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Student attendance at games
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:12 pm
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:12 pm
Spinoff from the Lane Kiffin thread. and I would like to discuss everyone's thoughts on this. Ole Miss is a classic example of the student attendance issue but most other schools have had similar issues, maybe not as extreme but it's definitely starting to show.
The drop off in student attendance, I believe is due mainly to the modern world that this generation has grown up in. For a couple of decades now, families have largely been priced out of football games. The schools made a lot of money by raising ticket prices but they also catered to middle aged and older people with money. Young kids didn't attend football games like they did when I was young, so they haven't grown up with the same kind of loyalty toward teams. In the old days, if dad wanted to see the game, he would have to go and would take his family to the game. Games are on TV now and dad can watch all the games at home. Kids may or may not watch with him. Now pair this with the increased demand of kids' attention span taken by social media, smart phones, and video games, and they just don't like / need sports for entertainment like before these things existed or were so popular.
I think we are going to see a decline in football interest, unfortunately. It'll still be big but I think we reached the college football apex a few years back.
I'd like to know your thoughts on this but it's one of my theories why we see students not really caring to stay for the entirety of the games. They just aren't as emotionally invested like they used to be.
The drop off in student attendance, I believe is due mainly to the modern world that this generation has grown up in. For a couple of decades now, families have largely been priced out of football games. The schools made a lot of money by raising ticket prices but they also catered to middle aged and older people with money. Young kids didn't attend football games like they did when I was young, so they haven't grown up with the same kind of loyalty toward teams. In the old days, if dad wanted to see the game, he would have to go and would take his family to the game. Games are on TV now and dad can watch all the games at home. Kids may or may not watch with him. Now pair this with the increased demand of kids' attention span taken by social media, smart phones, and video games, and they just don't like / need sports for entertainment like before these things existed or were so popular.
I think we are going to see a decline in football interest, unfortunately. It'll still be big but I think we reached the college football apex a few years back.
I'd like to know your thoughts on this but it's one of my theories why we see students not really caring to stay for the entirety of the games. They just aren't as emotionally invested like they used to be.
This post was edited on 9/28/22 at 5:14 pm
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Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:16 pm to Landmass
Who else didn't read this shite?
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:18 pm to Landmass
This is pretty simple. The Rebels' home games have come against Tulsa, Central Arkansas and Troy.
Not exactly a "must see" lineup there.
When they play top 10 Kentucky and three other SEC West schools, attendance and atmosphere is going to improve dramatically.
Not exactly a "must see" lineup there.
When they play top 10 Kentucky and three other SEC West schools, attendance and atmosphere is going to improve dramatically.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:19 pm to Landmass
For fricks sake CliffNotes please.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:20 pm to Landmass
I don't think kids need to grow up going to games or even care about football before arriving on campus in order to become fans of the team that stay through the 3rd quarter.
But I agree that they have a lot of stuff vying for their attention these days, and going to a football game probably sounds like a lot of work to them. And agree, college football has peaked.
But I agree that they have a lot of stuff vying for their attention these days, and going to a football game probably sounds like a lot of work to them. And agree, college football has peaked.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:22 pm to Landmass
On word
TV
TV
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:22 pm to Landmass
I think kids not going to games has more to do with their limited attention spans and having to put down their phones to watch. They’d rather stream the game while scrolling instagram
I think an 18-21 year old would really struggle to be anywhere for 3-4 hours straight
I think an 18-21 year old would really struggle to be anywhere for 3-4 hours straight
This post was edited on 9/28/22 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:23 pm to Landmass
Auburn isn’t having the problem yet. Part of the issue might be how many out of state students you have. They don’t always care about football as much.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:28 pm to Landmass
I understand why the ladies leave. Lets face it, there is a reason why 99% of the Rant users are men. Women just arent into football like the dudes. But I really dont get why the guys leave. I guess they are just chasing the arse.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:34 pm to Landmass
I agree with your general idea, but my school is probably the exception to the rule somewhat.
We’re a big school who has a big student section the covers some very very prime seating real estate.
We lose to App St and had students camping out for tickets 24 hours later. We have 30-40k in students alone at most games. Sure, they don’t all stay but I don’t see droves leaving during halftime.
We’re a big school who has a big student section the covers some very very prime seating real estate.
We lose to App St and had students camping out for tickets 24 hours later. We have 30-40k in students alone at most games. Sure, they don’t all stay but I don’t see droves leaving during halftime.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:47 pm to Landmass
Between ticket prices, seat licensing fees, parking, hotels with their three night minimums, attending games is just not a good value for your entertainment dollar, even for older people with money
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:53 pm to Landmass
We went as a family to games growing up. Season ticket holders for decades and went to every home game and a lot of away games. Was a different time but the experience was much different than today.
Games are long now with unnecessary timeouts for TV, timeouts for play reviews, etc... they really drag the game out. Also every timeout you are bombarded with commercials for everything from vehicles to furniture. They also spend so much time honoring anyone and everyone that ever farted on campus. It's tedious.
Someone may not give a shite about the opposing band but something is going to take it's place and it isn't going to be your own band. They are going to fill that time with some bullshite.
11am games suck... they just do. Afternoon games or night games are a lot more fun. I agree that food and drinks are ridiculously expensive and beyond stupid and it has gotten so expensive that I can absolutely understand why moms and dads cut back on going to games. TV is easy.
None of this is really that appealing to non-diehard fans that are getting older. They just won't be replaced most likely.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:55 pm to Landmass
In the 50s and 60s my grandparents went to every home basketball(mens and woman's) and football game played in Knoxville. In the 70s and 80s it was most but not all of them. By the 90s it became rare for them to go but they still had season tickets to all 3. When my grandfather passed the tickets went to my Aunt and her husband, my uncle had tickets through the News Sentinel and my folks were rarely in Tennessee. Now my aunt has basketball season tickets (no kids) and my uncle gets tickets whenever he wants but his kid doesn’t care about sports anymore.
I take my daughter to the occasional game and buy tickets for her youth group to smaller games but I don’t really care about going to more than a handful of games (baseball more so than basketball) anymore.
Between the traffic, the people, and the hassle it’s just not that enjoyable anymore. I would rather my daughter (12) and her friends go enjoy themselves than go myself. I would rather just pay for kids to go and build memories and attachment.
I take my daughter to the occasional game and buy tickets for her youth group to smaller games but I don’t really care about going to more than a handful of games (baseball more so than basketball) anymore.
Between the traffic, the people, and the hassle it’s just not that enjoyable anymore. I would rather my daughter (12) and her friends go enjoy themselves than go myself. I would rather just pay for kids to go and build memories and attachment.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 5:58 pm to Landmass
I went to as many games as I could when I was at LSU as I knew there would only be a small window of my life that I could get $12 tickets to LSU home games, even for big rivals and conference opponents. I'm not sure how much students are being charged for them now at LSU or other schools.
But I will say, the student section being in the endzone made it kind of difficult to see what was going on when play was happening near the other endzone, so you're watching the jumbotron a lot. TV offers a superior view of the action pretty much at all times. So it wouldn't shock me if kids at these schools like to go to the tailgates to drink and eat and soak up the hype and energy on campus, but either stay at the tailgate to watch the game on TV or go back to their dorms or a party for the actual game.
But I will say, the student section being in the endzone made it kind of difficult to see what was going on when play was happening near the other endzone, so you're watching the jumbotron a lot. TV offers a superior view of the action pretty much at all times. So it wouldn't shock me if kids at these schools like to go to the tailgates to drink and eat and soak up the hype and energy on campus, but either stay at the tailgate to watch the game on TV or go back to their dorms or a party for the actual game.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 6:05 pm to Landmass
quote:
know your thoughts on this but it's one of my theories why we see students not really caring to stay for the entirety of the games.
My experience at Ole Miss was that it was a typical SEC student fanbase. Lots of fraternity and sorority support, but also a very large party school where the houses are in very close proximity to the stadium. Makes for a great student pre-game experience in the Grove or at the house, but also leads to early departures to reset and prep for after parties on campus or in the square.
If it's a meaningless opponent they are in a close game with they may stay longer. If they're blowing them out or losing, they are absolutely heading out early. If they are losing badly to a big opponent, they're are out. If they are winning, they will stay, especially in a rivalry or upset victory.
Like I said, not all that different than most college kids.
To me it's not generational, but Ole Miss is simply one of the best set-up campuses for college pre-game and after parties. And, that's what they are going to do for the most part.
Again, just my opinion. Each school has a specific culture, and UM is a party school.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 6:11 pm to Landmass
quote:
families have largely been priced out of football games. The schools made a lot of money by raising ticket prices but they also catered to middle aged and older people with money. Young kids didn't attend football games like they did when I was young, so they haven't grown up with the same kind of loyalty toward teams. In the old days, if dad wanted to see the game, he would have to go and would take his family to the game.
A lot of this makes sense. The buying power for hundreds of millions of Americans is all but lost. It was going on long before the inflation crisis. Working folks have to put more of their paychecks towards child care, groceries, gasoline, home goods etc… Thank the corporations and the tv executives for high ticket prices
Posted on 9/28/22 at 6:24 pm to Landmass
quote:
The drop off in student attendance, I believe is due mainly to the modern world that this generation has grown up in
4k TV's and better camera work makes going to the games not as attractive as it was 25 years ago. Plus there's no local TV blackouts anymore, and even if there were, the Internet makes it easy to get around them.
Second reason is cost. Unless you're a student, it is extremely expensive to go to games now. This is especially true for "big games" between rivals or high ranked teams.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 6:30 pm to Landmass
Didn't read past the 3rd "sentence" of whatever this was but student attendance has been fine. Students did not stay for the 2nd half though because it was 95 degrees and they face the sun. The score was also 35-14
Posted on 9/28/22 at 8:08 pm to Landmass
IDK man the LSU MSU game the students were there in force for most of the game. SS was full. Now the premium seats in the sun were about 3/5ths full for a primetime SEC game.
Posted on 9/28/22 at 8:10 pm to Landmass
Our student attendance is wayyyyy up this year, maybe the highest in the last 5+ years
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