The University of South Carolina drew just 70,438 fans to Williams-Brice stadium Thursday night for USC’s 41-13 romp over Southern Miss – the smallest crowd ever to watch a home opener under head coach Steve Spurrier’s reign. And based on the rows of empty seats in the stadium’s upper decks (particularly in the east upper deck), we think 70,438 was an exceedingly generous estimate.
That’s the bad news …
The good news?
Based on USC’s stellar performance on the field, we have every reason to believe that next Saturday’s showdown against No. 21 Georgia will be much better attended – even though kickoff is scheduled for noon (and that game will also be televised).
After boasting a sellout crowd of 82,753 against Central Florida in 2005 (Spurrier’s first game at Williams-Brice), USC drew 82,513 fans against Georgia in 2006, 78,234 against Louisiana Lafayette in 2007, 80,616 against North Carolina State in 2008 and 72,017 against Florida Atlantic last season.
South Carolina averaged 75,369 fans per game last year, the lowest mark of the Spurrier era.
Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
By Sam September 3, 2010 at 7:15 am
Carolina fans are the best in the world…err NOT!
By Cobie September 3, 2010 at 9:22 am
It is the new reality. Increased cost + TV package + bad economy = lower turnout. Plus, with the new “YES” program, there is no longer the pressure of holding onto your seats because you may never get them back like we used to have at USC. Now, it you decide for a year not to donate and buy tickets it is no big deal. You can just jump back in when times are better and you’ll be able to get decent seats. Also, I am hearing more and more friends that live on the coast or in the upstate say that the drive and expense is no longer worth it now that everything is on TV.
By Halftime September 3, 2010 at 9:34 am
Whether more USC fans turn out next week or not, Georgia will travel much better than So. Miss. did. Common sense dictates a much larger crowd.
By OhNoNotAgain September 3, 2010 at 9:56 am
East upper is visitors section.
By countryboy September 3, 2010 at 10:25 am
70K is not bad for a weekday/work night, with the game televised.
The ESPN check plus the importance of a national audience for recruiting means more than another 10K attendance, IMO. Another plus for recruiting is high school players watching the game on TV saw SS would start and/or play freshmen if they are good enough…
By not surprising September 3, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Not too surprising given the economic situation in SC. There’s more hype about the Gamecocks this year than most and even when they suck, they put up better attendance numbers than that.
It also didn’t help that Southern Miss brought basically nothing more than a ford focus full of people there. Really, they traveled pretty poorly, but again, weekday, economy, etc…
By BadabingBadabong September 3, 2010 at 12:18 pm
yes a work night and it was 95 effing degrees last night and other than the first series we look pretty good, bring on the pups!
By really???? September 3, 2010 at 3:54 pm
from what I heard was that people left pretty early too. It was evident on the tv that 70k did not stay long.
By R September 3, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Let’s ask Eric Hyman how that “YES” plan is working out. Ticket sales are down 20% over 2008. I guess he’s just happy as can be with 15,000 empty seats. I’m surprised that greedy bastard doesn’t charge fans $10 to take a piss.
By CNSYD September 3, 2010 at 8:55 pm
countryboy, what ESPN check? TV money goes to the conference. It is put in the pot and split up among the members.
By Severus September 3, 2010 at 10:31 pm
70,438… almost as many as John Spratt’s communications director told CBS that Glen Beck had to floow his protest.
Go fig.
By herbstreit September 4, 2010 at 9:55 am
ESPN did a great job of cutting their shot so they rarely ever showed the upper deck. but even if it was only 70k it was very loud as evidence by the trouble the USM qb had in calling out audibles for their no huddle offense. next week will be a sell out and that place will be INSANE! USC 38- uga 16
By CNSYD September 4, 2010 at 10:51 am
herbsteit, I suggest you call Vegas. There are some folks out there ready and willing to take UGA and 22 points.