Disappointing attendance total

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Despite a 10-win season that included an undefeated record at H.A. Chapman Stadium, the attendance Saturday was announced as 17,758, the smallest turnout for a home opener since 1984. Only on five occasions since 1970 has the Hurricane had fewer than 18,000 fans for the first game of the season. - Tulsa World

 

[TulsaGrad07]

They scheduled ULL. That's not exactly a marquis program. The weather was perfect for attending a game, the problem was the opponent.

 

[lawpoke87]

ULL is a pretty standard OOC opponent for us. The problem is our fans, the lack of support we receive from those who live here and our pedestrian marketing department. The blowout to OSU obviously didn't help either.

 

[TulsaGrad07]

ULL is a pretty standard OOC opponent for us. The problem is our fans, the lack of support we receive from those who live here and our pedestrian marketing department. The blowout to OSU obviously didn't help either.

At some level, this has to be hurting our program and our ability to attract better players. Nobody wants to play to an empty house.

 

[HuffyCane]

It's natural attrition.

TU made a decision to pursue students from outside Oklahoma beginning in the mid 70s. For a couple of generations, people have studied and left. During those years, we've struggled more than we've succeeded on the field. Amongst a large portion of our alumni, there's no affinity for the football team and no desire to drive to Tulsa for football. It's coming back to bite the athletic department.

The hard core blue hairs who grew up here, studied at TU, and stayed in Tulsa are dying off.

That is thinning the season ticket holder base.

 

[lawpoke87]

At some level, this has to hurting our program and attracting better players. Nobody wants to play to an empty house.

It makes recruiting very difficult for the staff. We can't bring recruits to games due to the empty seats. Coaching staff has to be frustrated.

 

[TulsaGrad07]

also, the conspiracy theorist in me believes this is why Navy was allowed to win the game on a 4th down fumble to Tulsa last year and why Houston didn't get flagged for too many men on the field with 15 seconds left while we were on their goal line. The conference sees our fan base as a liability and doesn't want our program traveling to big bowl games with a small crowd.

 

[HuffyCane]

They aren't worried about the small traveling crowd. We actually travel quite well when the team is up. They see the TV ratings for us and figure we won't draw casual fans.

 

[TulsaGrad07]

That's the truth. Most people in Tulsa have never been to a TU football game. Even those that have lived there for decades. I talked to a chick who lives right next to campus the other day and she's never once been to a TU game... And yet, she had good things to say about the university's reputation.

 

[HuffyCane]

Sounds to me like she wants you to invite her to a game, son ...

 

[ImaCanefan]

We are a really tough sell as long as we aren't competitive with OU and OSU.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

They scheduled ULL. That's not exactly a marquis program. The weather was perfect for attending a game, the problem was the opponent.

The last two openers were San Jose and Fl Atlantic. Both were better attended. We have more of a history with the Cajuns than either of those.

 

[TUMU]

I'm starting to think the attendance is not going to improve for a long time, if ever.

Next year we have out of conference home game with Arkansas State and Central Arkansas. There really aren't many conference teams that draw people to games in my opinion outside of Navy, that aren't already season ticket holders.

I think they only thing that will cause people to buy individual game tickets and generate new season ticket holders is to be consistently ranked in the top 25. Beating Notre Dame, winning 10 games consistently, not having players with questionable character on the roster, all the on campus improvements and whatever they call the area with the pregame stuff and live music, doesn't seem to matter to football fans in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Over the 20 years I've been a season ticket holder, neighbors and co-workers generally aren't interested in attending a game, outside of OU or OSU.

I agree, the lack of attendance is not good for recruits and their families to experience. I'm sure other programs it against us.

Consistently being ranked in the top 25 and winning conference championships are crucial to averaging 25,000 people a game.

I seriously wonder what the attendance would be if every unsold seat for the New Mexico home game were $5 or even free. I'm not suggesting that, it would p... off some season ticket holders, but I'm afraid the result might be disappointing.

It pains me that we can't fill our stadium every game. It's not the 40,000 seats we previously had, it's 27,000 seats or something in that area.

Let's hope for improvement from the defense and a road win Saturday at Toledo.

 

[HuffyCane]

TU has done marketing studies that have conclusively demonstrated that price point is not a barrier to attendance for unaffiliated fans in Tulsa. They know that attendance would remain the same if they gave the tickets away. Indeed, Bubba believed that raising ticket prices would create a perception of value if the team consistently won.

Improving the facilities and amenities will help, but TU neglected them for too long. Too many people remember the piss troughs in dark and dank cramped rooms and the 20 minute waits for Sanka and popcorn made on Thursday. $12 tickets with seat backs and beer vendors you summon to your seat using an app on your phone is what we need to see, not donating profits to Hurricane Irma. People want to be comfortable and entertained, unless they have a pre-disposed affinity. TU isn't alone. People don't go to the movies or NASCAR anymore for the same reason.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Mrs. the Blue Ox looked around yesterday and asked "Where is everybody?"

My answer - "Maybe this is everybody". It was sad.

 

[drboobay]

TU marketing put on a full court press this past year. Yet the reward was the lowest opener attendance since I was a sophomore.

Damned shame.

 

[nevadanatural]

It's kind of funny how views differ. Nevada had 18,000 fans at their home opener and the sports reporters and the head coach were excited about the attendance. Reno/Sparks isn't as big as Tulsa, probably around 350,000-400,000, but it was the only FBS game in 300 miles.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

It really pains me to see this lack of support TU receives. It's something I truly have a hard time understanding... I'm sure there are several factors in play, but it's gotta be depressing for the players to run out to a half empty stadium regardless of if they win 10 games or 2 games.

Even though our defense needs to improve, the game was still fun and had a lot of offense and scoring. So the product isn't bad.

Our opponents are as good as, if not better, than they ever have been. We are in a good conference. We don't have to be embarrassed of the competition coming in to play us every week. Yes, there are some somewhat uninteresting matchups in the on-conference coming up, but I'm not sure how that's avoidable in this current college football landscape.

The stadium amenities are pretty dang good... and I've been to many college football stadiums, so I can back up my claim here. The new food truck options, beer, wine, and other upgrades seem to be well thought out and nicely executed.

Unfortunately, I think it's strictly a Tulsa thing. Non-TU affiliated Tulsans just don't give two s about TU (until they have the opportunity to make nasty comments about the university for one reason or another). The city treats TU like a 2nd class citizen in the college football landscape... and while we are no OU, we aren't the dregs of lower level sunbelt/c-USA. For example, I was having a conversation with co-workers the other day and one asked "well who do you root for - OU or OSU?" - I responded "neither, I'm a TU fan!". I then received puzzled looks and one coworker asked "why?" And the other asked "ok, but who do you really cheer for - OU or OSU?". I said "look, I follow OU and OSU and hope they do well, by I'm a TU fan first and foremost." The puzzled looks remained.

I think that it will take more than a push from TU to win over Tulsans. I think that the city has to step up and recognize TU as an asset to the community, not "some tiny, private, snooty school over in midtown." If the city truly made an effort to build up TU, I think both TU and the city would reap the rewards through various channels ($). I noticed last night that our mayor (whom I voted for) was happily retweeting OU tweets about their game - which is just fine, but why the hell isnt he also advocating for the university in the city he oversees? If there's apathy at the top of the city, you can't expect much from others who have no affiliation with TU.

Both my wife and I are proud alumni, we have season tickets to both football and basketball, and we're GHC members. I do my best to spread the good word, but every time I walk into the stadium for a football game and see it half empty (which is often), it really pains me.

 

[drboobay]

That is a question I field several times a year from business contacts, new clients, etc across the country.

Until we break through in a sustained way, we are under the radar nationally. People might notice momentarily if we have a big win but soon forget.

Sad it is the same locally.

 

[Li'l Eric Coley]

You tweeter folks need to get on GT's ass about that. I think he would get the point

 

[lawpoke87]

That is a question I field several times a year from business contacts, new clients, etc across the country.

Until we break through in a sustained way, we are under the radar nationally. People might notice momentarily if we have a big win but soon forget.

Sad it is the same locally.

We've had very few "high profile" wins in the last two decades (wins against P5 top 25 teams or top 10 G5 teams). The kind of wins which create a buzz around the program and garners the attention of the local football fan. Getting repeatedly rolled by the state schools certainly doesn't help with our perception either among casual local fans.

 

[TU1NNJ]

If we play OU or OSU on the road it should never be the season opener. Ideally TU should open at home against a close proximity FCS team (Mo St) or a conference opponent. If we can get people to the game and they are entertained they may come back in 2 or 3 weeks. The loss to OSU reinforced a perception about the program to a casual fan and as such hurt the attendence for the LaLa game.

 

[I.I.]

You have to be like Nolan and whip OSU and OU. That got everybody's attention. TU has to win with passing since they can't compete at every position. Gus said that too. He helped recruit QB and receivers as well as a great OL. A top 5 passing team can compete with OSU and OU. A good ground game will always struggle against the biggies.

 

[TulsaGrad07]

We've had very few "high profile" wins in the last two decades (wins against P5 top 25 teams or top 10 G5 teams). The kind of wins which create a buzz around the program and garners the attention of the local football fan. Getting repeatedly rolled by the state schools certainly doesn't help with our perception either among casual local fans.

Agree 100%. In the early 90's, we played teams like Texas A&M and Miami at HOME. Here! It actually happened! Why the hell can't it happen 20 years later? Has the business end of college football changed so dramatically that we can only schedule ULMs, ULLs and crap teams to play at home? And a huge thumbs up to the poster who mentioned adding friggin seat backs to the other sections of the stadium other than the blue hairs and remaining condescending oil families who quietly gawk from their shaded, theater seats at the 40 and 50 yard lines.

 

[aTUfan]

I grew up in Skelly Stadium, watching TU in the 60s. We always had 25000 to 30000. Where has everyone gone?

 

[jesterondirt]

I think the lack of a legit rival kind of kills interest too. When Tulsa and Houston are both top 25 quality and conference champion contenders, that game environment is legit. That black Friday game (although it didnt end our way) was awesome.

 

[red dirt]

The university has continued to increase the admission standards and cost. It limits the "average" student from attending. the university needs to go back to the 7000 student range and you will have more attendance from the students, more alumni over a couple of years, and more people rooting for the university. When half of the student body is from overses or other states, it hurts. It also hurts that the "academic" student is not that interested in sports or outside activities. The University is a great school but it is not the best so quit trying to portray this attitude.

 

[Gold*]

The university has continued to increase the admission standards and cost. It limits the "average" student from attending. the university needs to go back to the 7000 student range and you will have more attendance from the students, more alumni over a couple of years, and more people rooting for the university. When half of the student body is from overses or other states, it hurts. It also hurts that the "academic" student is not that interested in sports or outside activities. The University is a great school but it is not the best so quit trying to portray this attitude.

There isn't a market for a private school like TU to survive under the old model. You are arguing to undo the last 20 years of progress there. Good luck with that.

I'm sensitive to issues of cost at the school, but admitting a bunch of people solely to help football attendance is aggie logic.

 

[nevadanatural]

I grew up in Skelly Stadium, watching TU in the 60s. We always had 25000 to 30000. Where has everyone gone?

Back then there was one game per week on TV. Also there was no hype for special schools, Slippery Rock had their scores announced right alongside Ohio State. If you wanted to watch college football you attended a game and TU was as good as OU. In fact, in the 60s, TU had better players than OU. Talk about promotions all you want but the average fan isn't likely to leave his couch when he can watch 10-15 games that day, including TU.

 

[Novocaine]

The start time was awful. What you lost in people who couldn't take the heat in the sun you might have not lost playing a 6:30 PM kickoff. I doubt the attendance would have been much different up against the OU game on TV at the same time.

You're competing against a ton of other things now for your entertainment dollar. BOK Center concerts, casinos, 65 games a weekend on your TV in HD, you can stop the game to take a leak and not miss anything, not to mention all the 30-something children's commitments like soccer, etc that fill most Saturdays, and it's an uphill battle from the start.

The only way to avoid it is night games, but with the games lasting over 4 hours, that's another issue altogether.

 

[HHOOTter]

Improving the facilities and amenities will help,
seat backs and beer vendors you summon to your seat using an app on your phone is what we need to see People want to be comfortable and entertained[/QUOTE]


TU is “easily” a distant
4th favorite college team in the area
way behind the total # of OU, OSU, & Hawg fans

It’s a number’s game
Over $30+million per yr gap
between TU’s TV earnings & any P5 school

In any one year,
those state schools graduate 5-7K students
where Tulsa is graduating 5-7 hundred students

A small private school
has 2 use “creative” ideas
to attract the millennium/facebook/game play crowd

Look @ what the excellent
Tulsa Driller Organization does 4 PR

Here’s some ideas:
--Starbucks type coffee bar
--Concession service @ the seat
--All seats need 2B chair backs
--Fireworks Show
--Sports lounge area w/ multi TV’s etc.
--$1 beer/hot dog days
--Free “Kool” game day Stuff (Have @ least 3-5K of Stuff)
--Get restaurants to “give” discount or free food coupons
--Free Coney coupon
--QT or Sonic free 32oz drink coupon night
--Plenty of good give away prizes during game.
IE: Free side line pass,
Perhaps eat & attend workout w/ team
Free All Paid Road Trip.
Lunch/Dinner w/ Monty

 

[cmullinsTU]

The start time was awful. What you lost in people who couldn't take the heat in the sun you might have not lost playing a 6:30 PM kickoff. I doubt the attendance would have been much different up against the OU game on TV at the same time.

You're competing against a ton of other things now for your entertainment dollar. BOK Center concerts, casinos, 65 games a weekend on your TV in HD, you can stop the game to take a leak and not miss anything, not to mention all the 30-something children's commitments like soccer, etc that fill most Saturdays, and it's an uphill battle from the start.

The only way to avoid it is night games, but with the games lasting over 4 hours, that's another issue altogether.

I don’t disagree with any of this but these items are impacting almost all programs but seem to be hurting Tulsa much more than all else.

Really wish I had ideas on how to correct it. I think Hooter is right, reach out to the Drillers and see what they do. It seems to work.

 

[TulsaGrad07]

How much would seat backs and a padded bottom cost for the remaining 20k that are aluminum benches? Those aluminum benches with the people's knees behind you as reminders not to slouch HAVE to be a detriment to the ambivalent potential fan.

 

[Novocaine]

I would rather they remove the chair backs - they're awful. The legroom is unbearable in most rows.

 

[cmullinsTU]

I would rather they remove the chair backs - they're awful. The legroom is unbearable in most rows.

Yeah I hate the chair backs. I’m tall and can not sit in those rows. Bleachers are my only option because of the legroom.

 

[TU 1978]

Shitty opponents mean ty attendance.

At least we have our arch nemesis Houston for homecoming. We'll be there.

 

[TU_BLA]

I think the lack of a legit rival kind of kills interest too. When Tulsa and Houston are both top 25 quality and conference champion contenders, that game environment is legit. That black Friday game (although it didnt end our way) was awesome.

That atmosphere was electric. I'm tired of people thinking it's the schedule. It's not. It's not the stadium, it's not the prices, it's not the atmosphere. It's that the city and majority of the citizens of Tulsa are simply apathetic about anything. Marketing at TU has addressed TU being Tulsa's team. The whole campaign is "For Our City". Soccer team beats the #1 team in the nation last night. Hashtag on the tweet as #ForOurCity. TU is doing the right things...Tulsans would rather walk circles in a mall or sit in a movie theater. Don't give me the weather because it was freaking perfect. Don't give me "we didn't beat OSU" line either. Offense put up 700 yards and the likely AAC Player of Week rushed for 262 and he is a native Tulsa's/TPS product. Our coach is the hottest non P5 coach in the game. He and his wife are extremely involved in the community. Our dumbass hipster goofus mayor makes comments about Bob Stoops ugly Oxford wearing ass clapping like a maniac.

Tulsa is simply apathetic. Thanks

 

[TU_BLA]

Shitty opponents mean ty attendance.

At least we have our arch nemesis Houston for homecoming. We'll be there.

STFU. Seriously. The opponents have nothing to do with it. OU and OSU usually play 3 home games against the blind sisters of the plains and sell them all out at ticket prices more expensive than a one way flight to St. Louis on Southwest.

We'll have about the same attendance in 2 wks against New Mexico. Bowl team last year. Only game we likely see a bump is the Navy game because every former Navy person within 100 miles will try to come to that game.

 

[HuffyCane]

It didn't work for the Drillers until they had a better facility and amenities. Then suddenly everyone hadn't missed a game since 1974.

If you can consistently draw 10,000 to 15,000 in Chattanooga (or 25,000 in Cincinnati) to a minor league soccer game on a Saturday in the fall offering seatbacks and craft beer, it will bring twice that for football in Tulsa.

The food trucks and DJs and craft beer tents are a start, but they are bandaids in dated seating.

It doesn't matter when you kick off if you run regular shuttles 10 to 15 minutes apart to Blue Dome.

You want the town to support you? Support the businesses downtown. Stop trying to compete with Jenks Union OU and OSU for the family dollar and focus on single folks. Tell them to park downtown, have a pint, take the shuttle to the game and then hit the bars afterwards. The casual fan of a family of four isn't a demographic you are penetrating.

Stop complaining about Friday TV games and scheme around it. I fail to see how scheduling a game up against Octoberfest is considered a positive for Homecoming and scheduling a game against Broken Arrow v Bixby is a negative. They ran shuttles downtown regularly for that, do the same for all Friday kickoffs. There are plenty of people who will get off work around 5, grab a beer and a snack, take the shuttle to the game if they can see an entertaining product in a comfortable and unique atmosphere, have another beer and a snack during the game that is something comparable to what they can buy at a restaurant and then take the shuttle back to the Blue dome to party until the bars close. The shuttle just needs to be regular, safe, and leave from multiple points. Everyone else will uber.

If you don't believe me look and see how Boise built their fan base with shuttles to the North End and BoDo as well as half the MLS teams who have doubled their attendance in less than 10 years by stopping the soccer mom crap and coming to grips with the reality that it is an underperforming entertainment product with a growing demographic problem. Change your marketing to fit the market, you net results.

"For our town" ads are cool I guess. Seems a bit high schoolish to me. I don't know how many Moms in Jenks are persuaded by it and the Moms in North Tulsa for the most part either don't feel welcome or can't afford it. Your average McClain high school and Tulsa Central fan, same.

You make easy and comfortable and quality and cheap for millennials and they will turn out in droves.

And for god sakes improve the exterior lighting. Half the women coming to the game don't feel safe, the others wonder if they are going to be robbed. The U is lit up like a Christmas tree 24/7. Is it really that hard to put in similar lighting on the East side and under the stands?

 

[TulsaGrad07]

It didn't work for the Drillers until they had a better facility and amenities. Then suddenly everyone hadn't missed a game since 1974.

If you can consistently draw 10,000 to 15,000 in Chattanooga (or 25,000 in Cincinnati) to a minor league soccer game on a Saturday in the fall offering seatbacks and craft beer, it will bring twice that for football in Tulsa.

The food trucks and DJs and craft beer tents are a start, but they are bandaids in dated seating.

It doesn't matter when you kick off if you run regular shuttles 10 to 15 minutes apart to Blue Dome.

You want the town to support you? Support the businesses downtown. Stop trying to compete with Jenks Union OU and OSU for the family dollar and focus on single folks. Tell them to park downtown, have a pint, take the shuttle to the game and then hit the bars afterwards. The casual fan of a family of four isn't a demographic you are penetrating.

Stop complaining about Friday TV games and scheme around it. I fail to see how scheduling a game up against Octoberfest is considered a positive for Homecoming and scheduling a game against Broken Arrow v Bixby is a negative. They ran shuttles downtown regularly for that, do the same for all Friday kickoffs. There are plenty of people who will get off work around 5, grab a beer and a snack, take the shuttle to the game if they can see an entertaining product in a comfortable and unique atmosphere, have another beer and a snack during the game that is something comparable to what they can buy at a restaurant and then take the shuttle back to the Blue dome to party until the bars close. The shuttle just needs to be regular, safe, and leave from multiple points. Everyone else will uber.

If you don't believe me look and see how Boise built their fan base with shuttles to the North End and BoDo as well as half the MLS teams who have doubled their attendance in less than 10 years by stopping the soccer mom crap and coming to grips with the reality that it is an underperforming entertainment product with a growing demographic problem. Change your marketing to fit the market, you net results.

"For our town" ads are cool I guess. Seems a bit high schoolish to me. I don't know how many Moms in Jenks are persuaded by it and the Moms in North Tulsa for the most part either don't feel welcome or can't afford it. Your average McClain high school and Tulsa Central fan, same.

You make easy and comfortable and quality and cheap for millennials and they will turn out in droves.

The Drillers are a solid analogue. I remember going to games as a kid at the fairgrounds. It was definitely a family friendly environment, as a lot of my friends would have their birthday parties there. I even managed to get a bat, ball, glove and plastic helmet after attending a few games in a season. I saw they've moved to a brand new stadium downtown. TU doesn't have that option naturally, and building a new stadium would be a waste of money. I have no clue how to market to millenials as I consider them vapid with zero attention span... If the Drillers have a marketing department, TU should knock on their door.