PSAC Attendance - Week 6

[Sec10-A-14]

Talking to people I know up in Erie their excuse, While Gannon increased enrollment 11% over last yr to an all time high over 4,700 students they have more than 1,100 grad + more than 400 int'l (seemingly soccer fans) who couldn't give a ratz azz about college FB
It rain all night & most of the morning only clearing up at game time.
Also the Erie Otters drew 6,000+ for their home opener. With inflation only so much money to go around.
Who wanted to watch a 2-3 team against a power house lose?
None the less shame on Gannon fans.

[EdinboroFB]

500 is standing room only at Gannon.

[Ship69]

Some fans would walk through hell in a gasoline suit to watch a football game.

You've got that right.

[Sec10-A-14]

500 is standing room only at Gannon.

Agree its the crappiest in the PSAC. With the money they have they certainly can make it fan friendly.
One would think an investment would bring in more fans.
The Field looks like a Chinese crossword puzzle.
Who wants to look around players on the sidelines to see a play?
Seating is bad. Here in Tx we have better middle school stadiums for football then GU.
Might be why they can't recruit well.

[Fightingscot82]

Talking to people I know up in Erie their excuse, While Gannon increased enrollment 11% over last yr to an all time high over 4,700 students they have more than 1,100 grad + more than 400 int'l (seemingly soccer fans) who couldn't give a ratz azz about college FB
It rain all night & most of the morning only clearing up at game time.
Also the Erie Otters drew 6,000+ for their home opener. With inflation only so much money to go around.
Who wanted to watch a 2-3 team against a power house lose?
None the less shame on Gannon fans.

6,000 for junior league hockey seems pretty good. They're not an NHL team affiliate so its unlikely that they'll get many players with future star buzz.

A lot of Gannon's growth has been in its FL health sciences campus. That is a plan that seemed odd at the time but has really paid off well. I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown by campus to see how the Erie campus residential enrollment has been.

Gannon's (and similarly Mercyhurst & Seton Hill) challenge is that to really draw in D2 you need community engagement. That's hard to do in a city of any size. Winning and a great atmosphere have carried some programs through the College Gameday era (Shepherd, GVSU, NWMSU, etc). But its hard for a coach to build relationships in a big area that doesn't identify with a school like they would in a college town like Edinboro. Indiana is a county seat with several large business headquarters but they still identify as a college town. If ticket revenue doesn't mean much to them, they've got to give away tickets - especially programs that bring groups. Scouts, youth leagues, honoring historic teams, etc. Hell, allow Prep & Villa students free admission one day. Same with other Catholic schools.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

6,000 for junior league hockey seems pretty good. They're not an NHL team affiliate so its unlikely that they'll get many players with future star buzz.

A lot of Gannon's growth has been in its FL health sciences campus. That is a plan that seemed odd at the time but has really paid off well. I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown by campus to see how the Erie campus residential enrollment has been.

Gannon's (and similarly Mercyhurst & Seton Hill) challenge is that to really draw in D2 you need community engagement. That's hard to do in a city of any size. Winning and a great atmosphere have carried some programs through the College Gameday era (Shepherd, GVSU, NWMSU, etc). But its hard for a coach to build relationships in a big area that doesn't identify with a school like they would in a college town like Edinboro. Indiana is a county seat with several large business headquarters but they still identify as a college town. If ticket revenue doesn't mean much to them, they've got to give away tickets - especially programs that bring groups. Scouts, youth leagues, honoring historic teams, etc. Hell, allow Prep & Villa students free admission one day. Same with other Catholic schools.

Different era, but Gannon used to have the craziest home basketball court in all of D2 basketball. In the 80s and 90s nobody had a following like they did -- and playing inside the 'Mill was about impossible. It was deafening in there. And, it was the place to be. The 'Mill is still there but the crowds left long ago. IUP basketball has cultivated that 'place to be' vibe on Saturday nights but while they are large crowds, they are by no means crazy crowds like GU used to get. I've seen the KCAC truly amped up maybe once or twice since it opened.

As for stadiums, I hate track stadiums but that is pretty much the norm in D2. Gannon's stadium is just, well, awful. There's so much going on. Seating is terrible. Parking is horrendous.