New Season Attendance Record Set at Byrd Stadium
12/2/2004 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 2, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland Athletics and its football program would like to thank Terps fans for their support throughout the 2004 season. Maryland averaged 51,411 fans over 6 home games this season -- the highest home attendance average in school history. The average tops the previous record set in 2003 when the Terps averaged 51,236 fans per home game.
"Fan support was a key factor in our victory over then-No. 5 Florida State," said Deborah Yow, director of athletics. "Coach Friedgen and I were proud to see fans faithfully turnout against Wake Forest on Thanksgiving Weekend to celebrate the careers of our 19 seniors who led us to an ACC Championship, and the Orange, Peach and Gator bowls over the past four seasons."
In addition to the record-breaking attendance average, this year's home slate produced five of the best crowds in school history, as each game from the season-opening win, to the history-making upset of No. 5 Florida State on Halloween Eve, surpassed the 51,000 plateau for attendance.
"The sea of Maryland red in the stands means a great deal to our players and coaches when we take our home field," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "Our fans should take pride for their part in helping us to a 23-3 record at Byrd over the past four seasons."
Below, is a list of the top all-time crowds at Byrd Stadium. Games listed in bold have occurred during the Ralph Friedgen-era (since 2001) and underlined games were played during the 2004 season.
TOP CROWDS AT BYRD STADIUM
1. 58,973 Penn State (Nov. 1 1975)
2. 54,715 West Virginia ( Sept. 17, 1983)
3. 54,412 Alabama (Sept. 14, 1974)
4. 52,915 NC State (Nov. 9, 2002)
5. 52,733 Georgia Tech (Oct. 9, 2004)
6. 52,462 Clemson (Nov. 10, 2001)
7. 52,348 Penn State (Oct. 6, 1979)
8. 52,203 Florida State (Oct. 30, 2004)
9. 52,179 NC State (Oct. 10, 2004)
10. 51,973 West Virginia (Sept. 27, 2003)
11. 51,830 Northern Illinois (Sept. 4, 2004)
12. 51,758 Florida State (Sept. 14, 2002)
13. 51,750 Clemson (Nov. 13, 1982)
14. 51,594 The Citadel (Sept. 13, 2003)
15. 51,545 Clemson (Oct. 4, 2003)
16. 51,376 Clemson (Nov. 18, 1978)
17. 51,292 Temple (Sept. 11, 2004)
18. 51,200 North Carolina (Oct. 29, 1983)
19. 51,195 North Carolina (Nov. 1, 2003)
Maryland opens the 2005 season with a renewal of its storied rivalry with Navy (Sept. 3rd at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore) and takes on Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Clemson and Boston College at Byrd Stadium.
Complete 2005 football season ticket information will be available by mid-January. It is anticipated that Byrd Stadium will sellout in 2005 for the first time in Maryland football history.
