Once again the cats are better than the Griz

Eastcoastgriz · Post by **Eastcoastgriz** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 3:21 pm

Montana currently ranks first in I-AA football in average and total attendance. The Grizzlies rank ninth in accumulated capacity, filling Washington-Grizzly Stadium to 102.27 percent of listed capacity.

The Montana State Bobcats are filling Bobcat Stadium to 104.05 percent of capacity, which ranks seventh in I-AA. The Bobcats rank 14th in average attendance at 13,527 fans per game. Montana State is 15th in total attendance with 54,108 paying fans this season. Montana State still has two home games remaining this season, including the Montana-Montana State game on Nov. 19. Montana State is on pace to break school records for single-season total attendance and single-season average attendance. MSU drew 75,716 fans during its national championship season of 1984. In 1993, MSU averaged a record 12,617 fans.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:01 pm

We really needed a year like this year to accelerate the expansion project and improve recuiting of MT atheletes. As you have noted we still average about 10K less than the griz and no expansion is going to change that. We may narrow the gap but I am sure the griz are looking at expansion plans as we speak.

grizdoc · Post by **grizdoc** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:15 pm

Yes they are.....

http://www.kaimin.org/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=55

grizband · Post by **grizband** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:26 pm

My biggest fear about Wash-Griz is that they out build demand for seats. I would much rather have a packed house and have some people not be able to get tickets, that to have a lot of empty seats throughout the stadium.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:46 pm

grizband wrote:My biggest fear about Wash-Griz is that they out build demand for seats. I would much rather have a packed house and have some people not be able to get tickets, that to have a lot of empty seats throughout the stadium.

Sounds like they are being careful. By adding suites you increase revenue (significantly) without adding a lot of seats. That and the end zone project make the stadium nicer and increase revenue while only adding 1000 outdoor seats. Sounds like a good plan.

Shakermaker · Post by **Shakermaker** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 6:59 pm

gtapp wrote:
grizband wrote:My biggest fear about Wash-Griz is that they out build demand for seats. I would much rather have a packed house and have some people not be able to get tickets, that to have a lot of empty seats throughout the stadium.

Sounds like they are being careful. By adding suites you increase revenue (significantly) without adding a lot of seats. That and the end zone project make the stadium nicer and increase revenue while only adding 1000 outdoor seats. Sounds like a good plan.

I just hope they don't architecturally screw themselves in the sense that they build something that makes it hard to further expand.

I knew MSU was having a pretty good year in the attendance department, but I didn't realize they were doing that well. Imagine MSU with about 3-4,000 seats in five years. Two Montana schools could be in the top 5 attendances in the IAA. Not bad.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 8:25 pm

I'm sure our griz friends can confirm or deny-but as I recall it really hasn't been that long ago that Washington-Grizzly stadium held about what Bobcat Stadium does now. I went to the Cat-griz game in Missoula in 1994 I think it was (Dickenson was a junior) and the place sat about 12,500 or so with another 2 or 3 thousand sitting on the grass berms at either side of the stadium. It wasn't long after they expanded the capacity to something like 18K and so on (probably after the Dickenson national title).

My point is-it took them a few years to really get the ball rolling-starting with the hiring of Don Read and the construction of the stadium. But they steadily improved and the fan interest grew accordingly.

MSU football is at a critical point, but the maybe the snowball has started. We need to finish this season strong and then like the griz were fortunate enough to do after Dickenson-keep winning. If we lose this group of seniors-especially Lulay-and fall flat next season we'll have lost all our momentum-much the way we did in the 1985 debacle of a season.

But MSU needs to keep feeding on this success-keep making improvments to the stadium and don't do what they did with the old Sales Stadium-built it in 1974 and did not a thing to it for 20 years while our rivals passed us by!.

grizband · Post by **grizband** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:04 pm

BelgradeBobcat wrote:I'm sure our griz friends can confirm or deny-but as I recall it really hasn't been that long ago that Washington-Grizzly stadium held about what Bobcat Stadium does now. I went to the Cat-griz game in Missoula in 1994 I think it was (Dickenson was a junior) and the place sat about 12,500 or so with another 2 or 3 thousand sitting on the grass berms at either side of the stadium. It wasn't long after they expanded the capacity to something like 18K and so on (probably after the Dickenson national title).

My point is-it took them a few years to really get the ball rolling-starting with the hiring of Don Read and the construction of the stadium. But they steadily improved and the fan interest grew accordingly.

MSU football is at a critical point, but the maybe the snowball has started. We need to finish this season strong and then like the griz were fortunate enough to do after Dickenson-keep winning. If we lose this group of seniors-especially Lulay-and fall flat next season we'll have lost all our momentum-much the way we did in the 1985 debacle of a season.

But MSU needs to keep feeding on this success-keep making improvments to the stadium and don't do what they did with the old Sales Stadium-built it in 1974 and did not a thing to it for 20 years while our rivals passed us by!.

The stadium held 19K when I was there in 2000, then in 2003, it was upgraded to its current capactiy of 23K+. I think rather than adding alot of seats right now, they should add stadium lighting. After the playoff game last year, I am sold on lights. I didn't think it was possible to make that stadium much better, but man, that would be a way.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:18 pm

According to Pat Kearney's book the attendance at the 1994 game in Missoula was 15,640.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 10:12 pm

The one advantage we have in Bozeman is that we can do just about anything we want with the stadium as long as we can afford it. It is flat and there is plenty of space. In Missoula there are some limitations because of the stadium design and because it is partly below ground level. I am sure the griz can improve and expand what they have. You have to worry about the overall look. Some stadiums (like Texas A&M) look like an afterthought design. You don't want that.

Shakermaker · Post by **Shakermaker** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 10:36 pm

gtapp wrote:The one advantage we have in Bozeman is that we can do just about anything we want with the stadium as long as we can afford it. It is flat and there is plenty of space. In Missoula there are some limitations because of the stadium design and because it is partly below ground level. I am sure the griz can improve and expand what they have. You have to worry about the overall look. Some stadiums (like Texas A&M) look like an afterthought design. You don't want that.

I think we could easily add 7,000 more seats over the years without looking too odd. I think we can get almost 3000 on the south endzone alone. Let's face it, we're not going to have to worry about expanding to be the next Michigan.

Shakermaker · Post by **Shakermaker** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:31 am

BelgradeBobcat wrote:I'm sure our griz friends can confirm or deny-but as I recall it really hasn't been that long ago that Washington-Grizzly stadium held about what Bobcat Stadium does now. I went to the Cat-griz game in Missoula in 1994 I think it was (Dickenson was a junior) and the place sat about 12,500 or so with another 2 or 3 thousand sitting on the grass berms at either side of the stadium. It wasn't long after they expanded the capacity to something like 18K and so on (probably after the Dickenson national title).

My point is-it took them a few years to really get the ball rolling-starting with the hiring of Don Read and the construction of the stadium. But they steadily improved and the fan interest grew accordingly.

MSU football is at a critical point, but the maybe the snowball has started. We need to finish this season strong and then like the griz were fortunate enough to do after Dickenson-keep winning. If we lose this group of seniors-especially Lulay-and fall flat next season we'll have lost all our momentum-much the way we did in the 1985 debacle of a season.

But MSU needs to keep feeding on this success-keep making improvments to the stadium and don't do what they did with the old Sales Stadium-built it in 1974 and did not a thing to it for 20 years while our rivals passed us by!.

My first year at U of M was in 95 (first year of expansion I believe... completed) and they were getting 18k to 19k+(on big games), but I believe they averaged near 18k. Correct me if I'm wrong fellow Griz.