Barnes said OSU is still in the feasibility study stage of plans to remodel parts of Reser Stadiumgetty images
Oregon State AD Scott Barnes said the school is "really focused on group sales" in order to assure that 40,000 or more fans show up to the football team's season opener against Oklahoma State on Aug. 29, according to Nick Daschel of the Portland OREGONIAN. Barnes said the school is bringing group sales to a "more sophisticated level" to combat the decrease in college football attendance. Barnes: "We've had some decline, and although we're seeing the bottom, I would have already liked to see the reversal moving forward a little faster than it is." He added, "Technology and other things have played into how fans consume our product." Barnes said the school is "still at the feasibility study stage" of potential remodeling plans for Reser Stadium. Meanwhile, when asked about the Pac-12 possibly introducing 9:00am PT kickoffs, Barnes said he wants to "make sure I'm taking care of my fan base first." He said, "I want to weigh that against a 7:30pm or later game and compare to 9 am, how our fans would feel." More Barnes: "This is a voluntary situation. We're not going to be mandated to play at 9 am. If we want to raise our hand and say we're in, right now we can be. But it's not something that's coming upon us as a mandate" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/8).