Decline interest in Football?

[EITSwarrior]

The emergence and increased affordability of high definition tv's also played a part.

[SundayJam]

I really think Spectrum's gatekeeping ($70 for the home team's game is ridiculous) of the games really hurts UH football's popularity. Not everyone has the time or money to go to the game, but would want to watch it if it was cheap enough or free the next day (like K5). This keeps UH football in fans' minds and on their radar so when they do have the time or money, or if UH is doing really well, they will make the effort to go to the game. I was a diehard fan, but since I couldn't go to the games during COVID and also couldn't watch because it was too expensive, I started to lose interest.

Also, a lot of those loyal fans lost their seats when games were moved to Ching stadium. My family had season tickets for about 30 years and lost them (or didn't renew them) when it moved to Ching. My parents are old and wouldn't want to sit on the bleacher style seats. I think a lot of that loyal fan base we lost are in the same boat.

The emergence and increased affordability of high definition tv's also played a part.

The rest of the country has high definition TV's. How is it that they are able to fill massive stadiums for college and pro games? There is nothing like a live game. I went to a few pro baseball games and it forever changed my view of the game...before that the game was unwatchable for me on TV.

Manoa football athletics needs some change. I agree that Spectrum's business model leaves a lot to be desired as a fan. My friends and I stopped watching a lot of games after the exorbitant PPV fees were evoked. Also, what's up with all the drama queen firings of dedicated coaches like Wagner, Mac, and Graham? I'll admit the latest drama fire at least resulted in a positive direction. They (the suits) doggedly devoted the program to the likes of Von Appen and Chow. At least, Rolo and Ching are/were a continuation of the Jones/McMackin era. I still think Graham would have been saved had Cole McDonald stayed for his senior year.

[cabanalane]

My parents are old and wouldn't want to sit on the bleacher style seats. I think a lot of that loyal fan base we lost are in the same boat.

This brings up another point. The fan base going back to old days have aged out. Or not even with us.

I remember who tailgating at Aloha Stadium looked like. 1980-90s. I was there. But today, I can set up a grill, but no way can I set things up like the way the grandpas and uncles did. Or have all the grandmas and anties make food. And even know the people we don't know next to us.

I can continue the tradition in the future, but no where will it be near the number of people like the past. Yes, 7 people will show up, one time. Next week they will be busy, and no can come. Before this gets too depressing, like other local/Hawaii traditions, but it's never going to be the same.

Sort of like bowling. We still go out to bowl. But no way in the leagues, like before.

[EITSwarrior]

I really think Spectrum's gatekeeping ($70 for the home team's game is ridiculous) of the games really hurts UH football's popularity. Not everyone has the time or money to go to the game, but would want to watch it if it was cheap enough or free the next day (like K5). This keeps UH football in fans' minds and on their radar so when they do have the time or money, or if UH is doing really well, they will make the effort to go to the game. I was a diehard fan, but since I couldn't go to the games during COVID and also couldn't watch because it was too expensive, I started to lose interest.

Also, a lot of those loyal fans lost their seats when games were moved to Ching stadium. My family had season tickets for about 30 years and lost them (or didn't renew them) when it moved to Ching. My parents are old and wouldn't want to sit on the bleacher style seats. I think a lot of that loyal fan base we lost are in the same boat.

The emergence and increased affordability of high definition tv's also played a part.

The rest of the country has high definition TV's. How is it that they are able to fill massive stadiums for college and pro games? There is nothing like a live game. I went to a few pro baseball games and it forever changed my view of the game...before that the game was unwatchable for me on TV.

Manoa football athletics needs some change. I agree that Spectrum's business model leaves a lot to be desired as a fan. My friends and I stopped watching a lot of games after the exorbitant PPV fees were evoked. Also, what's up with all the drama queen firings of dedicated coaches like Wagner, Mac, and Graham? I'll admit the latest drama fire at least resulted in a positive direction. They (the suits) doggedly devoted the program to the likes of Von Appen and Chow. At least, Rolo and Ching are/were a continuation of the Jones/McMackin era. I still think Graham would have been saved had Cole McDonald stayed for his senior year.

We have tighter margins. Also other things to do on a Saturday night versus other areas of the country where football is there life or else there's nothing else to do.

[travo66]

The rest of the country has high definition TV's. How is it that they are able to fill massive stadiums for college and pro games? There is nothing like a live game. I went to a few pro baseball games and it forever changed my view of the game...before that the game was unwatchable for me on TV.

Look at the population of Hawaii vs. the rest of the mainland. Sure, they have more than one program to be interested in, but they also have 5-10x the population we do.

[BigWave96744]

Casual local fans want to see winners and exciting offense. They rather watch St Louis Kahuku, Mililani if on the same day as UH games.

Unless the Hawaii scores often, student rarely stay past the 3rd qtr.

[st808]

Casual local fans want to see winners and exciting offense. They rather watch St Louis Kahuku, Mililani if on the same day as UH games.

u.h. needs to recruit more local players with families that fill high school football stadiums. if I had a kid playing football on the same night as the u.h. I would watch my kid. most parents would too. recruit more local players, play them and their families and friends will come to the games rain or shine, just as they show up for the high school games.

[SundayJam]

Honestly, the cost of pay-per-view is way too much. How much exactly does it cost to go to a game? Why would anyone forgo the actual experience to stay at home? Does Hawaii participate in things like Ticket Hub? Now that the games are at Manoa, does the venue offer any kind of partnership deals with local vendors? Do they still have park and ride programs? IDK...gosh...I'm so far removed from the state.

I looked at the roster. There are a lot of players with connections to the aina. Schools like Campbell and St. Louis are noticeable. Bishop Gorman and Euless Trinity students represent as well. We have lot of beef on OL and DL coming in on the transfer portal, and many are grass roots recruits too.

Next year will be a make or break year. My bet is that we'll break some expectations. Can we get more butts in the seats? Well that's up to those who promote. PROMOTE the PROGRAM!

[BigWave96744]

Does Hawaii participate in things like Ticket Hub?

Next year will be a make or break year. My bet is that we'll break some expectations.

Well that's up to those who promote. PROMOTE the PROGRAM!

- UH and SeatGeeks works together where season ticket holders can resell their tickets. On non-popular games, prices are less than the big office

- I thought year 2 was going to be a break out. Then again in year 3. I'm hoping year 4 we go bowling legitimately not 5-7. If not time for a new coach once we reach lost 7, like what happend to Chow in his 4th straight losing season.

- Would really like to see TC promote the program and get out in the community, frequent phone interviews to ESPN Honolulu, etc. I feel he hasn't done a good job trying to create a buzz and increase season ticket counts which is 6K or less.

[Walkoff Balk]

Can we in Hawaii be called fair weather fans? That means we got other things to do. This is Hawaii, so some people are working in their second jobs on Saturdays.

[SundayJam]

- I thought year 2 was going to be a break out. Then again in year 3. I'm hoping year 4 we go bowling legitimately not 5-7. If not time for a new coach once we reach lost 7, like what happend to Chow in his 4th straight losing season.

There is no possible reason to compare Chang to Chow. For one, Chow never had a 5 win season. Sure, he could've had one in his final year. Also, Chow's players didn't like him. I can't say the same for Chang. His recruits and recruiting grounds seem to have remained faithful. Chow was decrepit and hired coordinators who had been out of the game for some time. He stuck to losing with them till the end. Chang has some loyal staff, but he switched up the mix. The defensive coordinator and the Sun God are some examples.

We finished middle of the pack in the MWC this year. These past three years, Chang had to play the SEC twice, National Championship contenders in Michigan and Oregon...as well as heavy-weight teams like UCLA and Washington State. I may have missed a few notable match-ups. While we lost to Boise St., UCLA, and UNLV this year...I felt those were winnable games. Washington State was expected to win this year. Shoot, Boise and the Rebs finished in the top 25.

There are multiple reasons other than the head coach that Hawaii has lost interest in the game. I think the loss of interest lies in that weird pay-per-view system. The price to host a game at a local sports-bar was just too high. On Maui, I couldn't watch home games when Hawaii was at their peak. Also, when we were in the WAC, the game was on ESPN. Having Chris Berman boom, "Aloha means hello and goodbye," was priceless. Now, whenever we have an away game, it's hosted by amateur sportscasters.

[cabanalane]

Most of my UH Football fan experience was outside of Aloha Stadium and in front of the TV (KHNL13 with Jim Leahey and now the Mayor). I'll admit that only saw a few games in-person. Without (free) TV, I would not be a fan today. This was with rabbit ears antenna. Couldn't afford cable.

Now that I'm old (and more established), I'm glad to pay the price, as I see it as enjoyment in my old age. But no way a 20 something guy would pay "big" $$$ to watch UH Football, even if they are a fan. There are others things to do with that money.

So even if they cut the price by half, I'm not sure it would increase pay-per-view. Meaning, IMO, it's price sensitive one way. Price goes up, will decrease viewership. Price goes down, it's not going to increase viewership.

It's got to be free. (It's never happen, but just saying.)

P.S. I stay on the mainland now, so I do go a few road games. So I've watched more road games in-person than I did for home games (at Aloha Stadium) now. Looking forward to 2025 Aug when UH play AZ.

[bigislandkurt]

I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 on Miami...the U. One of the players made a very profound statement. He said that in places like Miami, where there is so much to do, you must win, or nobody will come to your games. Thereʻs just too many other things to do. Same for us. On that same note, the large Powerful schools with strong fan bases all exist in towns and places where the the collegeʻs sports teams are the biggest shows in town. Look at the SEC. Look at the MT West - Boise.

[SundayJam]

Well, when we could watch for free after the game on K5, the stadium was packed. There was plenty to do on a Saturday night back then too. I was a student during the Tomey years, but I don't ever remember hearing any promotion of the game on campus. They need to bring down the cost of pay-per-view to $20...and stop charging the sports-bars per TV. When fans get excited about the game, they will head to the stadium to watch. There is NOTHING like watching a game live.

@Cabalane: Jim Leahy was the best. The mayor? Meh. Although I did enjoy Leahy putting Rick in his place from time to time when they co-hosted.

[cabanalane]

That's right. There were plenty to do in Hawaii (Oahu) back in the old days where the 35-40K showed up. I'll admit first. Some of us was at Spats or Point After. Some of us was at Club Rose or Club Mignum (forget the spelling now). Still have time for UH Football. I don't know what young people do today.