OT: 2022 FCS Attendance

[Mr_Twister]

It’s fair to say that Deion Sanders has had a major effect on Jackson State attendance.
Also, the attendance number for teams in the northeast are close to pathetic - Villanova, Monmouth, Lehigh, Bucknell, LIU, Stony Brook for starters.
You almost have to wonder how long these schools will keep fielding football teams.

2022 FCS Regular-Season Attendance Leaders

Jackson State has once again dominated the FCS in average attendance, drawing over 42,000 fans in the 2022 season.

herosports.com

 

[mdk01]

It’s fair to say that Deion Sanders has had a major effect on Jackson State attendance.
Also, the attendance number for teams in the northeast are close to pathetic - Villanova, Monmouth, Lehigh, Bucknell, LIU, Stony Brook for starters.
You almost have to wonder how long these schools will keep fielding football teams.

2022 FCS Regular-Season Attendance Leaders

Jackson State has once again dominated the FCS in average attendance, drawing over 42,000 fans in the 2022 season.

herosports.com

They'll keep fielding teams, but the Ivie's attendance is below pathetic. This in a league that a generation ago would put 70,000 in the Yale Bowl for the sold out Harvard - Yale game, 38,000 in Cambridge for sold out Harvard - Dartmouth and 35,000 in Philly for Penn - Princeton.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

At least part of it is the increase in things to do instead along with the fact that media doesn't cover FCS at all. Barely any TV broadcast, local newspapers don't care, etc. Unless you're actively looking to attend, or live in a small media market where there is nothing else to do, how would you even know these games are happenin

 

[JayDogSmooth]

I like going to Monmouth games, but they need to make it an event. Advertise it as "the Jersey shore's team," start promoting tailgating, etc.

Going there is equivalent to High school, with very little enthusiasm. Make it an event, and the thing to do, and you'll pack 5k in there every game

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Deon should get hired by a SEC or ACC program at some point soon

 

[RUforlife]

Football at the collegiate level is a dying sport in the Northeast.

 

[RUnTeX]

a generation ago

at least 2 generations ago seems more likely

 

[ecojew]

at least 2 generations ago seems more likely

The Ivy League was formed as an athletic conference in 1956, so two generations ago, perhaps almost 3. With Ivy policy about athletic scholarships going against the grain in college football, the quality of play began to decline after that, and with that came a decline in attendance, though the major rivalry games continued to draw well for a while. American sports fans are very goal oriented - win championships and play in the post-season. But for decades, the Ivy football champion received the same reward as Columbia, long the league doormat. They got to home for Thanksgiving, their season over. I haven't followed the Ivies in a while but I do believe that their champion is now permitted to complete for the FCS championship. Please correct me if that is incorrect.

 

[tico brown]

I like going to Monmouth games, but they need to make it an event. Advertise it as "the Jersey shore's team," start promoting tailgating, etc.

Going there is equivalent to High school, with very little enthusiasm. Make it an event, and the thing to do, and you'll pack 5k in there every game

Maybe they should install a train horn to drown the crowd noise out.

But in all seriousness, most of these FCS schools in the NE has no business being in the FCS. And they’re high school atmosphere is probably because they’re mostly in high school level facilities.

And no Ivy League champ in the FCS Playoffs

 

[mdk01]

at least 2 generations ago seems more likely

The Ivy League was formed as an athletic conference in 1956, so two generations ago, perhaps almost 3. With Ivy policy about athletic scholarships going against the grain in college football, the quality of play began to decline after that, and with that came a decline in attendance, though the major rivalry games continued to draw well for a while. American sports fans are very goal oriented - win championships and play in the post-season. But for decades, the Ivy football champion received the same reward as Columbia, long the league doormat. They got to home for Thanksgiving, their season over. I haven't followed the Ivies in a while but I do believe that their champion is now permitted to complete for the FCS championship. Please correct me if that is incorrect.

1970 Dartmouth ranked #13 D1 and Yale #16. Invited to bowls but had to decline due to Ivy rules. That would be the high watermark. Attendence stayed high after that and started to decline in the 80s,but still a multiple of current numbers.

 

[colbert17]

Maybe they should install a train horn to drown the crowd noise out.

Good one!!!!!

 

[BoogieKnight]

Football at the collegiate level is a dying sport in the Northeast.

It’s not just the NE. CFB is dying everywhere but the south.

You know what game I enjoyed most this season? Tennessee vs Alabama. And I hate BOTH SCHOOLS with a passion. But it’s a good product that much is hard to deny.