Football: Rockets Lead Nation in Attendance by Stadium Capacity
10/23/2001 12:00:00 PM | Football
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Oct. 23, 2001
Toledo, OH - The University of Toledo football team is averaging 35,726 fans in the Glass Bowl this season, which works out to 136.1 percent of capacity in the venerable stadium, the best figure in Division I-A. The Glass Bowl's official capacity of 26,248 has been extended through the use of temporary bleachers, standing room and good old-fashioned squeezing in the student section. Runner-up behind Toledo in attendance capacity is Oregon at 110 percent.
"It's great to be the leader in the nation in this important attendance category," said interim Athletic Director Mike Karabin. "The support our football team has had has been overwhelming. We're looking for another great crowd this Saturday against Navy."
Another above-capacity crowd is expected this Saturday when the Rockets (5-1) host Navy in the annual Homecoming game at 7:00 p.m. "We have had a bigger advance sale for the Navy game than either the Minnesota game or the Northern Illinois game," said Roseann Croop, UT athletic ticket manager. Brand-new bleachers have been installed into the north end zone and the south walkway of the stadium for the Navy game.
The Rockets drew 36,502 for the Northern Illinois game on Sept. 29, setting Glass Bowl and Mid-American Conference records. The previous Glass Bowl record was 34,950 set in the season opener vs. Minnesota on Aug. 30. The previous MAC record was 36,361 (Indiana State at Western Michigan on Sept. 16, 2000).
