[82lsju]

Asked Claude for average Stanford attendance over the years. Here's what was returned. As you look at the list, think about the population of the South Bay over the years. Clearly, something more than just on field performance is at play. We did do better years ago, significantly better than we are now. Even better than we did under the winningest coach in Stanford history.

Stanford Cardinal — average home football attendance per game by decade
1900s (1900–1905 only) — ~5,000 (estimate; no stadium, program suspended 1906)
1910s (1919 only) — ~8,000 (estimate; single season after rugby era ended, no stadium yet)
1920s — ~30,000 (estimate; Stanford Stadium opened 1921 at 60k capacity)
1930s — ~48,000 (estimate; Rose Bowl era, strong program, stadium expanded to ~90k)
1940s — ~38,000 (estimate; WWII disrupted several seasons)
1950s — ~52,000 (estimate; post-war college football boom)
1960s — ~45,000 (estimate; moderate program performance)
1970s — ~60,000 (estimate; Plunkett era, Rose Bowl wins 1970–71, peak popularity)
1980s — ~50,000 (estimate; Elway era early in decade, mixed results thereafter)
1990s — ~42,000 (estimate; program decline from peak)
2000s — ~41,000 (confirmed: 43,550 in 2005; 39,332 in 2007; stadium rebuilt 2006 at 50,424 cap)
2010s — ~44,000 (confirmed: 40,042 in 2010; 43,343 in 2012; 50,726 in 2013; 47,862 in 2014; 49,917 in 2015; 44,142 in 2016; 37,018 in 2019)
2020s — ~32,000 (confirmed: ~33,219 in 2023; 28,171 in 2025; partial decade)

in the 1970s and 1980 (and probably other decades) attendance was actual people who went in, the last 20 or so years it has been tickets "sold".  I can tell you that the last few years home games have generally had maybe 15,000 actual attendees (the exceptions being reunion weekend, Big Game, and ND) in the stadium, and some games a lot less than that.  Lot 2 used to be very active for tailgating, not anymore.

[82lsju]

Asked Claude for average Stanford attendance over the years. Here's what was returned. As you look at the list, think about the population of the South Bay over the years. Clearly, something more than just on field performance is at play. We did do better years ago, significantly better than we are now. Even better than we did under the winningest coach in Stanford history.

Stanford Cardinal — average home football attendance per game by decade
1900s (1900–1905 only) — ~5,000 (estimate; no stadium, program suspended 1906)
1910s (1919 only) — ~8,000 (estimate; single season after rugby era ended, no stadium yet)
1920s — ~30,000 (estimate; Stanford Stadium opened 1921 at 60k capacity)
1930s — ~48,000 (estimate; Rose Bowl era, strong program, stadium expanded to ~90k)
1940s — ~38,000 (estimate; WWII disrupted several seasons)
1950s — ~52,000 (estimate; post-war college football boom)
1960s — ~45,000 (estimate; moderate program performance)
1970s — ~60,000 (estimate; Plunkett era, Rose Bowl wins 1970–71, peak popularity)
1980s — ~50,000 (estimate; Elway era early in decade, mixed results thereafter)
1990s — ~42,000 (estimate; program decline from peak)
2000s — ~41,000 (confirmed: 43,550 in 2005; 39,332 in 2007; stadium rebuilt 2006 at 50,424 cap)
2010s — ~44,000 (confirmed: 40,042 in 2010; 43,343 in 2012; 50,726 in 2013; 47,862 in 2014; 49,917 in 2015; 44,142 in 2016; 37,018 in 2019)
2020s — ~32,000 (confirmed: ~33,219 in 2023; 28,171 in 2025; partial decade)

in the 1970s and 1980 (and probably other decades) attendance was actual people who went in, the last 20 or so years it has been tickets "sold".  I can tell you that the last few years home games have generally had maybe 15,000 actual attendees (the exceptions being reunion weekend, Big Game, and ND) in the stadium, and some games a lot less than that.  Lot 2 used to be very active for tailgating, not anymore.