Attendance

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olddoc said:
WI has the Packers, Brewers and the Bucks in professional sports and they all particularly the Packers draw a statewide audience.
The WI stadium holds around 80,000 and the fans come from all over the state not just from Madison.
People in MN have not embraced the Gophers for decades.
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Disagree here olddoc.If the Gophers were the "only " in town they would draw better. Madison has nothing but the Badgers and of course the by monthly John Deere tractor pulls.
 

NE FB is the only show in the state.
They do not fill the stadium with only folks that live in Lincoln.
The population of the Twin Cities is far greater than that of Madison.
If the Gophers were the only show in the Twin Cities they probably would draw better. NE draws very well despite a mediocre record over the last fifteen years.
The underlying mistake in logic is that the WI stadium is mostly filled with folks that live in Madison.
It is not.
WI draws from all over the state as NE does.
 

The football programs where I live make an entire day of football. People set up there tents on green spaces on campus and bring their TV and food, and watch football/drink/eat all day. There are thousands of these setups all over the campus near the stadium. Granted these two teams have some of the largest fan bases of any college team.

I don't know much about the surrounding area of TCF, or what's available, but a look at Google maps shows some green space by the library and Northrop. Does this already have events on game day?
 

I created a graph of Gophers and Vikings attendance. Post-WWII to the mid 60s, Gopher attendance was in the 50K-60K range. It began to taper off after 64, reaching a low of 31,440 before rising to the mid 40Ks. The Metrodome improved attendance for a while, but attendance sank in the late 80's through the early 90's before rising to the mid 40Ks.

I couldn't figure out how to get the years on the X-axis of the graph.
 

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Attendance is very good considering the stadium is on the small side.
Can't say how much higher it would be if the stadium could hold more fans.

2015 Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium
game 1 52,525
game 2 54,147
game 3 52,823
game 4 53,917
game 5 52,062
game 6 50,709
game 7 47,976
game 8 52,850
Total 364,484
AVERAGE: 52,069
percent capacity 99.1%
 


Minnesota doesn't have events on its green space on the East Bank.

minibeaver said:
The football programs where I live make an entire day of football. People set up there tents on green spaces on campus and bring their TV and food, and watch football/drink/eat all day. There are thousands of these setups all over the campus near the stadium. Granted these two teams have some of the largest fan bases of any college team.

All the lots that surround TCF are either contract lots or season only parking pass lots. The green space at the Alumni center or the Northrup mall doesn't have any events going on for game day. The closest thing we have to green space that has tailgating and anything going on with the exception of a few private lots in Prospect park side of things is the River Flats down by the U of M boathouse. Otherwise none of the green space has football related events.
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It's not illegal to be a fan of both the Vikings and the Gophers. Other than last Thursday, I doubt they've ever played simultaneously. People who go to Vikings games are obviously fans of football, so I find it unlikely they are all picking to spend their other entertainment dollars on the other vibrant cultural pursuits available in the metro (or that they have to choose only one game to go to).

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
 





I agree with a lot of the comments here but here's another angle on it...I'm not sure what its like in the other sections, but in the lower section of 207 where my wife and I sit, I feel like I'm sitting in an old folks home. I like to yell, get into the game, stand up briefly when theres a good play and yell again, but I feel like I'm the exception as nobody else in the area does this. Go to a Wolves game or Vikings game or Gophs hockey game, fans get into the game emotionally and physically. Take a look at the other B1G stadiums mentioned above and you'll see ALL AGES getting into the game! I'm somewhat sickened by the lack of investment people have in the game in terms of getting into it. If you want to sit on your hands and 'watch' the game, fine I get it. I'm 46 and wife is 41 and we love tailgating a bit and getting hyped up but man, I tell you what, it's tough to stay in the moment when the people around you are like they just got off the bus from zombieland. Take it for what it's worth-I'm not against old people-my dad is 76 and I'll be bringing him to the game tomorrow and he whoops it up just fine. When I'm 65+, I'll still whoop it up and tailgate a little but the day I go to the games and sit on my hands is the day I stop going to games
 

Many decades ago in the Hump for my first ever MN/WI in the Hump the usher told us we would have to quiet down because people around us were complaining.
No one was drunk, there was no cursing just the ususl football raucus fun.
My first inkling of a different culture for behavior that exists for U of MN football.
 


Was trying to quote gopherdude here


So there is some green space, and it isn't being used? I wonder if they made it off limits, or what the deal is. Down here every piece of green space is used for some kind of event/attraction/ place for fans to hangout and do stuff. I think the University rents out these spaces which include a power outlet, a tent and chairs if needed, and a lock box for you to lock up all your stuff. Does the U not have something like this?
 

Ruggers said:
I agree with a lot of the comments here but here's another angle on it...I'm not sure what its like in the other sections, but in the lower section of 207 where my wife and I sit, I feel like I'm sitting in an old folks home. I like to yell, get into the game, stand up briefly when theres a good play and yell again, but I feel like I'm the exception as nobody else in the area does this. Go to a Wolves game or Vikings game or Gophs hockey game, fans get into the game emotionally and physically. Take a look at the other B1G stadiums mentioned above and you'll see ALL AGES getting into the game! I'm somewhat sickened by the lack of investment people have in the game in terms of getting into it. If you want to sit on your hands and 'watch' the game, fine I get it. I'm 46 and wife is 41 and we love tailgating a bit and getting hyped up but man, I tell you what, it's tough to stay in the moment when the people around you are like they just got off the bus from zombieland. Take it for what it's worth-I'm not against old people-my dad is 76 and I'll be bringing him to the game tomorrow and he whoops it up just fine. When I'm 65+, I'll still whoop it up and tailgate a little but the day I go to the games and sit on my hands is the day I stop going to games
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Don't have those issues in my section...up and down all game. Everyone around me yell, cheer, high-five an boo the whole game.
 



It's apples to oranges with Becky, Wisconsin the only major D1 football program as well and quite frankly they have been more successful and have less competition for entertainment dollars. They also don't have bitter rivals with their smaller instate counterparts in Minnesota the hockey rivalries make it tough to garner support from outside the metro. Gophers aren't exactly welcomed guest in Mankato, St.Cloud or the dying Socialist Republic of Duluth
 

formerlybis said:
It's not illegal to be a fan of both the Vikings and the Gophers. Other than last Thursday, I doubt they've ever played simultaneously. People who go to Vikings games are obviously fans of football, so I find it unlikely they are all picking to spend their other entertainment dollars on the other vibrant cultural pursuits available in the metro (or that they have to choose only one game to go to).

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
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While this is true, unless your wife/significant other is a sports fan or very supportive/understanding, you really do have to pick between your Saturday or Sunday as your day for getting day drunk and being worthless. I was a huge Vikings/Gopher fan growing up, but it wasn't until I was coupled/married that I had to choose. I chose the public university that fuels the greatness of our city over the Corporation that extorts the public as my team. The U is never moving out of state!
 

GopherHomer said:
While this is true, unless your wife/significant other is a sports fan or very supportive/understanding, you really do have to pick between your Saturday or Sunday as your day for getting day drunk and being worthless. I was a huge Vikings/Gopher fan growing up, but it wasn't until I was coupled/married that I had to choose. I chose the public university that fuels the greatness of our city over the Corporation that extorts the public as my team. The U is never moving out of state!
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Some would argue you made the wrong choice by getting married.
 


Ruggers said:
I agree with a lot of the comments here but here's another angle on it...I'm not sure what its like in the other sections, but in the lower section of 207 where my wife and I sit, I feel like I'm sitting in an old folks home. I like to yell, get into the game, stand up briefly when theres a good play and yell again, but I feel like I'm the exception as nobody else in the area does this. Go to a Wolves game or Vikings game or Gophs hockey game, fans get into the game emotionally and physically. Take a look at the other B1G stadiums mentioned above and you'll see ALL AGES getting into the game! I'm somewhat sickened by the lack of investment people have in the game in terms of getting into it. If you want to sit on your hands and 'watch' the game, fine I get it. I'm 46 and wife is 41 and we love tailgating a bit and getting hyped up but man, I tell you what, it's tough to stay in the moment when the people around you are like they just got off the bus from zombieland. Take it for what it's worth-I'm not against old people-my dad is 76 and I'll be bringing him to the game tomorrow and he whoops it up just fine. When I'm 65+, I'll still whoop it up and tailgate a little but the day I go to the games and sit on my hands is the day I stop going to games
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Keep on Keeping On, Rugger! We just moved into 105 and the people around us were pretty mellow during the first game. I'm tall and I want to stand when we are on defense at least but I have to be aware of the guy sitting behind me.
 

WorkingMyTailOff said:
Keep on Keeping On, Rugger! We just moved into 105 and the people around us were pretty mellow during the first game. I'm tall and I want to stand when we are on defense at least but I have to be aware of the guy sitting behind me.
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you know honestly, and this may irritate some people, but I don't really get the desire to go to a game live if you're not there to actually participate and be into the game. you get better views and a comfier seat from home if all you're planning on doing is sitting.
 

olddoc said:
NE FB is the only show in the state.
They do not fill the stadium with only folks that live in Lincoln.
The population of the Twin Cities is far greater than that of Madison.
If the Gophers were the only show in the Twin Cities they probably would draw better. NE draws very well despite a mediocre record over the last fifteen years.
The underlying mistake in logic is that the WI stadium is mostly filled with folks that live in Madison.
It is not.
WI draws from all over the state as NE does.
Click to expand...

You're kidding about Nebraska, right? If the Gophers had their record, attendance would change dramatically. This is starting after the Huskers' THREE national championships in the 1990s. They even won eight games or more in two of the four "dreadful" Bill Callahan years. (Numbers at the end are Nebraska's finish in the final coaches poll and AP poll. I wish I knew how to format better on this site.)

1998 9–4 T–2nd (North) Holiday 20 19
1999 12–1 1st (North) Fiesta† 2 3
2000 10–2 T–1st (North) Alamo 7 8
2001 11–2 T–1st (North) Rose 7 8
2002 7–7 4th (North) Independence
2003 10–3 2nd (North) Alamo
2004 5–6 3rd (North) --
2005 8–4 T–2nd (North) Alamo 24 24
2006 9–5 1st (North) Cotton
2007 5–7 T–5th (North) --
2008 9–4 T–1st (North) Gator
2009 10–4 1st (North) Holiday 14 14
2010 10–4 T–1st (North) Holiday 19 20
2011 9–4 3rd (Legends) Cap One 24 24
2012 10–4 1st (Legends) Cap One 23 25
2013 9–4 T–2nd (Legends) Gator 25
2014 9–4 5–3 T–2nd (West) Holiday 23 25
2015 6–7 3–5 4th (West) Foster Farms
 

GopherHomer said:
unless your wife/significant other is a sports fan or very supportive/understanding, you really do have to pick between your Saturday or Sunday as your day for getting day drunk and being worthless. !
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Love the candor! :)
 

olddoc said:
Many decades ago in the Hump for my first ever MN/WI in the Hump the usher told us we would have to quiet down because people around us were complaining.
No one was drunk, there was no cursing just the ususl [sic] football raucus [sic] fun.
My first inkling of a different culture for behavior that exists for U of MN football.
Click to expand...

I'm calling bull**** that you were sitting with you badger buddies and there was no drunkenness or cursing.

****, your keyboard skills make me think you're too drunk to be trolling this board.

I hope "olddoc" is a nickname and not a profession. I want you no where near people who need assistance in any way, shape or form.
 

bottlebass said:
I won't lie, the quality of the show at the games feels like it continues to drop. Commercial breaks seem more common and longer (probably haven't changed but d@mn that guy with the red hat, I hate him). They didn't show any replays on the big screen during the first game. The announcer was announcing the wrong names. The beer is expensive. Old people get mad when you stand and cheer. About the only thing that is worth going to the live game is watching the dance team. Their performance hasn't dropped.

Almost everything else would be better while sitting at home or at a bar. Not sure how much longer I'll keep season tickets. The price not increasing may help but the need to improve the product (and I'm not talking about the team wins).
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The piped in garbage satanic noise to try to get people to cheer is not only artificial, it is nauseating. The only noise should be from the band(s), the crowd, the cheerleaders, and the announcers. Anything else piped in and amplified is septic to the game.
 

Interest has been on the ups. Need to continue to make strides each year and keep all that in state talent. I think the pro teams are a factor, but there's enough people in the MSP area to fill TCF and US Bank on a given weekend.
 

JZsportswhiz said:
Interest has been on the ups. Need to continue to make strides each year and keep all that in state talent. I think the pro teams are a factor, but there's enough people in the MSP area to fill TCF and US Bank on a given weekend.
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you are opening this can of worms again. Interest in gopher football overall may be on the rise but many former season tickets holders will only go to a game or two and watch the rest from home. The program shot themselves in the foot with the donation increases and pissed too many people off. If it wasn't for that I would still have my 4 season tickets. On the other hand I have money to go to the Vikings game next weekend and the face value is the same as the Gopher game vs Iowa.

Perfect weather the first two games and the attendance was awful. Obviously winning is the top priority in attendance-- however there are plenty of other teams who draw well who are horrible-- Iowa State example. The overall game day experience is here is not what it should be and them pricing out fans who already had interest was a terrible move.
 

Hates Monikers said:
You're kidding about Nebraska, right? If the Gophers had their record, attendance would change dramatically. This is starting after the Huskers' THREE national championships in the 1990s. They even won eight games or more in two of the four "dreadful" Bill Callahan years. (Numbers at the end are Nebraska's finish in the final coaches poll and AP poll. I wish I knew how to format better on this site.)

1998 9–4 T–2nd (North) Holiday 20 19
1999 12–1 1st (North) Fiesta† 2 3
2000 10–2 T–1st (North) Alamo 7 8
2001 11–2 T–1st (North) Rose 7 8
2002 7–7 4th (North) Independence
2003 10–3 2nd (North) Alamo
2004 5–6 3rd (North) --
2005 8–4 T–2nd (North) Alamo 24 24
2006 9–5 1st (North) Cotton
2007 5–7 T–5th (North) --
2008 9–4 T–1st (North) Gator
2009 10–4 1st (North) Holiday 14 14
2010 10–4 T–1st (North) Holiday 19 20
2011 9–4 3rd (Legends) Cap One 24 24
2012 10–4 1st (Legends) Cap One 23 25
2013 9–4 T–2nd (Legends) Gator 25
2014 9–4 5–3 T–2nd (West) Holiday 23 25
2015 6–7 3–5 4th (West) Foster Farms
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To put it simply....the gopher's 5-7 last year would have been tied for the worst season of nebraska football since 1962
 

Maroon92 said:
you are opening this can of worms again. Interest in gopher football overall may be on the rise but many former season tickets holders will only go to a game or two and watch the rest from home. The program shot themselves in the foot with the donation increases and pissed too many people off. If it wasn't for that I would still have my 4 season tickets. On the other hand I have money to go to the Vikings game next weekend and the face value is the same as the Gopher game vs Iowa.

Perfect weather the first two games and the attendance was awful. Obviously winning is the top priority in attendance-- however there are plenty of other teams who draw well who are horrible-- Iowa State example. The overall game day experience is here is not what it should be and them pricing out fans who already had interest was a terrible move.
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For every IA St. there are many counter examples like Northwestern, who struggle to get 30K in the seats with 10 win seasons. Oh, wait, aren't they in a major metro area? Where is Ia St. again?
 

PMWinSTP said:
For every IA St. there are many counter examples like Northwestern, who struggle to get 30K in the seats with 10 win seasons. Oh, wait, aren't they in a major metro area? Where is Ia St. again?
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I understand your view. I agree with you that there are plenty of gopher fans in the metro and outstate to fill the stadium. The issue is the game day experience + product on the field + value = 80% full stadium (or about 40k). At Iowa State the game day experience (way better than ours) + product on the field (less than ours) + value (comparable pricing) = 92% full (57K). My point is UofM is missing out on make these other variable more meaningful. Ames population is very small. TCF stadium has half million people within 15 miles of the stadium (i guessed-- did not compute)
 

My buddy and his kid went this week because they bought ten buck tickets at the state fair. I'm of the mind that ten bucks, which is nothing to me, is too much for Ind St and a 11 am game. Even freaking homecoming is 11 am. I'm going, because it's homecoming. But figure out how to get out of the 11 am slot for homecoming.
 

Maroon92 said:
I understand your view. I agree with you that there are plenty of gopher fans in the metro and outstate to fill the stadium. The issue is the game day experience + product on the field + value = 80% full stadium (or about 40k). At Iowa State the game day experience (way better than ours) + product on the field (less than ours) + value (comparable pricing) = 92% full (57K). My point is UofM is missing out on make these other variable more meaningful. Ames population is very small. TCF stadium has half million people within 15 miles of the stadium (i guessed-- did not compute)
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Who is the biggest employer in Ames?
 

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