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Printer-Friendly ModeNight games will result in increased attendance
submitted by Jeff Romback
February 26, 2007 —
The idea of having a night football game should be very appealing to Gilbertson, Awrey, and Watson. The biggest advantage of it would be the crowd, not the team's "pass-first offense." I use quotes because in the one game I made it to this year (I am now a law student living in Clarkston) the "pass first" offense made little difference in an embarrassing Homecoming loss to Northwood.
As for the idea that only 4 percent of the student body would show up, I agree. What Andy forgets is that since those four percent come to the games, why shoudn't they get a chance to see a game at night? Plus, a night game would pack the stands, especially for games against Northwood or Grand Valley.
Second, what about the alumni that live all over the state? Getting to Saginaw for a noon game can be taxing for anybody that wants to sleep in on a weekend and watch their alma mater.
I take law classes at Oakland University. This is a school that is dedicated to its students, both academically and athletically. The Recreation Center is amazing and is not out of commission every
time a team practices. They have a Division I basketball program, a championship hockey team, and swim and dive teams that win championships, and they are proud to be Grizzlies.
My point: catering towards students helps athletics. Would a potential recruit want to see that their prospective team plays in front of hundreds, rather than thousands of students?
Give the students what they want - a night game - and they will give what the athletic programs want: attendance.
Jeff Romback
SVSU Alumnus