So last week during the Big Ten Media Days, Northwestern’s head coach, Pat Fitzgerald (44), had some strong words as to the cause of declining college football attendance when asked (video is 1:56).
Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks on the use of phones in today’s society pic.twitter.com/A0R310aPuw
— CoachTube.com (@thecoachtube) July 21, 2019
For those unable to watch the video, the summary is that phones and technology in the hands of young people are causing a decline in attendance.
So it seems Pat Fitzgerald, even as one of the youngest big time head coaches in the industry seems to have adopted the role of old man yells at cloud, with classical indictments of the youth and modern technology as the cause for yet another bad thing in society.
However, Off Tackle Empire has some words for Pat. I'd like to share eight things that are ACTUALLY causing a decline in college football attendance because it sure ain't phones. Disclaimer: This write up is not trying to solve the problem of declining college football attendance, but rather pointing out how unnecessary, wannabe edgy, and flat out wrong Pat’s comments were on the topic. And before I get into the list below, here is a great summary (link) on the actual loss in attendance numbers across conferences. Of interest to this site in particular is that the Big Ten reached its lowest average attendance in 25 years (65,365) in the 2018 season. Also, with regards to Pat’s direct comments, the idea that phones are causing a drop in college football attendance, yet attributing the phone problem exclusively to young people, when CFB attendees are of all ages already shows the absurdity of the argument. But hey, I still have 8 things to go through that are bigger causes of low attendance than cell phones.
1. Ticket costs (and other Game Day expenses)
The prices of college football tickets are approaching (and some are already at) offensive levels. The industry is at the richest it's ever been undoubtedly on the backs of people who just wanna enjoy a football Saturday with their favorite team. In looking up season tickets and three game package tickets deals for various Big Ten teams I saw tickets ranging from $300 to over $700. (Boilerman Note: Purdue recognized its suckiness in football over the last decade, full season tix range from $120 for cheap seats to $494 for midfield seats. They also had the highest jump in season ticket sales in the FBS last year.) Three game packages ranging from $200 to $350, student tickets ranging from $90 to $200, and individual game tickets ranging from $40 to $200. That’s a lot of money, particularly in the full season ticket prices, and even more so if you’re looking to buy tickets for a family and looking at costs for 2-4 or more people. Then throw in parking and transportation, lodging, food, alcohol, the absurd price of gear, etc. These things, PAT, are a much bigger cause of low attendance than cell phones.
2. The College Football Playoff
There are a select group of teams that know they're in the running for the CFP each season and if you're a fan of one of those teams that is your ultimate goal. Settling for less is not something the fans of these teams want and I’ve heard too many times, “this season is over,” early on after a loss or two that knocks a team out of Playoff contention. Which is just absurd. A whole season building up to a CFP and... *raspberry sound* apparently. This absolutely has an impact on attendance for the later games of these top teams, and more than cell phones, PAT. (And sadly it shouldn’t because a team can still have a great season and not be in the running for the Playoff, but that’s a whole different issue.)
3. Football Inequality
Piggybacking off of the previous point of how there are a select few teams even able to compete for the CFP, many more teams are feeling the effects of the intense stratification happening in College Football. The top teams stack and stack and stack their talent and the little guy teams, even Power Five ones just don't stand a chance. Why pay hundreds to experience a total ass-whooping from the bigger teams? Most people don't want to gamble a few hundred on ticket costs to possibly experience an unlikely upset, being more likely to sit through a game in misery and shame. Also, it’s just all so borderline boring now, knowing now that it’s pretty much the same top few teams every single year. There’s little mystery and that sense of, “oh man, who’s it gonna be this year??” is pretty much non-existent. That's not cell phones, PAT.
4. The convenience, affordability, and enjoyment of sports bars (or your house)
I'll be honest, since moving far away from my team's stadium, I've really come to enjoy and might even prefer watching games on TV in a nice sports bar with good food and good drinks. Sports bars are cheaper, it’s the same game, they’re comfortable, have more flexibility, have no dumb stadium rules, and, if you must, you can turn it off should things start going bad rather than suffering in person. And sports bars are for watching a game in a social setting of course. If you just want to watch it alone, then your couch, 50 inch TV, and your fridge is THE way to go. My TV and couch, or that cushy booth in the bar sometimes just beats out an in-person game and definitely my cell phone, PAT.
5. TV Timeouts and other made-for-TV aspects
You're watching a game, it's going well, competitive, enjoyable, equal momentum for both teams, but WAIT. TV timeout. A long run of ads that to you in the stadium just feels like wasted time. You can only go to the bathroom and grab food so many times. And that’s what halftime is supposed to be for anyway (sorry, fellow bandos). I hate these breaks, PAT.
6. Game length partially beCAUSE of the TV aspects
A football game, as I feel compelled to state the obvious has four, 15 minute quarters. That is one hour. Yet SOMEHOW college football games are pushing 3-4 hours. WHY? Oh right because of TV B.S. This write up (link) by Bill Connelly, formerly of SB Nation, sums up the problem and some ideas to fix it. Regardless, they’re not fixed yet and the idea of sacrificing half your Saturday in a modern world has a far bigger effect on CFB attendance than cell phones, PAT.
7. If your team is bad
This kind of piggybacks off #3, but focuses more on attendance for bad teams. Very few are going shell out hundreds and waste a Saturday to sit through a beating of their established-as-bad team. This exact concept has been rumbling about the Rutgers community with many more fans than in the past opting out of season ticket purchases. There’s a reason why schools like Illinois, Kansas, UConn, Rutgers, Indiana, and Purdue have images of infamously empty stadiums. No one wants to watch a shitty team. A bad team has way more of an effect on CFB attendance when compared to cell phones, PAT.
8. Early Kick-Offs
I can’t tell you how many times Rutgers fans groan over a noon game and I know it’s the same for other fanbases. A noon (or earlier) game means a super early wake up and tailgate set-up especially for those who live further away from their respective stadium. Not every game can be an afternoon or night game, so many are going to get that dreaded noon slot. Sometimes fans are going to choose to not go to a game sinply because of the early wake up and then the subsequent long duration of the game itself. It’s tiring. Simple as that, PAT.
Do you agree with Pat, this list, or have any other ideas as to the cause of declining attendance? Do you have solutions to fix it even? Let us know in the comments! Anyway, Pat, I like you, but...