Rare chance to see Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium against top-15 opponent (Oregon: school, live in)

[theurbanfiles]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I think people are reading Covid concern into places where there just isn't any. Whatever you may think personally about your own level of comfort, most of Ohio simply doesn't care and is not avoiding crowds. All other major teams have no problem filling their stadium, from what I've seen so far.

This is quite possible. I mean, I wear masks when in close crowds, and have been vaccinated, but at the same time since being vaccinated, I've definitely gone more places (on flights, to stadiums, etc.). Watching this Game 5 of Dodgers-Giants right now, which is in a state that has been a particularly COVID-cautious place, is pretty strong evidence. I see very few mask wearers in the crowd there.

I think WRNative may be correct that it has to do more with other policies like switching from hard copy tickets to digital.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

This is quite possible. I mean, I wear masks when in close crowds, and have been vaccinated, but at the same time since being vaccinated, I've definitely gone more places (on flights, to stadiums, etc.). Watching this Game 5 of Dodgers-Giants right now, which is in a state that has been a particularly COVID-cautious place, is pretty strong evidence. I see very few mask wearers in the crowd there.

I think WRNative may be correct that it has to do more with other policies like switching from hard copy tickets to digital.

I was in Southern California two weeks ago, it was a lot more like Ohio mask-wise than I thought it would be. Nobody really seemed to care there either.

I maintain the most likely reason for low attendance is that people simply are not interested. Simple as.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I was in Southern California two weeks ago, it was a lot more like Ohio mask-wise than I thought it would be. Nobody really seemed to care there either.

I maintain the most likely reason for low attendance is that people simply are not interested. Simple as.

Clearly, Ohio State has a much better football team this year than your perception early in this thread. Most experts anticipate the Buckeyes again making the championship play-offs if the Buckeyes win out, including winning another Big Ten championship. Barring key injuries, such an outcome seems highly likely.

Unfortunately, with Penn State's two losses, including a disastrous loss on Saturday to Illinois in nine overtimes in which Penn State demonstrated an amazing inability to score from the 3-yard line, the bloom is off Ohio State's biggest home game of the year. I don't know if the Penn State game is sold out, but tickets for the game were priced much higher than for any other home game this year.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/tickets/football-tickets/

Currently, Saturday's weather forecast for Columbus is excellent. So, I would be surprised if actual attendance doesn't top 100,000.

However, I still expect reluctance to attend games with the COVID positivity rate in Franklin County still above 8 percent.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/tickets/football-tickets/

And additionally, Ohio Stadium's cashless policy remains a hassle, likely an unacceptable hassle for many elderly, digitally challenged alums/Buckeye football fans.

My reports from Columbus is that due to the city's mask mandate, masks are being warn inside public buildings in the city. So Ohio Stadium is requiring mask wearing in elevators and rest rooms.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gameday/

Yet a COVID transmission conscious person likely will not attend a game where the possibility exists of exposure to an unvaccinated person refusing to wear a mask, especially given that such a pro-COVID transmission person(s) may be sitting in your proximity for four hours, and may even be hostile to mask wearers.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Clearly, Ohio State has a much better football team this year than your perception early in this thread. Most experts anticipate the Buckeyes again making the championship play-offs if the Buckeyes win out, including winning another Big Ten championship. Barring key injuries, such an outcome seems highly likely.

Unfortunately, with Penn State's two losses, including a disastrous loss on Saturday to Illinois in nine overtimes in which Penn State demonstrated an amazing inability to score from the 3-yard line, the bloom is off Ohio State's biggest home game of the year. I don't know if the Penn State game is sold out, but tickets for the game were priced much higher than for any other home game this year.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/tickets/football-tickets/

Currently, Saturday's weather forecast for Columbus is excellent. So, I would be surprised if actual attendance doesn't top 100,000.

However, I still expect reluctance to attend games with the COVID positivity rate in Franklin County still above 8 percent.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/tickets/football-tickets/

And additionally, Ohio Stadium's cashless policy remains a hassle, likely an unacceptable hassle for many elderly, digitally challenged alums/Buckeye football fans.

My reports from Columbus is that due to the city's mask mandate, masks are being warn inside public buildings in the city. So Ohio Stadium is requiring mask wearing in elevators and rest rooms.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gameday/

Yet a COVID transmission conscious person likely will not attend a game where the possibility exists of exposure to an unvaccinated person refusing to wear a mask, especially given that such a pro-COVID transmission person(s) may be sitting in your proximity for four hours, and may even be hostile to mask wearers.

I don't know, I really don't think Ohio State is that good and I don't think the Big 10 really is either. Free to disagree, but I'm not seeing it. Indiana is not following up on last year's good season. But Ohio State still has plenty of time to lose to Penn State and Michigan.

I think OSU will get dominated if the ymake the playoff.

[theurbanfiles]

103K for Penn State, and from
views on TV it appeared to be absolutely rocking, at least as much as I’ve seen it in a few seasons.

I think that, save for Georgia, there’s more parity in College Football in general this season than there has been in most of the past 10 seasons.

Georgia would IMO, have to be considered a prohibitive favorite thus far as they haven’t even been challenged somewhat so far this year.

That said, things can change quite a bit from week to week. Right now, I’d say Ohio State is looking better than Oklahoma and Cincinnati. Would like to see Georgia or Auburn hand Alabama it’s second loss, and thus have the SEC Cannibalize itself into only having one team.

I think Penn State is maybe a Top 10 team with the QB in and healthy, BTW. They never would have lost to Iowa or Illinois had he not gone out.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

103K for Penn State, and from
views on TV it appeared to be absolutely rocking, at least as much as I’ve seen it in a few seasons.

I think that, save for Georgia, there’s more parity in College Football in general this season than there has been in most of the past 10 seasons.

Georgia would IMO, have to be considered a prohibitive favorite thus far as they haven’t even been challenged somewhat so far this year.

That said, things can change quite a bit from week to week. Right now, I’d say Ohio State is looking better than Oklahoma and Cincinnati. Would like to see Georgia or Auburn hand Alabama it’s second loss, and thus have the SEC Cannibalize itself into only having one team.

I think Penn State is maybe a Top 10 team with the QB in and healthy, BTW. They never would have lost to Iowa or Illinois had he not gone out.

Ohio State benefited greatly from Michigan and Michigan State playing a close game. It kept both programs highly ranked, providing excellent fodder for Ohio State's play-off run. IF Penn State beats one or both of the Michigan teams, it will raise Penn State's ranking, but it probably would be more helpful if both Michigan teams defeated Penn Sttate. I agree that a Penn State sweep of both Michigan teams is highly possible.

[WRnative]

I've always thought that the youth and inexperience of this year's Ohio State team, especially at QB, running back, linebacker and in the secondary, meant that the Buckeyes would become more formidable with each passing week.

E.g., the home game struggle against Penn State will toughen up the Buckeyes for the pivotal home match-up with Michigan State. This week's Nebraska game, in a sold-out, hostile stadium, will be good preparation for the Big Game in the Big House at the end of the regular season.

Here's a good column summarizing Ohio State at this point of the season.

https://sports.yahoo.com/where-does-...054836065.html

It's clear that Ohio State's veteran offensive line was rattled by Penn State blitz packages, especially in the first half when rushing stats were dismal and key penalties stifled drives. Penn State's passing offense also exposed the Buckeyes' secondary. These are great learning experiences and remedial coaching opportunities that finally may set Ohio State on a glide path to a Big Ten championship and then the play-offs.

In Ohio State's 2014 championship season, Ohio State defeated Penn State by only seven points, but in a double overtime, white out at Beaver Stadium.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...meId/400547985

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb...-schedule.html

IF Ohio State thumps Nebraska on the road this Saturday, it will be a great precursor of a strong finish to the season. Nebraska lost by only seven points to Oklahoma on the road, by three points to Michigan State on the road, and by only three points to Michigan at home. A big win in Lincoln therefore also should impress the play-off committee.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb...-schedule.html

[ohioaninsc]

I was at the game Fri night...it did rock and looked sold out...but did they reduce capacity? The last game I was out, 2016 Michigan game had over 108,000 on hand. Even in 2014 and 2015, attendance generally was over 107,000 in the multiple games that I went to over that stretch.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by ohioaninsc

I was at the game Fri night...it did rock and looked sold out...but did they reduce capacity? The last game I was out, 2016 Michigan game had over 108,000 on hand. Even in 2014 and 2015, attendance generally was over 107,000 in the multiple games that I went to over that stretch.

Do you mean Saturday night?

Subtracting 2,600 from 104,944, the capacity now is 102,344.

https://saturdaytradition.com/ohio-s...ting-capacity/

This article says Ohio Stadium capacity is 103,000.

https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/0...this-fall.html

Wikipedia says capacity is 102,780, which probably is the most accurate number.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Stadium

Obviously, this is seating capacity, and could be more post-COVID if it was decided to sell standing room only tickets for some game.

It appears that Ohio State somehow manipulated Ohio Stadium's seating capacity to remain the third largest stadium in the U.S.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ms_by_capacity

However, the Dispatch reported Penn State attendance at 102,951.

<<Buckeyes fans are seeing red
Not only is Ohio State in a tight game with Penn State, but OSU fans responded when asked to wear scarlet tonight. UPDATE: Ohio State's attendance tonight is 102,951.>>

https://www.dispatch.com/story/sport...ws/8570786002/

[WRnative]

Apparently the slump in ticket sales began before the COVID epidemic. Perhaps the Buckeyes raised ticket prices too much.

<<Season ticket sales also declined for the fourth straight year as Ohio State sold 42,373 non-student season tickets in 2021, a drop of 11,553 since Ohio State sold 53,926 season tickets in 2017.>>

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...rices-for-2022