From a financial standpoint, this week may be one of the most important for the Fresno State athletic department in 2008-09.
Fresno State hosts Hawaii on Saturday in the Bulldogs' Western Athletic Conference opener. Will the Red Wave produce a sellout? If so, it could set a trend for the rest of the season.
Coach Pat Hill's team certainly deserves fan support: 3-1 record, two big road wins over BCS opponents, gutty defense, exciting special teams, QB Tom Brandstater and RB Ryan Mathews and TE Bear Pascoe lighting up the scoreboard.
Not to mention top 25 rankings and an outside chance at a BCS bowl invitation if they run the table.
But for some reason, Fresno State football fans over the past two years have shown only modest interest in WAC home games. Average attendance for 2006's four WAC home games was 36,754. In 2007, it was 36,777 (including 40,607 for arch-rival Boise State). That's less than 90% capacity of 41,031-seat Bulldog Stadium.
And these figures are for tickets sold. As anyone who actually showed up will attest, the number of warm bodies in the stands was considerably less at some of those games.
Maybe it's lingering disappointment over the heartbreaking loss to USC on Nov. 19, 2005. Earlier that season, a crowd of 42,701 filled Bulldog Stadium to watch a 3-1 Fresno State squad rout lowly Utah State. Then the Trojans held on for an eight-point win, and Fresno State's home attendance hit a two-year dip.
Granted, this year's home opener against Wisconsin on Sept. 13 was standing room only. But now comes the test. After Hawaii, there's Idaho (Oct. 11), Nevada (Nov. 7) and New Mexico State (Nov. 15).
Do Red Wavers truly relish Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA) action? Or has all the chatter about BCS opponents turned their heads, to the detriment of the team they love?
University officials on Monday said ticket sales (season and singles) for Hawaii were at about 36,000, and rising by the hour.
One thing is certain: Serious money is at stake. Let's say this season's four WAC home games are standing room only. That means another 5,000 sold tickets per game over the 2006 and 2007 averages, or 20,000 for the four games. And let's say everyone shows up and spends a decent amount on food, parking and souvenirs.
I'll guess that's at least another $1 million in gross revenue. And that would be an important shot in the arm for an athletic program that had a nearly $600,000 deficit last year.
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