Not really a brag, but Drake has had all three home games over 2k. Last time that happened was 2015.

Valpo for homecoming/PFL opener was the largest conference crowd since that equivalent game (homecoming/PFL opener Morehead State)  in 2016.  Average crowd for the 2nd PFL game the last three years was 1640. 2,134 on Saturday, despite the 2nd PFL game not being until late October (2nd PFL home game has between October 7 and 15 in recent years). Game overlapped with both Iowa and Iowa State's games (Iowa played at 11, Iowa State at 2:30) which I assume never helps. 

With two November games and late November weather already here I am not optimistic for the final two games (both in mid-November), but perhaps we will be surprised. 2013 was the last year that Drake drew over 2k for every home game. 

	2014			2015			2016			2017			2018			2019
OOC 1	7248			3034			2674			3332			1881			2529
OOC 2	3078						1784			864
PFL 1	3354	20-Sep		3326	26-Sep		3158	24-Sep		2956	23-Sep		3011	6-Oct		3060	5-Oct
PFL 2	2397	11-Oct		2336	10-Oct		1740	15-Oct		1734	7-Oct		1439	13-Oct		2134	26-Oct
PFL 3	2914	25-Oct		2028	24-Oct		1727	29-Oct		1406	28-Oct		1522	3-Nov		1670	9-Nov
PFL 4	1909	1-Nov		1330	21-Nov		1897	12-Nov		1487	18-Nov		1348	10-Nov		1767	16-Nov

The two largest OOC 1 crowds included a lot of red (Grand View or South Dakota). 

Just some statistical noise? Good weather? Residual effect from a near-upset in Ames last December?

The game on the 9th will be a huge challenge for attendance with everything else happening in college football that day. Iowa vs. Wisconsin is a 3:00 PM kick & #1 LSU at #2 Alabama is a 2:30 PM kick. Undefeated Minnesota vs Undefeated Penn State is an 11:00 AM kick. Iowa State at Oklahoma isn't until 7:00 PM but it might not matter.

Drake seems to have decided there will only be one OOC home game on future schedules.  For the past decade, our preferred source of "buy" games has been the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference.  Here is our recent scheduling history with that conference.

2019 Truman State
2018 William Jewell
2018 Missouri S&T
2017 (none)
2016 Quincy
2016 McKendree
2015 William Jewell
2015 Southwest Baptist...aborted: 12th game not allowed
2014 Truman State
2013 Indianapolis
2012 (none)
2011 Missouri S&T
2010 Missouri S&T - at Rolla
2009 Missouri S&T

So which GLVC team do you want to see?  
I've got a feeling Lindenwood will be visiting soon.

Attendance at Drake games is a giant mystery. The crowd for the Valpo game was listed at 3,006. Here is a picture of some of the crowd for that game. 

Most teams pad attendance in the PFL, Drake seems to do the opposite.

3k doesn't seem that far off if that's what the west side looked like. Capacity is 14,500. There are probably 4k or so seats in that photo? They're reasonably full but not crowded. Probably no one sitting in the Forest Ave sections, I wasn't there, but if it's comparable the usual PFL visiting crowd the east stands would have had been in the low x00s. The season ticket base is presumably less than 1k since they drew only 864 to a game in recent years. 

It's by far the largest stadium in the league, people spread out when a row isn't full. 

My guess would have been between 4,500 and 5,000. The crowd to the left of the picture went down a little further. But to miss the actual figure by 50% is a little head shaking.........

What's the procedure with students?  Do they simply show an ID?  Or are they issued tickets, and if so, are they charged for those tickets?

DRAKE UNIVERSITY STUDENT TICKET INFORMATION

 All Drake undergraduate, graduate, and law students receive one (1) free admission to all Drake Athletics home events*.  Tickets are automatically added to students’ Drake Card.  Students may also use the AXS app (using valid drake.edu email address as log-in) for admission.​The information below includes information regarding policies and procedures for the various athletic events. *Restrictions on postseason play and neutral sites may apply. 
Football

• Enter using valid Drake Card or AXS app
• Student entrance located at SW gate of Drake Stadium (Near the Bulldog Statue)
• Sit in sections U-V in Drake Stadium (Student Section)

In the 80's there was no internet, no cable, no distractions and no way for  Drake students to watch a game unless they attended.  That certainly helped Drake get 7-9,000 at every home game.  OK, Lewis Lloyd helped, as did winning.   Still, games were FREE FOR STUDENTS with ID.  Students are paying enough money for class, room and board.  With the recent generous donations, the goal was to bring a better fan experience to the Knapp.  Nothing better than butts in the seats.  it would be nice if  "X" amount of dollars a year was put to the side so students could go for free.   

they are free, the phrasing is weird, it's one for every event.

Ohhhh, I get it!   "DRAKE STUDENTS ENTER FREE WITH YOUR PROPER DRAKE ID CARD, or AXS app (using valid drake.edu email address as log-in)."  Why not just say that?  I read it as you get one free admission per event.  Sorry, to me, that wording is very D+!  Thanks Lime

Lindenwood has won the Great Lakes Valley Conference in its first year year of membership.  This is strangely not reflected in the playoff ratings, which would (today, at least) take runnerup UIndy over the Lions.  

The best GLVC team not in the playoffs will meet a similarly situated team from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (mostly Ohio and Michigan schools) in the inaugural America's Crossroads Bowl.  Lindenwood might get stuck in that bowl, but it should be Truman State representing the GLVC.

The bowl's slogan is "Along the South Shore."  Technically, that's a lie.  There's no shoreline in Hobart, Indiana.

And surely those conferences are working out a trade of their conference names, right?

Sorry if this update on Lindenwood was overly long.  They have a Soph-Jr dominated team that played (FCS) Eastern Washington this year.  I'm sure they would like a shot at Drake in the near future.

They will get their chance.......

Because it was incomplete, I updated the chart with the last two games. Drake failed to get above 2k for each game, although they maintained an average and median above 2k for the first time since 2016. 

Still puny numbers, but at least Drake isn't tied with Georgetown again this year. In fact, Drake's 2019 attendance was slightly better than San Diego's.

Considering that Drake's enrollment is above 3,900 (according to the web-site), that means that at least 50% or more of the student body is attending the games. The visitor's side is always near empty and I am assuming that there are very little townies and parents at the games. So, all in all, not bad to "maintain an average and median above 2,000." Also, when I have watched the games, those 2,000 have made some noise when the Dogs have given them reason to do so.

Never done a survey but there seem to be far more parents/alumni/townies than students.

On that count, that's nice. Then, as far as the students showing up that sucks. Still a nice %age, based on enrollment.
Back in my olden days there was always a nice student turnout. We also had some good individual players that the fans came out to see. The band sat in the stands with the students and it was fun. The home side was on the east side of the stadium with the concession stands underneath the stands. It seemed as if there were also a decent amount  of townies, who sat on the west side of the stadium where the kids sit now.
I enjoyed going to the football games almost as much as the b-ball games.....and Don Marcoullieay (sp) and the marching Bulldogs were the best. They would perform at Bears, Vikings and Packer games at half time, every once and a while. Some of those performances are on You Tube. 

+1
The parent support is impressive!  There had to be a 2-300 people at the tailgate party at U of San Diego.  A majority, if not all, friends and family of the student-athletes.  Alumni had a different gathering, but still a nice turnout.