As we continue to see Sept and Oct games reach 90%-105% capacity with regularity the next logical step is to begin raising prices, starting with the marquee games. The goal is to find that sweet spot where you're charging the most you can charge without sacrificing volume.
The marquee home games is what is lacking. What is the last winning non-conference program aside from Marshall that has entered the gates of Peden Stadium? Then 2 of the 4 home MAC games are midweek. The fans are getting two MAC games, 1 FCS and a weak FBS during Sept-Oct season. Those Saturday MAC games are typically 2 weak MAC East schools.
Right now the opponent has little to do with Ohio's attendance. The 3 largest crowds in Peden's history were all within the last 3 seasons and were against New Mexico State(1-11), Akron(1-11) and Idaho(1-10).
Agreed. In looking at Ohio's attendance records on the Ohio Bobcat website, the 5th largest attendance was for the Norfolk State game, which drew 24,511 for a Sept. 7th game in 2013. And Norfolk State isn't an FBS team. Other than the marquee games (i.e. Marshall, Homecoming games,etc.) it seems the games that draw the largest crowds are the very first games of the season, no matter the quality of the opponent.
Before the switch again to the semester system, sometimes the very first home games of the season occurred prior to the quarter actually starting. I remember when my daughter was a freshman in 2010 she and a bunch of new friends/acquaintances went to the Gardner Webb game because there was literally nothing else to do as the quarter wasn't in session yet freshmen were required to be on campus. That game drew over 23,000 people.
So I have to agree with Perimerpost. Unless Peden's enlarged, I'm not sure a P5 team will draw much more than what an early season FCS team is already drawing in.