(10-31-2017 03:11 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 02:05 PM)Rocket_Tree Wrote:  Here's a thought, move the TV cameras to the far side of the stadiums, that way you are at least looking at the fuller home side.

It doesn't work that way. You are about a whole bunch of money to re-wire stadiums that will be with in a certain range of the production trucks.

Yes, I realize it would take some planning and some capital at the next stadium upgrade. If the empty stands are an issue during televised games, it would be a marketing investment. That is why they play the weeknight games after all.

Can someone explain to me that if the TV deal is hurting attendance, why is the average MAC attendance numbers fairly constant over the last 20 years? It’s 15K-17K, year after year. It’s even been at the high end of that range within the last few years.

I only watched a portion of the Miami-OU game, and the fan turnout looked pretty good, all things considered.

Rain supposed to move into Kzoo early evening tonight, oddly enough the temperature should begin slowly rising as that happens.

Everyone wants to blame weeknight games. Some of the teams in the league can't get higher attendance even on a Saturday in November because its cold and the product on the field.

Move BGSU-Kent to a Saturday, does it still draw more?!?

(11-01-2017 07:39 AM)axeme Wrote:  Can someone explain to me that if the TV deal is hurting attendance, why is the average MAC attendance numbers fairly constant over the last 20 years? It’s 15K-17K, year after year. It’s even been at the high end of that range within the last few years.

(11-01-2017 09:25 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  Everyone wants to blame weeknight games. Some of the teams in the league can't get higher attendance even on a Saturday in November because its cold and the product on the field.

Move BGSU-Kent to a Saturday, does it still draw more?!?

(11-01-2017 07:39 AM)axeme Wrote:  Can someone explain to me that if the TV deal is hurting attendance, why is the average MAC attendance numbers fairly constant over the last 20 years? It’s 15K-17K, year after year. It’s even been at the high end of that range within the last few years.

While I agree with you in principle about some teams unable to draw on any day, but why should the entire conference be brought down to the lowest level? How will the midweek games help them improve attendance?

(11-01-2017 08:44 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I only watched a portion of the Miami-OU game, and the fan turnout looked pretty good, all things considered.

Rain supposed to move into Kzoo early evening tonight, oddly enough the temperature should begin slowly rising as that happens.

Ditto. I watched a little of that game. Attendance looked better than I expected.

And... What I saw would normally be the visitor side of the field. I assume the other (home) side would be better.

(11-01-2017 07:30 AM)Rocket_Tree Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 03:11 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 02:05 PM)Rocket_Tree Wrote:  Here's a thought, move the TV cameras to the far side of the stadiums, that way you are at least looking at the fuller home side.

It doesn't work that way. You are about a whole bunch of money to re-wire stadiums that will be with in a certain range of the production trucks.

Yes, I realize it would take some planning and some capital at the next stadium upgrade. If the empty stands are an issue during televised games, it would be a marketing investment. That is why they play the weeknight games after all.

I wish every school made it a priority to upgrade their stadiums so televised games could showcase the press box side (which is always the better, fuller side). Seems like such a simple concept (and it would make a big difference, imo), yet barely any school does it.

(10-31-2017 09:40 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  OU has blown two 14 point leads tonight, 28 all late in the third. James Gardner is unstoppable right now, I'll be pissed if we lose this and waste this performance.

so I guess you're pissed, huh! lol

(11-01-2017 12:43 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 08:44 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I only watched a portion of the Miami-OU game, and the fan turnout looked pretty good, all things considered.

Rain supposed to move into Kzoo early evening tonight, oddly enough the temperature should begin slowly rising as that happens.

Ditto. I watched a little of that game. Attendance looked better than I expected.

And... What I saw would normally be the visitor side of the field. I assume the other (home) side would be better.

We have two home sides. the one you saw was the student side and it's usually packed (at least through the Marching 110 halftime performance). the other side is the traditional home side (mostly adults). it is usually full, too, but sometimes not as much as the students side. last night, I think the students' side had more people but the other "home" side stays throughout the entire game.

For what it's worth, our reported attendance last night was 18,096.

If crowd size is for "TV effect" then the end zone camera can pan, when appropriate, to the home side to show the crowd.

E.g., EMU's homecoming game vs. WMU had a decent visitor side crowd, and a very nice home side (press box side) crowd.
If the idea is to pump the crowd, after a FG or PAT they could pan to the home side. Doubt that is hard to do from the end zone camera.

I think a big point is: No more then 2 or 3 weeknight games. When every single one in November is a weeknight game, that's an issue.

I like the exposure and getting the MAC name out, but it does come at a price.

Not sure when the deal ends, but I wouldn't extend it. If it's extended, fire the commissioner.

Also, agree on these points:
The Ohio U game last night didn't look too bad. If the Western Michigan game looks like that tonight, I'd be okay with that. The Kent St game with 2 bad teams this year wouldn't have drawn well on a Saturday anyways, sorry to say.

Part of it too has to deal with the matchups the MAC chooses for weeknight games. OU-Miami probably would've gotten over 20K if it had been a month ago on a Saturday, Kent-BG would've still drawn poorly for that matchup under such changes. If you want to maximize overall attendance one would think you'd put the 'uninteresting' games in November with rivals playing earlier, but that's worse for TV and a lot less dramatic for the sake of the season.

(11-01-2017 05:27 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Part of it too has to deal with the matchups the MAC chooses for weeknight games. OU-Miami probably would've gotten over 20K if it had been a month ago on a Saturday, Kent-BG would've still drawn poorly for that matchup under such changes. If you want to maximize overall attendance one would think you'd put the 'uninteresting' games in November with rivals playing earlier, but that's worse for TV and a lot less dramatic for the sake of the season.

Definitely. WMU vs Kent St probably wouldn't draw that well on a Saturday. Maybe have more East/West match-ups. For example, WMU hosted Akron a couple weekends ago; That game could've been played on a weeknight: UA is an East contender and WMU is a West contender, so TV still gets a good match-up. CMU could've been played on that weekend instead, so rivalry game to max attendance.

(11-01-2017 05:27 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  Part of it too has to deal with the matchups the MAC chooses for weeknight games. OU-Miami probably would've gotten over 20K if it had been a month ago on a Saturday, Kent-BG would've still drawn poorly for that matchup under such changes. If you want to maximize overall attendance one would think you'd put the 'uninteresting' games in November with rivals playing earlier, but that's worse for TV and a lot less dramatic for the sake of the season.

OU has got a good season ticket base so 17-18k is about the minimum.

On a weekend in November probably 21k. Nothing particularly exciting.

(11-01-2017 04:42 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Not sure when the deal ends, but I wouldn't extend it. If it's extended, fire the commissioner.

One thing the deal has done is it has given the MAC a lifeline in recruiting.

There is a reason to play in the MAC instead of CUSA, SBC or whatever when the MAC has a TV deal.

When the AAC leaves ESPN for more $$$ the MAC will probably pick up some of its TV slots so we need to just be patient.

UT would have been near capacity if the UT vs NIU game was on a Saturday. Vs the announced 17k. In actuality there were probably 12k there?

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(11-01-2017 05:31 AM)pono Wrote:  The MW doesn't have a good tv contract and they are still a solid league. PAC12 has a lot of tv, but their move to thursday and friday games has hurt attendance. being a fan is largely about connection and positive associations. things like meeting up with old friends for tailgating. taking your kids to the game. rushing the field after a big win as a student. taking a road trip to watch your team. those are what make a fan base. (and those things happen a lot less with half as many Saturday games) tv is cool for hard core fans like us who may live far away from the teams they love, but it does't build a fan base, and in the case of the MAC is eroding what was already a modest level of support.

In recruiting the past couple of years the MAC>MWC.

(11-02-2017 10:51 PM)emanoh Wrote:  UT would have been near capacity if the UT vs NIU game was on a Saturday. Vs the announced 17k. In actuality there were probably 12k there?

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Probably 14k in the stands and 3k in our pressbox... Not a good crowd for our standards but we smash all other MACtion crowds with the exception of Ohio.