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Topic: Peden Stadium record crowd

Topic: Peden Stadium record crowd

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BobcatJH
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Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/8/2012 11:07:27 PM

Tonight's attendance: 25, 893 ... from the looks of the record book, this is now our first-place game, attendance-wise, by more than 1,000 people.

Alan Swank
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/8/2012 11:23:43 PM

Was there for the Pitt game and was there tonight. Pitt crowd was bigger. Everything this guy reports as well as Arkley is the biggest ever. Regardless, great crowd that stayed around until well into the third quarter. Get a win at Marshall next week and the Parents Weekend game could very well be the biggest ever.

Last Edited: 9/8/2012 11:24:18 PM by Alan Swank

Gallia Cat
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/8/2012 11:44:49 PM

It was a great crowd! The sections on the Tower side were truly packed in as tight as I have ever seen. I was not at the Pitt game however. It was great to see student section not empty out after halftime. Looking forward to trip to Huntington next week.

bobcat72
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 12:14:45 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

No way. This crowd was significantly bigger than Pitt. The hill for this game was the most packed I've ever seen. There were - literally - NO empty seats tonight. Hundreds of fans and students were actually turned away. To my knowledge, no one was turned away for the Pitt game.

Take a look at the shot of the Pitt game (I have one framed) and there's visible empty seats in the corners. Those areas were packed tonight.

We witnessed true history tonight! Still can't get over what an amazing atmosphere and feeling it was.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 12:15:43 AM

I always got the feeling that they didn't get an accurate count for Pitt and just started windmilling students in like a third base coach at some point. The hill was shoulder to shoulder packed for that. People sat on the concrete ledges. There were way more than 24K packed in that stadium that night.

I wasn't there tonight to be able to tell about tonight.

Last Edited: 9/9/2012 12:16:48 AM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

shabamon
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 12:22:33 AM

Record crowd might have been bolstered by all of the high school bands, but as I remember, the UConn game was band night as well. The hill was the most packed and active I've seen since Pitt.

The student side was a zoo, and not all in a good way. I started the game over there with a few others, and people were doubling up with some standing on the concrete stands and others standing on the bleachers in front and behind. I think there were lots of people unwilling to spill into the hill. I witnessed a funny exchange in the row in front of me; some girls were saving seats for friends when another group of girls insisted they sit in the saved seats, saying "We'll stay here until they show up", only to have the friends right behind them to chime in with "Here we are!"

Yeah, it was packed over there. I love the numbers and the energy, and I hope it continues, but it might need to be policed better. My group went to the pressbox side shortly into the third quarter.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 12:26:21 AM

I'm always amazed that people hate the hill. I sit there on purpose every game I go. Growing up playing Madden has made me prefer that angle, I guess.

bobcat72
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 12:32:55 AM

shabamon wrote:

Record crowd might have been bolstered by all of the high school bands, but as I remember, the UConn game was band night as well. The hill was the most packed and active I've seen since Pitt.

UConn was band day, I believe. Also had $5 tickets....the whole thing was made out as one big gimmick to beat the Pitt game attendance.

This was completely the opposite. There was not a big-time opponent or cheap ticket. We honest-to-goodness sold out a football game...from the Tower Club to the Family Pack and everywhere in between. There was actual energy at the stadium - and students that seemed to be genuinely into it. As a long-time fan/alumni, this was hands-down the best home football atmosphere I've seen. It's not even close.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 1:16:34 AM

I think you're probably correct.

perimeterpost
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 2:34:21 AM

that's good to hear because the energy and excitement was not captured by the ESPN crew. at all.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

catfan28
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 9:40:01 AM

perimeterpost wrote:

that's good to hear because the energy and excitement was not captured by the ESPN crew. at all.

Watched some of the replay on ESPN3.com this morning and completely agree. What a terribly announced/produced game. I think ESPN is stretching itself a bit thin when they have 40+ games online any given Saturday. Great to get the coverage, but you're starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel with the talent. I think OUr hard-working student could have done a much better job!

In regards to the crowd, last night was unbelievable. Definitely topped both the Pitt and UCONN crowds in my mind. Never seen the "corners" or hill packed that much in my 20+ years of attending games. I talked with some of the staff after the game and we were indeed turning both fans and students away. I believe that's a first, for the modern era at least.

GoCats105
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/9/2012 3:54:04 PM

Can someone post a pic of the crowd last night? Much appreciated.

bobcat2nc
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd.. turns into $ for bobcat challenge

Posted: 9/9/2012 4:09:35 PM

BobcatJH wrote:

Tonight's attendance: 25, 893 ... from the looks of the record book, this is now our first-place game, attendance-wise, by more than 1,000 people.

My Bobcat Challenge pledge of 1 cent for each person in attendance at this year's largest attendance game means a donation of $258.93. Here's hoping for an even larger crowd yet to come.

Bert Presley
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd.. turns into $ for bobcat challenge

Posted: 9/9/2012 4:14:27 PM

I was at both games, Pitt and New Mexico State, this had a different feel. Pitt was a crazed mob. This crowd wanted to watch a blowout, which is a great day for Bobcat fans. Against Pitt it was louder, but there was more people for this, and the reason why is the students. The wings were actually being populated by students because the hill and the Ozone was overflowing, some folks in the family pack section actually complained because students were in their seats, I looked to my better half and said "it's Ohio we just sit where we can grab a seat".

I am and forever will be the Wizard of OU.

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OHIO BOBCATS 2011,2012 MAC EAST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
2012 Independence Bowl Champions
2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Champions
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2012 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (Mens Basketball)

Stand_Up_And_Cheer
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd.. turns into $ for bobcat challenge

Posted: 9/9/2012 4:50:36 PM

Here's a shot of Victory Hill

MonroeClassmate
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd.. turns into $ for bobcat challenge

Posted: 9/9/2012 5:22:56 PM

My daughter and I entered at 70 minutes on the clock. We receive 2 tickets compliments of my other daughter's 110 association. We stood near the entrance to watch the band enter and take pictures as they assemble for the march on to Stand Up and Cheer. Then we watch the pre-game before before typically making our way over to the section to the south of the 110.

Early on the student section was filling up and I kept checking across the field to see where we'd sit because where we normally sit was jammed with the high school bandies. So I considered the highest section of concrete Peden to the NE and in a few minutes the openings I had seen completely filled. Then I redirected to the farthest north "family" section and at first it had room and then poof, right at about kick-off it was full. So I decided to remain on the visitor side down low on the 10 yard line and while we weren't packed in, it was crowded. The student section looked impressive through the glasses, actively cheering, getting into the game--super first game experience for the freshman--and all those high school band students.

I've heard tell that Ohio graduations are unique in that Ohio is one of few schools that still has live music. I've heard tell that Ohio's homecoming parade is unique and that few towns can match the Athens parade for number of participants, spectators and excitement. I wonder if Band Day rates as unique and can be matched for its color? Seeing 1,200 potential recruits in various color schemes with many of the bands directed by former 110 members is a real sight to see and one that is needed to be seen to believed.

Hats-off to the New Mexico State players and coaches for not being hard asses and being understanding when their opportunities to easily enter the field and warm-up before the coin toss and after the half time show was somewhat restricted because of all the stragglers on the field.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd.. turns into $ for bobcat challenge

Posted: 9/9/2012 5:35:21 PM

What do we learn? If you do not have your tickets for upcoming games, you might want to get them now.

It is socially appropriate (all parties: bama, mittie, paul, etc) to call Ticket Office and purchase season tickets for the rest of the year to assure that (line, walk) 'you were there when it happened.'

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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TWT
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 1:43:48 AM

shabamon wrote:

If I'm a student and I can't find a seat in the stadium the last time I was there at the game I don't know if I'm coming back. Having to sit on a grass mound a few hours after it rained is not my idea of a comfortable game viewing experience. That mound is not utilized correctly. It is supposed to be a place to spread out and lounge around so the stadium appeals more to families. It was never designed to be supplemental seating to pack fans in like sardines. I can understand having to put Victory Hill in sardine mode when the athletic department was overwhelmed with the turnout for the Pitt game. Normally before that the stadium way under capacity. Ever since Schaus became AD the early season night games have been close to packed every year playing against FCS competition. It is clear that Ohio is ready now for that upper deck and the 4,000+ seats that come with it. Reduce the student section in the lower stands and force the student overflow into the upper deck. If students had seats in the upper deck with great line of sight they would stay into the 4th having so much fun sitting in the sky. The school is losing out by turning people away. When that mound was first put in the school up to that point never had more than 1-2 crowds at 23,000 or above before and it made sense at the time to not go any bigger. Almost all of the growth in attendance is from more students attending and the student side is where it makes more sense to increase. I'm not seeing anything on the deck though in the 2013-18 construction cycle but this is needed right away along with improved concessions and bathrooms. Create a much larger student entrance from South Green Drive with more turnstiles to expedite student entry.

http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/construction-numbers

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

perimeterpost
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 2:05:21 AM

I stopped reading after the first sentence.

You think that a student wouldn't want to come back to a football game because it was too crowded or because they had to stand on victory hill instead of getting a seat (which they would be standing on)? That's the mind set of my grandma, not a 19 year old coed who wants to be at the cool place with all of her friends. The hottest clubs are the ones where bouncers turn people away, the best bbq joints are the ones that sell out everyday so you have to get there before they open and stand in line. The students that got turned away are just going to be more determined to get their earlier next time.

we win against Marshall and the student turnout for Norfolk St will be even bigger.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Ryan Carey
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 5:48:18 AM

....or it might just be time to do away with the band day. I'm sure the fans who wanted to the see the game and got turned away would probably be able to sit where the HS bands were. The home opener the past couple of years has been a great draw for the students, and I'd guess a good number of them are freshmen.

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

MonroeClassmate
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 7:54:30 AM

Ryan Carey wrote:

Getting rid of band day is a solution, but what are the consequences? How would that effect town/gown relations? Do you think the merchants of Athens enjoyed the annual infusion of 1,200 turned lose on the town several hours before kickoff? How do you replace the recruiting potential of this annual draw to campus? What if you had nasty weather and an alternative entertainment attraction going on in town, would it be certain that students would still be standing in line to attend? The Varsity Show in Columbus gets packed each year, mostly by these same high school bandies, might there be less enthusiasm to see the 110 if these young fans hadn't already gotten a dose of them earlier? Lots of positives by having the bands there.

Last Edited: 9/10/2012 7:59:09 AM by MonroeClassmate

GoCats105
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 7:58:07 AM

Thanks for posting that pic, no way that was more packed than Pitt in 2005. I can see grass.

Btw, I guess all that expansion talk in another thread wasn't so dumb after all, eh?

Ryan Carey
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 8:45:46 AM

I wasn't saying the band day was a bad thing...maybe just not the first week when we seem to get the largest student turnout.

Ryan M. Carey
BBA 2001

C Money
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 9:12:05 AM

I wasn't in Peden for the Pitt game, but I was there for UConn and on Saturday. Saturday's crowd felt bigger. The students were standing for just about the entire game, and the halftime mass exodus didn't happen. Good things.

bobcat695
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RE: Peden Stadium record crowd

Posted: 9/10/2012 9:16:48 AM

The Pitt game seemed more crowded to me. I cannot imagine how frustrating it was to stand in that student entry line waiting to get in. The stadium operations definitely needs to be addressed. Concessions and restrooms are a real black eye on our gameday experience for the casual fan. Thank goodness we have a strong product where it really counts, on the field.

We really should allow outside food vendors to set up under the corner stands like Kent does. Restroom upgrades will cost a lot of money, but concessions could be fixed a lot easier. I have grown weary of a sophomore from Trimple not being able to add the price of a box of popcorn and a bottle of water together without a calculator. Those line move slower than Wal Mart when a lady writes a check after her all groceries have been bagged.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

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