UH student attendance at football games falls nearly 90%

The University of Hawaii is looking for ways to raise student interest in its football games after attendance has dropped by nearly 90 percent since the season opener.

The Warriors drew 2,144 students for the Sept. 3 game against Colorado, but the past three games have managed turnouts of only 456 (Utah State), 353 (Fresno State) and 224 (Tulane), UH said.

Overall, UH has averaged 1,101 for six home games with one game, Saturday’s Brigham Young contest, remaining.

Athletic director Jim Donovan was asked by Board of Regents vice chairman James Lee on Wednesday why "the last three games the stands were empty (of students)?"

Donovan cited weather, competing events and the team’s record (6-6) as factors. In addition he said class commitments and that some students complained the free buses to Aloha Stadium left campus too early, a situation he said would be adjusted.

Manoa students receive admission to UH sports events as part of the mandatory $50-per semester athletic fee that was imposed in January.

The athletic department received $818,000 through that fee for the spring semester, according to the most recent audit.

Anna Koethe, president of the Associated Students of UH, said in an email, "It appears that students are really excited at the start of the season and then slowly get more involved in school, pushing athletic events lower on their to-do lists. Every day, students make choices among their academic commitments, part-time (or full-time) jobs, social activities, and familial obligations."

Donovan and Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw told regents that other sports, notably men’s basketball and baseball, are popular with students.

For example, where baseball might have drawn "12-20 students" per game, Donovan said, "now it is over 100 per game. Those sports have been better than before, but we’re still not at the numbers we want to see."

Thomas Robinson of the UH Graduate Students Organization executive board said, "I don’t really go to the football games any year, so I don’t really have much to tell you about it.

"I usually go to women’s volleyball and baseball."