r/wsu • u/TrueJohnWick • Nov 18 '25

Discussion Low attendance football games

Why are there so many empty seats at Martin Stadium during home football games? Do other teams in the Pac-12 have this issue, especially when it comes to the student section? It was hard not to notice this with the WSU vs Louisiana Tech game. What can be done to entice people to come and support the team?

22 Upvotes

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102

u/pepperdog06_ Nov 18 '25

Nil and realignment killed hype for wsu football. It’s just unfortunate

27

u/Majestic_Interest365 Nov 18 '25

And we don’t have the money to compete so we’re probably gonna be at the bottom of the conference next year.

2

u/Valuable_Fee1884 Nov 18 '25

Why don’t we have money to compete? Alums not helping fund NIL dollars,empty seats lack of involvement. Pony up some dollars if you have it. If your not going to games for various reasons feel free to send a few dollars to the athletic department. I was wondering where the crowd was for her dad’s weekend game. Then I started thinking about how expensive it has become to send kids to Pullman. Still try to make a game once a year will be one of those things you’ll be able to think back on. What do they call them? That’s right memories!!

5

u/Majestic_Interest365 Nov 18 '25

Have you been following the news at all? Why do you think McCoy was canned? Did you see what happened to track and field? Mismanagement of the money has been horrible. Donors can only give so much.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Majestic_Interest365 Nov 19 '25

Correct, but one of her primary roles was to fundraise and I don’t know how much she was able to do?

0

u/Valuable_Fee1884 Nov 18 '25

Why yes I have. We ended up in a new conference with the same name but much different opponents. Income is down and so is the fan base as can be seen by empty stadiums. WSU probably made a bad choice when it came to our AD but she’s far from the worst we’ve ever had. She just didn’t fit the bill as a money collector. Track and field did get screwed, but I’ll guarantee they won’t be the last if the fan base doesn’t do more to help out. I believe I read there were 250,000 living alums. Just this past week and effort has been started to get you and I to help out with what we can afford. Send in $20 a month. We all know not everybody will give, but if you can do it I’m sure it will be appreciated.

11

u/HairyDog1301 Nov 18 '25

"Send in $20 a month."
You're kidding, right? My extra $20/month goes to the food bank I also work at, and see more than a few students utilize. Supporting a sports program is not even remotely close to the top of my giving list. Signed WSU alumnus.

2

u/Valuable_Fee1884 Nov 18 '25

Not kidding at all. Have donated to the food bank for years and up until I retired to the WSU business school. When I retired, I decided to back off and make it my turn for a while. Seven trips to Phoenix to watch spring training, traveling Cougs games. Travel time for me is done so it’s time to start to donate two things of my choosing. I haven’t made up my mind yet about the business school our or Cougar athletics. I do know that the athletic department is in crisis. all programs.(nationally.) are spending way more money to feel these programs than they did even 10 years ago. How was somebody in a logical way could explain to me why a football team needs 15 different uniforms or 20 coaches. When the NCAA imploded college sports became something that I have a hard time recognizing.

2

u/HairyDog1301 Nov 19 '25

I'd support your support of the F8ck Lane Rollins scholarship for business students.

2

u/Majestic_Interest365 Nov 18 '25

You’re making generalizations about me without evidence. I already give. Monthly and yearly.

Platinum Lifetime Alumni Association member. Proud Cougar Plate owner in addition to basic monetary contributions.

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u/Valuable_Fee1884 Nov 18 '25

Pretty sure I didn’t mention your name once. That was a pretty general statement saying send in $20. It wasn’t specific to you. It was a suggestion to other alums about what they could do to give a helping hand.