In S.F., Rusty Simmons notes with Cal "coming off a season that produced some of the sparsest turnouts in Memorial Stadium history," the team's players are "taking the task of boosting attendance into their own hands." Cal finished 5th in the Pac-12 North last year, and players after practice yesterday passed out "water and schedules and help students move into their dorms," which they hope will "inspire their peers to attend games." Cal TE Collin Moore said, “There can be disconnect between some of the students and those on the football team.” Cal drew an "average of 36,548 fans per game last season, filling a Pac-12-worst" 58.5% of its 62,467 capacity (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/15).
LEADING THE NATION: In Birmingham, Michael Casagrande noted Alabama has the "most in-demand tickets on the resale market" for the "first time in five years." UA "unseated Michigan, No. 1 each of the last four seasons for the top spot" after placing "third last season and fourth" in '16. Demand is up 45% for UA tickets on StubHub compared to last season, but "none of the home games except for the Iron Bowl" against Auburn are "sold out" (AL.com, 8/14).
RIVALRIES SELL: In Pittsburgh, Brian Batko notes the Penn State-Pitt game Sept. 8 at Heinz Field "officially is sold out." The "second and final matchup in Pittsburgh of the four-year series between the intrastate rivals will be a hot item on secondary markets such as StubHub." Pitt Assistant AD/Ticket Operations & Sales Ben Smith said that it is "undoubtedly the primary reason Pitt has sold about 50,000 season tickets this year." Smith said that 50,000 number is an increase from the '17 season, when PSU was not "on the home schedule" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/15).
