Georgia Southern Football Ranks Among Nation's Leaders in Attendance
2/23/2010 12:53:00 AM | Football
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Georgia Southern University ranked eighth nationally among Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) institutions with a home attendance average of 16,728 fans at Paulson Stadium last season. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) today released the 2009 football attendance totals and averages for the 630 schools with programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and at the Division II and III levels. The full set of figures is available in the attached document.
After three consecutive record-breaking seasons, college football attendance declined slightly for the first time in five years. A total of 48,284,673 fans attended games at all NCAA schools offering football during the 2009 season (including home games, neutral-site games and postseason contests), a drop of 554,330 from the record set in 2008. Football Championship Subdivision home attendance dropped by 306,085 overall, although attendance at 18 FCS neutral-site games was up 326,930.
The Eagles drew more than twice the FCS average of 8,025 fans per game and had a high attendance of 18,118 in the season opener vs. Albany last year. Georgia Southern drew 83,641 fans in five games at Paulson Stadium in 2009 after ranking fifth nationally in attendance with an average of 18,303 fans per game the year prior. The Southern Conference, averaging 12,024 at its games, was second in 2009 FCS conference attendance and recorded a positive change of plus one in its average.
"We are very appreciative of our fans who support Georgia Southern year after year," said Director of Athletics Sam Baker. "We know the countdown has already begun for the 2010 season and everyone is looking forward to all the things that come with Saturdays at Paulson."
