A topic I posted about earlier this week is my feature story on NBC Sports Chicago today.
NBCSC: Where Are the Fans?
NBCSC: Where Are the Fans?
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Just my opinion...
Friday night games - Students are already at the school and the hype is going on throughout the day. The students go to the local hangout after school and/or their perspective practices and stay for the game that cost them nothing to enter.
Saturday games - Students are home in their comfy house and its too cold to go stand outside where they are charged $5.00 to enter. They just go to a friends house or anywhere else obviously and chill. Im sure there are other things going on too.
IHSA $5.00 student charges - Ok, so the student sections are empty(HF Student section was last week, and NC was less than half full). Your not getting those $$ anyway since nobody is there. Why not let the students in for free. You're not losing anything. just sayin
Yeah, that was my point.I think lack of general interest by students and other things going on is a far bigger issue that the $5. I was at the HC/LA game and neither had a student section. The $5 is not reason kids from Hinsdale and the north shore are missing the football game.
As mentioned there are a lot of reasons....other school activities draw some kids away and the $5 cost is a detriment. Local live streaming of games also certainly contributes to reduced attendance.
Bottom line is that current students are way more selfish and concerned about their own lives and comfort than any sort of school spirit. They are also front runners....if things are going poorly, the weather is bad, or they think the game will be a blowout, or their friend is having a party, etc they just won’t go. Cheering for their friends at a high school athletic events just aren’t a priority for students. This extends to the parents of non-players... they generally live in the same selfish world as their kids.
There are some exceptions and I’ve seen some great crowds and student sections when all of the stars align. Student sections with strong, organized leadership make a huge difference.
[QUOTE="BigJohn34, post: 145065, member: 17524"]Might not be a major reason but, Other sports have started -Basketball (girls and boys). Hockey, wrestling, etc... Plus a saturday away game, if your student doesn't drive or have friends that drive why would parents want to take their kids 45 min in the cold to watch a game they have no interest in.
Maybe the school should provide a bus to the games for students - free of charge. Or $5 and get some pizza on the way home.
None of the things you listed are new "distractions". All of these things have been going on for years and did not lead to low student turnout at football games. There is something else in play.
I think it is just a sign of the times. At a lower level, I noticelessfewer people at bars also.And the ones that are there don't have the ability to interact with one another and are chained to their phones.It is becoming like that Bruce Willis movie "Surrogates"