Bulldog2323 wrote:Drake attendance also disappointing right now. We sold more season tickets than we had since at least the 2008 season but only about 60% of them are showing up to games. Many are blaming Drake's mask mandate but I think it's more than that. Iowa State going from 2-18 to #9 in the country and undefeated absolutely taking away the casual fan attention.
Drake attendance tends to improve in conference play at least a little bit. We'll see how it goes.
Iowa State is one of very few exceptions to the rule that everyone is losing attendance. Part of it is having a REALLY good AD, part of it is finally being good at football after a century of being awful and part of it is the delusional fan base that seems to think they're a basketball blueblood coming back.
People realized that it's a helluva lot easier, and exponentially cheaper, to sit at home and watch it on the big screen with better views than you could ever hope to have in the arena. The future, and Drake is doing this with the reno, is making it an experience. Smaller capacities with more amenities, small suites, upgraded food and beverage services. It's no longer pack as many people into a building and watch a game. The first adapters will keep attendance, the ones that lag will never get it back.