trueeagle98
1st String
Posts: 2,307
Joined: Apr 2013
Reputation: 34
I Root For: GS Eagles
Location: the Holy City
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RE: My Suggestion for Expansion: Raid CUSA (seriously)
(05-05-2016 01:24 PM)WKUYG Wrote: (05-05-2016 11:26 AM)Usajags Wrote: (05-05-2016 10:34 AM)THUNDERGround Wrote: (05-05-2016 09:58 AM)Usajags Wrote: (05-05-2016 09:53 AM)THUNDERGround Wrote: In 2015, stAte (1st SBC) is 5th if you compare the conferences. App is 7th and GaSouthern is 9th... Hell, North Texas (last in CUSA) outdrew ULM, Idaho, and GaState (a bowl team for crying out loud)...
I'm just wondering on what information did you base your conclusion?
I was basing my argument over the teams based in south florida, since that is what we were talking about. I would prefer GaSo and App over two teams in south Florida, even the "U" gets no support in south Florida. I would rather play in front of 15k real people, then 15k invisible people.
Okay, but you do realize that both drew over 15,000 right (FAU 17,617 and FIU 15,381)? Or are you saying butts in seats vs. stadium capacity? And I'm not sure I'd say The U doesn't get any support (they averaged over 46,000) UNLESS you are saying that 46000 sucks for a P5, then I agree.
If you are a football fan in south Florida and want to go to a game, Miami always has tickets available and you get to see ACC football. Let's not forget Miami has had presidents, recently, that have discussed shutting their program down. You aren't going to go to an F_U game as a casual fan. And they claim 15k, but those folks are mostly invisible.
However, if you are in south central Ga and want to go watch football, best show around is GaSo, so they pick up casual fans. Bigger chance for a bigger audience. And the people in the stands there, are real, actual fannies in the seats. But we can argue attendance all day, and get no where.
If that's the case why are their dollars dropping?
Tickets sold
2015 $1,057,398
2014 $1,086,185
2013 $1,179,454
2012 $1,067,476
Looks to me no casual fans are seeing GASO as the best show around...those numbers look like GASO has reached the best they will do. That is year in year out. They have a lot smaller pool to draw from. So any additional ticket revenue will come from higher prices.
I understand your concept but a concept and happening are not the same. I see it as if the day comes and it very well could and FIU starts winning they have a lot more room to grow their fanbase. It might not ever happen but the concept is there
But yes watching a game at GASO is most likely more exciting than at FIU...at least for that 3 hour window.
The population changes and GS is in an area (at least outside of Savannah which is 30 minutes away) that is rapidly growing. Statesboro is also expanding. The numbers are flat (I'm actually shocked there wasn't a drop in 2013 during the construction of the upper deck). The money may not being showing an increase, but we are seeing increased attendance. We currently average ~21k a game our max is ~25k. The students fill in about 8k of those seats (sometimes over 10k). What is hurting us is the lack of home games that can draw a big crowd and encourage people to buy season tixets (at least Saturday home games). This year we only have 5 home games and only 3 are on Saturday. Not a good combo for getting people to buy season tickets. Also, our prices are relatively low since GS fans are notorious for being cheap skates (you should see the heck that was raised when prices changed and what is happening with basketball prices now). We've been spoiled on doing more with less. If anyone in the SBC is in danger of going down I would say GS is possibility.
BUT we are seeing an increase in donations, season tickets are going up slowly, more students and increased local population, increased sponsors, and merchandising. We just finished phase one of stadium expansion so it probably won't be for a few more years before we expand again (Our current A.D. said we won't even entertain the idea until we reach 10K season ticket sales). But also, we desperately need a new basketball facility so that is another major expense.
Sorry started to get off track.
Basically I see what you're saying, but each school has its own issues to deal with. App and GS both have potential to grow in FBS. No we don't have actual seats, but still can grow our season ticket numbers to justify an expansion. We are more of the mindset to keep demand high and not expand too quickly. We have smaller projects in the works (new turf just installed, next is lighting). There is a lot of room for GS to grow.
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