[Farm93]

I think there are a few other reasons why this game is going to be less well-attended:
1. Travel cost. Hotels in this area are ridiculous even when there is no major event going on.
2. Distance from schools. A lot of SEC & ACC fans travel by RV, in part to save on hotel costs. Too far for that.
3. Weather. Gametime weather will likely be in the 40s with a good chance of rain.
4. Traffic. It's bad on a normal evening commute.

These are also reasons why the Pac-12 CCG has done so poorly at Levi's - other than #2.

#1 and #2 are reasons why Bama and Clemson fans won't attend in super strong numbers.   However, my thoughts turn to the recent NCAA WVB Championship.  That game was sold out and the place was rocking.   Sure, the locals thought UofMN would be in the house, but they still were there in big numbers.  The region loves WVB even if their team is not in the title game.

I'm sure it helped that Nebraska was in the title game. Your point about the region loving volleyball is still valid, as Nebraska is close enough to Minneapolis that Nebraska fans could absorb any tickets that Minnesota fans didn't want.

True enough about Nebraska, but that was for WVB.   Still there were no excuses about MN disappointment, or cold weather, or a boring match-up between two superpowers of the sport (NE and Stanford have won the last 4 titles).  And that was Minneapolis, MN.   The place has some entertainment options, but they still came to support the sport.

Land the college football championship game, THE premier event in college sports, in the West and the excuses start flying.
Boring match-up.
Bad weather.
Monday night game.
Traffic.

Blah, blah, blah.  Each excuse is valid but only highlights the lack of passion and the reduction in the value of promotional tie-ins.

FWIW - The 49ers have been experiencing the excuse game too.
Sunny side seats are too hot.
Tailgating options are difficult.
Leaving the area after a game takes forever.

So it is not just a college football thing.   It really is an all-sport thing.

And there is nothing wrong with that.  The athletes on the field can be better than their opponents even in front of small crowds.  
However, the lack of area citizens willing to dedicate large portions of their life watching young 20 somethings play games means the conference will not win the TV revenue or game attendance game.  Sadly, the attendance game is very important in college football post-season assignments.  :(

[Farm93]

I think there are a few other reasons why this game is going to be less well-attended:
1. Travel cost. Hotels in this area are ridiculous even when there is no major event going on.
2. Distance from schools. A lot of SEC & ACC fans travel by RV, in part to save on hotel costs. Too far for that.
3. Weather. Gametime weather will likely be in the 40s with a good chance of rain.
4. Traffic. It's bad on a normal evening commute.

These are also reasons why the Pac-12 CCG has done so poorly at Levi's - other than #2.

#1 and #2 are reasons why Bama and Clemson fans won't attend in super strong numbers.   However, my thoughts turn to the recent NCAA WVB Championship.  That game was sold out and the place was rocking.   Sure, the locals thought UofMN would be in the house, but they still were there in big numbers.  The region loves WVB even if their team is not in the title game.

I'm sure it helped that Nebraska was in the title game. Your point about the region loving volleyball is still valid, as Nebraska is close enough to Minneapolis that Nebraska fans could absorb any tickets that Minnesota fans didn't want.

True enough about Nebraska, but that was for WVB.   Still there were no excuses about MN disappointment, or cold weather, or a boring match-up between two superpowers of the sport (NE and Stanford have won the last 4 titles).  And that was Minneapolis, MN.   The place has some entertainment options, but they still came to support the sport.

Land the college football championship game, THE premier event in college sports, in the West and the excuses start flying.
Boring match-up.
Bad weather.
Monday night game.
Traffic.

Blah, blah, blah.  Each excuse is valid but only highlights the lack of passion and the reduction in the value of promotional tie-ins.

FWIW - The 49ers have been experiencing the excuse game too.
Sunny side seats are too hot.
Tailgating options are difficult.
Leaving the area after a game takes forever.

So it is not just a college football thing.   It really is an all-sport thing.

And there is nothing wrong with that.  The athletes on the field can be better than their opponents even in front of small crowds.  
However, the lack of area citizens willing to dedicate large portions of their life watching young 20 somethings play games means the conference will not win the TV revenue or game attendance game.  Sadly, the attendance game is very important in college football post-season assignments.  :(