Thoughts on thursday night game

[gocubs2118]

not true.

You are in the heavy minority.

 

[Frak]

The attendance numbers dont support the thursday night game (as opposed to previous saturday night games) when compared to average attendance within the season they are in. Its a wash at best, slightly negative. If someone wants to dig up my post from last year this time where i detailed all the numbers, good luck to you.

The real thing is that it probably actually causes harm, as it ends up making it easier for students to go (who paid 100 a ticket) vs season ticket holders, who pay 350 at minimum, up to thousands with donor levels. Add that to the fact that many of the natives are already a bit restless with the increasing cost per game (since we gave up a home game) and the many who either cant make it to the game or cant tailgate (and lets face it, that is a big part of the gameday experience).. and youre hurting those who really pay the bills- something which should probably be noted, as if the locations of the mini-pack tickets and other tickets are any indication, season tickets are probably way off this year.

I didnt like it as a student (it kills the tailgating, plus it causes labor day weekend to be lame, as half the town leaves, where it used to be a big party weekend), and i definitely dont like it as an alum.

The only positive i have for this is that it gives all saturday to watch games.. but there usually arent many good ones on.

OK, my rebuttal is:
1.If you are able to donate thousand(s) of dollars, you should be able to take off a Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
2.People with kids in soccer can make this game.
3.Students for the most part have no problem skipping a class for something as important as tailgating.
4.I don't ever remember Labor Day being a big weekend in Ames as a student.

 

[alarson]

my post from last year. In the numbers at the bottom, you can see that attendance has actually been more below the season average for the thursday games than it was for the labor day games.

Thats exactly it. And for all those that claim the student turnout was high so it'll stay.... id look at the rest of the stadium. There were many other areas where the turnout was not so great. As you got later into the game, there were some that just had to leave, due to long drives, early work or school. With the stream that was leaving when i left (yes, i left early) it couldn't have been as full as it would've been on a Saturday game at the end. Sure, some would have left either way, but I would argue that *more* did because of it being a Thursday night game.

I still made it there, but it sucked having to rush up to Ames just to make it by kickoff, not get to tailgate (arguably one of the features of ISU game day). I hated that as a student as well. When the tailgating isn't as big, its less fun for everyone.

And honestly. Whats with this needing to go home stuff? You've been at ISU for a week and you need to go home? Seriously?

Bottom line is the Thursday game still sells well despite those of you that continue to complain about it. Plus the better possibility for TV is also a plus. Updated numbers:

Labor Day Weekend games
2008 (Thurs.) - 46,617 vs South Dakota State
2007 (Thurs.) - 47,313 vs. Kent State
2006 (Thurs.) - 42,531 vs. Toledo
Thursday average: 45,487

2005 (Sat.) - 44,058 vs. Illinois State (night)
2004 (Sat.) - 42,865 vs. UNI
2003 (Sat.) - 48,088 vs. UNI
2002 (Sat.) - 40,026 vs. Kansas
2001 - none
Saturday average: 43,759

Sure, theres a correlation there, but i doubt it tells the whole story. Theres a lot of other things you can look at there that might impact the attendance numbers:


-If you just go with the most recent 3 saturdays, you have average attendance of 45003. Essentially a wash.
-Season ticket numbers as a whole have been higher in 06-08 than ever. I doubt the Thursday night game is a huge selling point in those, but when those are higher, overall game attendance will obviously be as well.
-A minor point, 02 wasnt the first game of the football season. we opened at Arrowhead. A little less hype than your usual opening game I'd think... and kansas kinda sucked back then.
-2003 and 2004 were the first games after an awful season end (02) or just an awful season (03)
-2007 was the first game for GC.

Just as relevant on the statistics would be the difference between this weeks game and the rest of the season:

07 Average: 49462 Thursday attendance: 47313 Diff:-2149
06 Average: 46171 Thursday attendance: 42531 Diff: -3640
Average difference -2894
05 Average: 46705 Saturday attendance: 44058 Diff: -2647
04 Average: 41517 Saturday attendance: 42865 Diff: +1348
03 Average: 44822 Saturday Attendance: 48088 Diff: +3266
02 Average: 43961 Saturday Attendance: 40026 Diff: - 3935
Average difference: -492, (+ 655 if 02 is not included)

Definitely some interesting numbers. I would also like to see attendance vs season ticket holders for these games as well..

 

[Rogue52]

vs season ticket holders, who pay 350 at minimum, up to thousands with donor levels.

I'm not sure this is so true anymore. It seems that those who pay $350 and up are becoming a minority. Season tickets this year could easily be had for $198.

(Note: Just wanted to combine typical thread topics into one here.)

 

[iowast8fan]

HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT!

The reason that was given for the initial Thursday night game was it increased chances of the game being on national television since not many other teams have a game that night. We have not seen this thursday night game broadcast nationally ever, so that excuse is not legit.

I think attendance is down overall for this game. Reported attendance and actual attendance is very different, as I think a lot of season ticket holders skip this game because it is a Thursday game. There are a lot of late arrivers and early leavers. It makes the weekend very long and empty when ISU does not play.

 

[Rogue52]

FYI -- Thursday night games may be coming to an end after next season. In 2011, our first game is on the road at Utah so there won't be a chance for the typical Thursday night opening game.

Unless of course we become big enough to get on ESPN for a Thursday night in the middle of the season...

 

[MontyBurns]

Positives for it:

1. Students show up since they go home for the weekend. This will be a non-issue when ISU becomes competitive and we get a meaningful opponent for the 1st game instead of an FCS team. When that happens, students will go out of their way to stay on campus for opening game weekend.

2. National TV. Was rumored the first time we did this. Has never happened. Not likely to ever happen -- especially if we keep playing lame FCS teams from the Dakotas. Not a positive.

Negatives for it:

1. People show up late because they are coming after work.

2. Limited time for tailgating for people who work or travel.

3. Difficult or impossible for fans who are not from the Ames/Des Moines area to travel to the game, assuming they have to work on Thursday & Friday.

It was a novelty when it started but the positives do not outweigh the negatives anymore. I think it has run it's course and we should go back to Saturday openers with the Thursday night game being a once-every-five-year type of thing.

 

[Rogue52]

HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT!

The reason that was given for the initial Thursday night game was it increased chances of the game being on national television since not many other teams have a game that night. We have not seen this thursday night game broadcast nationally ever, so that excuse is not legit.

I don't know if I've ever seen that reasoning from the AD's office. The official reasoning was that it was popular with students who often would go home for Labor Day weekend.

 

[ISUFan22]

The reason that was given for the initial Thursday night game was it increased chances of the game being on national television since not many other teams have a game that night. We have not seen this thursday night game broadcast nationally ever, so that excuse is not legit.

Feel free to quote a viable source for this.

This "reason" was created by the fans assuming that is why the Thursday night game continues.

 

[Bobber]

I don't know if I've ever seen that reasoning from the AD's office. The official reasoning was that it was popular with students who often would go home for Labor Day weekend.

I think origionally they hoped it would boost attendance. Don't believe it worked out that way.

I prefer Saturday games. I just wish they had more 11:00 games. I like getting done in decent time in the afternoon.

 

[Cyhart]

Positives for it:
\

Negatives for it:

1. People show up late because they are coming after work.

2. Limited time for tailgating for people who work or travel.

3. Difficult or impossible for fans who are not from the Ames/Des Moines area to travel to the game, assuming they have to work on Thursday & Friday.

It was a novelty when it started but the positives do not outweigh the negatives anymore. I think it has run it's course and we should go back to Saturday openers with the Thursday night game being a once-every-five-year type of thing.

I have several friends who travel from up from KC and down from Minneapolis for the Thurs night opener every year. We make a little "vacation" out of it and take Thurs and Friday off of work. I don't think taking a little time off for this one game is too much to ask if you are passionate about ISU the way we are. We love the Thurs night opener and we actually look forward to it every year.

Disclaimer* Im a night game fan in general.

 

[Bobber]

I have several friends who travel from up from KC and down from Minneapolis for the Thurs night opener every year. We make a little "vacation" out of it and take Thurs and Friday off of work. I don't think taking a little time off for this one game is too much to ask if you are passionate about ISU the way we are. We love the Thurs night opener and we actually look forward to it every year.

Disclaimer* Im a night game fan in general.

Actually I've gone and have made it back that night and in to work the next day no problem. Where there's a willl, there's a way!

 

[ISUFan22]

How is it impossible to attend this Thursday night game? It's not like it hides behind a tree and then jumps out and yells "boo!" the day before. It's known well in advance the game will be Thursday night and it's pretty much a given it will be like that in 2010 based on the past few years.

If it's so important, plan around it and use vacation. Great excuse for a 5 day weekend.

 

[Cyhart]

Actually I've gone and have made it back that night and in to work the next day no problem. Where there's a willl, there's a way!

Yep, the first year I went I actually did go into work on time the next day. I never made that mistake again though! :biggrin: I take full advantage of the tailgating festivities.

 

[cstrunk]

I just wish they had more 11:00 games. I like getting done in decent time in the afternoon.

I hope you are not serious.

If you are, you are probably in the 1% minority.

 

[Tornado man]

Thursday is an awful night, unless you're doing it for ESPN.
A quick check of the NCAA Div. I schedule shows 9 games on Thursday vs. 64 on Saturday.
Assuming almost all universities have Labor Day Monday off, it begs the question: if the Thursday night game is so good, why aren't other schools doing it?

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Thursday is an awful night, unless you're doing it for ESPN.
A quick check of the NCAA Div. I schedule shows 9 games on Thursday vs. 64 on Saturday.
Assuming almost all universities have Labor Day Monday off, it begs the question: if the Thursday night game is so good, why aren't other schools doing it?

Perhaps those other teams have a better chance for TV on Saturdays than ISU.

 

[cmoore_23]

I like it... it's sooner then sat.

 

[Bobber]

Yep, the first year I went I actually did go into work on time the next day. I never made that mistake again though! :biggrin: I take full advantage of the tailgating festivities.

While I have lapses, I pace myself pretty well any more. :wub:

Getting older and wiser does offer a few advantages. :wink:

 

[Cyhart]

While I have lapses, I pace myself pretty well any more. :wub:

Getting older and wiser does offer a few advantages. :wink:

Haha, I'm definitely getting older, but unfortunately not wiser!:wink: