UK’s football attendance second-lowest in expansion era

Three minutes before kickoff last Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. (Photo by John Clay)

Saturday’s announced attendance of 54,098 for the Kentucky-Jacksonville State football game drew many a raised eyebrow. By definition, the announced number was for tickets “out” or tickets “distributed.” That includes paid tickets and complimentary tickets, etc.

Still, it was the fifth-smallest announced crowd since Commonwealth Stadium was expanded in 1999. The four lower: 53,463 in 2009 for Louisiana-Monroe; 52,471 in 2001 for LSU; 52,235 in 2006 for Vanderbilt; 51,114 in 2002 for Vanderbilt.

With three home games remaining, including this Saturday against Mississippi State, Kentucky’s average home football attendance is 61,356. That’s the second-lowest figure since stadium expansion. Here are the year-by-year average attendance figures. Only the 2006 season drew fewer average fans, 57,330. And the 2006 season did not have the benefit of a Louisville home game.

Here is a look at each year’s average attendance, plus opponents that year:

• 1999 – 67,756
• Louisville, UConn, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee
• 2000 – 65,462
• South Florida, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Miss St, Vanderbilt
• 2001 – 63,480
• Louisville, Ball State, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee
• 2002 – 64,155
• UTEP, Indiana, Middle Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, LSU, Vanderbilt
• 2003 – 64,922
• Louisville, Murray St, Florida, Ohio, Miss St, Arkansas, Tennessee
• 2004 – 62,334
• Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Vanderbilt
• 2005 – 62,450
• Louisville, Idaho St, Florida, Miss St, Auburn, Tennessee
• 2006 – 57,330
• Texas St, Ole Miss, C Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Vanderbilt, La-Monroe
• 2007 – 68,824
• EKU, Kent State, Louisville, Florida Atlantic, LSU, Florida, Miss St, Tennessee
• 2008 – 69,434
• Norfolk St, Middle Tenn, WKU, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Vanderbilt
• 2009 – 69,594
• Louisville, Florida, Alabama, La-Monroe, Miss St, EKU, Tennessee
• 2010 – 66,070
• WKU, Akron, Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia, Charleston Southern, Vanderbilt
• 2011 – 61,356
• C Michigan, Louisville, Florida, Jacksonville State