OP/ED
On Thursday, Texas State announced that UFCU Stadium will be sold out for the second time this season.
The sellout soon had me down the rabbit hole as to when Texas State last sold out UFCU, previously known as Bobcat Stadium, since the stadium had opened its doors in 1981.
My research took me to the 2005 season when the Bobcats sold out the stadium three times with a capacity, at that time, of 15,218.
Texas State reached maximum capacity during the season finale against Sam Houston State where over 15,288 fans watched the Bobcats win their first conference title since 1983.
In the playoffs, Texas State sold out UFCU Stadium against Cal-Poly, selling out on the morning of the game, when 15,411 fans packed the field as the Bobcats defeated the Mustangs 14-7.
The sellout streak continued as Texas State hosted Northern Iowa in the FCS Semifinals. Selling out the Tuesday before the game even started, 15,712 packed UFCU Stadium as the magical season came to an end.
Since 2005, Texas State has struggled to recapture the energy of that historic and has seemingly wandered the desert in the search of it.
You could argue that, since the opening of UFCU Stadium, the Bobcats have always had problems maintaining attendance starting in 1984.
Between the 1981 season through 1984, Texas State’s average attendance was above 10,000 with the highest average attendance happening during the 1983 season with an average attendance of 12,677.
But between 1985 through 1999, the average attendance of games at UFCU Stadium would reach over 10,000 just once in a span of 14 years. The 1997 season was the only one that saw attendance go over 10,000, averaging 10,041.
The 2000s saw an increase in average attendance with the 2000 season averaging 12,417 fans before dropping off again until 2005.
The success of the 2005 season saw a record in both total attendance with 128,751 and average with 12,875 through ten home games.
The 2006 season continued the success in attendance with 77,314 in total attendance through six games and an average attendance of 12,886.
While attendance did fall off, the average attendance failed to fall below 11,000 while total attendance remained above 60,000.
UFCU Stadium would undergo its first transformation with Texas State jumping from FCS to FBS. The stadium expanded to 30,000 and saw a massive increase in attendance.
However, the average attendance at UFCU Stadium began to slowly decrease. After averaging 18,945 in 2012 then 20,589 in 2014, average attendance failed to reach over 18,200 from 2015 through 2022, minus the 2020 season when attendance was capped. The lowest point would come in 2018 with a total attendance of 78,689, lowest since expanding UFCU Stadium and an average attendance of 13,115, less than half the stadium capacity.
Then 2023 happened. Under the leadership of both Texas State President Kelly Damphousse and Texas State Director of the Athletics Don Coryell, a concentrated effort to increase attendance began along with the hiring of football head coach G.J. Kinne.
As both Kinne and the Bobcats started winning on the field, en route to the first ever bowl game in program history, the work behind the scenes came in full effect.
A total attendance record 127,102 and a record average attendance of 21,184 saw not only fans come and stay, but it also re-energized a sleeping fan base.
From family weekend, homecoming, the third quarter light show and more, UFCU Stadium was the place to be, turning the Bobcats home field into a legitimate advantage following years of playing in a largely quiet space.
But the movement didn’t stop in the 2023 season, as the 2024 season has started to pick up the torch.
Following the home opener against Lamar, which saw 19,637 fans attend, the rivalry game between Texas State and UTSA saw 28,000 fans pack a sold out UFCU Stadium, making it the fifth largest attended game in stadium history.
It was then followed up by a Thursday night showdown with Arizona State as 25,187 once again filled UFCU Stadium to the brim with attendance currently capped at 27,149.
Now with a sellout crowd on hand once again, Texas State is set to break more attendance records while the Bobcats look to capture the Sun Belt Conference title.
The search of capturing the magic of both the national championship teams and 2005 has seemingly come to an end for Texas State.
While winning is a key ingredient to maintaining a great attendance, Texas State has found a crucial piece in keeping everyone at games. The program has made attending Bobcat football games a moment worth remembering.
Since 2023, every home football game for the Bobcats has felt like a party, matching the energy Texas State fans and alumni give to the university. On top of the success of the football team, it has been a winwin situation for everyone involved.
UFCU Stadium has become a true home field advantage for the Bobcats. UTSA’s Head Coach Jeff Traylor even called the student section “deafening.”
For the tried and true Bobcat fans, it has been a long time coming, and it’s about damn time.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
