Here are some interesting numbers...

[USFan]

USF's Growth Hasn't Included Attendance

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By BRETT MCMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Dec 7, 2006

TAMPA - In 2003, the University of South Florida football team made its debut in Conference USA. Even with a minuscule marketing budget, USF had an average actual attendance of 25,514 and sold nearly 16,000 season tickets.

Four seasons later, the Bulls just completed their second year in the Big East and are preparing for a second consecutive bowl. The school's marketing budget has increased by half a million dollars.

However, USF attendance numbers are nearly identical to four seasons ago.

So why hasn't USF's actual attendance mirrored the growth of the program or increased with a substantial larger marketing budget?

USF associate AD Tom Veit, who has been the marketing director since 2002, said there are "three" big factors attributed to the Bulls' fluctuating attendance numbers.

"The quality of the product, your schedule and the quality of the scheduling time," Veit said.

Since 2003, the Bulls' quality of product and schedule has improved. The "scheduling time" has hurt attendance because the Bulls have had to move several kickoffs to day starts because of TV and even moved some game dates because of hurricanes.

This season, USF's average actual attendance was 24,775 - about 800 a game fewer than in 2003. Season tickets in 2006 increased to 17,166, third-most in program history, but that included a program-high 3,143 "non-revenue" season tickets.

"Everyone gets so impatient and wants us to sell out the stadium tomorrow," Veit said. "We're very susceptible to outside factors."

This season, USF averaged 4,773 students a game, nearly 3,000 fewer than last season. Veit believes attendance numbers will rebound next year with a more attractive home schedule featuring UCF, Louisville and West Virginia.

"The best answer is we're seeing improvement," said Veit, who resigned his position last month to take a job with Action Sports Media starting in January. "We just have to keep pushing and continue to grow.

"We're still finding our place [in the market]. The program is growing stronger. We still have a long way to go to build our core fan base."

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGB1FW8LEVE.html

Student numbers are lower than last year?  How is that?  Was the student turnout for the UCF/WVU games last year a big factor?

And does anybody have an explanation for the 3,143 "non-revenue" season tickets?

[aly20xx]

wow...thts extremely low student turnout....around 10% of the student body

[E.T.]

Suprised by the student numbers also from what I have been hearing/reading  

[BDYZR]

From my seat the student section always looked pretty full.

I'm surprised at the number reported.

I guess if the Trib reported it, the facts must be true.

GO BULLS!

[HaulingBull Sucks]

From my seat the student section always looked pretty full.

I'm surprised at the number reported.

I guess if the Trib reported it, the facts must be true.

GO BULLS!

If those numbers are incorrect don't you think we should be hearing from Tom Veit,  USF Athletic Department or Greg Auman very soon?

[MikeG]

I know many people who just get tickets but then stand in the student section for the environment. That could explain some of the student numbers-- I just don't know. Lots of people socilize down on that end as well.

[MikeG]

From my seat the student section always looked pretty full.

I'm surprised at the number reported.

I guess if the Trib reported it, the facts must be true.

GO BULLS!

If those numbers are incorrect don't you think we should be hearing from Tom Veit,  USF Athletic Department or Greg Auman very soon?

THe numbers are correct -- USF released them

[sdgukhsdgl]

seriously, under 5,000 students a game?? that is pathetic

If the students won't even support the team when they can go for free, what makes you think outsiders are going to pay to watch the team?

[Guest]

And does anybody have an explanation for the 3,143 "non-revenue" season tickets?

3 of them are mine.  

I am not (YET!) a Bulls Club member -- meaning I bought my season tickets without making a donation to USF.  I plan on starting my donation to the Bulls Club starting in 2007 ... but I might keep or expand three seats in the "non-revenue" section.

[CPA81]

Wow!  You can have season tickets and not be a Bulls Club member?  That's an eye opener.  I thought you had to be a Bulls Club member (annual donation) to have season tickets to begin with.  I had always assumed the minimum annual donation was $100.  Where are your tickets, Jim?