,000+ reported. Still completely baffles me how we can't get twice that at the games.

A comment on the beer sales. I talked with the Supervisor, she said the school really isn't sold on the beer sales yet. But, their numbers were very positive, and I for one didn't notice any rowdy or unruly fans. Then again, maybe that was me? LOL

Of course, you're pretty much preaching to the choir on this one. Most people here would be at every WIU football game if they could. A portion of it could be explained by the decrease in enrollment, but we used to draw probably 3-4 times as many fans when the enrollment was maybe twice what it is currently. Hopefully with the win, we can get good turnout for Homecoming, but I'm not really sure what to do to get people to show up.
Is it cost?....because most schools charge a lot more than we do for tickets, plus students get in free at all of our sporting events.
Is it because people can watch the games streaming online now?...idk...to me, there's nothing quite like actually being there, but maybe people just feel like they'd rather sit at home on their couches.
I don't really know the answer, but apparently nobody else seems to either. Attendance is down at a lot of places (hell, even Alabama reduced the number of seats in their most recent stadium renovations, and Coach Saban has, in the past, complained about lack of student attendance throughout the game), so it's not just us, but it does feel like it's hit us harder than many other places.

Beer sales - seemed like people were interested, and I also saw no issues with anyone getting rowdy or anything. Didn't notice any problems from my perspective, and if it brought a few extra $ to the university/athletics department or a few more people to the game, then I think it's a win. Obviously we'll see how the rest of the season goes, but so far, so good.