Soccer Billikens are Nation's Attendance Leader

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University men's soccer program strengthened its position as one of the nation's top collegiate soccer attractions as the Billikens led all NCAA Division I programs in average attendance during the 1999 season. The Billikens' averaged 2,784 fans for 12 home dates at the newly-renovated Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the University campus.

Billikens head coach Bob Warming pointed to a variety of factors in the Bills' 70 percent increase in average attendance over the previous season. "We have to credit (University president Lawrence Biondi, SJ) Father Biondi's vision in building such a beautiful and functional on-campus stadium," Warming said. "Then our athletic director, Doug Woolard, and his staff had to make it happen. We are grateful to the many University personnel, who contribute a great deal of time and effort into making our soccer environment so fan friendly. We had a lot of loyal fans rediscover the fun and excitement of soccer matches on campus."

The Billiken men were second in total attendance with 33,411 fans behind only Connecticut's total of 36,344 for 15 home games. The Billikens have been among the nation's top 10 in average attendance throughout the 1990s, but this is the first time that they have led the country.

The Billikens' women's team ranked 18th nationally in average attendance at 867 fans per game. The women's team average attendance increased 94 percent over the previous season. Saint Louis has a challenge to catch the women's leader national champion North Carolina's top-ranked average of 3,196 fans per game.