Playoff Attendance Round 2

[Sitting Bull]

For reference from last year


2nd round attendance ordered by percent of the regular season average:

Furman @ Incarnate Word: 2,373 (91.4% of UIW's regular season average of 2,596)
SLU @ Samford: 4,587 (82.6% of Samford's regular season average of 5,555)
Weber St @ Montana St: 16,397 (77.1% of Montana St's regular season average of 21,275)
Montana @ NDSU: 12,929 (74.7% of NDSU's regular season average of 17,309)
Gardner-Webb @ William & Mary: 7,110 (70.9% of W&M's regular season average of 10,026
Richmons @ Sac St: 9,136 (58.9% of Sac St's regular season average of 15,502)
UNH @ Holy Cross: 6,265 (52.7% of Holy Cross's regular season average of 11,897)
Delaware @ SDSU: 6,117 (39.3% of SDSU's regular season average of 15,561)

Those are actually pretty good numbers considering the regular season averages. Even though SDSU's percentage from the regular season is low they're up quite a bit from 2nd round games they hosted in 2016-2019 and between the combination of regular season numbers being inflated and postseason numbers not counting things like the bands if you're getting to 70% of your regular season average, which 5 of 8 host teams did, you're doing pretty well. However, the 2nd round average of 8,114 fans per games is the 3rd lowest since the field expanded to 24 in 2013:

2015: 12,440
2021: 11,751
2017: 10,919
2016: 10,960
2019: 9,482
2013: 8,916
2022: 8,114
2014: 7,949
2018: 7,315


Running average through the first 2 rounds shows this year falling into last place:

2015: 9,037
2017: 7,939
2021: 7,794
2014: 7,623
2016: 7,184
2018: 6,844
2013: 6,709
2019: 6,540
2022: 6,518

[NY Crusader 2010]

For reference from last year


2nd round attendance ordered by percent of the regular season average:

Furman @ Incarnate Word: 2,373 (91.4% of UIW's regular season average of 2,596)
SLU @ Samford: 4,587 (82.6% of Samford's regular season average of 5,555)
Weber St @ Montana St: 16,397 (77.1% of Montana St's regular season average of 21,275)
Montana @ NDSU: 12,929 (74.7% of NDSU's regular season average of 17,309)
Gardner-Webb @ William & Mary: 7,110 (70.9% of W&M's regular season average of 10,026
Richmons @ Sac St: 9,136 (58.9% of Sac St's regular season average of 15,502)
UNH @ Holy Cross: 6,265 (52.7% of Holy Cross's regular season average of 11,897)
Delaware @ SDSU: 6,117 (39.3% of SDSU's regular season average of 15,561)

Those are actually pretty good numbers considering the regular season averages. Even though SDSU's percentage from the regular season is low they're up quite a bit from 2nd round games they hosted in 2016-2019 and between the combination of regular season numbers being inflated and postseason numbers not counting things like the bands if you're getting to 70% of your regular season average, which 5 of 8 host teams did, you're doing pretty well. However, the 2nd round average of 8,114 fans per games is the 3rd lowest since the field expanded to 24 in 2013:

2015: 12,440
2021: 11,751
2017: 10,919
2016: 10,960
2019: 9,482
2013: 8,916
2022: 8,114
2014: 7,949
2018: 7,315


Running average through the first 2 rounds shows this year falling into last place:

2015: 9,037
2017: 7,939
2021: 7,794
2014: 7,623
2016: 7,184
2018: 6,844
2013: 6,709
2019: 6,540
2022: 6,518

Note this game was also played during a Nor'Easter.

[Professor Chaos]

Attendance numbers for round 2:

Sac St @ South Dakota: 6,288 (91.3% of USD's regular season average of 6,890)
NDSU @ Montana St: 17,247 (79.8% of Montana St's regular season average of 21,610)
SIU @ Idaho: 9,224 (78.6% of Idaho's regular season average of 11,737)
Delaware @ Montana: 20,580 (78.3% of Montana's regular season average of 26,269)
Chattanooga @ Furman: 8,117 (77.5% of Furman's regular season average of 10,467)
Mercer @ SDSU: 10,171 (55.9% of SDSU's regular season average of 18,208)
Richmond @ Albany: 2,652 (47.7% of Albany's regular season average of 5,558)
YSU @ Villanova: 2,105 (45.0% of Villanova's regular season average of 4,676)

Not too bad as 5 of the 8 games got 75% of the host school's regular season average. Average attendance for all 2nd round games was 9,548 which is about in the middle compared to previous year - 5th highest in the last 10 (normal) playoffs. The running average through the first two rounds of 7,440 is also 5th amongst the last 10 (normal) playoffs.

The quarterfinals typically average 8-12k and should get to the high end of that this year assuming Montana is able to post 20k again and SDSU and Idaho are able to get around 10k again. The NDSU/USD game should sell out but will only hold about 7-8k most likely.

[Hammerhead]

Only 17K at Montana State? I didn't note any empty seats in Bozeman except for the beginning of the 2nd half when stragglers missed two touchdown in the first 70 seconds. :)

[NY Crusader 2010]

Only 17K at Montana State? I didn't note any empty seats in Bozeman except for the beginning of the 2nd half when stragglers missed two touchdown in the first 70 seconds. :)

And according to ESPN, the attendance was listed as 100% capacity. Definitely didn't look like there were any empty seats.

[Pards Rule]

Attendance numbers for round 2:

Sac St @ South Dakota: 6,288 (91.3% of USD's regular season average of 6,890)
NDSU @ Montana St: 17,247 (79.8% of Montana St's regular season average of 21,610)
SIU @ Idaho: 9,224 (78.6% of Idaho's regular season average of 11,737)
Delaware @ Montana: 20,580 (78.3% of Montana's regular season average of 26,269)
Chattanooga @ Furman: 8,117 (77.5% of Furman's regular season average of 10,467)
Mercer @ SDSU: 10,171 (55.9% of SDSU's regular season average of 18,208)
Richmond @ Albany: 2,652 (47.7% of Albany's regular season average of 5,558)
YSU @ Villanova: 2,105 (45.0% of Villanova's regular season average of 4,676)

Not too bad as 5 of the 8 games got 75% of the host school's regular season average. Average attendance for all 2nd round games was 9,548 which is about in the middle compared to previous year - 5th highest in the last 10 (normal) playoffs. The running average through the first two rounds of 7,440 is also 5th amongst the last 10 (normal) playoffs.

The quarterfinals typically average 8-12k and should get to the high end of that this year assuming Montana is able to post 20k again and SDSU and Idaho are able to get around 10k again. The NDSU/USD game should sell out but will only hold about 7-8k most likely.

Professor but is it not true that these regular season attendance are always inflated as its "tickets sold" (for what, half price? Local merchants contributions?) and they do NOT count scans at gate! Whereas I believe in playoffs it is a much harsher accounting.

[Professor Chaos]

Only 17K at Montana State? I didn't note any empty seats in Bozeman except for the beginning of the 2nd half when stragglers missed two touchdown in the first 70 seconds. :)


And according to ESPN, the attendance was listed as 100% capacity. Definitely didn't look like there were any empty seats.
I believe seated capacity at Bobcat Stadium is 17,500 or so - so it's reasonable that almost every seat was filled and reported attendance was what it was because they didn't count things like the band, on-field support staff, etc that I think are counted in the regular season when reporting playoff attendance. I think they also generally sell a ton of standing room tickets in the regular season which is why their attendance average was over 21k this year.


Professor but is it not true that these regular season attendance are always inflated as its "tickets sold" (for what, half price? Local merchants contributions?) and they do NOT count scans at gate! Whereas I believe in playoffs it is a much harsher accounting.
Oh yeah - playoff attendance is more accurate than the regular season numbers most schools put out which is why it's good for this round if you can get to 75% of your regular season average. Like I mentioned earlier there are certain spectators (primarily the bands) that are usually counted in the regular season I believe that aren't counted in the playoffs that usually means even for a complete sell out they won't get to a number that's 100% of capacity.

[ysubigred]

Ummm... I was at the YSU Nova game. We had ~2k on the visitor side of their high school level stadium..

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[smilo]

Ummm... I was at the YSU Nova game. We had ~2k on the visitor side of their high school level stadium..

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Agreed. It looked more like 4.5k. Was there some kind of non-paid attendance?

Still pathetic for our best weather day of the season.

[ysubigred]

Agreed. It looked more like 4.5k. Was there some kind of non-paid attendance?

Still pathetic for our best weather day of the season.Sorry to bust on your facilities, but with the revenue Nova generates that stadium needs an upgrade.

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[Catbooster]

Only 17K at Montana State? I didn't note any empty seats in Bozeman except for the beginning of the 2nd half when stragglers missed two touchdown in the first 70 seconds. :)
Yesterday felt like a typical game, maybe a little fuller than average around our seats. Cat/Griz is packed with as many bodies as possible and has virtually no unused tickets but I think this shows that our usual sold-out games have probably around 15% to 20% unused tickets. Butts in the seats vs. tickets sold.

I've often heard over the years that the NCAA cut is a large percentage of the gate (don't remember exact numbers off the top of my head). So host schools are incentivized to use tickets scanned (or whatever method) rather than tickets sold for the value of the gate, and to minimize that number wherever possible.

[Catbooster]

I believe seated capacity at Bobcat Stadium is 17,500 or so - so it's reasonable that almost every seat was filled and reported attendance was what it was because they didn't count things like the band, on-field support staff, etc that I think are counted in the regular season when reporting playoff attendance. I think they also generally sell a ton of standing room tickets in the regular season which is why their attendance average was over 21k this year.


Oh yeah - playoff attendance is more accurate than the regular season numbers most schools put out which is why it's good for this round if you can get to 75% of your regular season average. Like I mentioned earlier there are certain spectators (primarily the bands) that are usually counted in the regular season I believe that aren't counted in the playoffs that usually means even for a complete sell out they won't get to a number that's 100% of capacity.
Agree with all of this. Once again PC has nailed it.

[grizband]

Considering how many Montana season ticket holders travel more than 100 miles, I was impressed with the attendance figure for the Griz game last night. A night game, with heavy snow, and again travel distance all factor into decisions whether to attend. It will be interesting to see the attendance figure for next week's game on Friday.

[Dane96]

My understanding is that the NCAA changes the way tickets are counted at these games. Albany had probably closer to 4k at this game considering the hospitality area, the berm, and the boxes.

[Professor Chaos]

My understanding is that the NCAA changes the way tickets are counted at these games. Albany had probably closer to 4k at this game considering the hospitality area, the berm, and the boxes.
I don't think the NCAA changes anything outside of the fact that this is actual paid attendance reported and not the fluffed up attendance number most schools report during the regular season. I think we're all conditioned to overestimate crowd size since we're basing it off of how regular season crowds look in relation and the corresponding inflated attendance figures in those regular season games.

The NCAA has no incentive to encourage under-reporting attendance since they take 75% of the net gate which means under-reporting attendance takes money out of their pocket. I really hope schools are not gaming the system and intentionally under-reporting because they'd be cutting the financial legs out of a tournament that already struggles to break even and, because of that, we have to deal with things like regionalized brackets and some home games being determined by bids instead of on-field merit.

[Dane96]

I don't think the NCAA changes anything outside of the fact that this is actual paid attendance reported and not the fluffed up attendance number most schools report during the regular season. I think we're all conditioned to overestimate crowd size since we're basing it off of how regular season crowds look in relation and the corresponding inflated attendance figures in those regular season games.

The NCAA has no incentive to encourage under-reporting attendance since they take 75% of the net gate which means under-reporting attendance takes money out of their pocket. I really hope schools are not gaming the system and intentionally under-reporting because they'd be cutting the financial legs out of a tournament that already struggles to break even and, because of that, we have to deal with things like regionalized brackets and some home games being determined by bids instead of on-field merit.

This is what I mean-- there are corporate seats, box seats, etc. that don't get counted in the attendance because the NCAA doesn't get a share of that at all. We went through this during our 5 NCAA tourney basketball runs in the last 15 years...and with the hosting of the America East tournament.

I can tell you that the number at Albany was closer to 4k than the number noted. That said, 4000 is shyte considering the team...but that's what having a crap record for years will do to a team. I do believe if 'Nova and Albany happened to win the next games (not likely that both win), I'd expect a large crowd at Albany.