ISU FB Attendance 44th in Nation

**GoShow97** · 01-21-2011, 02:08 PM

ISU needs to bowl in JTS. This will automatically make more fans come to the games.

**Al_4_State** · 01-21-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by GoShow97

ISU needs to bowl in JTS. This will automatically make more fans come to the games.

Even though you're jesting, this statement is probably true to an extent. Who wouldn't rather sit on a nice seat than stand on a wet sloppy grass slope?

The problem is that increase in attendance would probably be in the neighborhood of maybe 1,000 fans per game (AT MOST) which isn't enough to monetarily justify it.

At the end of the day, that project has far more to do with aesthetics than it does attendance. I want to bowl the south end zone not because I think it will magically result in 50,000 people at each game, but because ISU needs to upgrade the facility.

Dont get me wrong...I'm well aware of that. I guess my point was, more or less, that the ISU fanbase can do MUCH better!

I agree. I'm just saying that if the AD listed JTS as having a capacity of 43,000 instead of 55,000 (which wouldn't be lying at all) it would make our fan base look really good, and might actually raise some opinions of ISU.

I know it sounds stupid, but imagine if we had actually listed capacity at 43,000. Our attendance comes in at over 100% of the capacity. Fans of other Big 12 schools are reading that and thinking "holy ****! ISU fans really come out for their team" instead of thinking "ISU. What a joke". Just something stupid like that could alter perception of ISU in a positive way.

Perception is powerful.

**Cubsfan** · 01-21-2011, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

For a fan base that is as passionate as ISU, and for a team that just came off a bowl win a year after losing 10 straight, I think 45k/game is embarrassing...

We've rarely had higher attendance than that. I don't know what you expect. I agree.. I wish ISU could bank on 50k a game, and thinking about getting 60k or 70k is a wet dream, but there is no reason to expect that based on one good season. There's a whole generation of ISU grads who are used to losing and never expect football to turn the corner.

It's more or less the huge sections of empty seats at the Missouri game or the inability to fill the donor seats in the lower deck that disappoint me. Same as always - the 35,000 or so diehards are always going to be there. Beyond that is a crapshoot.

**cyatheart** · 01-21-2011, 08:56 PM

I know a lot of people that would go to Nebraska and Iowa games if there were seats. (Although Nebraska doesn't matter now.) Lot of people won't sit on a hillside. I am one of them, tried it once. Horrible experience.

So the counter argument for people that don't want to bowl the endzone. Was JTS built too big? Should we put a tarp over some seats so that the stadium appears full even on the smallest crowd? Why have any excess capacity at all? What is the proper amount? How many people could we actually draw for UNI or an Iowa game?

**Tre4ISU** · 01-21-2011, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

Even though you're jesting, this statement is probably true to an extent. Who wouldn't rather sit on a nice seat than stand on a wet sloppy grass slope?

The problem is that increase in attendance would probably be in the neighborhood of maybe 1,000 fans per game (AT MOST) which isn't enough to monetarily justify it.

At the end of the day, that project has far more to do with aesthetics than it does attendance. I want to bowl the south end zone not because I think it will magically result in 50,000 people at each game, but because ISU needs to upgrade the facility.

I agree. I'm just saying that if the AD listed JTS as having a capacity of 43,000 instead of 55,000 (which wouldn't be lying at all) it would make our fan base look really good, and might actually raise some opinions of ISU.

I know it sounds stupid, but imagine if we had actually listed capacity at 43,000. Our attendance comes in at over 100% of the capacity. Fans of other Big 12 schools are reading that and thinking "holy ****! ISU fans really come out for their team" instead of thinking "ISU. What a joke". Just something stupid like that could alter perception of ISU in a positive way.

Perception is powerful.

I just don't know how many people look at a percentage. I think the vast majority look at the raw numbers which is ignorant, I know, but it is what it is.

**besserheimerphat** · 01-22-2011, 11:46 AM

Anybody else see this at the bottom of the article?

I wouldn't put too much stock in the Oklahoma State percentage numbers. It's a calculated, controversial and high-profile move by the athletic program to limit premium game tickets to season-ticket holders. It hurts their attendance numbers and has empty seats show up for big games, but it's been a boon to the program's bottom line.

Looks like Pollard isn't the only one requiring season tickets to attend the Iowa and former Nebraska games, and the OSU AD is getting credit for making more money by doing it. I wanted to read and comment on the article from Oklahoma, but they wanted to charge me $1.49 to read the article. Coupons not accepted.

**CloneState1028** · 01-22-2011, 11:57 AM

I'm curious about what 'capacity' number they used. It seems like they used the 55k number. I thought there were some games where the place was REALLY full, but the crowd was only like 50k.

**ameshammer** · 01-23-2011, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by CloneState1028

I'm curious about what 'capacity' number they used. It seems like they used the 55k number. I thought there were some games where the place was REALLY full, but the crowd was only like 50k.

what is the true capacity of JTS??? Is it 43,000? Or is it subjective?

**CloneState1028** · 01-23-2011, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by ameshammer

what is the true capacity of JTS??? Is it 43,000? Or is it subjective?

43,000 is the number of seats we have, I believe. And then about 3k for each hillside - which IMO is very subjective.

**alarson** · 01-23-2011, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by CloneState1028

43,000 is the number of seats we have, I believe. And then about 3k for each hillside - which IMO is very subjective.

Yeah... on cold\rainy days the hillside capacity is crap

**besserheimerphat** · 01-23-2011, 07:43 PM

Originally, the stadium had a capacity of 42,500, all on the sidelines. In 1976, end zone bleachers were constructed to increase capacity to more than 46,000. Standing room tickets, sold for each game, brought the capacity to more than 50,000. An all-time record crowd of 54,475 (in the previous configuration) watched the ISU vs. Nebraska game on Oct. 27, 1990.
Completion of the Jacobson Athletic Building and the addition of permanent bleachers in the south end zone, as well as hillside seating in each of the four corners in the stadium changed the capacity to 55,000. A record 56,795 watched the Iowa State-Northern Iowa game Sept. 8 2007.

Jack Trice Stadium - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

**capitalcityguy** · 01-23-2011, 09:01 PM

Attendance doesn't happen magically because...well, gosh...we're such good people here in Central Iowa.

Given our successes comparitively, we are doing better than many, many programs that have far more notches on their collective belts.

Yes, I want more fans at our games, but I'm also not foolish about being negative about where we are at today.

**AIBClone** · 01-23-2011, 10:57 PM

I have heard from a little birdie(actually an iowa fan) that we have the finances to bowl the south endzone. the reason we can not do it is because the state of iowa will not allow us to at this moment. one of their reasons is because we cannot sell out JTS the way it is so why build on while the $uckeyes can sell out every game but they can not add on to their stadium(limited space). im sure you guys have more info on this subject then me but i have not seen anyone bring that up yet. i will be gettin season tickets when i get out of school and i am going to recruit people to go with me haha.

**Tre4ISU** · 01-23-2011, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by AIBClone

I have heard from a little birdie(actually an iowa fan) that we have the finances to bowl the south endzone. the reason we can not do it is because the state of iowa will not allow us to at this moment. one of their reasons is because we cannot sell out JTS the way it is so why build on while the $uckeyes can sell out every game but they can not add on to their stadium(limited space). im sure you guys have more info on this subject then me but i have not seen anyone bring that up yet. i will be gettin season tickets when i get out of school and i am going to recruit people to go with me haha.

Well, if this is true, which I highly, highly doubt it is, then I think we should say eff it and start building facilities. That will get us more traction anyway.

**capitalcityguy** · 01-23-2011, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by AIBClone

I have heard from a little birdie(actually an iowa fan) that we have the finances to bowl the south endzone. the reason we can not do it is because the state of iowa will not allow us to at this moment. one of their reasons is because we cannot sell out JTS the way it is so why build on while the $uckeyes can sell out every game but they can not add on to their stadium(limited space). im sure you guys have more info on this subject then me but i have not seen anyone bring that up yet. i will be gettin season tickets when i get out of school and i am going to recruit people to go with me haha.

These types of things are voted at the Board of Regents and it is not behind closed doors. Sorry, can't buy what your "birdie" is selling.