[BJWilliams]

That was pretty cool that we broke the record last night. I could look across the stadium and the Baptist side was very full and when I went back over to the Baptist side to get some water I looked over to the student side and it looked like there wasnt a spot to be had even to stand.

[Sly Fox]

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

Liberty is 12th (averaging 15,046) with 4 teams who play classics above us. Not bad at all.

Other Big South #s:

58. CCU ............... 6897
62. VMI ................ 6347
67. SBU ................ 5976
75. G-W ............... 5225
101. CSU .............. 3225

[HenryGale]

WOW...that is bad when some local high schools outdraw CSU

[Sivart]

Dude its gonna be awesome when we have enough room to fit in 25,000 people...

[PAmedic]

the upper decks should keep more noise in the lower "bowl", too.

the place will be ROCKIN

PAmedic Field at Williams Stadium. Hmm. Nice.

[Sivart]

the upper decks should keep more noise in the lower "bowl", too.

the place will be ROCKIN

PAmedic Field at Williams Stadium. Hmm. Nice.

For yours at the low low price of what a $1,000,000?

[kuntryboimike]

With the new stadium, im assuming more dorms are always being put up, and our team getting better each year, what do yall think our numbers will be in the next few years and how long do you think it will take for us to get to 20k seeing we already avg about 15000 and im sure even more would come if they knew they had a place to sit.

[jcmanson]

Just so you know, the enrollment has been capped where it is currently for the immediate future. No timetable yet as to how long that will last.

[LUconn]

At our current status, I think just about everybody who's gonna come is already coming. Now if we're a force in the playoffs that might pull in a lot more townies. So until that happens, my prediction is the attendance initially goes up with the excitement of the new building and then quickly goes back to where it was. But the difference is this time we're ready for the future.

[jcmanson]

I disagree. For the past 4 years more and more students have been attending our games. Those students are now becoming alum, and more that stay within a short driving distance will be coming back every year. You keep that up and within a few years you’ll be able to tell a difference. Then whenever we start increasing enrollment we’ll have more students at the games. I also think that some of these townies who are on the fence for coming will start coming more because they know they’ll actually have a seat to sit in rather than possibly having to sit in the grass or stand.

I think we’ll average 16-17,000 this year.
17-18,000 for the next 3-4 years.
I think 5 years out is a legitimate goal to be averaging 20,000.

With that said, I think Phase 3 of the expansion can wait 5-10 years.

[LUconn]

Well we can look at the past 3 years' attendance numbers to verify that as students have been graduating the past 3 years, obviously. I don't have the numbers in front of me but I'd guess on the average they probably have been going up, but certainly not dramatically. I just doubt that a single person has decided NOT to go to a game because of the lack of seats.

[rogers3]

I just doubt that a single person has decided NOT to go to a game because of the lack of seats.

I know a lot of out of towners that didn't go to the JMU game b/c they didn't think they would get in and they knew they would get soaked if they did.

FIFY

[LUconn]

yeah those people are weenies who were scared of the rain. Everybody knows nobody will ever be turned away.

[ALUmnus]

Well we can look at the past 3 years' attendance numbers to verify that as students have been graduating the past 3 years, obviously. I don't have the numbers in front of me but I'd guess on the average they probably have been going up, but certainly not dramatically. I just doubt that a single person has decided NOT to go to a game because of the lack of seats.

If it's available, look at ticket sales vs. attendance. That should give a better picture as to who is coming to the games.

[Keenan]

Okay.

Has anyone ever been turned away from a LU football game because they didn't have/couldn't buy or get a ticket? Not trying to be sarcastic, but just trying to find out if that has ever happened?

[LUconn]

I can't say "no" with certainty because I haven't been running the ticket booth for 20 years but, no. There's so many undefinable "seats" where you can cram people. Grass seats, concourse standing, etc.

[Schfourteenteen]

I doubt anyone has ever been turned away. That doesn't mean that people wouldn't perceive that they would be turned away. When the athletic dept is doing a good job of publishing that General Admission tickets are sold out I think it's reasonable for those not in the know to assume they couldn't walk up and get tickets.

They also published grass seating was available. In the same sentence.

[rueful]

also I think the point is being missed that I think hes tying two things together, not that people are being turned away but rather that people dont want to sit in the grass

[LUnpretty11]

I think we’ll average 16-17,000 this year.
17-18,000 for the next 3-4 years.
I think 5 years out is a legitimate goal to be averaging 20,000.

With that said, I think Phase 3 of the expansion can wait 5-10 years.

I think these are some pretty low expectations. We were almost avg. 110% attendance, which was 2nd highest in all of FCS. People I talk to from GA (alum) have told me about how they want to make at the very least 2 games, and they didn't even make 1 last year (because of travel conflicts). The excitement of the new stadium will draw a huge crowd every week, and don't be surprised to see the stadium at capacity each week (minus Sav. St. I expect that game to be a little lower on the attendance side). Also, we need to take into consideration the crowd we will be drawing in from the Lynchburg are, who probably didn't care too much to come to a game, but will now show up because of the new building.
That being said, I'm expecting 18,500+ for this season. And don't be surprised to see 20,000 for the first game of the year.

[LUaddict]

Are these comments or wishful thinking? I'd say these are quite lofty and were speaking in terms thatstasium is not finished and expecting to average 18,500 or even get 20,000 in next season. I highly doubt this prognostication. IMO

[LUnpretty11]

(I know it was the JMU game), but we were expecting 21,000+ for that game. Now obviously the rain kept a lot of those home, BUT, the interest is there when there is a big event going on. And this next, each game is going to be a big event, thanks to the new building. I know it may seem like I'm crazy, but that's because Liberty hasn't experienced that kind of attendance before.

[jcmanson]

I wouldn't be surprised if we were near our capacity of over 19,000 for the season opener. After that, I think it will drop off to 16 or 17.

[SuperJon]

(I know it was the JMU game), but we were expecting 21,000+ for that game.

Who was expecting 21,000 or more? Most people thought we'd have a chance to push in on 20,000 but I don't ever recall anyone saying anything about 21,000 much less more than 21,000.

[LUnpretty11]

(I know it was the JMU game), but we were expecting 21,000+ for that game.

Who was expecting 21,000 or more? Most people thought we'd have a chance to push in on 20,000 but I don't ever recall anyone saying anything about 21,000 much less more than 21,000.

Ticketing office. Cause we were expecting 4,000 JMU fans + 17,000 LU fans.

[LUaddict]

I wouldn't be surprised if we were near our capacity of over 19,000 for the season opener. After that, I think it will drop off to 16 or 17.

If this is the case. I hope that this does happen and I could see this happening. This does sound more realistic and grounded prog.