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The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars are set to play their first Apple Cup as non-conference foes following the latest round of college football changes. It’s setting up to be one of the least attended from a fan perspective.
Ticket sales are at an embarrassing low with the rivalry matchup just days away. Unfortunately, it could be a sign of things to come due to conference realignment!
Washington bailed on the PAC 12 this offseason after spending more than 100 years in the Conference of Champions. Washington State, meanwhile, was one of two schools left behind to pick up the pieces.
The Huskies‘ move to the Big 10 sparked a domino effect of changes surrounding the annual rivalry contest.
First, the game typically played on the season’s final week was moved to September. It will also be played at a neutral site in order to allow schools to evenly split revenue.
Taking the game off campus while moving it up on the schedule seems to have an extremely negative effect on ticket sales.
Incredible how many cougar buddies of mine have no interest in going to the game on Saturday. Even if offered tickets. No interest.
Really curious to see what the crowd looks like
— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) September 12, 2024
My Northwest reported on Tuesday that only around 35,000 tickets had been sold. Leumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, holds just over 68,000.
That suggests roughly half of the stadium could be empty! For a once-heated rivalry game!!
The matchup just doesn’t mean what it used to.
There are no conference standing implications. No home field advantage. No Thanksgiving week table talk.
Not to mention many at Washington State are still bitter with Washington’s departure from the league.
Realignment can be a good thing in some ways, particularly for the bottom line. For schools that left the PAC 12, revenue was a major factor.
Still, for most college football viewers, the conference changes have taken tradition out of the sport – and in this case, crushed the motivation of fans to support the cause.