Despite the momentum of winning three consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since 2008, there was a reminder this week TCF Bank Stadium hasn’t been a cure-all for Gophers football attendance. The University of Minnesota athletic department has been airing radio commercials titled “Bring the Heat” to entice Minnesotans to buy tickets for tomorrow’s outdoor football game when the 7-2 Gophers play 5-3 Penn State in a November Big Ten game.
If enough ticket buyers respond and decide to watch the “hot” Gophers on a chilly day (temps predicted in the low 40s at kickoff) the athletic department will have its second sell out of the season. The Gophers have played five home games so far this season, including a historic upset of Nebraska, but sold out only the Iowa game when record TCF Bank Stadium attendance of 51,382 was announced. As of yesterday morning, an athletic department spokesman said 47,000 tickets had “been distributed” for Saturday’s game.
The $288.5 million TCF Bank Stadium, with official capacity of 50,805, opened in 2009 and that season every game sold out. The season averages since have been 49,513, 47,714 and 46,637. This year the average is 46,673, with home games yet to be played tomorrow and November 16 against Wisconsin.
In the last four seasons in the Metrodome the Gophers averaged 50,494 fans. The four-year average from 2009-2012 at the Bank is 48,667.
Winning and losing was comparable during the 2005-2008 and 2009-2012 periods. The final four years in the dome saw the Gophers win 10 conference games and lose 22. From 2009-2012 the league record was 9-23.
With a capacity of 64,172 at the dome, large crowds for some games (think ticket buying Iowans and Wisconsinites) did inflate season averages more than is possible at the Bank. But it’s hard to support the position that the new on-campus stadium created a ticket buying boom among consumers.
During the last two years the Gophers have sold out only two home games. Even when the weather is mild many of the best seats in the stadium are unoccupied. A University policy to guarantee 10,000 seats for students has been a flop, with less than half that many showing up for games and filling a portion of seats in the student section of the stadium.
When the weather turns cold — and in past years when losses are also piling up— luring fans to the Bank can be even a bigger problem than in September and October when temperatures are warm and there’s optimism about the team. The dome’s guarantee was that indoor temps were as steady in November as September and no one needed to use an umbrella or wear a parka while watching the game.
There was a vote of confidence for the dome in the first four years (1982-1985) that it was home to indoor Gophers football. Minnesota averaged 55,102 fans per game compared to the previous four seasons at outdoor Memorial Stadium when the average was 41,528.
Being back on campus with the opening of the Bank has its perks. The stadium is beautiful and the sightlines are outstanding. The environment, including a walk through campus to the stadium, provides a college experience the dome can’t offer. With the Gophers owning the facility, the team doesn’t have the scheduling problems faced at the dome when Twins playoff games created chaos. And the University captures revenues from various sources including parking and concessions.
Through the years the Gophers have learned there are trade-offs to indoor and outdoor football venues but where they play comes second to winning. That’s what really “Brings the Heat.”
Worth Noting
This year the University has designated a football tailgating lot just for students. Nadine Babu, a passionate Gophers fan and social media expert whose successes include Gopherhole.com, said “probably a handful” of students used the lot at the last game on October 26. “I just remember a lot of people came up to me and made comments; asked if that was the student tailgate lot because they couldn’t believe it was so empty.”
Gophers senior associate athletic director Chris Werle said student attendance is an issue at other schools, not just Minnesota. “You need to change behavior like you do with any consumer marketing program. And we need to get kids in the habit of coming to games to see what it (is like), to enjoy it, to see what it brings them.”
Whether it’s the students or adults, Babu encourages the athletic department to continue working on gameday atmosphere. “Create a real experience, a gameday experience like they do in Green Bay (for Packers games). Like they do down South for games, so even when the teams are losing, people are still loving that experience. They’re loving the tailgate, they’re loving the camaraderie, they’re loving seeing people. They’re going to enjoy going to the games regardless of the win or loss.”
This year the Gophers’ season ticket total is 33,361 including 4,908 student season tickets, according to Werle.
The Gophers’ offense struggled early in the season but in the last two games has scored 76 points with 1,003 yards in total offense. “We’re still not even close to where we can be,” coach Jerry Kill said.
Kill described redshirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams from Waconia as an “unbelievable player for his age.” Williams, 19, caught the winning pass in last Saturday’s 42-39 victory over Indiana.
Dieter Kurtenbach, writing for the October 31 Sun-Sentinel.com, speculated on candidates for the Florida Atlantic head football coaching job and included Tim Brewster with this comment: “This is a wildcard selection but Brewster established a better-than-expected program at Minnesota before getting the boot.”
Quarterback Christian Ponder played one of his better games last night in helping the Vikings defeat the Redskins and win their second game of the season. All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson noticed Ponder’s confidence.
“Yeah, he looked more calm. He looked comfortable. He just went out there and played football. The way he came out and approached it allowed us to be balanced offensively. He was able to complete a lot of balls to a lot of different receivers and it kept Washington’s defense on their heels. He was able to sneak a run in there and be more balanced offensively…and we were able to move the ball.”
Cris Carter was honored by the Vikings last night during halftime for his 2013 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His son, wide receiver Duron Carter, had a tryout this year with the Vikings but didn’t make the team and is playing in the CFL for Montreal averaging 18.6 yards per catch. He has 909 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Bethel (8-0 overall, 6-0 MIAC) can earn at least a share of the conference football title with a win tomorrow over St. Olaf (1-7, 0-6). If the Royals stay unbeaten and St. Thomas (6-2, 4-2) defeats Concordia (7-1, 5-1) tomorrow, Bethel will clinch the outright MIAC championship. Bethel last won the league title in 2007 and is seeking its fifth conference championship.
When the Gophers hockey team plays at Notre Dame tonight it won’t be the first time this fall Minnesota coach Don Lucia has seen his son Mario play for the Fighting Irish. The older Lucia’s schedule has allowed him to watch Mario’s games at Minnesota-Duluth and Vermont.
Lucia has two goals and one assist in eight games. He was friends in suburban Minneapolis youth hockey with Gophers Mike Reilly and Justin Kloos. Lucia and Reilly helped the BCHL’s Penticton Vees set a North American junior hockey record with a 42-game win streak in 2011-12 en route to RBC Cup and Doyle Cup championships.
Notre Dame, 6-2, is ranked No. 4 in the USCHO national poll while the 5-0-1 Gophers are No. 1. Boston College, who the Gophers played in an October two-game series, is probably the most talented team Minnesota has faced but the Irish will be a challenge, too. Notre Dame has 10 seniors on their roster.
The Lehigh basketball team that plays the Gophers tonight at Williams Arena in Minnesota’s opening regular season game could be a contender in the Patriot League despite losing shooting guard C.J. McCollum who went No.10 in last June’s NBA draft. The 7 p.m. game will be televised by ESPN3.
