Crowd for Wake Forest?
I noticed that the loss at Middle Tennessee State seemed to exact a toll on home attendance the following week. There was Maryland playing Cal and the crowd was short of a sellout despite a marquee opponent and a warm, inviting day.
I wonder if the same thing will happen because of the Virginia loss. With Wake Forest being an ACC foe -- and a highly-touted one at that -- I tend to think the fans will be out in force on Oct. 18. But it would have felt like a bigger event if the Terps had won their fourth straight game last Saturday instead of falling so flat.
Note on Byrd Stadium:
Have you ever painted your house, but then your spouse notices that your garage looks dingy by comparison? So then you have to paint that, too?
That's the way I feel about Byrd. The new tower, with its cushy suites, is going to look great but then they'll need to spruce everything else up around it.
Comments
I think the excitement from the fans about this game is fallen off dramatically, as seen by the reaction to the loss on the message boards. I would expect a than enthusiastic group there for the next game, especially since it's a noon start.
Regarding the stadium appearance, I can't fathom how they can put so much effort into painting those lovely endzones, but they continue to ignore the awful blue awnings. Paint those hings red, please!
Posted by: Will | October 8, 2008 12:31 PM
People didn't show for the Cal game because it was at noon. Noon games are awful. The students are late arriving (recovering from Friday night after all), and everyone else doesn't want to get there so early.
Posted by: Jonathan Fusfield | October 8, 2008 12:41 PM
It would have been great, 4 wins in a row and a matchup with a Top 25 opponent, a team who's beaten us 2 years in a row now..It's a shame the game is at noon - again a win against UVA and we're looking at a 7pm ESPN game. What a shame. These Terps better have a wake up call, or else future season ticket sales will plummet.
Posted by: Frustrated Terp | October 8, 2008 3:55 PM
If the student section comes out and starts to trash the team after the very first setback during the game then I would rather see silent empty seats and not have to deal with that unclassy act.One week off should reset the hope that this team will recalibrate it's effort to make a serious run towards a championship game in the ACC.If I did'nt believe this then I would'nt say it.
Posted by: Dan R. | October 8, 2008 8:00 PM
Noon start and the loss to UVA will definitely hurt attendance. I am guessing around 45-47,000.
Win this one and then next game is homecoming and it should be 50,000+.
Posted by: UMDFAN | October 8, 2008 8:02 PM
These open question on attendance are exactly why the administration at UMD needs to be very cautious about expanding stadium seating capacity to 60000. The press box and suites are one thing, but to assume the other will work is a very big stretch at this point.
Posted by: EricB | October 9, 2008 8:05 AM
Noon games are killers.
Fans with families, kids, other obligations, and responsibilities.
They cant skip kids sports practices and games. While a 330pm or 7pm kickoff would resolve that somewhat - we're not always going to have every game later in the day.
The loss to UVA only affects the casual or non-fan in the area who only attends the 'hot games' no matter which area team it is.
WF travels pretty well if I remember from two years ago. Easy drive...nice weekend.
Announced crowd (tickets sold or given away) 50k+. Some no shows.
The "its too early for students" excuse is BS. 75% of the student section is full early no matter the opponent or time of kickoff. Evidently our base of 'hardcore' student football fans is less than the number of seats reserved for them. Students who are real fans want to be at the game early - no matter what time we're playing. The rest are lazy or just not completely interested. I have to think the "scan and leave" and "drop in socially for awhile" students will always be part of the total crowd. This always seems to fluctuate depending on the overall success of a team and unfortunately who we are playing. (Same goes for mens basketball)
-----FROM JEFF---
Thanks for that context.
Posted by: terps06 | October 9, 2008 11:46 AM