After leading the Big East Football Conference in average attendance for the first time in 1999, Virginia Tech fell to second in the year 2000, narrowly losing the race to the Miami Hurricanes.

Virginia Tech logged a crowd of 56,272 for each of its six games, finishing second to Miami's average attendance of 58,430. The Hurricanes' figure is the second-best in league history, behind their 1994 squad, which averaged 60,331.

The Hokies sold out all six of their home games (the Georgia Tech BCA game was a sellout, but since the game was cancelled, it doesn't go down in the books), accounting for nearly half of the Big East Conference's 13 sellouts.

With an official capacity of 55,075, the Hokies' average crowd was 102.1% of capacity. The VT figures for sellouts and average percent of capacity were far and away the best in the league.

Tech's stadium capacity ranks fifth in the league, making their second-place finish a testament to the success of the program and the loyalty of its fans, as well as the drawing power of star quarterback Michael Vick.

Miami's attendance figures were bolstered by home games against Florida State (80,905) and Virginia Tech (77,410). In their other four home games (against McNeese State, Louisiana Tech, Pittsburgh, and Boston College), the Hurricanes averaged 48,066 fans.

West Virginia benefited from playing Miami (63,735) and Notre Dame (64,424) in Morgantown, while Syracuse had Miami (49,327) and Virginia Tech (49,033) at home. Pittsburgh's fifth-place finish was made possible by a home game in Three Rivers Stadium against Penn State which drew 61,221.

The total attendance figure of 2.05 million marks the first time the Big East has ever gone over the two million mark in total attendance. The 41,851-average is also the best in league history, and the 13 sellouts were the second-best season total ever in the conference (there were 15 sellouts in 1992).

The figures underscore Temple's poor performance in attendance. If the Owls' numbers are removed, average Big East attendance jumps to 45,094. If Rutgers is removed, the average attendance is 48,424. This means that outside of Temple and Rutgers, the other Big East teams averaged 84% of capacity (average capacity is 57,424 without Temple and Rutgers).

Miami's average attendance title for 2000 is their fourth such title since 1991, when the Big East Conference was formed (round-robin play didn't begin until 1993). West Virginia is the leader with 5 attendance titles, with the Hokies garnering the other title in 1999.

Next season, Virginia Tech's capacity is projected as 52,389. Tech has torn down 3,268 bleacher seats in the South end zone to prepare the area for expansion. Some of those seats have been regained by building 582 bleacher seats at field level in the North end zone, resulting in a projected capacity of 55,075 - 3,268 + 582 = 52,389 for 2001. This is a loss of 2,686 seats, if the projected numbers are correct.

If the South End zone expansion and its approximate seat count of 11,000 are finished in time for the 2002 season, VT's capacity will be about 64,000.

Looking forward to next season around the league, Miami's attendance will be hampered by road games against Florida State, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. The Canes have home games against Washington, West Virginia, and Syracuse.

Pittsburgh is the most likely Big East team to see an increase in attendance next year. The Panthers are moving to a new, luxurious football stadium in 2001 (they'll share it with the Steelers) and have home games there against Miami, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech.

The Mountaineers, under new coach and former Clemson offensive coordinator Rich Rodriquez, will have a no-huddle offense and an attack defense instituted by new defensive coordinator Phil Elmassion. While that may boost attendance, the only marquee teams coming to Morgantown are Virginia Tech and rival Pittsburgh. WVU travels to Notre Dame, Miami, and Syracuse.

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