Everyone complains about the Labor Day Weekend game. Often students are not back. Many ticket holders are out of town or planning one last getaway. And of late, it has also been the dumping ground for some of our less desirable opponents. As optimistic as I am about this season, I don't expect a big turnout for the opener against Maine. While the Black Bears might bring some local support, I don't think it will make a big difference. Take a look at our last five home games held on Labor Day Weekend.
2009 -- Northeastern: 33,262
2010 -- Weber State (Herzy's return): 34,168
2011 -- Northwestern: 37,561
2012 -- Miami: 39,262
2013 -- Villanova: 30,922
Geography doesn't seem to be the driving force in ticket sales. Weber State outsold Northeastern. Miami and Northwestern also show that a Power 5 opponent can impact demand.
I understand playing an easy home game early. It builds confidence and allows the team to grow. We've been through so much change recently, that smart scheduling can make a big difference. But building a team through a cream puff schedule doesn't always generate immediate fan interest. My guess is BC will announce a total attendance of 32,000 for the Maine game.
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Announced? I am going for the gold, 44,500! Actual, I am seeking truth, 18,431
21,500
Pitiful.
And the next one will be worse. If the order was reversed, Maine might draw 30,000 as the second game.
Howard over the Labor day weekend might get 15,000.
Great "fan-interest" scheduling, BC.
Pretty soon we could pass Wake Forest and Duke for the worst average attendance in the league.
Keep it up, Mr. Bates. 2016 looks very shaky as well. It's easy to find something else to do, although our team and players deserve our support.
It's not their fault that the Athletic Department is making a pitiful effort at scheduling.
Let me say it again - PITIFUL.
Ok, so I'm 20 years in with BC, the only early season games I can remember drawing real, serious fan interest were a long, long time ago. The end of the Big East years opened with decent conference games, but before that it was OSU and Michigan.
There are many reasons it is so easy to pass the program off as a bottom 25% "power 5" team, the non-conference has, with the exception of a few years in the early 2000s, always been one.
These games are a complete waste.
2016 already has UMASS and Buffalo scheduled, along with the GA Tech game in Ireland. 2017 only has the ND game.
if 2017 is supposed to be the year we compete for an ACC title (as Daz has said about a zillion times) then hopefully we schedule accordingly and play a recognizable out-of-conference foe just to test our mettle and get us ready for our march through the conference schedule. i recall going to a BC/Ohio State game at the Meadowlands for the Kickoff Classic - can we get involved in something like that in 2017?
Bates' scheduling so far has left much to be desired.
I'll preface by saying that I'm not a season ticket holder as I don't live in the area, but I think the sentiment would remain the same even if I was... I'm happy to watch us on TV (or likely ESPN3) against the Maines, UMASSes and Howards of the world at this stage. I'd like to see the guys develop against weaker competition, collect a couple of wins, and gain some confidence. The benefit of playing in the ACC is a built-in 8 games of above average competition. If we were in the remnants of the Big East, I'd be all over creating a very strong non-conference schedule.
Why would we schedule a high quality home game Labor Day weekend anyway? Yes students are back, but even when Miami came to town, we were 5,000 under capacity. Why waste it?
In any case, when we are ready to compete for the conference title, non-conference schedule still won't matter much. Win the ACC and have less than 2 losses and we'll almost 100% be in the playoff. Same for any non-traditional power in the power 5 conferences. And as the playoff will most likely have expanded to 8 teams by the time we're ready, winning the conference may be the only pre-requisite.
These opponents aren't ideal, but I'll take 7-5 or 8-4 and a bowl game with a couple of creampuffs over 6-6 or worse with a an extra middle to upper tier non-conference game.
They learn nothing playing Maine and Howard. I realize they have excuses with New Mexico State pulling out. Bates needs to make scheduling a huge priority going forward. No more FCS schools. Don't need to open against an Ohio State - just someone who passes the straight face test - please.
35k
26,500
hmmm. Maine and Howard are lame games.
I see them as helpful pre-season games for our new QB Wade and "gelling time" for the new OL.
Of course, these teams won't be anything like ACC competition. Hope it will not be a rude awakening.
There are too many games in the season, and too many home games. Supply is exceeding demand. Roll the clock back a couple decades and give me an eleven-game regular season with no more than six home games, and make bowl games more selective, and suddenly the regular season becomes much more interesting because each game is more meaningful. In short, BC games are no longer special experiences because there are so darn many of them each year.
1 person
GP11
I think it creates false confidence. Look at the Pitt game last year. we were nowhere near ready to play after the Umass cupcake.
Tim
I'm w/ you all the way, but we both know it'll never happen, TV just needs so much product.
33,000 announced; 17,000 backsides in bleachers.
I'll guess 37k announced with comments on this site and others suggesting no more than 25k showing up.
Gosh, is there the 73rd Red Sox home game that day? Can you imagine how many fewer would go if that 175 million dollar payroll was any good?
34,500. Just 10,000 short of a sellout. Many more than 10,000 will lament not being there when the 3rd year version of "Be a Dude" sends those Black Bears scurrying back to Orono. Main thing is no injuries, offensive line begins to gel and Darius Wade makes his first start a special one and the beginning of an illustrious career.
@FakeShalomTree is closer to the answer than any other. As usual, BJK has a thoughtful and articulate answer.
Thanks JBQ- i learned a think or two watching The Price is Right all these years
@FakeShalomTree: I would ask you to remember just why those crazed Sherpas led explorers up Mt. Everest. "Because it was there". In March, I went up to the "Heights" because it was there. G.K. Chesterton said it best. "We are all in the same boat on a story sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty". The Jags incident tore me apart with his 4 kids. I still haven't recovered. There were good arguments on both sides of the ball. Spaz was a really good defensive coordinator. What is going on now is open to argument. Once the season starts, we shall know for sure one way or another. Until then, all praise to Bob Barker.
@FakeShalomTree: I would ask you to remember just why those crazed Sherpas led explorers up Mt. Everest. "Because it was there". In March, I went up to the "Heights" because it was there. G.K. Chesterton said it best. "We are all in the same boat on a story sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty". The Jags incident tore me apart with his 4 kids. I still haven't recovered. There were good arguments on both sides of the ball. Spaz was a really good defensive coordinator. What is going on now is open to argument. Once the season starts, we shall know for sure one way or another. Until then, all praise to Bob Barker.
Because that comment was so good it had to be said twice.
Haven't recovered from the Jags "incident?"
Well then. That explains something.
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