UNHFan
December 6th, 2008, 07:36 AM
This is the third article where school officials at UNI are predicting lower attendance.
Any reason this game will have less then last year?
Now can we please not clog this thread with the overly sensitive responses I am attaching an article that quotes a UNI official "Dannen said a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 is expected for today's game."
Again trying to find out if their is a reason? Something going on at the same time? What? Let me know I WASNT THIS PLACE PACKED!!!
Could very well be they are just talking low numbers to look good when it sells out? UNI Fans get that place sold out will ya!!!
While Northern Iowa surged to eight straight wins and a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the school's athletic director, Troy Dannen, and other officials were busy crunching numbers.
At issue: How much could they afford to bid for home playoff games?
Dannen, in his first year at the post, decided along with other officials to raise the bar in the bidding process, which must be complete with three weeks remaining in the regular season and postseason possibilities still in flux.
The Panthers (10-2) play host to Maine (8-4) in today's 4:05 p.m. first-round playoff game at the UNI-Dome.
"The message has been loud and clear from the NCAA that financial considerations are in the forefront of everybody's mind right now," Dannen said. "We wanted to make sure we did everything we were comfortable doing to ensure we had the potential for home field for any round of the playoffs."
Dannen said minimum bids to the NCAA for home playoff games are $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000 in ascending order from the first round to the semifinals, and Northern Iowa more than doubled those minimums in a quest to secure as many Dome games as possible.
"You don't know if you're going to be in (a seeded) situation or not," Dannen said. "Last year (when the Panthers were undefeated entering the playoffs), we could bid the minimums and know we were going to have those games here. This year, it wasn't a chance we were willing to take."
Northern Iowa is typically among the top bidders for postseason football home games when in the running for a berth.
But Dannen felt that trademark aggressiveness needed a spike and said increased revenue from higher regular-season ticket prices helped make larger-than-usual bids possible.
"This is the great challenge and maybe the great privilege of the job," Dannen said. "You fight to be in the position to make the playoffs, let alone host games. This is really what you work all season for as an administrator, to be able to help put your team in the best position to have success at the next level."
Dannen said a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 is expected for today's game.
Last season, the Panthers drew 16,015 fans to their 38-35 first-round win over New Hampshire at the Dome, but Dannen called that "an anomaly."
"We'd been building all season long, there had been a buzz we'd never had before," Dannen said of the 2007 first-round playoff crowd. "This year is almost textbook compared to other years where we've hosted a first round."
Dannen said Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley e-mailed students Friday offering them a free ticket to a possible quarterfinal home game if they return to Cedar Falls on the Thanksgiving weekend and spend $14 on a student ticket for today's game.
The message: Plenty of good seats remain, for students and casual, older fans interested in buying a game-day ticket for $26.
The promise: another thrilling game and, based on history, a win.
The Panthers have never lost a game at home that opened a playoff slate, compiling a 10-0 mark in such situations.
"Our only advantage is it's a home football game," Farley said.
Dannen won't lose sleep over the higher bids.
He said the department has already calculated it will reach or surpass the ticket sales threshold required to honor the amount of net revenue from today's game guaranteed the NCAA.
Dannen said the NCAA collects 85 percent of the net revenue from a playoff game. The host school keeps 15 percent.
"We do have to be very analytical as we go through the process," he said. "The fortunate thing for me is, we do have a staff that's been through this many times. And we have a long track record of knowing what we can expect from an attendance standpoint."
Any reason this game will have less then last year?
Now can we please not clog this thread with the overly sensitive responses I am attaching an article that quotes a UNI official "Dannen said a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 is expected for today's game."
Again trying to find out if their is a reason? Something going on at the same time? What? Let me know I WASNT THIS PLACE PACKED!!!
Could very well be they are just talking low numbers to look good when it sells out? UNI Fans get that place sold out will ya!!!
While Northern Iowa surged to eight straight wins and a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the school's athletic director, Troy Dannen, and other officials were busy crunching numbers.
At issue: How much could they afford to bid for home playoff games?
Dannen, in his first year at the post, decided along with other officials to raise the bar in the bidding process, which must be complete with three weeks remaining in the regular season and postseason possibilities still in flux.
The Panthers (10-2) play host to Maine (8-4) in today's 4:05 p.m. first-round playoff game at the UNI-Dome.
"The message has been loud and clear from the NCAA that financial considerations are in the forefront of everybody's mind right now," Dannen said. "We wanted to make sure we did everything we were comfortable doing to ensure we had the potential for home field for any round of the playoffs."
Dannen said minimum bids to the NCAA for home playoff games are $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000 in ascending order from the first round to the semifinals, and Northern Iowa more than doubled those minimums in a quest to secure as many Dome games as possible.
"You don't know if you're going to be in (a seeded) situation or not," Dannen said. "Last year (when the Panthers were undefeated entering the playoffs), we could bid the minimums and know we were going to have those games here. This year, it wasn't a chance we were willing to take."
Northern Iowa is typically among the top bidders for postseason football home games when in the running for a berth.
But Dannen felt that trademark aggressiveness needed a spike and said increased revenue from higher regular-season ticket prices helped make larger-than-usual bids possible.
"This is the great challenge and maybe the great privilege of the job," Dannen said. "You fight to be in the position to make the playoffs, let alone host games. This is really what you work all season for as an administrator, to be able to help put your team in the best position to have success at the next level."
Dannen said a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 is expected for today's game.
Last season, the Panthers drew 16,015 fans to their 38-35 first-round win over New Hampshire at the Dome, but Dannen called that "an anomaly."
"We'd been building all season long, there had been a buzz we'd never had before," Dannen said of the 2007 first-round playoff crowd. "This year is almost textbook compared to other years where we've hosted a first round."
Dannen said Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley e-mailed students Friday offering them a free ticket to a possible quarterfinal home game if they return to Cedar Falls on the Thanksgiving weekend and spend $14 on a student ticket for today's game.
The message: Plenty of good seats remain, for students and casual, older fans interested in buying a game-day ticket for $26.
The promise: another thrilling game and, based on history, a win.
The Panthers have never lost a game at home that opened a playoff slate, compiling a 10-0 mark in such situations.
"Our only advantage is it's a home football game," Farley said.
Dannen won't lose sleep over the higher bids.
He said the department has already calculated it will reach or surpass the ticket sales threshold required to honor the amount of net revenue from today's game guaranteed the NCAA.
Dannen said the NCAA collects 85 percent of the net revenue from a playoff game. The host school keeps 15 percent.
"We do have to be very analytical as we go through the process," he said. "The fortunate thing for me is, we do have a staff that's been through this many times. And we have a long track record of knowing what we can expect from an attendance standpoint."