State finals attendance down again

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

2016:
13,690 (St Xavier 27, St Ignatius 20 [2OT])
6,750 (LaSalle 14, Perry 7)
7,396 (Hoban 30, Trotwood 0)
8,646 (Bishop Hartley 24, Steubenville 21)
5,954 (Canton Central Catholic 16, Coldwater 13)
6,270 (Marion Local 21, Cuyahoga Hts 17)
6,725 (Warren JFK 24, Minster 6)
55,431 - Total


2015:
11,036 (St Edward 45, Wayne 35)
11,168 (LaSalle 42, Perry 0)
7,553 (Hoban 33, TCC 20)
10,141 (Bishop Hartley 31, Steubenville 28)
7,200 (Coldwater 35, Canton Central Catholic 18)
7,034 (Kirtland 22, Marion Local 20)
7,957 (Fort Recovery 33, Mogadore 14)
62,089 - Total

(Thank you Yappi)

Minus 6,658(From last season)

I say they will be close to the same next year, when in Canton.
The 2nd year, when in Canton they will drop by close to the same as this season.

Ticket prices will be a big reason and of course most of the state won't want to make that long drive to the N.E.

[Game day]

I agree most of the state will not want to make the trip and the seating is bad.

[thebarlowbandit]

I agree most of the state will not want to make the trip and the seating is bad.

Seating is bad???? How do you know this? It's a brand new stadium.

[ArmChairQB]

Looks like you can blame the attendance drop on the D2 game.

[formerfcfan]

Looks like you can blame the attendance drop on the D2 game.

The Thursday night game (which this year, was D2), I believe, has been in the bottom two of attendance for every year since the inception of the seventh division.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

All-session ticket books for the seven state championship games in the club level, which are the chair-back seats on the west side of the stadium, are $105 each (good for all seven games) and also permit indoor access in the Huntington Club before, during and after each game. All-session general admission ticket books on the east and west sides of the stadium, which don't include indoor access, are $84 each. Single game tickets will go on sale in November and cost $10 at the state finalist schools, or at the gate before each game for $15 (club level) and $12 (reserved).

[93Bulldog]

Looks like you can blame the attendance drop on the D2 game.

The Thursday night game (which this year, was D2), I believe, has been in the bottom two of attendance for every year since the inception of the seventh division.

The Athens vs TCC game on thur night was one of the biggest that weekend.

[formerfcfan]

Looks like you can blame the attendance drop on the D2 game.

The Thursday night game (which this year, was D2), I believe, has been in the bottom two of attendance for every year since the inception of the seventh division.

The Athens vs TCC game on thur night was one of the biggest that weekend.

You're right. I forgot about Athens v TCC being on Thursday night.

The first Thursday night state final game, I believe, was Trotwood-Madison v Akron SVSM in 2013 which IIRC was poorly attended.

Athens v TCC was well-attended, but that can probably be attributed to the fact a) Athens had a lot of support from local fans of other schools during their playoff run, b) Athens County is close to Columbus.

Thursday night will probably continue to be the graveyard game for attendance. Some exceptions may apply, like Athens vs TCC, but like I mentioned it probably helped the Dogs had a good following of local fans and the fact they played an 1.25 hour drive up route 33 in Columbus (which is doable on a school night) as opposed to a haul up to Stark County.

[dazed&confused]

I've stayed out of this one but I'll say little reason for anyone in this geographic area to go to state title games. Not many SEO public schools will ever have much chance to go there and expect to bring home a trophy.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I THINK IT SHOULD STAY IN COLUMBUS WHERE IT BELONGS. THESE KIDS DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MANY FANS ATTEND.YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT WHEN THE GAME BEGINS ANYWAY.THEY ARE THRILLED JUST THAT THEY GET TO PLAY IN THE MECCA OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL. ATTENDANCE IS DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE TELEVISED PERIOD.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

it's centrally located for everybody too.

[ItsMyOpinion]

It should go back to Stark County where it belongs. Friendlier venues and the city/cities care about the playoffs. In Columbus the championships is just another event. It is not the event the entire city and area is talking about or preparing for.

The reason they are playing the games is for a State Championship. You will never convince me that a "State Championship" won in Stark County means anything less than a "State Championship" won in Columbus. In my opinion, (from a fans standpoint) Stark County is a better experience. I never played in a state championship game so I can't state my opinion from a player's standpoint.

[cbolt]

They can also visit the Hall Of Fame while up there,it's the birthplace of football really.I like that they move it around though.Shouldn't be in the same place all the time IMO.Cincinnati area should have chance too since they always have a long drive no matter where it is.Agree with Bait on one thing though,live television does cut down on attendance.

[Stan_Marsh]

Ohio Stadium, great venue, iconic venue, but in Ohio you have the opportunity to play the state finals where the game started, the state championships belong in Stark County.

[noreply66]

Should play as close as possible in the middle of the state. To equal out travel time.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

If the state finals belong in Canton/Mass explain the drop in attendance.
Even with the decline in Columbus, the number were better than they had been the last few years, that they were in Canton/Mass.

[Westfan]

Kids want to play in the Horseshoe. They don't care about Canton and Massillon. Where would you rather play if you made it and are a Buckeyes fan, which most of the state is? Its supposed to be about the kids anyways, not some 50 year old.

Also Columbus is centrally located, making it the most logical choice. West made the state finals 14 years ago and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium was a big letdown.

One change I would suggest is no 10 o'clock games. Bunch the games closer together and more people will go. To watch 3 games on Friday or Saturday you would be there 12 hours or so.

[Omega]

Just out curiosity, were the games televised and was the weather bad on championship weekend? These things can hurt the live gate.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Yes televised but the weather was not all that bad for this time of the year.

Attendance has steadily went down, while at the shoe.
The numbers however are still better than they were the last few years they were at Canton.Mass.

[noreply66]

Next thing TOSU needs is a Dome