The Syracuse football team is "on pace to draw the lowest attendance figure in Carrier Dome history," as the school opened the '16 season with "three straight home games, drawing an average of 31,936 fans," according to Brent Axe of the Syracuse POST-STANDARD. The school drew 31,336 against Colgate, 32,184 against Louisville and 32,288 against USF. If Syracuse "stays on that pace in its final three home games, it will fall below the mark of an average of 32,102 fans that attended seven home games" in '15, the "lowest mark in Carrier Dome history." SU's next home game is Oct. 15 against Virginia Tech, while it also hosts North Carolina State and Florida State later in the season. Axe notes there are a few factors that "need to be thrown in the pot for consideration" of the low numbers. Free tickets "were offered" to students "for the first two home games of the season." SU's 45-20 loss to USF was the "first home game played on a Saturday this season." The first two games on the home slate, Colgate and Louisville, were "played on Friday night" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 9/20).
KNIGHT WATCH: In Orlando, Shannon Green noted new UCF AD Danny White is trying to create "one of the most dynamic fan experiences on game day -- a necessary plan for a fan base that endured 13 consecutive losses dating back" to '14. UCF last season "drew 30,065 fans per game and the crowd numbers plummeted as the losses piled up." But from "motocross cyclists to fireworks to tailgate concerts to inflatables and specialty game-day hot dogs, the marketing of UCF football games turned up more than a few notches." The staff saw about a 10% increase to its budget to help "execute a broader vision for game day." Most of the new features have come through "reallocating existing funds and have been executed by a UCF athletic staff that is made up" of at least 50% new bodies. Against South Carolina State in the home opener, UCF "reported an announced attendance of 36,260," and the school is "hoping to see those numbers climb throughout the year" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/18).
