BATON ROUGE — According to figures recently released by the NCAA, the LSU soccer team cracked the nation’s top 25 in average home attendance for the first time in the program’s 13-year history as fans set records at the LSU Soccer Complex in 2006.
The Tigers rank No. 24 in the country in attendance for the 2006 season as an average of 817 fans made their presence felt at 10 home matches a year ago. They also rank fourth in the SEC, trailing only No. 6 Florida (1,590), No. 14 Georgia (1,143) and No. 20 Auburn (911).
The team drew four of the top 10 crowds in the history of the LSU Soccer Complex a year ago and just missed setting an all-time attendance record when 1,669 fans packed the stands to see the Tigers take on the 14th-ranked Texas Longhorns on Sept. 13.
“We’ve received tremendous support from the fans over the last two seasons, and we look for that to continue with another exciting year in 2007,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “It’s a testament to the devotion that the Baton Rouge community has for this sport. Our goal this year is to exceed 1,000 in average attendance, and we believe that number can be achieved.”
Daniel Nunes of the LSU Athletics Marketing and Promotions Department believes that the squad is more than capable of averaging 1,000 fans in its eight home matches in 2007.
“Our goal this season is to average 1,000 fans for each game,” Nunes said. “With all the great things we have taking place in conjunction with the matches and the exciting play on the field, we are optimistic we can reach this goal and establish a new all-time attendance record this year.
“Fan support is a key element in giving our ladies a home-field advantage. We want LSU to be known for being a tough place to play for opponents, and this is only capable through strong and enthusiastic fan support. As the team continues to succeed we are confident we will reach the nation’s top 10 in attendance in the very near future.”
The marketing and promotions department has partnered with the Baton Rouge Soccer Association to offer their members free admission to matches against Southern Miss on Aug. 31 and Tennessee on Oct. 5. It has also teamed with the Girl Scouts for Girl Scout Day on Oct. 7 when the Tigers take on SEC rival Georgia.
Also scheduled is the fifth-annual “Cram the Complex” campaign, which will take place Sept. 28 when LSU opens its conference slate against Mississippi State. The team set an all-time record with this promotion two years ago when 1,689 fans saw the Tigers play Ole Miss in 2005.
Season tickets are now on sale to the public and start at just $25 per ticket. They can be purchased online at www.LSUsports.net or by contacting the LSU Athletics Ticket Office at 225-578-2184. Free LSU Crocs will be given to those who purchase a season ticket package for soccer.
The Tigers would also like to invite all area soccer teams and other groups to any of their eight home matches this season. Complimentary tickets for groups can be reserved in advance by contacting the LSU Athletics Marketing and Promotions Department by phone at 225-578-6884 or by E-mail at promotions@lsu.edu.