Attendance Ideas and Solutions

[wiu712]

Last year they implemented some type of reward system for students attending athletic events...getting points, entering drawings, etc. although you had to use a special app to do it, and I haven't heard a word about it this season.

Probably 10 years or so now, we played UNI in a big home game at the end of the season, right before Thanksgiving. I forget specifically what it was, but if we won, we'd be in the playoffs, or maybe we'd win the conference...something like that.

The "student reward app" is back this year. The PA announcer has mentioned it several times at both home football games.

That game with Northern Iowa was on November 20, 2010. Western won that game 30-14. The Leathernecks captured sole possession of second place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with that win over the regular season champion and finished the regular season at 7-4 overall and 5-3 in conference.

Western on to play two games in the FCS Playoffs in 2010: beating Coastal Carolina 17-10 and losing to Appalachian State 42-14.

The attendance at Hanson Field for that game, with the students gone for Thanksgiving Break, was 8,217. Western averaged just over 11,000 fans at home in 2010.

Besides the "Amtrak Game" promotion, there was $1 admission and $1 concessions for that game with UNI.

[GV Dad]

The Family Weekend and Homecoming games are usually the largest crowds of the season.

This year, we had 4,011 for Family Weekend and 4,532 for Homecoming. That leaves thousands of empty seats at Hanson Field.

Here's an idea to boost attendance: $5.00 General Admission tickets.

And kids free - at least up to a certain age, maybe grade school or junior high.

Love this!

[ST_Lawson]

The Family Weekend and Homecoming games are usually the largest crowds of the season.

This year, we had 4,011 for Family Weekend and 4,532 for Homecoming. That leaves thousands of empty seats at Hanson Field.

Here's an idea to boost attendance: $5.00 General Admission tickets.

And kids free - at least up to a certain age, maybe grade school or junior high.

Love this!

I also like the idea of a "student game"...area HS kids can get in free by showing their student ID. Might help bring in some local kids from the area...many of which might be considering attending WIU anyway.

[GV Dad]

There are a lot of things going against us, that aren't going to change. We aren't going to suddenly construct 4 new hotels. The Macomb area isn't going to grow to 100,000 in population. The enrollment isn't going to jump to 20,000 students. So a 16,000 fan sellout isn't likely either. But absolutely no reason we shouldn't ave over 7,000 a game, and, with the right opponent top 10,000 on occasion (every couple years). Those numbers are very doable with the current situation, and some creative proactive marketing and leadership.

[BobLovely]

A lot of solid ideas here! I certainly do not understand all the reasons for the sharp off in attendance during the last 5-7 years. Back in 1969 when I went through "freshman orientation" we were told our attendance at the football games was "expected." Of course, the team was excellent then, enrollment was higher and most games were packed. I have been to games at Wisconsin, Kansas State and Northwest Missouri State [DII] during the last two seasons and the attendance was excellent. The Wisconsin and Kansas State games were televised. This did not affect attendance. I have noticed that attendance at FCS games in the Midwest is certainly off. But, there are exceptions. Missouri State draws well even though the team is not ranked.

Bob

[Western_101]

A lot of solid ideas here! I certainly do not understand all the reasons for the sharp off in attendance during the last 5-7 years. Back in 1969 when I went through "freshman orientation" we were told our attendance at the football games was "expected." Of course, the team was excellent then, enrollment was higher and most games were packed. I have been to games at Wisconsin, Kansas State and Northwest Missouri State [DII] during the last two seasons and the attendance was excellent. The Wisconsin and Kansas State games were televised. This did not affect attendance. I have noticed that attendance at FCS games in the Midwest is certainly off. But, there are exceptions. Missouri State draws well even though the team is not ranked.

Bob

I don't understand why MSU's schedule is ranked tougher than ours? Attendance, yeah there were like 800 people at Plaster Field for the mighty Lincoln whatever they are. My guess is non-counter games are not even acknowledged when ranking a schedule.

That being said Missouri State seems to be prospering. Their not really ranked very high academically so maybe they are the perfect fit for the marginal student that wants a big school atmosphere. Also ISU, SIU, SDSU, and MSU have either new stadiums or have poured a ton of money into their existing stadium. Western is falling behind.

[meganeck]

As mentioned, enrollment being way down makes a big difference, but attendance being down is a pretty well universal thing across most of college football as evidenced by this thread popping up over on AGS this evening: http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthr ... e-football

Not many suggestions there now, but I'll keep an eye on the thread for any good ideas.

along with enrollment, I'm assuming the population of Macomb and surrounding areas is down also, which would have an effect also

[ST_Lawson]

I don't understand why MSU's schedule is ranked tougher than ours? Attendance, yeah there were like 800 people at Plaster Field for the mighty Lincoln whatever they are. My guess is non-counter games are not even acknowledged when ranking a schedule.

They aren't, at least where Massey is concerned. MSU currently has the 39th toughest schedule in the FCS according to Massey Ratings. We're at #4. This is SoS based on teams we've played already...if you go on estimated SoS for all opponents this season, we're #3 and MSU is #7, but that's only because 1-7 are all MVFC teams.

along with enrollment, I'm assuming the population of Macomb and surrounding areas is down also, which would have an effect also

Judging by the number of layoffs we've had and open positions we haven't hired people for, as well as the number of "For Sale" signs you see around town and places going out of business...I'd bet you're correct on that assumption.

[rocki]

Just gonna toss this out there because I am far removed from the college scene and what makes students "tick" these days.

GV Dad, you have a college age kid. If he wasn't playing football, what would be some of the incentives that would appeal to him in regards to game attendance? Giveaways at the gate? Contests? I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, I just really don't know. So many kids are buried in their phones now that I don't know what (other than a massive internet/cell tower outage) would get their attention.

[meganeck]

I know they do incentives for the students at big women's basketball games, but I think JD and maybe Seth pay for them out of their own pockets or they go out and get sponsors, donations, etc. on their own. I doubt the football coaches would do that, nothing against them, but just doesn't seem like something a football coach would do.

I know when I went to school there in the early 90's and went to football games, they didn't have a lot of students attend. Most of the students would go to tailgate then go home when the game started or if they did go to the game they would leave at the half.

I would be really interested in what kind of advertising they do in the area. I'm assuming the Quincy stations do a pretty good job of covering WIU athletics, but I think obviously winning more would help and a new stadium or stadium upgrades would help also.