Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A nonconference schedule rated the weakest among all Division I-A programs was not enough to prevent Kansas from breaking their single season attendance record in nonconference games. The Jayhawks attracted about 45,200 fans per game to their four nonconference contests.
The number is about 2,000 more fans per game than the second highest season — in 2006 the team averaged 43,000.
Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said the Athletics Department, in tracking ticket sales over the winter, had been expecting the record.
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“As we get better, we will become a much better traveling fan base,” Marchiony said. “I definitely think that our fans really made themselves heard. I had no doubt that the team noticed that as well. That means a lot when you are on the road.”
-Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony
“I think it shows, going against mediocre opponents and coming off a non-bowl season, that people really understand this football team has a chance to be special,” Marchiony said.
Tricia West, Kansas City, Mo., senior and KU Color Guard member, said she had noticed a more packed stadium this year but that she hadn’t sensed the same excitement amongst the crowd. She blamed the lethargy on a “weak schedule.”
“It’s kind of hard to tell because the games haven’t been close,” West said.
The two Mid-American Conference games attracted the most fans, with an announced attendance of 46,815 in the opener against Central Michigan, last year’s MAC champion, and 48,112 against Toledo.
Announced attendance is based on the number of tickets sold, not the number of people in the stadium.
The nonconference slate featured four blowouts and a stadium that was rapidly thinning after the halftime of each game. Marchiony said he didn’t think this reflected poorly on the fans.
“We wish they would stay until the end, but we understand all the factors that go into that decision,” Marchiony said. “In a close contest, I don’t think those people would leave.”
West, who must stay for the duration of the game, said students leave early because “people just want to go drinking.” She expected more body painters and a full stadium in the fourth quarter during conference play.
With Big 12 bottom feeders Baylor and Iowa State making the trek to Lawrence this year, the Nebraska game might offer local fans the only opportunity to see a tight game. The fourth scheduled home conference game against Missouri was moved to Arrowhead Stadium the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Marchiony said the attendance record, along with the team’s current 5-0 mark and No. 20 National Ranking would help conference attendance.
The Jayhawks conference attendance mark was set in 2005, with an average of 45,382 per game. That year, the team played three true home games, against Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa State, with the fourth, Oklahoma, being played at Arrowhead. The Oklahoma game was not figured into home attendance figures.
Marchiony said this year’s Nebraska game would sell out, and the administration hoped for “good weather” during the other two games. Capacity at Memorial Stadium is 51,000.
Kansas was forced to return 275 allotted tickets to Kansas State for last weekend’s game after the team couldn’t sell the 3,800 they were given. Still, Marchiony said that was the fewest number ever returned.
“As we get better, we will become a much better traveling fan base,” Marchiony said. “I definitely think that our fans really made themselves heard. I had no doubt that the team noticed that as well. That means a lot when you are on the road.”
West said it was important for traveling Kansas fans to be heard because of the importance of the game.
“I think we were just as loud as the whole K-State stadium,” West said.
— Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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