Up next: Catawba

[85Wildcatsky]

Attendance was listed at 4477. Not bad at all. Should be better for PFL games, much worse for Point.

I think the key to build attendance in either basketball or football is an aggressive marketing program to attract more Lake Norman/North Meck fans who are not alums or tied to the college. That is a big marketplace and high income populace to go after. I think we can only get so many fans from our small alumni base.

Pioneer teams don't travel well. I think Davidson may be one of the best.

It would also be nice to have a separate Parent Weekend and Homecoming Weekend.

[2008wildcat]

Great Win by the Cats!

Stadium-

I walked around the stadium prior to kick off and there seemed to be a ton of people attending. Yes some of the stands were not filled but there were many people on both the home and visiting viewing concourses standing to watch the game. There were also people viewing from the new reception center in the press box.

Cons-

Concession lines were absurdly long.

I think the stands on the home side would have been completely full if there weren’t multiples lines of 70+ people waiting for concessions. Neither one of two local food vendors (names escape me, a bagel place and a bbq place) had drinks to sell. I don’t know if they’re not allowed to sell that, but if they’d had have bottled water last night they would have made thousands.

Also, how much would it cost to install cup holders on the seats in Belk Arena? It was very nice to not worry about knocking over my drink.

[citycat]

They need more carts and kiosks. People expect to eat and drink more in modern stadiums.

There were a lot of fans who stood throughout the game. That wasn't bad, because it created a little space in the sections with the bleachers.

What makes us think we'll draw more for PFL games? Dayton and Presbyterian might bring some fans, but we play them on the road this season.

[i77cat]

I think we'll have better turnout of Davidson fans for PFL games. Enough to compensate for the reduced number of visiting fans compared to Catawba. We had over 4k for San Diego and Presby last year and almost 5k for Valpo. It's a nice house. We should get better crowds with better opponents.

[stevelee]

I saw a message on Facebook from a guy who was a kid when I was his pastor in northern Iredell County. His wife apparently is a Catawba alumna. They live in the Denver area and their son plays football for Bandys. Having lived in that area, I'm sort of a Bandys football fan anyway, though I didn't have any parishioners on the team or go to games.

They had been to a memorial service at my old church for a guy who must have been a young kid when I was there, if I have him placed correctly. I don't know anything about the circumstances of his death. So they had a long day.

They said they had a good time at the game in spite of the more lopsided than expected score. They enjoyed hearing Ashton sing the National Anthem, knowing him as I do from North Iredell days. Jane Campbell posted a video of the jump, so I got to listen today. They commented on the good-sized crowd. I would expect a lot folks wanted to attend the first football game in the new stadium.

[stevelee]

So if in a few years we have a player named Evan Turner, you saw it here first.

[wildforthecats]

Glad to see we finally have play reviews now in the Pioneer league.

[i77cat]

We do? That would be surprising. Did they just announce it?

[wildforthecats]

We do? That would be surprising. Did they just announce it?

They reviewed a play at the game Saturday.

[citycat]

Yes, they did. I told my wife the review officials might be in St. Louis. The PFL's commissioner's office used to be there.

[Derek Smith]

The reveiw official is in the stadium.

[Derek Smith]

Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet (https://www.earnhardtchevy.com/)is a sponsor of Davidson Athletics which is why the PA guy made a refernce to him.

[citycat]

He said, "Dale Earnhardt, Jr.", who has nothing to do with Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet.

That dealership is owned by Junior's stepmother, Teresa.

PS. Little E's 50th birthday is October 12, 2024.

[Derek Smith]

I feel fairly certain about what i said.

[citycat]

Have you Googled Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet?

Yes, they sponsor all kinds of Davidson athletic events. They make noise when a Wildcat hits a 3.

But little E has nothing to do with that dealership or the number 3.