Attendance Issues

[Verb58]

I read recently that games aren’t generating the interest that used to be.  I would be interested in hearing theories of why that is.  I think there are lots of reasons for the decline but a few that stand out to me are the increase in number of schools, the increase in private schools, the transfers and the fear of scheduling tough non-region opponents.  I’m curious as to what the attendance is at  a private game between a powerhouse and a cupcake.  The days of the star players playing at the hometown schools have been diluted by the transfers and recruiting at both public’s and private’s.  I myself remember the playoff game in 91’ with Gallatin and MBA and how packed that place was.  The semi-final that same year had a packed house between Gallatin and Stratford.  Am I on to something with what I see as the reason for the declines or am I missing something altogether?  

Edited June 8, 2019 by wave88

[BarneySox2007]

47 minutes ago, wave88 said:

I read recently that games aren’t generating the interest that used to be.  I would be interested in hearing theories of why that is.  I think there are lots of reasons for the decline but a few that stand out to me are the increase in number of schools, the increase in private schools, the transfers and the fear of scheduling tough non-region opponents.  I’m curious as to what the attendance is at  a private game between a powerhouse and a cupcake.  The days of the star players playing at the hometown schools have been diluted by the transfers and recruiting at both public’s and private’s.  I myself remember the playoff game in 91’ with Gallatin and MBA and how packed that place was.  The semi-final that same year had a packed house between Gallatin and Stratford.  Am I on to something with what I see as the reason for the declines or am I missing something altogether?  

Well pull up a seat and let me tell you some of the reasons from someone's eyes that has been around a long time now.  Back in my playing days there were more rivalries than today but a lot of that got swallowed up by schools consolidating and the watered down 6A format from the original 3A. Other reasons are long distance away trips for games that are meaningless and very predictable not to mention the mercy rule which was put into place simply because classification does not work or we wouldn't see the run away games that are happening within district competition. After the third week of the season the rest of the year can easily be figured out by most fans who choose to do something else on Friday Nights from that point on. Another reason that differs from my time and today is the fall vacation thing can effect attendance a week or two when fans go out of town. With the games being carried by the internet has caused me to stay home a few weeks a year with many as half a dozen windows open jumping from game to game. College Football has started trying to steal some of the Friday Night High School crowds also. Biggest threat is the T$$AA and having 6 classes which is an absolute joke but their not about to let go of the money their making to change back even though their actually killing the game. We all know that 95% of the first two playoff games are a total joke and if bad weather happens the schools take a financial bath. Now if the T$$AA were partners in the gate for those first two games and shared the loses the schools suffer then we would get rid of this crap. Go back to 3 classes and forget this everybody has to win a trophy garbage before they kill the goose that laid golden eggs.

[GWAVE1]

2 minutes ago, BarneySox2007 said:

Well pull up a seat and let me tell you some of the reasons from someone's eyes that has been around a long time now.  Back in my playing days there were more rivalries than today but a lot of that got swallowed up by schools consolidating and the watered down 6A format from the original 3A. Other reasons are long distance away trips for games that are meaningless and very predictable not to mention the mercy rule which was put into place simply because classification does not work or we wouldn't see the run away games that are happening within district competition. After the third week of the season the rest of the year can easily be figured out by most fans who choose to do something else on Friday Nights from that point on. Another reason that differs from my time and today is the fall vacation thing can effect attendance a week or two when fans go out of town. With the games being carried by the internet has caused me to stay home a few weeks a year with many as half a dozen windows open jumping from game to game. College Football has started trying to steal some of the Friday Night High School crowds also. Biggest threat is the T$$AA and having 6 classes which is an absolute joke but their not about to let go of the money their making to change back even though their actually killing the game. We all know that 95% of the first two playoff games are a total joke and if bad weather happens the schools take a financial bath. Now if the T$$AA were partners in the gate for those first two games and shared the loses the schools suffer then we would get rid of this crap. Go back to 3 classes and forget this everybody has to win a trophy garbage before they kill the goose that laid golden eggs.

TSSAA made $855000 from the football playoffs last year (16.4% of total revenue).  Conversely Basketball generated 17.5% of total revenue in the playoffs.  By contrast the next biggest revenue for the TSSAA was sponsorships another 17.5%.   Last year the TSSAA lost $413000.  

[Verb58]

5 minutes ago, BarneySox2007 said:

Well pull up a seat and let me tell you some of the reasons from someone's eyes that has been around a long time now.  Back in my playing days there were more rivalries than today but a lot of that got swallowed up by schools consolidating and the watered down 6A format from the original 3A. Other reasons are long distance away trips for games that are meaningless and very predictable not to mention the mercy rule which was put into place simply because classification does not work or we wouldn't see the run away games that are happening within district competition. After the third week of the season the rest of the year can easily be figured out by most fans who choose to do something else on Friday Nights from that point on. Another reason that differs from my time and today is the fall vacation thing can effect attendance a week or two when fans go out of town. With the games being carried by the internet has caused me to stay home a few weeks a year with many as half a dozen windows open jumping from game to game. College Football has started trying to steal some of the Friday Night High School crowds also. Biggest threat is the T$$AA and having 6 classes which is an absolute joke but their not about to let go of the money their making to change back even though their actually killing the game. We all know that 95% of the first two playoff games are a total joke and if bad weather happens the schools take a financial bath. Now if the T$$AA were partners in the gate for those first two games and shared the loses the schools suffer then we would get rid of this crap. Go back to 3 classes and forget this everybody has to win a trophy garbage before they kill the goose that laid golden eggs.

I agree that we have a watered down product over years gone by.  I don’t think we will ever see 3 public classes again. I would be interested to see how competitive a 4 class would be.  

[BarneySox2007]

All this watering down caused a handful of schools to dominate certain classes because enrollment is not the clear overall solution. Same ole thing like clockwork every year and people are sick of it and quit going.

[cbg]

53 minutes ago, GWAVE1 said:

TSSAA made $855000 from the football playoffs last year (16.4% of total revenue).  Conversely Basketball generated 17.5% of total revenue in the playoffs.  By contrast the next biggest revenue for the TSSAA was sponsorships another 17.5%.   Last year the TSSAA lost $413000.  

If the TSSAA truly lost $413,000.00 last year they you may has well call ALIVE HOSPICE because they are on life support.

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

4 hours ago, GWAVE1 said:

TSSAA made $855000 from the football playoffs last year (16.4% of total revenue).  Conversely Basketball generated 17.5% of total revenue in the playoffs.  By contrast the next biggest revenue for the TSSAA was sponsorships another 17.5%.   Last year the TSSAA lost $413000.  

This is misleading and the TSSAA puts it out there as such. They did not lose $413000. They generated $413000 less profit then the previous year. I have no sympathy for them. They are making bad decisions and still pulling in serious bank. 

[GREYRIDERx]

High School football is still the purest form of the sport. Although there is the shadow of contamination of collegiate type recruiting etc which will destroy it eventually. Agent dads , agent moms , all these ex athletes  bilking agent dad for private sessions etc. Yes imo the TSSAA should go back to 4 classes. Some teams dominate because they are great teams and some teams dominate because their competitors are weak or have fewer numbers etc. And some admins  choose to remain in classes where they are safe and competition is low.

[GWAVE1]

1 hour ago, BIGPURPLEMACHINE said:

This is misleading and the TSSAA puts it out there as such. They did not lose $413000. They generated $413000 less profit then the previous year. I have no sympathy for them. They are making bad decisions and still pulling in serious bank. 

Check the TSSAA financial report from the state of Tennessee for 2018.  It got sent to me by a state auditor.  

[BIGPURPLEMACHINE]

32 minutes ago, GWAVE1 said:

Check the TSSAA financial report from the state of Tennessee for 2018.  It got sent to me by a state auditor.  

I’ll take your word for it. 

[BarneySox2007]

Greed kills everything that is good and if the T$$AA has a $413,000 loss in business from one year to the next someone needs to make some changes because their business model isn't working.

[bounder]

The fans are getting older and there isn't as much interest among the younger folks. Now if it rains or is cold the season ticket holders stay home. The students don't seem to care like we did when I was in school. I never missed a game unless I had to work, then I went just to catch the 4th quarter. Now there are a bunch of year round sports drawing off players and fans. It may cost more now but I don't think TSSAA is the main cause. There's a whole new mind set among the fans now. Parents of players don't come to the games.