That die hard number seems to be shrinking. A week or ago it was 20k and before that it was 25k.
I cheat a little. I give my son and his friends $200 cash for parking and tell him to spend it all. It won’t be hard.
1 Like
He is correct
1 Like
Paid attendance was 26,000. People stayed away due to the weather scare or the early start time?
UH should follow Rice’s lead and remove the upper deck on the North side. Spend some money on tarps to block the sun and improving the game day experience.
We know attendance can be good because Tom Herman was able to get fans to the games. Can’t have everything I guess…
6 Likes
Having 3k fewer tickets sold for a conference game than we had for Southern is crazy
7 Likes
The $7.13 deal was a start but didn’t look successful.
We didn’t drop the helmets until last night which seems… odd.
But I don’t see our AD or President out there trying. Where was the season ticket push? Where’s the student engagement? Do the people making 6-7 figures not care? Don’t notice?
7 Likes
When have we ever filled the stadium vs UCF?
Not at Robertson or at TDECU.
Then again it doesn’t matter the opponent these days.
1 Like
I was in the concourse entire first half. Went up to my seat 2nd half, hot AF.
1 Like
The pregame party plaza thing was hopping, I even saw Renu come through with her people. It was an 11am start game where rain was expected, against a opponent that historically we don’t get up for, we offered the $7.13 tickets because we knew this was going to be a hard game to draw for.
I projected the season back in May based upon our historic data, we are currently -2,318 which is not bad based upon the fact that we have had no Southern Band, 2 11am kicks and weather in the forecast for ALL 3 games. Stop acting like the sky is falling. If we get a night slot for the OSU game it will break 35k, if we win next week we will start pushing for a sell out and may start looking at a student attendance record… UCF was always going to be our worst game and nothing broke our way. HOUSTON will get up for a top 15 showdown… as long as it is at night, not too hot, and the weather is good.
| Date | Opponent | Projected 2026 Attendance | Actual 2026 Attendance | Stubhub | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Oregon State | 28,097 | 28,742 | +645 Good for 11am | |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Southern | 29,796 | 28,936 | -860 we break 30k w/the band | |
| Oct 3, 2026 | UCF | 27,696 | 25,593 | -2,103 Historically terrible, weather and time killed it | |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Oklahoma State | 35,906 | TBD | $73 | This could sellout if both ranked and primetime |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Cincinnati | 28,670 | TBD | $48 | Will be bad |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Baylor | 32,166 | TBD | $71 | Projected based upon firing coach, if they are decent will be a better turnout, they travel |
| 30,389 | Projected Season Average |
3 Likes
I posted this on another thread but merits repeating because I think it a problem relates to attendance;
4 Likes
Agree. Before my dad got older and couldn’t go at all I had tickets upstairs. He couldn’t go up the stairs so I bought two extra seats down low at higher prices just so he could watch a game or two a season. I finally upgraded and bought a lower corner. It’s a thing. Now he can’t go at all. But I stay vigilant and ensure my tickets get used
8 Likes
You know it’s funny. My son didn’t go to college but he loves UH games. He always comes back telling me how much fun he and his friends had. They come back with selfies they took with the other team’s mascot and Shasta. Telling me what this or that drunk person did. I never mention attendance to him. He couldn’t care less. Eddie just needs to hustle. Just find a way and once the game starts not worry about it. Start again the next week but don’t fret about. Just do the best you can and have fun.
7 Likes
Personally, I haven’t gone to a football game in a while because I save my money for men’s basketball. I’ve already scheduled days off from work in January and February. And with me not being a season ticket holder, I know I’m going to pay a premium price to attend Kansas, Iowa St. and others next year. Blame Coach Sampson for making me a basketball fan!
1 Like
People suggested if we lowered ticket prices, people would come.
Scratch that off the list of excuses.
6 Likes
Houstonians don’t often want cheap, they want an event to show up at.
6 Likes
I admit, I have been busy this weekend so did not read the whole thread. But… Cash for what? Nothing around the stadium takes cash, at least nothing in stadium or parking.
I send my son cash through apple pay. Not sure what he does after that. But if you don’t believe me I can PM my bank statement…if you haven’t worked in a call center
1 Like
Just my 2 cents. Went to 99% of UH games from 1995-Major Applewhite’s 2nd season.
Here’s what changed for me:
2 Kids and a wife who were not interested in the 8-10 hour commitment I associated with the UH football experience.
University kind of killed tailgating at least the way it was set up in the good old days and now, I just don’t have interest in dropping 25 beers on a Saturday either in a parking garage…or honestly not sure where other people tailgate.
I brought them to the Baylor game during Fritz’ 1st season and the game itself was very enjoyable, weather was great, I don’t even remember if we won or not, but the tailgating was awful…parking garage was completely filled with cigar smoke and my kids wanted to get the F out.
I think sports in general has just become a casual interest for me. I make a point to watch UH hoops, 49ers football, and Manchester United soccer, and that’s about it. I haven’t watched an Astros or Rockets game in years.
Football is just too much of a time commitment for me when my wife and kids have no interest. My kids love going to UH basketball and we’ve had season tickets forever. Maybe if I lived closer to UH, I would feel differently, but I’m in Fulshear and I’d rather hang out with my wife and kids on the weekend.
I also think the kind of $$$ and time commitment associated with being a season ticket holder, you have to make the events themselves very special. I was more than happy to fork out serious $$$ to take my kids to a World Cup game in Kansas City this past Summer. That was a core memory for all of us that I know we will remember forever. Maybe if my kids were of age or alive when we went to Atlanta for the Chik Fil A game, they would feel differently about football. UH basketball always feels like a special event and my kids love going. I don’t know why, but that’s just how it resonates with them and me.
This is not a UH problem, this is a sports problem…revenue from live events is going down. People are watching on TV or not watching at all. It’s just the culture of our country right now.
6 Likes
There are more like you Matt, its a tough balance. Thanks for the post.
1 Like
Something that has been brought up on the site, and cannot be emphasized enough, is access to the upper levels with stairs, instead of escalators, and the lack of bathrooms. Going up to the third level requires a cardio workout, and I can easily see seniors or mobility challenged individuals vowing never to come to another game just because of that.
Those design challenges are not going to be fixed anytime soon, and even if they were, there is no indication that fans would reconsider attending games.
In the meantime, it still remains the same: smart marketing, good opponents, and winning on the field.
5 Likes