Stanford has "sold 31,850 season tickets for the upcoming football season," which is "uncharted territory in an even-number year" for the school, according to Jon Wilner of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The figure represents a 25% increase over '12 season-ticket sales and is "believed to be a school record for an even-year home schedule." Stanford "sold out its season ticket allotment last year (approximately 34,000 tickets) for the first time in school history." But the "odd-year schedule features four high-interest" home games against Oregon, UCLA, Notre Dame and Cal. The even-year schedule has "always been a tough sell for the Cardinal's sales force, with only one marquee home opponent, USC" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/27). Meanwhile, in Miami, Susan Miller Degnan reported the Univ. of Miami has "sold more than 31,000 season tickets this season." UM Senior Associate AD/External Operations & Strategic Communications Chris Freet said that there "are 27,000 seats" in the lower Sun Life Stadium bowl, and UM has sold 95% of the seats that "aren’t allocated to students (5,500), visiting teams (about 800) and recruits and high school coaches (about 1,500)." The stadium capacity is 75,000 but "goes down to 67,000 when the four corners are covered with tarp." Freet said that UM last year "sold 29,917 season tickets" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/24).
MIXED BAG IN THE SEC: In Birmingham, Brandon Marcello reported Auburn has sold "all 87,451 tickets for the SEC opener" against Arkansas on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Following its appearance in the national championship game Auburn "sold a total of 62,900 season tickets, a school record." The school also has "completely sold out its three other SEC home games -- LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 8/27). In Orlando, Brian Schmitz noted a crowd of "at least 80,000" is expected at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday for Florida's opener against Idaho. Schmitz wrote, "I don't know about you, but 84,000 sounds like a rather large gathering to see a team that won four times last season." Fans are "getting all riled up over 4,500 empty seats instead of praising the 84,000 who will show up?" The "angst over sports attendance" is "unnecessary" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/27).
ALL ABOUT THE ATMOSPHERE: In Chicago, Blake Schuster noted Big Ten programs are "watching the number of students in their student sections dwindle." The success of the team "matters, of course, but it's happening to perennial powerhouses and bottom-feeders alike." Michigan has "seen average student attendance drop by 1,834" since '11, and student ticket sales "have declined by 1,766" since '10. At Illinois, student ticket sales in the last four years "have dropped from 7,475 in 2010 to 3,622 last season." The school offered a "125-minute 'special' in which individual tickets went on sale for $10." That promotion "sold more than 14,000 tickets," but selling tickets to students "remains a problem." Schuster noted when UM and UI "surveyed students to find out what they'd most like to see change at games, access to the Internet was either near the middle or bottom of the list." What students "want -- and what schools are trying to create -- is a can't-miss atmosphere" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/23). The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Ben Cohen in a front-page piece cites a study of attendance records from approximately 50 public colleges with top-division football teams as showing “average student attendance at college football games is down 7.1%” since ’09. The “decline was 5.6% at colleges in the five richest conferences.” The “growing number of empty seats in student sections across the U.S. is a sign of soaring ticket prices, more lopsided games and fewer matchups against longtime rivals, and the proliferation of televised games that make it easier than ever for students to keep tailgating long after kickoff.” Colleges and athletic conferences are “scrambling to lure students back, but it is a daunting challenge” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/28).
