The attendance downfall...

[TheRaginCajun06]

Here's a look at the attendance since the start of Bustle.

First game of 2002 new coach... buzz creates 20,000 fans to start. Attendance drops towards the middle of the season, but a 2-0 finish at home gets fans primed for year 2 of Bustle ball!
vs Minn 20512
vs UAB 19616
vs North Texas 8413
vs Idaho 12621
vs Ark St. 14117
2-2 in final 4 games.... 2-0 at home
3-9 Overall, 2-4 Sun Belt, 3-2 Home, 0 -7 away

The fans remember the end of 2002 and come out in huge numbers to begin 2003. 24,000 fans watch Louisiana fall to La Tech 34-3... the attendance also fell after this game and did not reach 15,000 for the next 5 home games.
vs La Tech 24211
vs Houston 11127
vs ULM 13540
vs NMS 12308
vs Idaho 9213
vs FIU 13571
4 - 1 final 5 games.... 3 - 0 at home
4-8 Overall, 4-3 Sun Belt, 3-3 Home, 1-5 Away

UL finishes strong at home again and the fans remember this. The start of 04 brings in a crowd of 22,000 for the opener, but it gets better as UL wins... the attendance jumps to 25,000! UL tops 20,000 fans a game in year 3 of Bustle ball... excluding the finale against Troy.
vs NWS 22117
vs Middle Tennesse 25083
vs arkansas state 23121
vs North Texas 21608
VS Troy 15077
1 - 4 last 5 games.... 1- 2 at home
4-7 Overall, 2-5 Sun Belt, 3-2 Home, 1-5 Away

See where my theory is taking me here? UL manages to finish strong in the end and create a buzz for the next season, but not to finish 2004. UL finishes 1-2 at home and 1-4 in the last 5 games... The attendance to start 2005 reflects this...
vs NWS 17341
vs UCF 18262
vs FAU 14208

In the 3rd game of 2005, we've already managed to reach under the 15,000 mark. We did not have under 15,000 fans at all last season. YOU HAD a 4,000 person drop from UCF to FAU ( a televised game). It's hard to imagine that we'll see more than 10,000 per game to finish out the season.

If we figure out a way to create a buzz to finish the season we'll have a great start to 2006. You see... there are a lot more fairweather fans than we give credit too.

I remember being at the Idaho game and the whole student section was empty. I remember how sad it was then. I loved the 2004 season... UL had a huge buzz going. This program needs to change directions quick.

[BrockMeaux]

While you definetly make a valid point, I think you throw out the FAU attendance...it was on a Thursday night, which I honestly think had more to do with the attendance drop than the performance in the UCF game. The final two home games will be very telling, however.

[TheRaginCajun06]

While you definetly make a valid point, I think you throw out the FAU attendance...it was on a Thursday night, which I honestly think had more to do with the attendance drop than the performance in the UCF game. The final two home games will be very telling, however.

Maybe so, but 21,000 made it out to a Thursday game last year against North Texas. Like you said... the final two home games will be very telling.

[DaddyCajun]

Maybe so, but 21,000 made it out to a Thursday game last year against North Texas. Like you said... the final two home games will be very telling.

And the 4th home game(homecoming) attendance will be greatly determined by the next two weeks away.

Babb, Babb, Babb where are you now with your recovery. I know Dez has some growing to do but not at the expense of another season.

I hope Babb is back and HEALTHY for next Saturday. We win the last two games hands down if Babb had been in there. To be thrown in like Dez was is very tough for anyone let alone a redshirt freshman.



Bounce back Cajuns, Bounce back!!

DaddyCajun

[Cajunfever]

And the 4th home game(homecoming) attendance will be greatly determined by the next two weeks away.

Babb, Babb, Babb where are you now with your recovery. I know Dez has some growing to do but not at the expense of another season.

I hope Babb is back and HEALTHY for next Saturday. We win the last two games hands down if Babb had been in there. To be thrown in like Dez was is very tough for anyone let alone a redshirt freshman.



Bounce back Cajuns, Bounce back!!

DaddyCajun

Lets hope that he is back before next Saturday. We play on Thursday night again this week. We don't have a game next Saturday.

[locoguano]

Maybe so, but 21,000 made it out to a Thursday game last year against North Texas. Like you said... the final two home games will be very telling.

yes.. but that was also the ESPN2 game...

[Zeebart21]

yes.. but that was also the ESPN2 game...

It was also a Friday night at 9pm...

Z.

[TheRaginCajun06]

It was also a Friday night at 9pm...

Z.

I could swear it was a Thursday night.

[JMV JustMyView]

I could swear it was a Thursday night.

Was a Friday night game on ESPN 2 that was supposed to start at 9:00 p.m. but started at 9:30 p.m. because they were trying to get some of the high school games crowd to show up...

[TheRaginCajun06]

Was a Friday night game on ESPN 2 that was supposed to start at 9:00 p.m. but started at 9:30 p.m. because they were trying to get some of the high school games crowd to show up...

Ok yep I remember now. I'm thinking of the New Mexico State game on a Thursday night. That was also on ESPN plus I believe.

[DestinCajun]

We can slice and dice the attendance figures all we want but it all goes back to the one thing this program needs more than anything else and isn't getting -

Winning Ball Games.

[shof]

We can slice and dice the attendance figures all we want but it all goes back to the one thing this program needs more than anything else and isn't getting -

Winning Ball Games.

Couldn't agree more. There have been many factors that have hurt attendance the past couple years. One year (last or yr before last) we had horrible weather. That Houston game comes to mind. Even the first game this year -- rain right before the game plus local TV broadcast it. However, the bottom line is when (not if) the program puts a better product on the field, people will come. And lets face it, SBC fans don't travel too well; especially when you have to go from Miami to Lafayette, etc.