5,104 Fans at Oregon Match?

212 missing fans sounds like an X-Files conspiracy that someone mathematical must track down. There were at least 200 seatless fans who claimed there was no room in general admission who were looking for any bench in the south grandstand.

Easy prediction: Pilots will set a new single-season attendance record this year.

Yeah, Public Safety/the Purple People Eaters (the events workers) need to work on only letting people into EZ2 who have tickets for those seats - I saw more than one case of people having to kick someone out of their seats because EZ2 isn't General Admission.

Well... the real solution is making people actually use the seat number they have for the big sold out games. I know they've done that a few times in the past.

It's a pain and I know they wouldn't want to do that for all games, but it would probably prevent those problems. What happens is people spread out blankets and stuff like that and end up taking several more seats than the number they actually have. And also, people generally don't want to sit over on the end of the student section. And there is also a bit of a "black hole" spot on the sides of the press box where the view is restricted. Put all that together, and you end up with too many people trying to sit in the same place.

Generally things do work themselves out, but it's not a good situation if people bought a ticket and don't have a place to sit. So I don't know... what do you think the best solution is? Enforcing the seat numbers? Something else?

Ahhh, nice comfortable stadium seating:)

Guess I don't have the GA problem because I'm in EZ2, but I don't like watching people having to ask people to move because they're sitting in their seats. I think for games that big they may need to enforce the seat number thing in any reserved sections.

Worst case I can always watch from the Pilot Club, but I like my seats!

Tear out the bleachers and get those backless little stadium seats they have in European stadiums, or you could just add these to the top of them.....

http://www.daplast.com/english/index.php?page=21&idprod=7

That and I say they replace the grandstand seats so it says Pilots or Portland in white... Something like this....

My wife and I just moved back to the Portland area this spring, so it was the first year that we were able to pursue season tickets. So, I talked with Tricia (Miller) about some of these issues last spring.

It floored me that the benchback bleachers even had a waiting list this year. So, we have GAs. Tricia had said that they assign the best seats possible for the season ticket holders (Section H) who have GA because those do become assigned seats for the big, sold-out games--of which there would be a few in 2008.

After talking to her, I was not under the impression that Oregon would be considered a big one but UCLA, USC and Santa Clara probably would involve assigned seats.

Ohhhhhhhhh snap! Genius idea! The grandstand is probably in need of a remodel pretty soon... painting that on would be delicious.

That's a great idea! The model you mentioned or


Whichever gives you the most seating. I don't think you have to tear anything out, just plunk those down on the existing planks. Not so cold, too! I wonder how they work out with the backrest bar on the bench-back seats? Bench backs is about the munimum quality of seating that is amenable to season ticket sales, and that's the real key to maintaining increased attendance.

If Merlo is going to regularly sell out, though, the solution is more seating, too.
You could add 500 seats with almost no impact on the atmosphere, and 1000 seats with minimal impact. Then it's only a couple thou more for a stadium big enough to hold the College Cup.

The most likely spot to add seats would be in that gap between the student section and the regular GA seats on the other sideline. Probably could add in a few hundred pretty easily.

Beyond that.... I don't know. I guess there's that corner where the Pilot Club tent is, but that seems pretty entrenched. Maybe there is some space to make the "other side" a bit taller and bump it out a bit, but I don't know... there's not a ton of space between Merlo and the Chiles center back there.

Of course, the other scenerio........ the new Rec Center being built along the edge of the stadium and installing luxury suites overlooking the field from behind the goal. I know that was in some initial drawings. A lot would have to take place for that to happen (including getting the land down below, moving the baseball field, and building a parking garage) but hey... we can dream, right?

yeah, I think they would be an easy/quick modification that would make sure people at least stay in designated seats (none of that blanket business...), they are actually contoured and comfortable unlike plain benches and there's nothing wrong with a bit more purple in the stadium, hey throw something like this in, maybe they can use corporate $$$ to fund it:


As far as adding seats, I think logically the best options are behind both of the goal (not sure if there is some sort of ordinance on expanding toward willamette) or even adding a few more rows on the chiles side...

As long as we are dreaming,

Put the press box on stilts in back of the existing seats, fill those in. That's another four or five rows of premium season tickets.

Add skyboxes there, too for the folks with the fat money clips - mmmm good revenue!

as long as you have done that, put a translucent canopy over the fur lined seats I sit in. Hey! I'm not being selfish. It'll help with noise. we all know that's an issue.


Just thinking of the neighbors....

Haha as long as Pilot Nation regulars can occasionally come up to the Geezer Suite and pay homage I support it 100%