https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-03/the-un...

This article continues the discussion.

The crowds we get for Winter Break games are no different than they've ever been. Tonight was actually way above my expectation with students gone and awful weather.

In keeping with the original post, you missed the second part of my post. My guess is you're a season ticket holder. If you look around, are the same people who sat near you five years ago sitting there. In sections 3 and 4 that isn't the case at all. Not sure if it's other interests or escalating prices.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-04/colleg...

Another Bloomberg article in a series about the financial mess college sports are in. They are calling it a bubble. This one talks about all the debt schools are taking on to upgrade facilities and play the arms race. With dwindling crowds it may be just a matter of time before the TV revenue starts sliding and these schools will feel the pinch. They are already cutting some sports.

Alan has a point, there's a changing dynamic in sport viewership, especially live events. There are so many more options than 10,20, 30 years ago etc. I find myself going to fewer Bobcat games and professional games as well. Part of that has to do with being married with kids, but I wouldn't be surprised that once our kids are older I wouldn't go to as many as I once did. My wife enjoys sports as well, but like Alan I see others around me not going to as many games as they once did, and as always cost is a factor.

A friend of mine has season tickets to the Browns. During one game toward the end of the third quarter, we went down to the lounge where season ticket holders hang out. I joked that this must be what happens when the season is a bust. I was politely corrected by another fan. He told me he has been to several different NFL stadiums and the lounges in those stadiums are also filled with people checking their cell phones, hanging out with friends, watching other games, and seemingly oblivious to what's happening on the field.

Demographically we are a nation of 3000+ million people, one would think there would never be a shortage of people who want to go to live sporting events and actually watch the games. However, as evidenced by those sports lounges in stadiums, fans especially young millennials view things differently. We shall see.

Part of the problem is that most college athletics departments haven't recognized that the economy still hasn't bounced all the way back from the housing recession. This is a problem the Democrats ran into this past election cycle. Jobs are there, but in many (if not most) cases not at nearly the pay levels as the jobs that were lost. Lots of people are still scrounging to make ends meet. Yet, ticket prices -- especially at the "P" schools -- keep going through the roof. Combine that with the explosion of cheaper alternative sources for entertainment (including games on TV/Internet), and the concussion issue, and there's little wonder college football is hurting for attendance. Time for college football to wake up and cater to working families again. (No, I'm not going to say "Make College Football Great Again.") Ohio's family pack plan is a step in the right direction.

Sorry about the extra zero in my 300+ million population figure. Maybe someone in China could chime on any sports attendance problems they might be experiencing!

In all seriousness, here's another link concerning ESPN losing $75 million on this weekend's NFL wildcard because they paid too much in the last TV deal.
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/espn-will-lose-75-milli...

It would be interesting to see how this might break down in future weekly college games and or bowls.

Mario Moccia is my hero. Who has guts enough to try this stuff?

Another thing I'd like to see mid-majors do is take Thanksgiving week off and play the last game the next weekend. Bowl schedules be damned... Play when the students are on campus.

Oh, and if you still have cable, call them and tell them you are dropping. I did that recently and they cut my bill by 50% with no change in service. I don't know if I'm happy or mad...

I wonder how this may, or may not correlate to college basketball attendance? My theory is that three things make college basketball less affected by declines in attendance mentioned in this thread: Shorter games, Indoor, climate controlled conditions, and generally much less expensive ticket prices.

I would agree, though I think some have different seasons for things they do. The guys I know that hunt might think it's easier to get to a football game rather than at least some parts of basketball season just because of some hunting seasons.

I agree with the NMSU AD. Just take a look at the Tuesday MACtion games on TV and see the pathetic attendance. The TV money can't be worth that. Does anyone know what we get from that package?

Back in the day we always played basketball games on Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon at 3pm. There were few exceptions to that schedule. Football was always Saturday afternoon at 2pm(I think). If you want alumni to come in for the games, consistency in days and times really helps a lot.

Sacrificing a live audience for television is like eating your seed corn. Get a little fatter in the wallet now, but starve later when you have a much smaller group of engaged alumni.

Every G5 FBS program is reaching for a brass ring, but there really aren't any to grab. The pool of money is already shrinking even at the P5 level. The whole house of cards is ready to fall, and it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Yes and that's the difference between college football and college basketball. A rising college basketball coaching star like Archie Miller will stay at Dayton because there are 3x as many Division I college basketball programs than football, the gap in salaries in college football is staggering. It is more manageable in basketball. The MAC and college football is literally like Charlie Brown and Lucy dangling the football. We know what happens, but we keep thinking it will be different this time.