Teague on low attendance at Purdue game: "We're still scratching our head."

[Stan]

Win against Michigan and Illinois and the stadium will be full for Mich. St. Rome wasn't built in a day. The casual fan doesn't believe in Kill and the Gophers yet.

There is no way that the stadium will be full for Michigan State. None. Two days after Thanksgiving, it will be very cold, students not back on campus yet, hunting + more. I wish I was wrong, but we could win out and that place will still have less than 45K that game. If we only win one game between now and then there will be less than 35K there.

 

[Hates Monikers]

Changing the atmosphere on campus should help with student attendance, might not have a major impact on the general public. As for low attendance, welcome to Minnesota athletics, if you don't wins the fans don't show.

It is going to take some consistent winning in the Big Ten to get the fan base energized. I like the NT is focused on addressing the issue and coming up with creative ways to get butts in the seats. Going to be an uphill battle though.

Yes, winning is the key. However, improving the atmosphere will bring more ticket buyers. When I have an extra ticket and bring someone new, they're usually surprised that it's as much fun as it is. They expect an empty stadium and an empty campus. We have a number of friends who have started to come to a game or two each year who didn't come before, although they're not ready to make the season ticket plunge.

Improving the party will help that much more. Even though tailgating is fun, Sally's is fun, etc., it will seem even more fun to first timers if they can walk from their car/bar/tailgate to the stadium and see parties and maroon and gold along the way -- in private parking lots, yards in student housing and streets in front of the stadium.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

You mean like K-State backing out of the game with Oregon this year?

Man...that is really hurting K-State.

Oregon asked K-State to reschedule, they mutually agreed to reschedule, and to my knowledge (feel free to correct me, I'm more of a hockey guy so I sometimes miss football news) nobody paid money to run away from the game.

 

[beavergopher]

You mean like K-State backing out of the game with Oregon this year?

Man...that is really hurting K-State.

Ducks backed out of last years game to get a much bigger payday playing LSU at Jerry's World. K State cancelled series because the Big 12(10) went to a nine game conference schedule this year with the loss of A&M and Mizzu. Not quite the same thing, but nice try.

 

[Minnesotagg]

Ticket problem directly connected to wins and losses. Make that Big Ten wins and losses. Their is plenty of competition here for sports dollars. This isn't Iowa City. It never will be. Look at Miami attendance. Pittsburgh. SMU. Almost all major city universities struggle to win and struggle to attract crowds when they lose. There is no answer and no plaza is going to change it.

 

[Ole]

Ticket problem directly connected to wins and losses. Make that Big Ten wins and losses. Their is plenty of competition here for sports dollars. This isn't Iowa City. It never will be. Look at Miami attendance. Pittsburgh. SMU. Almost all major city universities struggle to win and struggle to attract crowds when they lose. There is no answer and no plaza is going to change it.

Disagree,
Competing in a market like this requires standing out in a unique way from the pro sports teams.
The location on campus and the potential for a college atmosphere is something unheard of here.
This isn't the dome, this isn't first ave, this isn't target field.

In a perfect situation you would be able to find a parking lot or parking spot in the dinkytown/como/university area. Unload your trunk or tailgate, set up a party where you are or roam from your spot to any large number of parties/tailgates/open spaces. You would be surrounded by others doing the same. Students would be on their lawns partying, frats packed and loud, every bar within walking distance allowed to operate in a way that maximizes the party. The lots near the stadium would be opened friday night and the party would roll into the morning of the game. students and fans would gather near the stadium as gametime draws near because the party is better there than where they began the day, as the game starts the rowdy crowd fills in and screams their guts out for their state team. College sports can be very tribal, pro sports not so much.
All of this IS possible and WOULD draw fans from an overpriced, overmarketed, underperforming pro sports crowd.
Will it happen? We'll see how much Norwood can figure out.

 

[dpodoll68]

Oregon asked K-State to reschedule, they mutually agreed to reschedule, and to my knowledge (feel free to correct me, I'm more of a hockey guy so I sometimes miss football news) nobody paid money to run away from the game.

Ducks backed out of last years game to get a much bigger payday playing LSU at Jerry's World. K State cancelled series because the Big 12(10) went to a nine game conference schedule this year with the loss of A&M and Mizzu. Not quite the same thing, but nice try.

Tennessee (from the ESSS-EEEE-SEEEE) paid $750,000 to "run away" from UNC

WVU paid $500,000 to "run away" from Florida St.

Nevada is going to pay $600,00 to "run away" from Florida St. as soon as it can line up a schedule replacement

Vanderbilt paid a buyout (amount not disclosed due to being a private school) to "run away" from Northwestern


You are free to hate it all you want, but pretending that it's unique or rare is ignoring facts. Some in the Minnesota fanbase need to disabuse themselves of this notion.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Tennessee (from the ESSS-EEEE-SEEEE) paid $750,000 to "run away" from UNC

WVU paid $500,000 to "run away" from Florida St.

Nevada is going to pay $600,00 to "run away" from Florida St. as soon as it can line up a schedule replacement

Vanderbilt paid a buyout (amount not disclosed due to being a private school) to "run away" from Northwestern


You are free to hate it all you want, but pretending that it's unique or rare is ignoring facts. Some in the Minnesota fanbase need to disabuse themselves of this notion.

Honest question here because I don't know the answer. How many of those teams replaced that game with a road game against someone else? All along the only solution that made sense from a financial standpoint was adding a home game to replace the road UNC game. Now that it appears the New Mexico State home/home is going to happen we have officially just taken that 800K and tossed it out the window.

 

[Gopherprof]

I have to believe he's disingenuous.

You don't know why a team that was 4-15 in Big Ten play in the last 2 1/2 years (and 6-21 under Brewster) couldn't draw fans in cold weather to pay to see them play Purdue? This sounds like a Gopherhole comment.

Indiana, Purdue, and Illinois are also all dealing with attendance issues. It doesn't have anything to do with marketing promotions, fan temperament, or anything non-football related. It's because those teams all suck, and most people (not just Minnesotans...anywhere) don't like to spend money to see a team lose. It's not fun. Win more games and people will come.

 

[maroonfive]

We need to face the fact that this is not a passionate football state. Most of the section finals in high school football tonight will be played in half empty stadiums.

Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mplsbadger]

Good idea to activate the Greek system. IIRC the greeks unilaterally disarmed (agreeing no alcohol at pre-game parties) before the stadium even opened.

Bring back the fun and hold people accountable for their behavior but stop treating 19-22 year olds like high school kids.

 

[Deleted_User]

There is no way that the stadium will be full for Michigan State. None. Two days after Thanksgiving, it will be very cold, students not back on campus yet, hunting + more. I wish I was wrong, but we could win out and that place will still have less than 45K that game. If we only win one game between now and then there will be less than 35K there.

We should have a Minnesota Fall Gold Out. Everybody with a hunting license could wear their hunter "gold". Marketing could sell Gopher camo gear and give away a deer stand or two for different ticket holders. Maybe a Mag7 MM Weatherby Magnum could be given away to a ticket holder. Goldy could be seated in the stand armed with the rifle. What an awesome look that would have.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

FWIW, the kick-off was at 2:30 last week. I'm not sure why Teague mentioned 11:00 a.m....

Wow...brain fart. Yep, I was wrong.

 

[johnnybb]

Good idea to activate the Greek system. IIRC the greeks unilaterally disarmed (agreeing no alcohol at pre-game parties) before the stadium even opened.

The Greeks should expel the neutral inspectors from their borders and resume work on perfecting their keg stands of mass destruction.

 

[Biglew33]

We need to face the fact that this is not a passionate football state. Most of the section finals in high school football tonight will be played in half empty stadiums.

Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I respectfully disagree with this statement. It just is to convenient to say this. Put a good product on the field that wins and they will come. I also think that Jerry Kill is the guy that can get it done. Patience and baby steps and it really could happen. Also, it will have to be Big Ten success and not consistent victories over New Mexico State. I think JK just might be the guy that can pull it off. We will see.

 

[supadupafly]

Disagree,
Competing in a market like this requires standing out in a unique way from the pro sports teams.
The location on campus and the potential for a college atmosphere is something unheard of here.
This isn't the dome, this isn't first ave, this isn't target field.

In a perfect situation you would be able to find a parking lot or parking spot in the dinkytown/como/university area. Unload your trunk or tailgate, set up a party where you are or roam from your spot to any large number of parties/tailgates/open spaces. You would be surrounded by others doing the same. Students would be on their lawns partying, frats packed and loud, every bar within walking distance allowed to operate in a way that maximizes the party. The lots near the stadium would be opened friday night and the party would roll into the morning of the game. students and fans would gather near the stadium as gametime draws near because the party is better there than where they began the day, as the game starts the rowdy crowd fills in and screams their guts out for their state team. College sports can be very tribal, pro sports not so much.
All of this IS possible and WOULD draw fans from an overpriced, overmarketed, underperforming pro sports crowd.
Will it happen? We'll see how much Norwood can figure out.

great post. well stated. would love it if we can get even reasonably close to some like you described here. it will require a show down with the city of minneapolis' stupid policies towards public alcohol consumption, as well as with the NIMBY and pointless neighborhood association activists.