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What is up with the empty seats?

keyser

Veteran
Can someone who goes to the games explain what the deal is with all the empty seats? At the beginning of the game, the TV shots made it look like only about 25% of the seats were filled. Then, at the end of the game, there were huge blocks of seats empty.

As I understand it, all of the games are sellouts, so it's not like there are not ticket holders. Furthermore, if I were paying that much for a ticket, I can't imagine not actually using it for it's full time!

Plus, while I can sort of understand someone leaving a game early if it were a blowout (although last week's game should keep people in their seats, I would think), I can't imagine why anyone would leave early in a game as close as this one.

Seriously, I don't understand this at all. Is there some simple explanation I'm missing?
 

ATXtexanfan

Hall of Fame
I was there before kickoff but left with everyone else after schaub apparently threw another pick, it looked like a pick to me, was disappointed to hear the texans won when I walked out on them, oh well
 

TexansLucky13

53d Signal Batt
A lot of people left right before that 2 minute drive there at the end. Also, many people come in late.

I heard on 610 that the official attendance was 70,000ish... the seat capacity is 71,500. That's almost a full house.
 

hradhak

Veteran
I was there the entire game.
Houstonians have never been punctual.
There were quite a few people who left in the 4th quarter. Both after Miami scored and after Schaub threw a pick that was later called an incomplete pass.

I can't argue with people who leave early. You pay the money, it's your choice and this team hasn't shown a whole lot to root for yet. Hopefully that will change.
 

dtran04

Veteran
Rockets fans never learned their lesson after 13 in 33 sec. either. It's a Houston thing really. Not ever gonna change.
 

texanhead08

All Pro
Houston fans are fairweather always have been always will be. When the Texans become consistant winners it will be the in thing to be at the games until then only the diehards show up every week.
 

Norg

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
i show up every week

ANd TBO i was dissopented in the Crowd noise some of are fans are familys and dont make much noise or are to embressed for some reason

tho the roof was open and its much louder when its closed but sometimes i just wish we would have a phlly or Pittsburg like atompheres
 

Heath Shuler

SPEED KILLS
I don't think anybody will ever accuse this fanbase of being "rabid" and "loyal".
Sure, they have only sold out every single game and have never had a winning record. Have you been to a game? I have been to every game but 2. It is surprising there are as many cheering fans each week as there are. A person can only get kicked in the crotch so many times and still come back the next week and ask for more.
 

DiehardChris

You betcha!
Yeah, lots of empty seats as per usual.

It's going to sting a lot more next year - because there's no more TV blackout protection after this season. We're going to have to win early and often to see the games on TV in Houston.
 

GuerillaBlack

Hall of Fame
Rockets fans never learned their lesson after 13 in 33 sec. either. It's a Houston thing really. Not ever gonna change.
its the damn transplants, too. i'm sure houston had much more loyal and rabid fanbases back before everyone decided to move here.

Yeah, lots of empty seats as per usual.

It's going to sting a lot more next year - because there's no more TV blackout protection after this season. We're going to have to win early and often to see the games on TV in Houston.
We only need to sell the seats though right?
 

Revolution

Rookie
Yeah, lots of empty seats as per usual.

It's going to sting a lot more next year - because there's no more TV blackout protection after this season. We're going to have to win early and often to see the games on TV in Houston.
It doesn't matter how many seats are empty, it matters how many tickets are sold. We have had nothing but sellouts since we began.

I do have to admit that I don't know about today though...
 

texanmojo

Shotgun 30 Time
I was there the entire game.
Houstonians have never been punctual.
There were quite a few people who left in the 4th quarter. Both after Miami scored and after Schaub threw a pick that was later called an incomplete pass.

I can't argue with people who leave early. You pay the money, it's your choice and this team hasn't shown a whole lot to root for yet. Hopefully that will change.
If they want to leave...let them leave. As the Preacher Man once wisely said, "I paid for 60 minutes of footballl, I'm goona watch 60 minutes of football".
 

DexmanC

Hall of Fame
I'll put it this way..
The seats may be empty, but that damn parking lot is FULL
during the games. I can see why Bud banned tailgating.
 

LonerATO

All Pro
Paid attendance was 70K...the actual attendance was no where near this.
It still bothers me that the ownership hypes the paid attendance all the time and the place has a ton of empty seats when the game starts. I wonder if the blackout protection could mean that Houston might not even show its own team play even though I dont see that happening.
 

SheTexan

Hall of Fame
You guys missed one of the main reasons you saw empty seats. It's hot as hell in the NEZ. Fans roam the concourse, visit the cantina's and pubs, watch the game from the mounted TVs all over the place. Some people just can't take the intense heat, I am one of them. Be it due to age, illness, whatever, they will not stay in their seats, BUT, they are still at the game. Don't blame them for what they choose to do. Most of them are diehard TEXAN fans or they wouldn't be there in the first place. I went to the Bullpen Pub toward the end of the second quarter and the place was hopping. The balcony area was packed with smokers and people who just wanted to feel the breeze. The concourse behind the Bullpen was very busy, and there were people three deep standing at the rails watching the game. Just hope for some cooler weather come November. Our two upcoming 3 pm games should make a difference in what you see also. The fans are there, you just don't see them all on TV.
 

spurstexanstros

Texans Rising
A lot of people left right before that 2 minute drive there at the end. Also, many people come in late.

I heard on 610 that the official attendance was 70,000ish... the seat capacity is 71,500. That's almost a full house.
I was so pissed off at that....get in your freaking seats......
I was there the entire game.
Houstonians have never been punctual.
There were quite a few people who left in the 4th quarter. Both after Miami scored and after Schaub threw a pick that was later called an incomplete pass.

I can't argue with people who leave early. You pay the money, it's your choice and this team hasn't shown a whole lot to root for yet. Hopefully that will change.
What is the deal with that get there late leave early ...what is this LA? if you dont want your tickets please feel free to donate them to fans who would use them for all 60 minutes
Rockets fans never learned their lesson after 13 in 33 sec. either. It's a Houston thing really. Not ever gonna change.
I think I have blocked that out of my memory for some reason.
 

TexansFight

Veteran
I love how some guy watching on friggin TV is calling out the fans like myself who are actually INSIDE the stadium. Every game in Texans history has soldout. Let's just get that straight. Yes, Houston is a late arriving crowd. The stadium IMO was 90% full. The field level where I sit was packed and so was the upper decks. The club level like usual had open seats and that is true everywhere just look at a Redskins home game any time.

The fans who come to the stadium are a hearty loyal bunch and it amazes me how many still come and still make a ton of noise after getting stomped in the nuts so many time.

Keep your comments to yourself next time or actually show up to a game at Reliant.
 

Yankee_In_TX

Dance Lindsay!
A lot of people left right before that 2 minute drive there at the end. Also, many people come in late.

I heard on 610 that the official attendance was 70,000ish... the seat capacity is 71,500. That's almost a full house.
That's not turnstyle numbers. They don't release turnstyle numbers.

As for the seats, every time something bad happened, people left. A few minutes left in the game, most of the stadium emptied.

I stayed, and with 3 seconds left I hugged a Dane.

*yes, heat plays a factor, we took an extended half time to stay in the shade - but still, the dark seats emptied out just as much as sun seats*
 

texanhead08

All Pro
I have been to everygame in Texans history except the Broncos Pre season game this year. Its amazing at how fickle the fan base is. They cried when Bud moved the Oilers, but you have to keep the building filled so there is no chance of it ever happening again.
 

Texan_Bill

Hall of Fame
You guys missed one of the main reasons you saw empty seats. It's hot as hell in the NEZ. Fans roam the concourse, visit the cantina's and pubs, watch the game from the mounted TVs all over the place.

Exactly... I can't remember seeing sooooo many people roaming the concourses and watching the TV's up there as I ran up for a quick pit-stop. I don't mind the heat, but I certainly can undersand how it affects some - especially when there is slim to no breeze going (and Slim packed his bags and left).
 

mexican_texan

Furry Tractors
You guys missed one of the main reasons you saw empty seats. It's hot as hell in the NEZ. Fans roam the concourse, visit the cantina's and pubs, watch the game from the mounted TVs all over the place. Some people just can't take the intense heat, I am one of them. Be it due to age, illness, whatever, they will not stay in their seats, BUT, they are still at the game. Don't blame them for what they choose to do. Most of them are diehard TEXAN fans or they wouldn't be there in the first place. I went to the Bullpen Pub toward the end of the second quarter and the place was hopping. The balcony area was packed with smokers and people who just wanted to feel the breeze. The concourse behind the Bullpen was very busy, and there were people three deep standing at the rails watching the game. Just hope for some cooler weather come November. Our two upcoming 3 pm games should make a difference in what you see also. The fans are there, you just don't see them all on TV.
I found it pretty funny that the Bull Pen mostly emptied during the final drive. Nice meeting you, by the way
 

WWJD

Hall of Fame
You guys missed one of the main reasons you saw empty seats. It's hot as hell in the NEZ. Fans roam the concourse, visit the cantina's and pubs, watch the game from the mounted TVs all over the place. Some people just can't take the intense heat, I am one of them. Be it due to age, illness, whatever, they will not stay in their seats, BUT, they are still at the game. Don't blame them for what they choose to do. Most of them are diehard TEXAN fans or they wouldn't be there in the first place. I went to the Bullpen Pub toward the end of the second quarter and the place was hopping. The balcony area was packed with smokers and people who just wanted to feel the breeze. The concourse behind the Bullpen was very busy, and there were people three deep standing at the rails watching the game. Just hope for some cooler weather come November. Our two upcoming 3 pm games should make a difference in what you see also. The fans are there, you just don't see them all on TV.
Perhaps there is some way they can hurry up the repairs to that roof.

It's got to be very hard to enjoy yourself when you're being marinated.
 

jerek

Pro Hobbyist
It's going to sting a lot more next year - because there's no more TV blackout protection after this season. We're going to have to win early and often to see the games on TV in Houston.
Can someone explain this to me, because I've heard this before. So TV networks (CBS) may not show our games next year? WTF?
 

spurstexanstros

Texans Rising
I love how some guy watching on friggin TV is calling out the fans like myself who are actually INSIDE the stadium. Every game in Texans history has soldout. Let's just get that straight. Yes, Houston is a late arriving crowd. The stadium IMO was 90% full. The field level where I sit was packed and so was the upper decks. The club level like usual had open seats and that is true everywhere just look at a Redskins home game any time.

The fans who come to the stadium are a hearty loyal bunch and it amazes me how many still come and still make a ton of noise after getting stomped in the nuts so many time.

Keep your comments to yourself next time or actually show up to a game at Reliant.
well... i can see that hit close to the mark.....must be true...


I would freaking kill to be at the game.... I live 2 hours away and I would walk to Reliant to watch the game... and I would be there on time. Some of us can not afford the tickets...parking and gas and maybe hotel room just to watch a game. I am a grad student who works and goes to school while taking care of my wife and son. So I can only afford to make the trip once or twice a year. I am going to be at the Monday night game screaming my freaking head off.... at kickoff.

We need yall there to give our team the home field advantage at kickoff and the first series on offense and d-fense... you know to intimidate the other team and make them feel like they are on the road. We need yall there to force false starts and disprupt the communications of the offense.
you have a responsibility as a ticketholder to be there and use the ticket at the appropriate time it says on the front of the ticket. If it says noon...be there at noon not 12:30 not 12:01 but noon. If you cant be there on time or have bigger priorities ( tell olsteen to wrap it up at 11:30, me I go to church on sat or early service) give or sell your ticket (at face value) to someone who will actually use it and follow the instructions on the front of the ticket.

We need every advantage we can get and as the slogan went...."be the homefield advantage"
 

Yankee_In_TX

Dance Lindsay!
Can someone explain this to me, because I've heard this before. So TV networks (CBS) may not show our games next year? WTF?
I thought blackout protection was only the first 5 years?

I would NEVER worry about it. Empty seats, ESPECIALLY in Houston =/= tickets not sold.

Think of how many people you know with tickets that go unsued (your boss, corworker, buddy...?)
 

Texecutioner

Hall of Fame
Houston fans are fairweather always have been always will be. When the Texans become consistant winners it will be the in thing to be at the games until then only the diehards show up every week.
This is about as misinformed and ridiculous as anything I've ever heard. The Texans have not even had one winning season and yet every single game is packed just about and has since the franchise was started. This team has had a tremendous amount of failures, but yet there is still a ton of fan support in a city that also has a whole lot of Cowgirl fans and some looney Titan fans that are still trying to associate them with the Oilers.

Mcnair is amongst the top of the league in revenue, while he hasn't even had one winning season, so don't act like Houston fans are a bunch of fair weather fans. If that were a fact we wouldn't have a team in each big sport like we do.
 

TexansFight

Veteran
well... i can see that hit close to the mark.....must be true...


I would freaking kill to be at the game.... I live 2 hours away and I would walk to Reliant to watch the game... and I would be there on time. Some of us can not afford the tickets...parking and gas and maybe hotel room just to watch a game. I am a grad student who works and goes to school while taking care of my wife and son. So I can only afford to make the trip once or twice a year. I am going to be at the Monday night game screaming my freaking head off.... at kickoff.

We need yall there to give our team the home field advantage at kickoff and the first series on offense and d-fense... you know to intimidate the other team and make them feel like they are on the road. We need yall there to force false starts and disprupt the communications of the offense.
you have a responsibility as a ticketholder to be there and use the ticket at the appropriate time it says on the front of the ticket. If it says noon...be there at noon not 12:30 not 12:01 but noon. If you cant be there on time or have bigger priorities ( tell olsteen to wrap it up at 11:30, me I go to church on sat or early service) give or sell your ticket (at face value) to someone who will actually use it and follow the instructions on the front of the ticket.

We need every advantage we can get and as the slogan went...."be the homefield advantage"

You are preaching to the choir. I am always in my seat before kickoff and am always in to the game and loud. All I am saying it is that the stadium is more full than it looks at the beginning when they show it on TV. It fills up and it has gotten loud.
 
Yeah, lots of empty seats as per usual.

It's going to sting a lot more next year - because there's no more TV blackout protection after this season. We're going to have to win early and often to see the games on TV in Houston.
We havent been under blackout protection for 2 years now. It was only through season 5.
 

cowbellm00

100% Houstonian
someone said down the thread here that it's fair waether fans. they are completly correct. only die hards go ( or even bother to watch on tv ) when the teams on a roll. I live in Tampa Bay and I'm a Rays ( and Astros ) fan and TB had the worst record in baseball last year, and no fans in the stands. Look at them this year, and the attendence. wins = fan support. it's that simple.

oh yeah, GO TEXANS!!! :fans:
 

Texan_Bill

Hall of Fame
someone said down the thread here that it's fair waether fans. they are completly correct. only die hards go ( or even bother to watch on tv ) when the teams on a roll. I live in Tampa Bay and I'm a Rays ( and Astros ) fan and TB had the worst record in baseball last year, and no fans in the stands. Look at them this year, and the attendence. wins = fan support. it's that simple.

oh yeah, GO TEXANS!!! :fans:
Ummm, bad example.. The Rays had terrible attendance all year long until the playoffs started. They finished 26 out of 30 teams in attendance - not good for a team that played consistently good baseball all season long...
 

Vinnie

with an I E
I've had season tickets for the last two seasons, and here's my observation. I wouldn't put the number of empty seats at kick off on the tailgaters at all. Typically all us tailgaters are packing it up and walking in with plenty of time to buy a beer and get in our seat before kick off. There are however TONS of folks that are barely making into the parking lot fifteen minutes before kick off and they don't have a prayer of getting to their seat before the start of the game. Having been forced into this situation once a few years ago myself I can tell you the traffic is horrendus and you're going to end up parking a freaking quarter mile from the entrance. People just need to start giving themselves more time to get to the stadium due to the bottleneck at the parking lot entrances. It's not like commuting to your job. As far as people leaving early is concerned, what I've noticed is these are people who just sit there and watch like they are at home watching it on TV who don't cheer for their defence or celebrate TD's, so there you go.
 

mexican_texan

Furry Tractors
Yes, and then get their phone number, so that I may call them and get their tickets.

:texflag:
I was walking to the gates and four different guys came up to me offering me tickets. I took one just so I wouldn't seem so rude. They weren't bad tickets either, they were pretty good
 

imatexan

All Pro
I agree that it was about 90% full and that this was probally the most people I have seen in the concourse area(in the club). The funny thing was that my row was completely full which has not happend since I would say last years liberty white kickoff. Once again despite being 0-4 Texans fans did a great job of showing up. Now what disgusted me is how many fany left early! Shame on you if you did, no excuses(other than emergencies)! I of course stayed to the last second and it paid off. I never got why people left early, eepecially since we were in the game the whole time!
 

Texans_Chick

Utopian Dreamer
I always stay until the end.

This is the deal with empty seats:

1. Some people are in the concourse because it is really hot in the sun with no breeze in the stadium.

2. Club level people watch from the bar.

3. It takes a while to get to the upper levels of the stadium. Escalators are basically packed and nearly unsuable and the ramps are just sloooooow even when you watlk fast. People don't give themselves enough time before the game.

4. Half time is really short. Even when I rush, it is hard to race to the restroom and get a beverage and get back to your seat by kickoff.

So, the beginning of the game is not where you would like it to be, nor is right after the half. And well, I can completely understand fans being disgusted with how quickly and easily Miami scored in their last drive. Fans have become conditioned for bad endings.
 

spurstexanstros

Texans Rising
I always stay until the end.

This is the deal with empty seats:

1. Some people are in the concourse because it is really hot in the sun with no breeze in the stadium.

2. Club level people watch from the bar.

3. It takes a while to get to the upper levels of the stadium. Escalators are basically packed and nearly unsuable and the ramps are just sloooooow even when you watlk fast. People don't give themselves enough time before the game.

4. Half time is really short. Even when I rush, it is hard to race to the restroom and get a beverage and get back to your seat by kickoff.

So, the beginning of the game is not where you would like it to be, nor is right after the half. And well, I can completely understand fans being disgusted with how quickly and easily Miami scored in their last drive. Fans have become conditioned for bad endings.
This is Texas...shoot our version of hell satan has to crank up the ac and call it Dallas... yall should be used to the heat...especially the humidity....


Please TC I know you are there early but dont make excuses for those who are just plain tardy and letting team down. I can not wait till game i scraped my pennies together for to make some noise. I am gonna bring the house of pain back myself if I have to...... also ill say it again ( as I do to the corporate hinks at the ATT center) get there on time or give tickets to those who will..... when I drive from SA I get there on time every time.

No excuses people...just be there... Texans depend on you.
 

Texans_Chick

Utopian Dreamer
This is Texas...shoot our version of hell satan has to crank up the ac and call it Dallas... yall should be used to the heat...especially the humidity....


Please TC I know you are there early but dont make excuses for those who are just plain tardy and letting team down. I can not wait till game i scraped my pennies together for to make some noise. I am gonna bring the house of pain back myself if I have to...... also ill say it again ( as I do to the corporate hinks at the ATT center) get there on time or give tickets to those who will..... when I drive from SA I get there on time every time.

No excuses people...just be there... Texans depend on you.
Hey, I'm a healthy person but the heat inside of Reliant in the sun gives me a few problems. There is no breeze inside the stadium at all. When we left the game, there was a very nice breeze outside, more refreshing after a win.

I think there are a lot of fans that are new to the stadium and really don't have a sense of how long it takes to get into the stadium and then get to their seats.

It's not making excuses. It just is reflecting reality. I'd like people to get into the stadium earlier and stay until the very end, but for a lot of people, that isn't going to happen.

The good news is those of us diehards who stay until the end are the ones that make all the noise anyway. The potted plant fans don't do squat.
 
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