The college football world experienced an odd and somewhat humiliating moment on Monday when a bowl game attracted an unusually sparse crowd. The game played at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, was between Fresno State and Northern Illinois-two teams known for their strong fan support. But the empty seats at the stadium quickly became a talking point as people raised questions about the attendance issues in modern college football.
What Happened at the Bowl Game?
Although much-hyped, the game did not pull in enough viewers. Viewers of the match on television pointed out open seats and empty sections. Social media was quick to respond and criticize the lack of people. Bowl games are often an occasion of celebration for both the teams competing and their fans. The game exposed an emerging issue for the lesser or mid-tier bowls.
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is known for its quaintness and theme, and this year’s event often boasted modest yet respectable attendance. This year was different, however, with commentators and analysts trying to find the reasons why.
Possible Causes of the Low Attendance
Team Matchup:
While Fresno State and Northern Illinois have dedicated fan bases, this game did not have enough marquee names or broader appeal to attract casual fans or neutral viewers. Many fans felt that this game did not create a buzz outside of alumni and die-hard fans.
Timing and Location:
It is scheduled for a Monday, so the timing is less than ideal for most fans, especially those traveling in from out of town.
Boise, Idaho is a great venue but neither school has it as the easiest or most accessible destination.
Holiday Season:
Given that the game occurs during the holiday season, fans may have preferred spending time with their families or traveling or had financial concerns that outweighed the value of attending the bowl game.
In conjunction with increased live-streaming and televised broadcasts, fans prefer watching from home instead of braving freezing weather or travel costs. Ease of access may have contributed to the lack of attendance at the physical event.
Wider Implications for College Football
The poor attendance at the bowl game brings out a challenge for college football: how to keep smaller bowl games relevant and interesting for fans. With the sport’s changing dynamics, issues such as changed viewer habits, financial concerns, and travel issues have begun to affect attendance at non-playoff bowl games.
Analysts suggest that perhaps the bowl games need to think differently, such as improving the fan experience, enhancing marketing efforts, or even considering alternative scheduling for bigger crowds. All of this further sidelines smaller bowls and adds to the attendance gap in playoff games and marquee matchups.
What’s Next for Bowl Games?
The case with this game, having low attendance, may still be used to give organizers and college football stakeholders a point of reassessment. Therefore, it might be in the best interests to re-engage the fans for regional and less publicized games as a means to sustain the bowl tradition and thrill.
