Former Bronco Has Plan to Fill the Stands at BSU Home Games

As we settled into our seats in the south end zone at last week's Boise State vs New Mexico game I looked around and though to myself "I've never seen this stadium so empty." 

According to the Idaho Statesman, the official attendance for that game was 28,385.  That makes it one of the only two home games the Broncos have played in front of a crowd of less than 30,000 since Coach Pete's first game in 2006. The other game was a game that all but two of us in my normal tailgating group bailed on...for a good reason.  It was the November 15th, 2014 game against San Diego State where temperatures were in the single digits.  My friend Dustin and I were the only two people in the group that didn't have children to keep out of the cold, so we decided to go anyway. We made it through a quarter of the game before watching it from our neighboring tailgate spot's heated tent.  In fact, we didn't even make it to the end of the game in that tent because even with propane heaters, 9 degrees is unbearably cold.  We bailed and watched the end of it at the End Zone bar across the street from campus.

So why aren't fans going to the games this year? Based on comments on our Facebook page, most of you say it's because you can't afford tickets for your entire family to enjoy the game. Well, one former Bronco heard you loud and clear.  Former defensive lineman Elliot Hoyte has a plan to fill the stands for the October 21st match-up against Wyoming through a GoFundMe page.

On the crowd funding page, Hoyte says as a former player, he's concerned about the lack of attendance during the first two home games of the 2017 season.  From being down on The Blue, he knows that the right energy in either end zone can turn the game around for the Broncos. That's why he's hatched the plan to use money donated through the page to buy tickets for families who wouldn't normally be able to afford them. His goal is to raise $10,000 by October 8th.  That amount would help him send over 64 families of four to the Wyoming game. If you're a Bronco fan that would like to help him fill the stands and give financially challenged fans a chance to join you at the game you can donate HERE.

Hoyte plans on working with local charity organizations who have reached out to him to help identify the families who will receive tickets.