2011 New Orleans Bowl: LOUISIANA (32) SDSU (30)

[HOUCajun]

If we're going by actual attendance, I doubt the New Orleans Bowl had more than 30K. Still a significant advantage over other bowls, but not quite as impressive as 43K.

If the dome seats 70k I think it's safe to say it was half full (or empty). But I agree there were not 43k buts in seats.

[Go_UL]

If the dome seats 70k I think it's safe to say it was half full (or empty). But I agree there were not 43k buts in seats.

Correct there were 42781:-) in attendance.

[RaginFan2]

If the dome seats 70k I think it's safe to say it was half full (or empty). But I agree there were not 43k buts in seats.

There may or may not have been 43K in actual attendance at the NO Bowl. But if it wasn't, it was reasonably close. 41K tickets sold vs. 5K (or whatever it might have been) is far different. I'm not sure the best course of action because I think BOTH statistics are useful. In fact, that's what I'd like to see: Attendance: XX,XXX - tickets sold (XX,XXX - actual).

[Doc Inside]

To put everything into perspective, the 1995 Independence Bowl LSU vs. Michigan State, attendance was 48,500. That was after a long bowl drought for the Tigers and most Louisianians were extremely excited to attend. I'm sure Michigan State brought a few thousand but when you get right down to it, the Cajuns held there own this past weekend! THE SLEEPING GIANT HAS WOKEN UP!

That was at or even slightly above capacity at the time. The I Bowl has been expanded since then.

[VObserver]

I was there I can assure you that there were 43K in the Dome. The bottom 3 levels were 95% full and there were probably 5K in the upper levels

[UL_Cajuns]

If the Indy Bowl had over 40000 then we sold out the Superdome. LOL!

[Bandwagon King]

If we're going by actual attendance, I doubt the New Orleans Bowl had more than 30K. Still a significant advantage over other bowls, but not quite as impressive as 43K.

The bowl had to have at least 40k in hard attendance figures or else they would have never opened the terrace level of the dome.

[CajunRed]

If we're going by actual attendance, I doubt the New Orleans Bowl had more than 30K. Still a significant advantage over other bowls, but not quite as impressive as 43K.

I beg to differ. Attendance of 30,000 would mean that the Dome was 40% full. In fact, that night it appeared to be about 60% full, which is about what 43,000 out of a 72,000 seat facility would be. And as someone else mentioned, the Dome charges extra to open the 3rd level. It was not opened until it was necessary to accommodate the crowd.

[Boomer]

VOB, Kyle,and RED----thanks for your comments---I agree totally and just wondering what the 30K people are thinking or seeing!!!!

[Bandwagon King]

VOB, Kyle,and RED----thanks for your comments---I agree totally and just wondering what the 30K people are thinking or seeing!!!!

I've been looking for the exact numbers on the capacity of the dome as per each individual bowl. I wasn't able to obtain that info but did an estimation of the plaza level @ 24,150 seats & the club level of 11,730 seats minimum. So if there were around 5000-6000 in the terrace level, which would have to be the number to be financially feasible to open it up, this would put the number in the 41,380 range. What was the official number again?

[Boomer]

We got beat tonight by the Detroit Bowl----Far from a packed house ---but said that it was 46K plus---hope to see some photos that would substantiate that!!! Purdue vs Western Michigan!!!!

[CajunDawgPound]

1 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl 46,177
2 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 42,841
3 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl 41,728
4 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas 35,720
5 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl 32,630 32,630
6 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 28,076
7 Gildan New Mexico Bowl 25,762
8 San Diego Poinsetta 24,607
9 Beef 'O' Bradys Bowl 20,072

[Bandwagon King]

We got beat tonight by the Detroit Bowl----Far from a packed house ---but said that it was 46K plus---hope to see some photos that would substantiate that!!! Purdue vs Western Michigan!!!!

A lot of people dressed like empty seats in the lower bowl.

[CajunDawgPound]

looked like a bunch, so the 46 may be accurate

[BabbForHeisman]

I've been looking for the exact numbers on the capacity of the dome as per each individual bowl. I wasn't able to obtain that info but did an estimation of the plaza level @ 24,150 seats & the club level of 11,730 seats minimum. So if there were around 5000-6000 in the terrace level, which would have to be the number to be financially feasible to open it up, this would put the number in the 41,380 range. What was the official number again?

So based on your numbers, the bottom two levels had a capacity of a out 36K. Of that, I'd say about 28-29K was full (remember that the SDSU side was pretty sparse). The variable is that I could not see the terrace level on the Cajuns side. Based on what I could see on the other side, I would assume there were no more than 2K total in the terrace level. That puts us right around 30K or slightly above.

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, I'm just saying that there were not 43K butts in the seats that day. But the fact remains that our actual attendance figures would blow away every other bowl (30K vs 5K). So it's a win-win.