Cincinnati Bearcats Football Attendance Up

In a year that many college football stadiums have seen their attendance dip the University of Cincinnati has seen their attendance

Oct 11, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendon Kay (11) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Temple Owls at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

rise over the first half of the season. Currently the Bearcats are drawing around 3,700 more fans this season than they were last season.

Currently the Cincinnati Bearcats are averaging 32,870 fans this season. The school set the Nippert attendance record in the first game of the season with 36,007 people crammed into a tight Nippert Stadium. For the 2012 season the Bearcats drew an average attendance of 29,138, a season mind you that saw the team win a 4th Big East Championship and go to another bowl game.

The all time season attendance record for the Bearcats came in the 2009 season when the Bearcats drew 33,957 during Brian Kelly’s last season. Cincinnati went undefeated that season on their was to the BCS Sugar Bowl.

What has changed this season to draw in so many fans? Tommy Tuberville’s arrival has to be apart of the reason. Tuberville is a huge name in coaching, he left a good job at Texas Tech to come to Cincinnati to be the head coach. The fact an established head coach decided to come to Cincinnati instead of the school finding some up and comer from somewhere in Michigan has apparently played well with the fans.

Also the Bearcats are winners. 4 out of the last 5 Big East Championships, four 10+ win seasons in the last five years, two BCS bowls, 4 bowls in total, numerous players to the NFL. Cincinnati has finally started to support their local team, winning does pay off.

Cincinnati is back at Nippert this weekend for the Homecoming game against UCONN. Athletic Director Whit Babcock said he and his staff are expecting over 30,000 once again this weekend.

In a season that has seen schools like LSU not be able to fill their stadium this is a great sign for Bearcats football.

Come out this weekend, come early, be loud, wear black.