[JK37]

I'll give you guys that the student side was very full, but after examining the tv broadcast, there were many more empty seats than just a general stadium-wide photo (like the one on libertyflames.com now) would show. The real attendance Saturday was closer to 12,000, including game personnel and hillside seating. In other words, the stadium's permanent seating was not full at all. I would find it easy to believe that the number that would be announced was known even before Saturday's game began.

When they decide to go to assigning all seating on the Baptist side, not just the blues and reds, we'll start to get a real picture of where our attendance is, because the fans on that side will be relegated to sitting closer together.

Baptist side fans just spread out so much, it makes it look much more full than it really is.

[SuperJon]

I'm guessing we'll fill the stands and then the rest will sit in the grass.

[LUconn]

I'll give you guys that the student side was very full, but after examining the tv broadcast, there were many more empty seats than just a general stadium-wide photo (like the one on libertyflames.com now) would show. The real attendance Saturday was closer to 12,000, including game personnel and hillside seating. In other words, the stadium's permanent seating was not full at all. I would find it easy to believe that the number that would be announced was known even before Saturday's game began.

When they decide to go to assigning all seating on the Baptist side, not just the blues and reds, we'll start to get a real picture of where our attendance is, because the fans on that side will be relegated to sitting closer together.

Baptist side fans just spread out so much, it makes it look much more full than it really is.

Gotta disagree. There is easily 1k+ people up around the concourse at any given point in the game. People going to the bathroom, getting food (there were a ton of vendors), kids running around, teens acting cool, etc. I doubt there were 2000 extra seats sold that didn't show as you're suggesting.

[JK37]

No, I'm not saying they were no-shows, I'm merely suggesting that based on how full the stadium looked, it was deemed feasible to announce the number they announced. But, there were not nearly 14,925 there. I recognize a lot of people in bathrooms, on concourse, etc. I think 1,000 is a little high, but 500 or so is not unrealistic.

All I'm saying is that there were close to 1,000 seats empty. They were just spread out.

[Schfourteenteen]

SJ lets suppose we are maxing out (obviously not now) and adding permanent seats seems like a good idea to you. What do you think the best scenario would be for expanding? 2nd Level? Horseshoe? More boxes?

The only reason it would make sense to build more seats sooner than later is to say we have a 20,000 seat stadium, but only if we can fill it. All of this also depends on how well we do this year and the next. This year, if were talking about upgrades in the next 2/3 years, we need at least a 9-2 season, but we need to continue to play well the next 3/4 years to set our attendance up there

[JK37]

Also, I reiterate that if you were to look at the TV game tape, you'd see the number of empty seats from their angles. The best way to see it is looking straight in at the seats, and that's tough to do any other way.

[bigsmooth]

bigger bleachers at the top of student side, put the band in the end zone on bleachers. putting bleachers on the roof of the old fieldhouse? that type of roof is not made for that.

[TIMSCAR20]

I was down on the field looking up and I couldn't see any empty seats other than where the band was when they were down on the field. I have not seen the TV tape yet though. When I was talking to Jeff Barber (can't remember if it was on or off camera at the time) he explained to me how they arrived at that number and it seemed very accurate to me. The number of folks on the hills and on the top as well as the luxury boxes seemed like it was easily 15k to me but that is just my opinion based on a little inside information as well as my eyes. Jk, do you think what you may have saw was the band section or did you see the gaps of seats on the baptist side? I think you said baptist side earlier so if that is the case, the band explanation doesn't work here. I am curious now to see the portion of the tape that shows that though. There has to be a logical explanation though. From the field there didn't appear to be any gaps on the baptist side. Some of the students can verify that based on their vantage point being better than mine.

[ALAFlamesFan]

You have to look at reasons to expand and I think #1 is economic. If you want to be D1-A you need to fund more scholarships in Football and department wide. Football usually is your best sport to make $ on but very few do. Any expansion plans have to take into account how to best fund growth. That is why I say boxes are top priority. Big $. Keep the overall seat expansion to a minimum so as to keep tickets in high demand. Then raise prices some (ours are really cheap!). THEN expand general seating at the higher ticket price.

Think big picture. If we want to be Notre Dame we need to be smart about how best to get there and how quick.

[jcmanson]

No, I'm not saying they were no-shows, I'm merely suggesting that based on how full the stadium looked, it was deemed feasible to announce the number they announced. But, there were not nearly 14,925 there. I recognize a lot of people in bathrooms, on concourse, etc. I think 1,000 is a little high, but 500 or so is not unrealistic.

All I'm saying is that there were close to 1,000 seats empty. They were just spread out.

I don't know if you peeked in the suites, but I would say there were easily 300 people in those if not more. That's just 50 each one, I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than that though.

[LUconn]

No, I'm not saying they were no-shows, I'm merely suggesting that based on how full the stadium looked, it was deemed feasible to announce the number they announced. But, there were not nearly 14,925 there. I recognize a lot of people in bathrooms, on concourse, etc. I think 1,000 is a little high, but 500 or so is not unrealistic.

All I'm saying is that there were close to 1,000 seats empty. They were just spread out.

I'm pretty sure that we've had a very similar conversation on this board during basketball season. The Athletic department isn't just looking around and taking an educated guess. What the heck do you think those turnstyles are for at the gate? Just for show? Or does Barber want the nonfabricated number for his own personal knowledge?

[Knucklehead]

I don't want to be mr. negative here, but There were not that many people there. I'd say 14K but not nearly 15k! There were not that many sitting on the hill, the extra bleechers were tiny, and the Baptist side had a ton of open seats. Heck there were only 6 of us on the press box roof.

[jcmanson]

No, I'm not saying they were no-shows, I'm merely suggesting that based on how full the stadium looked, it was deemed feasible to announce the number they announced. But, there were not nearly 14,925 there. I recognize a lot of people in bathrooms, on concourse, etc. I think 1,000 is a little high, but 500 or so is not unrealistic.

All I'm saying is that there were close to 1,000 seats empty. They were just spread out.

I'm pretty sure that we've had a very similar conversation on this board during basketball season. The Athletic department isn't just looking around and taking an educated guess. What the heck do you think those turnstyles are for at the gate? Just for show? Or does Barber want the nonfabricated number for his own personal knowledge?

For what it's worth, I saw Kevin Keys counting the ticket stubs at halftime.

[Fumblerooskies]

Problem with an immediate horseshoe (unless you put pillars up around the fieldhouse)....

...the field house is not only used for visitors...but also for the athletic training room for Men's Soccer, all 6 track teams, Wrestling, tennis, and cheerleading. Also...that houses the wrestling locker room and wrestling practice room.

[Schfourteenteen]

It would be kindof neat to see something where they horseshoe it around on top of that building. Itd take an overhaul of that roof and more stability on the building, but it would look sweet to see people come out like that

[LUconn]

They added 3 floors on to Demoss. Why not bleachers onto the fieldhouse.

[spc0506]

Where do I start? I believe there were at least 14, 000 there. I have been going to games for a long time and have never seen anything quite like it. In the first quarter I got a good look at the Baptist side from the student side and it certainly looked packed to me. When looking at the student side from the Baptist side there were several of the stairs that could not even be seen because the students had packed those as well. As for the concourse spectators ... easily at 500, but I would guess more. I wish I had couted people on the hillside because I can't really esitmate that. I think that just from the visual evidence it would be hard to argue anything less that 14,000 and the announced attendance of 14,925 seems pretty accurate if you include all the workers, ambassadors, security, and media. By the way, what does the number of people on the press box roof have to do with anything? I don't think most tickets get you that kind of ladder-climbing acces! Has anyone else been to UT stadium. Tennesse has actualy built their stadium up, over, and around some large multi-story dorms! I don't know how they did it or how its supported, but on that huge of a scale it's pretty impressive!

[LUconn]

That's one of the few stadiums I have seen and although it certainly doesn't look that great (like it was built by general steel), it is impressive.

[RagingTireFire]

I don't want to be mr. negative here, but There were not that many people there. I'd say 14K but not nearly 15k!

Really?! You can differentiate -- at a glance -- between what constitutes 14,000 people and 14,950 people? Then what are you doing up there on the press box roof, my friend?
I'm sure the National Park Service or even NASA have some serious counting that they need done and there you guys sit wasting your skills there, Rain Man!

How dare you deprive a needy nation of your unique estimalogical talent?! How dare you!

[LUconn]

Fenton Crackshell anyone? Where are my ducktales kids at?



He could count anything just by looking at it. He was also Gizmoduck.

[ALUmnus]

I think it's funny when people think they can tell the difference between 14k and 15k, with everyone moving around, some sitting, some standing, coming and going, hiding in bathrooms, eating, on the grass, in the boxes, behind the press box, etc., all by merely looking. That's quite a skill.

[bigsmooth]

AGREED ALUMNUS!!!!!!

[RagingTireFire]

For what it's worth, I saw JB in a helicopter hovering over the stands at halftime counting heads. That's the most reliable way, right? Eyeballing it and saying 1-potato-2-potato over and over? Not actual math? Just checking.

[Fumblerooskies]

For what its worth...the addition of the floors to DeMoss was a contractor's nightmare. You would need support pillars and beams over the fieldhouse to even begin placing stands on that end. Taking everything else out of the equation, though, if you COULD relocate the main athletic training room (Hancock is NOT feasible due to size) and the wrestling program, making a one story horseshoe would look sweet....and add maybe 10K (or 14 K, depending on who's counting...7 K using MBB math) more seats.

[SuperJon]

None of you guys, unless you sat on our side, have any clue how packed in we were. People were 2-3 deep on the first row before you even got to the first row of bleachers. People were in the aisles. People were right up on top of each other. Whatever holes there were on the Baptist side, we more than made up for it.