College football attendance down to its lowest average since 2003

**Deb** · 12-10-2012, 08:25 PM

College football attendance down to its lowest average since 2003

Posted by Ben Kercheval on December 10, 2012, 8:41 PM EST

We’re biased, but we believe college football is the most popular sport in America only behind the NFL. However, 2012 stadium attendance numbers don’t exactly reflect that. Per a story from al.com, college football attendance dipped to an average of 45,274 fans per game, the lowest since 2003.

Average attendance in college football peaked in 2008 with 46,739, so 2012′s numbers represent roughly a 3 percent decrease. This was the second year in a row that college football stadiums collectively averaged less than 46,000 fans per game. Some drops were minor, while others — Penn State and Tennessee, for example — experienced a 5 percent drop.
On the other hand, UCLA (21 percent) USC (18 percent) and Vanderbilt (15 percent) all saw significant increases.

You can check out the story and full chart HERE.

The reason? You can probably point to a few factors. Economy combined with ticket prices can be an easy deterrent when the experience of watching football at home is as great as its ever been. When you add in some cruddy non-conference games, fans simply aren’t going to shell out their hard-earned dollars for a blowout win over, say, South Alabama.

**NDSMC78** · 12-10-2012, 08:35 PM

I hope this will spur schools to schedule better opponents.

**MOYE** · 12-10-2012, 11:28 PM

Eastern Michigan...wow.

**Robert** · 12-11-2012, 04:34 PM

Not for nothing... but I think this also has a lot to do with some of the traditional powers with huge stadiums (read: Tennessee and Penn State) having subpar seasons. Tennessee's average attendance was about 15,000 below capacity. Penn State was also 10,000 below capacity.

**MOYE** · 12-11-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

Not for nothing... but I think this also has a lot to do with some of the traditional powers with huge stadiums (read: Tennessee and Penn State) having subpar seasons. Tennessee's average attendance was about 15,000 below capacity. Penn State was also 10,000 below capacity.

Penn State had a subpar season? I think attendance problems are based more on the fact that there was a bit of turmoil this off-season that has schismed the entire fan base.

**Jerry** · 12-11-2012, 10:49 PM

Four of the top five teams in the Big Ten had increase in attendance...I'm not seeing a problem with the team I pull for. Haha.

**Robert** · 12-12-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOYE

Penn State had a subpar season? I think attendance problems are based more on the fact that there was a bit of turmoil this off-season that has schismed the entire fan base.

That was actually what I meant, but I was rushing out the door and didn't take the time to clarify what I was writing. Sorry for being so incredibly vague.

**Jerry** · 12-12-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

That was actually what I meant, but I was rushing out the door and didn't take the time to clarify what I was writing. Sorry for being so incredibly vague.

I knew.

12-10-2012, 08:25 PM	#1
Deb Owner/Maid HOF'er (retired jersey) Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 49,156 Reputation: 1463 My Mood: : $536349	College football attendance down to its lowest average since 2003 College football attendance down to its lowest average since 2003 Posted by Ben Kercheval on December 10, 2012, 8:41 PM EST We’re biased, but we believe college football is the most popular sport in America only behind the NFL. However, 2012 stadium attendance numbers don’t exactly reflect that. Per a story from al.com, college football attendance dipped to an average of 45,274 fans per game, the lowest since 2003. Average attendance in college football peaked in 2008 with 46,739, so 2012′s numbers represent roughly a 3 percent decrease. This was the second year in a row that college football stadiums collectively averaged less than 46,000 fans per game. Some drops were minor, while others — Penn State and Tennessee, for example — experienced a 5 percent drop. On the other hand, UCLA (21 percent) USC (18 percent) and Vanderbilt (15 percent) all saw significant increases. You can check out the story and full chart HERE. The reason? You can probably point to a few factors. Economy combined with ticket prices can be an easy deterrent when the experience of watching football at home is as great as its ever been. When you add in some cruddy non-conference games, fans simply aren’t going to shell out their hard-earned dollars for a blowout win over, say, South Alabama. __________________ "And in the depths of winter, I found in me am invincible summer."

12-10-2012, 11:28 PM	#3
MOYE Culture. Lottery Pick Bowling Master Champion! Solitaire Golf SLingo Champion! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: PERRYSBURG! Posts: 3,562 Reputation: 1599 My Mood: : $8875	Eastern Michigan...wow. __________________ "Broadcast/journalism was my first degree. Being awesome was the second." - Matt McGloin

12-11-2012, 04:34 PM	#4
Robert Figment of Imagination HOF'er (retired jersey) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central VA Posts: 10,603 Reputation: 1290 My Mood: : $68383	Not for nothing... but I think this also has a lot to do with some of the traditional powers with huge stadiums (read: Tennessee and Penn State) having subpar seasons. Tennessee's average attendance was about 15,000 below capacity. Penn State was also 10,000 below capacity. __________________ Boom goes the dynamite!

12-11-2012, 10:49 PM	#6
Jerry East Browns and Down All Pro Flying Steel Champion! Word Search 69 My Body Champion! Shooting Practice Champion! Logo Finder IV Champion! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Behind Enemy Lines Posts: 9,681 Reputation: 2556 My Mood: : $53298	Four of the top five teams in the Big Ten had increase in attendance...I'm not seeing a problem with the team I pull for. Haha. __________________

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12-10-2012, 08:35 PM	#2
NDSMC78 Moderator Lottery Pick Join Date: May 2010 Location: Snow Belt Posts: 2,626 Reputation: 480 : $30881	I hope this will spur schools to schedule better opponents.

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