Student Section Updated: 2500 --> 4500 in lower bowl

Back when the students wanted to move some fees away from athletics, I think it was about $8 million from their fees total that went to the athletic department annually.

That’s my recollection, too. The 2026 student section is the same as the early years of TDECU Stadium. Also, I don’t think UH is allocating any more seats to students than it did last year. It is just moving many student seats down from the east side 200s.

The concern that poor turnout by the students will be more evident as they spread out does have some merit. But there are mitigating factors, too. Students who sat in the east side 200 student sections (239-242) in recent years will almost certainly move to 100-level student sections, at least partially filling them up. Besides, sections 132 and 133 were sparsely populated in recent years. Designating those sections as student sections will likely increase the density this year.

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It is better than empty seats.

Unless you’re talking about the first year of the stadium, 132 was not a student section because that is where I sat beginning year 2 (year 1 I was upper deck).

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The sections shifted between 2022 and 2023, I have all the pdfs back to 2015.
FB22 post may.pdf (741.3 KB)

I never had a problem with giving the students sections in both levels, back in the Robertson days when I was a student we got the whole white corner, sometimes I would paint up and sit on the front row and other times I would sit up in the 200s and spread out, we had options, but we only had a few sections directly against the field so the camera always could get a good shot.

From a general fan prespective I don’t have a problem with it, it condenses the northside lower level which is a great entry point for upgraded season tickets should create more excitement in 131, and it allows the entire east endzone upper deck to be sold which is an excellent value for the lower price point fans.

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i am once again calling on uh to double the size of the band

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So the new total for all student sections is 10 k now?

If so that is great

I’m all for more students.

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Brilliant move !!!
Go Coogs !

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No. 4,500

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Some schools have a much bigger percentage of their seats set for students. This is a good change.

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why the student section wasn’t already expanded and in a prime spot makes no sense. one of the best way to make long time fans is to have as many students as possible have an enjoyable game.
i don’t know if there are some student ambassadors helping students at the game and a students only gate to speed up their getting in, but there should be.

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I agree. The official policy is effectively that current UH students who pay the athletic fee have access to football games, but it is limited to the first 4,500 students. At the 2014 home opener – the first game ever in TDECU – the students showed up in force. The stadium filled to capacity as students were admitted long after the student section was filled. Students occupied nearly all of the northside 300s. It was a great atmosphere even if the team failed the fans. There is no need to deny entry to students when there are several totally empty sections available. Of course, in 2014, students wanted to see the brand new TDECU Stadium. The problem today is that students rarely fill the designated student section.

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I wouldn’t say “rarely”. The student section was well attended last season.

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Students will fill this allotment this season. I do worry about one thing, and that’s 11 AM games. Unless it’s a huge game, we struggle to get our students there for the early games.

Students in the bottom level have done pretty good job filling the student section. It’s the fans on the top levels that are not consistent.

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I’ve seen TDECU rocking at 11 am on a Saturday morning against Temple for an AAC Title. I’ve seen TDECU rocking on a random Thursday work night against Louisville. I’ve seen us take over NRG for an 11am morning kickoff against OU. I saw us take over NRG again in our bowl game right after Christmas against LSU.

Kickoff times don’t worry me. Getting our fans energized does. When our fans care, they show up. How do we get our fans to care about Oregon State? How do we get them to care the following week against Southern?

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I left off unless the game is a big one. Hopefully we can get them out there for the first one.

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THIS.

Very often those sections have been majority visitor fans since we’ve joined the big 12. Nothing like seeing the spirit kids performing to Colorado, Tech, Frog, etc
 fans

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132 was a student section from 2014 until idk when the change was made in 2013. I sat there thats how i know.

Also, the use to let 10k students at one point. Not sure if it was vs memphis and vs Louisville that we reached that max. Those were great sections.

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It’s possible I sat in 131 and am confused, that would make you right. Looking at it on the map though I think I was in 132. If I was in the stadium, I might see it differently.