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Topic:  Akron attendance pathetic.

Topic:  Akron attendance pathetic.
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Cats2014
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  Message Not Read  Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 5:36:04 PM 
There were about 2,000 people in the stands last night. It was truly sickening. How in the heck does a team stay in the MAC if they draw 2,000 fans, half of whom were from Ohio University? What a sad commentary on Akron. They were playing for the MAC East title. The listed attendance was 17,832. Does the NCAA hand out penalties for lying? Are you effing kidding me? There were 2,000 people there.
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PhiTau74
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 5:53:39 PM 
I said to my wife when they showed the one side of the stands that there couldn’t be more than 1,000 people on that side, quess I was right.
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Andrew Ruck
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 6:00:09 PM 
Cats2014 wrote:
The listed attendance was 17,832. Does the NCAA hand out penalties for lying? Are you effing kidding me? There were 2,000 people there.


Alan Swank, do you have any thoughts on this subject?

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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bshot44
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 6:56:21 PM 
Cats2014 wrote:
There were about 2,000 people in the stands last night. It was truly sickening. How in the heck does a team stay in the MAC if they draw 2,000 fans, half of whom were from Ohio University? What a sad commentary on Akron. They were playing for the MAC East title. The listed attendance was 17,832. Does the NCAA hand out penalties for lying? Are you effing kidding me? There were 2,000 people there.


There were NOT 2000 people there, ha! Not even that many
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Pataskala
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 9:29:09 PM 
The ESPN announcers discussed the need for the players to pump themselves up because they don't have the advantage of a large crowd to pump them up. It'll be a few years but once internet platforms replace cable/satellite as the medium of choice, midweek games will lose their attractiveness as a TV draw. Midweek MACtion will likely be a thing of the past.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.
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allen
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 9:55:19 PM 
They expected to lose. There starting QB was out and Ohio was a 13 point favorite. We lost, that is why they are still in the MAC.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes
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cbus cat fan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 10:10:22 PM 
Akron has a plethora of problems with their university, not the least of which was the money they spent on their football stadium and other building projects that have turned into a financial mess and given the university a less than a stellar reputation. Adding insult to injury few actually come to football games anymore. I realize Coach Bowden is probably only making a fraction of what he once did at Auburn, but unlike our football team the money they shell out for football must be a drain on Akron's entire athletic budget.

Because of ESPN's financial woes, maybe MACtion stays in place because it is relatively cheap to produce for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night television for ESPN2 and ESPNU in November. However, it shouldn't surprise any of us if one day the plug is pulled.

Last Edited: 11/15/2017 10:13:49 PM by cbus cat fan
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Jeff McKinney
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/15/2017 11:09:04 PM 
Imo actual butts in seats was less than 1000. I did a mental calculation of how many season ticket holders they have who were no shows, plus maybe some distribution of tickets to schools, etc, and I expected a paid attendance figure of about 8000. I was stunned to read the announced attendance of over 17,000. That is completely laughable .
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Valley Cat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/16/2017 7:33:13 AM 
I sat through that mess. I'm guessing 2,500 honestly and most were wearing green and white. I should have taken a pic of the slice of pizza we had to return because I don't have the adjectives to describe it's appearance. I know we chuckle at the concessions at Peden from time to time but I've never had to return multiple items. Between the pizza and the hot water posing as cocoa we made a pair of exchanges.
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Tymaster
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 8:45:23 AM 
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.
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Judge Parker
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 8:58:30 AM 
Cats2014 wrote:
The listed attendance was 17,832.


Then most of 'em must have been huddling in the bathroom for warmth. I was there. The 2000 estimate is considerably closer to realistic.

Last Edited: 11/17/2017 8:58:49 AM by Judge Parker
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Alan Swank
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 10:50:25 AM 
Tymaster wrote:
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.


They used to be. Shoot the ACME Zip game used to pack the Rubber Bowl each year. I remember riding my bike to the Acme on Brittain Road every fall to buy tickets and some lard for my mom. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why people don't attend - the downtown location being one of them.

https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/local-history-acme-z...

Last Edited: 11/17/2017 10:54:40 AM by Alan Swank
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Ohio69
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 10:57:53 AM 
Alan Swank wrote:
Tymaster wrote:
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.


They used to be. Shoot the ACME Zip game used to pack the Rubber Bowl each year. I remember riding my bike to the Acme on Brittain Road every fall to buy tickets and some lard for my mom. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why people don't attend - the downtown location being one of them.

https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/local-history-acme-z...



I don't understand why they can't draw like Toledo or Western Michigan. I know they gotta win and etc. But, it just seems weird to me.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

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Mark Lembright '85
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 11:35:58 AM 
Ohio69 wrote:
Alan Swank wrote:
Tymaster wrote:
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.


They used to be. Shoot the ACME Zip game used to pack the Rubber Bowl each year. I remember riding my bike to the Acme on Brittain Road every fall to buy tickets and some lard for my mom. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why people don't attend - the downtown location being one of them.

https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/local-history-acme-z...



I don't understand why they can't draw like Toledo or Western Michigan. I know they gotta win and etc. But, it just seems weird to me.


I think the main reason they don't draw very well is that practically speaking Akron still remains a commuter school. Sure, they have added some dorms and Akron is certainly more "residential" than when I attended law school there in the latter 80's, but the majority of their students still don't live on campus. Thus, I don't think that a lot of their students develop that certain bond other students do who actually reside at their campus.

And Alan, that's interesting that you say one of the reasons Akron might not draw very well is because of the downtown location of Infocision Stadium. You might be right about that. It's just funny because I remember the talk years ago was that the Rubber Bowl didn't draw well because it was off campus and the students didn't want to bother having to drive all the way to the Rubber Bowl.
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Alan Swank
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 11:47:40 AM 
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
Ohio69 wrote:
Alan Swank wrote:
Tymaster wrote:
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.


They used to be. Shoot the ACME Zip game used to pack the Rubber Bowl each year. I remember riding my bike to the Acme on Brittain Road every fall to buy tickets and some lard for my mom. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why people don't attend - the downtown location being one of them.

https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/local-history-acme-z...



I don't understand why they can't draw like Toledo or Western Michigan. I know they gotta win and etc. But, it just seems weird to me.


I think the main reason they don't draw very well is that practically speaking Akron still remains a commuter school. Sure, they have added some dorms and Akron is certainly more "residential" than when I attended law school there in the latter 80's, but the majority of their students still don't live on campus. Thus, I don't think that a lot of their students develop that certain bond other students do who actually reside at their campus.

And Alan, that's interesting that you say one of the reasons Akron might not draw very well is because of the downtown location of Infocision Stadium. You might be right about that. It's just funny because I remember the talk years ago was that the Rubber Bowl didn't draw well because it was off campus and the students didn't want to bother having to drive all the way to the Rubber Bowl.


In many people's minds, the Rubber Bowl is a much safer location than downtown. It's in Ellet. That said, with so few students engaged and on campus, no matter where you put the stadium there just aren't available butts in the seats.
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Cats2014
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 2:24:51 PM 
The on-campus Akron location is perfectly safe. Downtown is close by, so what. They built the stadium because the thought was it would attract students. It attracts no one. Pathetic. The fact that Akron is so rinky dink makes it even more embarrassing that they beat us. But the Akron football situation is a joke.
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Alan Swank
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 3:47:54 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
Cats2014 wrote:
The listed attendance was 17,832. Does the NCAA hand out penalties for lying? Are you effing kidding me? There were 2,000 people there.


Alan Swank, do you have any thoughts on this subject?


Good question and I do have a question. Should we be concerned that our attendance dropped again this year but the drop was 8.5% from 2016 with arguably a better home schedule - Kansas, Miami, Toledo and we always get a good crowd on Homecoming and Band Day regardless of who we are playing? Average attendance this year was uunder 20,000 - 19,388 to be exact.
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Deciduous Forest Cat
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/17/2017 4:11:56 PM 
Alan Swank wrote:
Andrew Ruck wrote:
Cats2014 wrote:
The listed attendance was 17,832. Does the NCAA hand out penalties for lying? Are you effing kidding me? There were 2,000 people there.


Alan Swank, do you have any thoughts on this subject?


Good question and I do have a question. Should we be concerned that our attendance dropped again this year but the drop was 8.5% from 2016 with arguably a better home schedule - Kansas, Miami, Toledo and we always get a good crowd on Homecoming and Band Day regardless of who we are playing? Average attendance this year was uunder 20,000 - 19,388 to be exact.


I think the weather cost us a huge walk up on opening day. We've been pretty lucky with weather in recent years. Rain still makes a huge difference for our fan base.
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Tymaster
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 9:03:46 AM 
Alan Swank wrote:
Tymaster wrote:
The city of Akron and The University of Akron should be synonymous but they're not - at all. Grab a copy of the Beacon Journal. Buckeyes are front page sports news. Zips could win the MAC next month and it'll be page 4.


They used to be. Shoot the ACME Zip game used to pack the Rubber Bowl each year. I remember riding my bike to the Acme on Brittain Road every fall to buy tickets and some lard for my mom. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons why people don't attend - the downtown location being one of them.

https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/local-history-acme-z...



That article made me infer that it took a grocery store gimmick to get anyone to ever go to the Rubber Bowl, not that the Zips were ever the toast of the town...
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ZIPsCAT
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 11:11:07 AM 
Yes this is a conversation the Zipsfaithful have almost every year. But basically boils down to this:

1) Still mostly a commuter school
2) 3-33 over three years accompanied with a successful Soccer and Basketball team
3) Lack of administrators who give-a-damn to try creative things
4) Lack of culture (you could throw in the ABJ to this, they're an awful publication, and often make excuses why they can't give decent coverage on the Local D-1 college instead of a college 2 hours away).
5) The college student has fundamentally changed

IMHO it's probably mostly #4 and #1. I was a commuter while I went to Akron, and I was considered weird for wanting to attend games. Especially for a team, at the time, who was 2-22.

I mean, the Zips haven't been to a Bowl game (before 2-years ago) in over decade, and haven't been to the MAC C game in 12 years.

To be honest, the Zips will need to string some winning seasons together, and maybe a marquee win over someone people actually know (like in the Big-10), before there is a big change in attendance.

So I guess the lack of any, even marginal success, for almost two decades and a lack of culture for that long is what has resulted in what we see today. :(
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Mark Lembright '85
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 12:52:53 PM 
ZIPS_Balszy wrote:
Yes this is a conversation the Zipsfaithful have almost every year. But basically boils down to this:

1) Still mostly a commuter school
2) 3-33 over three years accompanied with a successful Soccer and Basketball team
3) Lack of administrators who give-a-damn to try creative things
4) Lack of culture (you could throw in the ABJ to this, they're an awful publication, and often make excuses why they can't give decent coverage on the Local D-1 college instead of a college 2 hours away).
5) The college student has fundamentally changed

IMHO it's probably mostly #4 and #1. I was a commuter while I went to Akron, and I was considered weird for wanting to attend games. Especially for a team, at the time, who was 2-22.

I mean, the Zips haven't been to a Bowl game (before 2-years ago) in over decade, and haven't been to the MAC C game in 12 years.

To be honest, the Zips will need to string some winning seasons together, and maybe a marquee win over someone people actually know (like in the Big-10), before there is a big change in attendance.

So I guess the lack of any, even marginal success, for almost two decades and a lack of culture for that long is what has resulted in what we see today. :(


And like many other programs, not keeping a coach can result in delayed success. There was an interesting article from Terry Pluto in the PD over the weekend about Coach Lee Owens at Ashland College. He's built a Division II powerhouse in Ashland, almost from scratch. I think Akron was premature to fire him. Owens with Infocision Stadium? Could have been lethal.
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ou79
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 5:01:18 PM 
Expect a large and vocal crowd in the stadium this coming Friday night. It is the State Division IV semi-final game featuring Shelby and Steubenville Big Red.
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Mike Johnson
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 10:30:32 PM 
ou79 wrote:
Expect a large and vocal crowd in the stadium this coming Friday night. It is the State Division IV semi-final game featuring Shelby and Steubenville Big Red.


If the weather isn't entirely crappy, I'll be there to watch Steubenville take on my alma mater Shelby. Last year the two met in the playoffs and the Big Red prevailed 29-15.

I googled Steubenville's football history. In all-time wins it ranks 3rd in Ohio and 15th nationally. Shelby might rank in the state's top 20. My teams went 23-5 and the group that followed mine won 35 in a row. In my senior season our defense set a school record that still stands; for the entire season we gave up just 26 pts. Our coach, deceased and long ago inducted into the National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame, believed in scheduling tough. We opened that season at Lakewood St. Edward before some 9,000 fans and topped the Eagles 22-6.

Shelby's quarterback has committed to Minnesota. Hoping for a big game from him.

http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

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ou79
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/20/2017 10:38:00 PM 
A ton of tradition between Big Red and Shelby. Your teams sounded very impressive Mike. Thanks for posting.
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Joe McKinley
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  Message Not Read  RE: Akron attendance pathetic.
   Posted: 11/21/2017 12:12:55 AM 
The Zips are pulling out all the stops to sell tickets for the wagon wheel game. Grapevine says the #1 fan of all things #MACtion -- Jeff McKinney -- received a topical today from Terry Bowden imploring attendance on Tuesday night. That's great research on Akron's part. :-)
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