(12-17-2016, 09:22 AM)DC 86 link Wrote:Another factor which relates to attendance is how many alumni live within reasonable proximity to campus. For example, I'm sure that a significant portion of the Nebraska alumni base live within driving distance of Lincoln, whereas a significant portion of our alumni base is scattered throughout the country (many on the east coast) and overseas.
Seems like football culture and tradition are a much stronger indicator of attendance.
Michigan's ticket holders are scattered all over the country. Season ticket holders will keep their tickets just to fly cross country for 2 games a year. Many use resellers to try to get back some of the cost for games they don't attend (which is handy for someone local who decides to go to the game on a whim 1 hr before kick off ;) ).
In a previous era, as I've learned, Michigan fans traveled from all over the state to attend games. Apparently this is the reason why Bo Schembechler rejected 3:30 or night games for so long. He said something like, "It's not fair to people who drive from Alpena to have them driving all night to get home", or something to that effect. Alpena is about a 5 hour drive from A[sup]2[/sup] - probably a 6 1/2 hr drive in post game traffic. Houghton, MI would be more like 11hrs driving.
I'll point to U$C as an example football culture. Who wants to deal with LA traffic, a decrepit 1920s stadium with 1 entrance (or is it 2?) !!!!! In addition, pre-mid 90s that central LA area was dangerous as all hell :'(. Yet they still packed in 90,000 regularly.


