COLLEGE BOWL GAMES YEAR-BY-YEAR
| |
No. Bowls |
Attendance (avg.) |
Average Capicity |
Pct. Cap. |
Bowl TV Ratings |
BCS Ratings |
Non-BCS Ratings |
| 1998-1999 |
22 |
1,219,766
(55,444) |
63,690 |
87.1% |
116.82
(5.31) |
50.4
(12.6) |
66.4
(3.69) |
| 1999-2000 |
23 |
1,248,895
(54,299) |
62,689 |
86.6% |
114.21
(4.97) |
52.4
(13.1) |
61.8
(3.25) |
| 2000-2001 |
25 |
1,291,587
(51,663) |
61,105 |
84.6% |
119.27
(4.77) |
55.5
(13.9) |
63.8
(3.03) |
| 2001-2002 |
25 |
1,337,735
(53,509) |
59,618 |
89.8% |
111.92
(4.47) |
43.3
(10.8) |
68.6
(3.27) |
| 2002-2003 |
28 |
1,413,689
(50,489) |
59,871 |
84.3% |
116.93
(4.18) |
47.7
(11.9) |
69.2
(2.88) |
| 2003-2004 |
28 |
1,458,760
(52,099) |
58,547 |
89.0% |
117.52
(4.20) |
46.7
(11.7) |
70.82
(2.95) |
| 2004-2005 |
28 |
1,492,001
(53,286) |
59,759 |
89.8% |
109.03
(3.9) |
43.0
(10.8) |
66.03
(2.75) |
| 2005-2006 |
28 |
1,431,234
(51,116) |
59,642 |
85.7% |
124.95
(4.5) |
55.9
(14.0) |
69.05
(2.89) |
| 2006-2007 |
32 |
1,696,825
(53,026) |
60,204 |
88.1% |
130.20
(4.1) |
56.0
(11.2) |
74.20
(2.75) |
| 2007-2008 |
32 |
1,730,495
(54,078) |
61,367 |
88.2% |
123.52
(3.9) |
47.6
(9.5) |
75.90
(2.81) |
- Total attendance increased this past year to the highest ever. Average attendance increased to its highest level since 1999-2000 despite having nine additonal bowls today. Percentage of stadium capacity filled for the bowls has fluctuated but has exceeded 85% for seven consecutive years.
- Of the 20 current bowls that were in existance in 1998-1999 average attendance was 58,193 and these bowls filled their stadiums to 101.9% of capacity this year.
- The average TV rating decreased slightly this past year due to the BCS games. Average rating for non-BCS games increased. A total of 14 bowls saw ratings increases over the previous year.
Comparison of Current College Bowls Attendance Over The Years
| |
Current Bowls that were in existance in 1987-1988 |
1987-1988
Attendance |
1987-1988 Average |
2007-2008 Attendance |
2007-2008 Average |
Pct. Change |
| 20 Years |
14* |
878,287 |
62,735 |
905,286 |
64,663 |
+3.1% |
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Current Bowls that were in existance in 1997-1998 |
1997-1998
Attendance |
1997-1998 Average |
2007-2008 Attendance |
2007-2008 Average |
Pct. Change |
| 10 Years |
19* |
1,056,599
|
55,610 |
1,148,741 |
60,460 |
+8.7% |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Current Bowls that were in existance in 2002-2003 |
2002-2003
Attendance |
2002-2003 Average |
2007-2008 Attendance |
2007-2008 Average |
Pct. Change |
| 5 Years |
26 |
1,365,306 |
52,512 |
1,473,775 |
56,684 |
+8.0% |
The fairest measure of bowl popularity is to compare figures of the same bowls over time. When comparing current bowl games that were around five years ago, ten years ago and even twenty years ago, all three groups have increased their average attendance. This defeats the notion that interest in those bowls is slipping. Indeed, it shows that even with the addition of new bowls the average game that has a history of at least five years has shown an increase in popularity.
* - (For the purposes of comparison, the Hawaii Bowl was compared to the Aloha Bowl since they shared the same market, date, etc. Conversely, the Champs Sports Bowl is not considered the same as the Micron Bowl even though the later was “moved” to Orlando, because it is played in a totally different market under different circumstances).
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