Idaho

[Sitting Bull]

For someone who is closer to this...

Given that Idaho is the only school I'm aware that has moved from FBS to FCS, I'm curious on their home attendance trends going into their 2nd/3rd? season in the Big Sky vs Sun Belt days.

[100%GRIZ]

I would be interested to know this myself. I'm guessing it is about the same now as it was in the Sun Belt but will increase with time!

[Professor Chaos]

Based on the attendance reports the NCAA has compiled this has been their averages last 6 years.

2013: 14,744 (73,718 in 5 games)
2014: 12,886 (64,432 in 5 games)
2015: 11,653 (69,915 in 6 games)
2016: 11,190 (55,948 in 5 games)
2017: 10,533 (63,197 in 5 games)
2018 (first year in the FCS/Big Sky): 11,280 (56,400 in 5 games)

So far this year in their first 2 games they're averaging just 6,236 (one of which was against D2 Central Washington but the other was against Eastern Washington - their new/old rival just up the road).

[MSUBobcat]

Based on the attendance reports the NCAA has compiled this has been their averages last 6 years.

2013: 14,744 (73,718 in 5 games)
2014: 12,886 (64,432 in 5 games)
2015: 11,653 (69,915 in 6 games)
2016: 11,190 (55,948 in 5 games)
2017: 10,533 (63,197 in 5 games)
2018 (first year in the FCS/Big Sky): 11,280 (56,400 in 5 games)

So far this year in their first 2 games they're averaging just 6,236 (one of which was against D2 Central Washington but the other was against Eastern Washington - their new/old rival just up the road).

I would guess after the disdain for having to drop down wears off and they put together a winning season or two (or even playoffs) that it would start to tick back upward. I'd imagine there's a bit of an embarrassment factor.

[HailSzczur]

Eastern Washington - their new/old rival just up the road).

Just when you think you've got a good handle on geography you learn facts like this. I kind of just figured they were hundreds of miles away, because I just assume most things out that way are very far away.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Just when you think you've got a good handle on geography you learn facts like this. I kind of just figured they were hundreds of miles away, because I just assume most things out that way are very far away.

Idaho is also just 13 miles form Washington State.

Missoula is basically in the middle of MSU, EWU, & Idaho.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bozeman,+MT/Missoula,+MT/Cheney,+Washington/Moscow,+ID/Washington+State+University,+Pullman,+WA/@46.8722838,-116.8308714,7z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x5345444c4fba8813:0x63f 5d064f73b60aa!2m2!1d-111.0429339!2d45.6769979!1m5!1m1!1s0x535dcc2a50f36 7cb:0xe9e31277ca94802e!2m2!1d-113.9940314!2d46.8721284!1m5!1m1!1s0x549e393549e82 7fd:0x71e83d74b343adcd!2m2!1d-117.5757622!2d47.4873895!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a0212d22c06 1d1:0x3efd150de6eaad6c!2m2!1d-117.000165!2d46.7323875!1m5!1m1!1s0x549f8705c848a8 6f:0xf465f2a4b55770db!2m2!1d-117.1542121!2d46.7319225!3e0?hl=en&authuser=0

[Vandal03]

Based on the attendance reports the NCAA has compiled this has been their averages last 6 years.

2013: 14,744 (73,718 in 5 games)
2014: 12,886 (64,432 in 5 games)
2015: 11,653 (69,915 in 6 games)
2016: 11,190 (55,948 in 5 games)
2017: 10,533 (63,197 in 5 games)
2018 (first year in the FCS/Big Sky): 11,280 (56,400 in 5 games)

So far this year in their first 2 games they're averaging just 6,236 (one of which was against D2 Central Washington but the other was against Eastern Washington - their new/old rival just up the road).

The 2013 and 2014 numbers were counted by Enron’s accountants. There was a slight drop from FBS Sun Belt to FCS Big Sky. The “move forward” angered a significant portion of the alumni who believed in the FBS dream. Combine that with the disappointment of getting our butts kicked by the Big Sky and attendance has taken a dive this season. I believe dropping down was the right move and with winning the crowds will come back. I find FCS more exciting because Idaho has the potential to compete with the best FCS schools and will never compete with the best FBS schools.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Just when you think you've got a good handle on geography you learn facts like this. I kind of just figured they were hundreds of miles away, because I just assume most things out that way are very far away.

When I was living in Bozeman I nearly made the drive to Moscow for the Idaho-Temple game in 2013. It was "only" 7-8 hours which is really nothing when you live in the Mountain West. Thankfully I didn't go because we lost! We also lost to Fordham that year...lol

[VandalBasher]

Idaho is also just 13 miles form Washington State.

Missoula is basically in the middle of MSU, EWU, & Idaho.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bozeman,+MT/Missoula,+MT/Cheney,+Washington/Moscow,+ID/Washington+State+University,+Pullman,+WA/@46.8722838,-116.8308714,7z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x5345444c4fba8813:0x63f 5d064f73b60aa!2m2!1d-111.0429339!2d45.6769979!1m5!1m1!1s0x535dcc2a50f36 7cb:0xe9e31277ca94802e!2m2!1d-113.9940314!2d46.8721284!1m5!1m1!1s0x549e393549e82 7fd:0x71e83d74b343adcd!2m2!1d-117.5757622!2d47.4873895!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a0212d22c06 1d1:0x3efd150de6eaad6c!2m2!1d-117.000165!2d46.7323875!1m5!1m1!1s0x549f8705c848a8 6f:0xf465f2a4b55770db!2m2!1d-117.1542121!2d46.7319225!3e0?hl=en&authuser=0

Even closer. Pullman, WA is only 8 miles from UofI.

[VandalBasher]

I would guess after the disdain for having to drop down wears off and they put together a winning season or two (or even playoffs) that it would start to tick back upward. I'd imagine there's a bit of an embarrassment factor.

I don't know if it is an "embarrassment factor." The best way to assess the impact is to review the attendance numbers for away games of visiting BSC and SBC teams. It is more about the draw of the team visiting. I am not saying worse or better.

[NY Crusader 2010]

I would assume that "visiting attendance" at Idaho has increased since they left the Sun Belt for Big Sky. Montana, MSU and EWU are definitely bringing more fans than UL-Monroe and Arkansas State. So if home attendance is down as a whole, I would imagine to some extent the "embarrassment factor" is real and some have fallen off the bandwagon.

[Sitting Bull]

I don't know if it is an "embarrassment factor." The best way to assess the impact is to review the attendance numbers for away games of visiting BSC and SBC teams. It is more about the draw of the team visiting. I am not saying worse or better.In all seriousness, if you are an Idaho student or fan, is it really any more "embarrassing" to play a home game against Montana than UL Monroe?

[MSUBobcat]

In all seriousness, if you are an Idaho student or fan, is it really any more "embarrassing" to play a home game against Montana than UL Monroe?

I didn't mean the opponents are embarrassing. Trying to move up and play with the "big boys" only to get relegated back to a lower division has to be slightly embarrassing, especially if you're the only one to ever do it (as far as I can recall anyway). I'd equate it to being called up to the Bigs only to be sent back down to AAA with the GM saying, "I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for another call-up". Call it alumni anger, disdain, whatever.... being told you were overzealous in your aspirations has to hurt the ego a bit.

[Vandal03]

I didn't mean the opponents are embarrassing. Trying to move up and play with the "big boys" only to get relegated back to a lower division has to be slightly embarrassing, especially if you're the only one to ever do it (as far as I can recall anyway). I'd equate it to being called up to the Bigs only to be sent back down to AAA with the GM saying, "I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for another call-up". Call it alumni anger, disdain, whatever.... being told you were overzealous in your aspirations has to hurt the ego a bit.

That is a great way of describing the situation. The students will come back first when they know the team is winning. The ticket buying alumni will come the season after winning starts. It takes a lot of planning and travel for most alums to attend home games.

[CHIP72]

Just when you think you've got a good handle on geography you learn facts like this. I kind of just figured they were hundreds of miles away, because I just assume most things out that way are very far away.

I think there are a small handful of Division I schools in northern Idaho and eastern Washington that are relatively close to each other when looking at all sports, specifically Idaho (Moscow, ID), Washington State (Pullman, WA), Eastern Washington (Cheney, WA), and Gonzaga (Spokane, WA).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CHIP72]

Whoops, double post.

[Schism55]

....and the Vandals back up the EWU win with.....a loss to Northern Colorado xsmiley_wix

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Even closer. Pullman, WA is only 8 miles from UofI.

I don't know why that fell off my post but I had it in there at 11 miles and must have erased it when grabbing the link to show on google maps. I knew it all too well from going to both games at both places in 1995 and having our only two losses that season come from teams withing 11 (8 now xlolx) miles of each other.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

....and the Vandals back up the EWU win with.....a loss to Northern Colorado xsmiley_wix

It's really too bad to see that. I wanted to see them gaining some real traction after that EWU win. Not over but would have liked to see them get that win today.