Link: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-big-ten-stadiums-2015
Athlon Sports Stadium/Attendance Rankings
1. Ohio Stadium - Ohio State
Opened: 1922
Capacity: 104,944 (3rd)
2014 Avg: 106,296 (1st)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 101.3% (2nd)
Record: 108,362 (2014)
There is little doubt that the Horseshoe is the Big Ten's best place to watch a game. The Buckeyes led the nation at 106,296 fans per game in 2014 and finished second in the Big Ten at 101.3 percent capacity. This while being the third-largest building in the conference behind Michigan and Penn State. Urban Meyer is 21-1 in three years at home with that one loss coming to Virginia Tech last fall.
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2. Memorial Stadium - Nebraska
Opened: 1923
Capacity: 87,000 (4th)
2014 Avg: 91,249 (10th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 104.9% (1st)
Record: 91,585 (2014)
This venue has been sold out since 1962. Seriously, 1962! The amazing streak allowed Nebraska to lead the Big Ten in capacity at 104.9% full every game. The Big Red finished 10th in the nation in attendance last fall with the fourth-biggest venue in the conference.
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3. Camp Randall Stadium - Wisconsin
Opened: 1917
Capacity: 80,321 (5th)
2014 Avg: 79,520 (18th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 99.0% (4th)
Record: 83,184 (2005)
With the fifth-biggest building in the Big Ten, Wisconsin finished 18th nationally in attendance. Virtually every seat was filled a year ago with the fourth-largest average capacity at 99.0%. Only Ohio State, Nebraska and Michigan State could claim a more packed house than UW.
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4. Beaver Stadium - Penn State
Opened: 1960
Capacity: 106,572 (2nd)
2014 Avg: 101,623 (5th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.4% (8th)
Record: 110,753 (2002)
Normally, 5,000 empty seats would be a big problem but not at Penn State. Despite those empty seats, Penn State still finished fifth in the nation in attendance at 101,623, which actually represented a five percent increase over 2013. So while the 95.4 percent average capacity (8th in the Big Ten) doesn't look great when comparing it to the rest of the conference, the numbers are trending in the right direction for one of the best buildings in the country.
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5. Michigan Stadium - Michigan
Opened: 1927
Capacity: 109,901 (1st)
2014 Avg: 104,909 (3rd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.5% (7th)
Record: 115,109 (2013)
Much like Penn State, the Wolverines had 5,000 empty seats at every game but still managed to draw over 100,000 fans per home date. The Maize and Blue finished third in the nation in attendance at nearly 105,000 per game. However, with Jim Harbaugh now in town, expect the six percent attendance drop from 2013-14 to be totally reversed this fall. Season tickets and suite sales are soaring for the Big Blue right now.
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6. Kinnick Stadium - Iowa
Opened: 1929
Capacity: 70,585 (7th)
2014 Avg: 67,512 (22nd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.6% (6th)
Record: 70,585
How many stadiums seat more than 70,000 people and are just the seventh-biggest building in its own conference? But that is what Iowa is dealing with in the Big Ten. The 67,512 average attendance was 22nd in the nation and up one percent from 2013. Kirk Ferentz is 10-11 at home over the last three years and has lost at least three times in Kinnick in three straight seasons.
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7. Spartan Stadium - Michigan State
Opened: 1925
Capacity: 75,005 (6th)
2014 Avg: 74,681 (20th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 99.6% (3rd)
Record: 80,401 (1990)
Michigan State finished in the top 20 nationally in attendance and was third in the Big Ten at 99.6 percent capacity. The Spartans also saw a three percent growth in sales from 2013. Mark Dantonio and company are 13-1 at home over the last two seasons.
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8. TCF Bank Stadium - Minnesota
Opened: 2009
Capacity: 52,525 (11th)
2014 Avg: 47,865 (45th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 91.1% (9th)
Record: 50,805
The newest building in the Big Ten also serves beer -- marking it a must-see stop. Until it expands, however, it will still be one of the smallest in the league (11th). Minnesota ranked 45th nationally in attendance last fall and ninth in the Big Ten in average capacity. Jerry Kill is starting to make it work for his team, however, going 11-3 at home over the last two seasons.
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9. Memorial Stadium - Illinois
Opened: 1923
Capacity: 60,670 (8th)
2014 Avg: 41,549 (55th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 68.5% (13th)
Record: 78,297 (1984)
The Illini's home stadium keeps getting nicer but continues to shrink in size. At one time holding nearly 80,000 fans, Memorial Stadium averaged just 41,549 last fall (55th) and now is the eighth-biggest venue in the Big Ten. The five percent dip in attendance last season ranked Illinois ahead of only Purdue in terms of average capacity (68.5 percent). Tim Beckman is 10-13 at home in three years at Illinois (but did post his best season at 5-2 last year).
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10. Byrd Stadium - Maryland
Opened: 1950
Capacity: 51,108 (13th)
2014 Avg: 46,981 (48th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 90.7% (10th)
Record: 58,973 (1975)
Surprisingly, Maryland's Byrd Stadium is only bigger than Northwestern's Ryan Field when it comes to capacity in the Big Ten. However, the move to the Big Ten created a 14 percent jump in attendance from 2013, a number only bested by Texas A&M (21 percent) nationally. The Terps finished 48th in total attendance and renovations could be coming soon.
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11. Ryan Field - Northwestern
Opened: 1926
Capacity: 47,130 (14th)
2014 Avg: 38,613 (59th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 81.9% (11th)
Record: 55,752 (1962)
The smallest building in the Big Ten finished just 59th in the nation in attendance last fall. Unfortunately, the Wildcats also had one of the worst average capacities as well, filling up just 81.9 percent of their venue on average -- better than only Purdue, Illinois and Indiana. Northwestern has won just two of its last 11 home games.
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12. High Point Solutions Stadium - Rutgers
Opened: 1994
Capacity: 52,454 (12th)
2014 Avg: 50,632 (43rd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 96.5% (5th)
Record: 53,737 (2009)
Rutgers finished 43rd nationally in attendance last fall with the third-smallest building in the Big Ten. However, it was second in the Big Ten with a nine percent jump in attendance and was fifth in the Big Ten at 96.5 percent capacity.
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13. Memorial Stadium - Indiana
Opened: 1960
Capacity: 52,929 (10th)
2014 Avg: 41,657 (54th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 78.7% (12th)
Record: 56,223 (1969)
It's tough to draw fans to Indiana football games, plain and simple. That said, nearly 42,000 fans on average saw the Hoosiers play in person last season. That number only ranks 54th nationally but is only a few thousand behind major winners like TCU (44,719) and Baylor (46,710). Maybe there is hope as Kevin Wilson continues to improve this team.
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14. Ross-Ade Stadium - Purdue
Opened: 1924
Capacity: 57,236 (9th)
2014 Avg: 35,269 (62nd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 61.6% (14th)
Record: 71,629 (1980)
There doesn't seem to be much hope at all in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers have the ninth-biggest stadium in the Big Ten but finished last in attendance and just 62nd nationally. Only Duke, Wake Forest, Washington State, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Boston College drew worse crowds last fall among Power 5 teams and the 61.6 percent average capacity was the lowest in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC combined.
Athlon Sports Stadium/Attendance Rankings
1. Ohio Stadium - Ohio State
Opened: 1922
Capacity: 104,944 (3rd)
2014 Avg: 106,296 (1st)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 101.3% (2nd)
Record: 108,362 (2014)
There is little doubt that the Horseshoe is the Big Ten's best place to watch a game. The Buckeyes led the nation at 106,296 fans per game in 2014 and finished second in the Big Ten at 101.3 percent capacity. This while being the third-largest building in the conference behind Michigan and Penn State. Urban Meyer is 21-1 in three years at home with that one loss coming to Virginia Tech last fall.
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2. Memorial Stadium - Nebraska
Opened: 1923
Capacity: 87,000 (4th)
2014 Avg: 91,249 (10th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 104.9% (1st)
Record: 91,585 (2014)
This venue has been sold out since 1962. Seriously, 1962! The amazing streak allowed Nebraska to lead the Big Ten in capacity at 104.9% full every game. The Big Red finished 10th in the nation in attendance last fall with the fourth-biggest venue in the conference.
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3. Camp Randall Stadium - Wisconsin
Opened: 1917
Capacity: 80,321 (5th)
2014 Avg: 79,520 (18th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 99.0% (4th)
Record: 83,184 (2005)
With the fifth-biggest building in the Big Ten, Wisconsin finished 18th nationally in attendance. Virtually every seat was filled a year ago with the fourth-largest average capacity at 99.0%. Only Ohio State, Nebraska and Michigan State could claim a more packed house than UW.
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4. Beaver Stadium - Penn State
Opened: 1960
Capacity: 106,572 (2nd)
2014 Avg: 101,623 (5th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.4% (8th)
Record: 110,753 (2002)
Normally, 5,000 empty seats would be a big problem but not at Penn State. Despite those empty seats, Penn State still finished fifth in the nation in attendance at 101,623, which actually represented a five percent increase over 2013. So while the 95.4 percent average capacity (8th in the Big Ten) doesn't look great when comparing it to the rest of the conference, the numbers are trending in the right direction for one of the best buildings in the country.
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5. Michigan Stadium - Michigan
Opened: 1927
Capacity: 109,901 (1st)
2014 Avg: 104,909 (3rd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.5% (7th)
Record: 115,109 (2013)
Much like Penn State, the Wolverines had 5,000 empty seats at every game but still managed to draw over 100,000 fans per home date. The Maize and Blue finished third in the nation in attendance at nearly 105,000 per game. However, with Jim Harbaugh now in town, expect the six percent attendance drop from 2013-14 to be totally reversed this fall. Season tickets and suite sales are soaring for the Big Blue right now.
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6. Kinnick Stadium - Iowa
Opened: 1929
Capacity: 70,585 (7th)
2014 Avg: 67,512 (22nd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 95.6% (6th)
Record: 70,585
How many stadiums seat more than 70,000 people and are just the seventh-biggest building in its own conference? But that is what Iowa is dealing with in the Big Ten. The 67,512 average attendance was 22nd in the nation and up one percent from 2013. Kirk Ferentz is 10-11 at home over the last three years and has lost at least three times in Kinnick in three straight seasons.
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7. Spartan Stadium - Michigan State
Opened: 1925
Capacity: 75,005 (6th)
2014 Avg: 74,681 (20th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 99.6% (3rd)
Record: 80,401 (1990)
Michigan State finished in the top 20 nationally in attendance and was third in the Big Ten at 99.6 percent capacity. The Spartans also saw a three percent growth in sales from 2013. Mark Dantonio and company are 13-1 at home over the last two seasons.
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8. TCF Bank Stadium - Minnesota
Opened: 2009
Capacity: 52,525 (11th)
2014 Avg: 47,865 (45th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 91.1% (9th)
Record: 50,805
The newest building in the Big Ten also serves beer -- marking it a must-see stop. Until it expands, however, it will still be one of the smallest in the league (11th). Minnesota ranked 45th nationally in attendance last fall and ninth in the Big Ten in average capacity. Jerry Kill is starting to make it work for his team, however, going 11-3 at home over the last two seasons.
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9. Memorial Stadium - Illinois
Opened: 1923
Capacity: 60,670 (8th)
2014 Avg: 41,549 (55th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 68.5% (13th)
Record: 78,297 (1984)
The Illini's home stadium keeps getting nicer but continues to shrink in size. At one time holding nearly 80,000 fans, Memorial Stadium averaged just 41,549 last fall (55th) and now is the eighth-biggest venue in the Big Ten. The five percent dip in attendance last season ranked Illinois ahead of only Purdue in terms of average capacity (68.5 percent). Tim Beckman is 10-13 at home in three years at Illinois (but did post his best season at 5-2 last year).
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10. Byrd Stadium - Maryland
Opened: 1950
Capacity: 51,108 (13th)
2014 Avg: 46,981 (48th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 90.7% (10th)
Record: 58,973 (1975)
Surprisingly, Maryland's Byrd Stadium is only bigger than Northwestern's Ryan Field when it comes to capacity in the Big Ten. However, the move to the Big Ten created a 14 percent jump in attendance from 2013, a number only bested by Texas A&M (21 percent) nationally. The Terps finished 48th in total attendance and renovations could be coming soon.
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11. Ryan Field - Northwestern
Opened: 1926
Capacity: 47,130 (14th)
2014 Avg: 38,613 (59th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 81.9% (11th)
Record: 55,752 (1962)
The smallest building in the Big Ten finished just 59th in the nation in attendance last fall. Unfortunately, the Wildcats also had one of the worst average capacities as well, filling up just 81.9 percent of their venue on average -- better than only Purdue, Illinois and Indiana. Northwestern has won just two of its last 11 home games.
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12. High Point Solutions Stadium - Rutgers
Opened: 1994
Capacity: 52,454 (12th)
2014 Avg: 50,632 (43rd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 96.5% (5th)
Record: 53,737 (2009)
Rutgers finished 43rd nationally in attendance last fall with the third-smallest building in the Big Ten. However, it was second in the Big Ten with a nine percent jump in attendance and was fifth in the Big Ten at 96.5 percent capacity.
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13. Memorial Stadium - Indiana
Opened: 1960
Capacity: 52,929 (10th)
2014 Avg: 41,657 (54th)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 78.7% (12th)
Record: 56,223 (1969)
It's tough to draw fans to Indiana football games, plain and simple. That said, nearly 42,000 fans on average saw the Hoosiers play in person last season. That number only ranks 54th nationally but is only a few thousand behind major winners like TCU (44,719) and Baylor (46,710). Maybe there is hope as Kevin Wilson continues to improve this team.
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14. Ross-Ade Stadium - Purdue
Opened: 1924
Capacity: 57,236 (9th)
2014 Avg: 35,269 (62nd)
2014 Percentage of Capacity: 61.6% (14th)
Record: 71,629 (1980)
There doesn't seem to be much hope at all in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers have the ninth-biggest stadium in the Big Ten but finished last in attendance and just 62nd nationally. Only Duke, Wake Forest, Washington State, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Boston College drew worse crowds last fall among Power 5 teams and the 61.6 percent average capacity was the lowest in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC combined.
