Attendance doubled with the 1980 expansion. Attendance took another jump after the east side expansion as well. People are excited by new toys. They get bored with the same ole same ole. Human mature.
Football was doing much better in 1980 than in previous years (first year in the playoffs). The biggest crowds in Braly's history were just prior to the 1998 expansion during the title games UNA was in (and when the Bulldogs came to town).
From the Media Guide:
ALL-TIME UNA HIGHEST
ATTENDANCE GAMES - at Braly1993....................... 15,631 - Indiana, Pa.
1995....................... 15,341 - Pittsburg State
1990....................... 14,683 - Alabama A&M
1994....................... 14,217 - Alabama A&M
1996....................... 13,697 - Alabama A&M
1994....................... 13,526 - Texas A&M-Kingsville
1992....................... 12,898 - Alabama A&M
2010....................... 12,644 - Southern Arkansas
2013....................... 12,526 - West Alabama
2006....................... 12,347 - Valdosta State
2015....................... 12,213 - Mississippi College
All-Time 10,000-Plus
Crowds at Braly Stadium1980....................... 10,000 - Middle Tennessee State
1980....................... 12,000 - Alabama A&M
1980....................... 11,000 - Tennessee-Martin
1981....................... 12,000 - Jacksonville State
1982....................... 10,000 - Alabama A&M
1990....................... 14,683 - Alabama A&M
1992....................... 12,898 - Alabama A&M
1993....................... 15,631 - Indiana, Pa.
1994....................... 14,217 - Alabama A&M
1994....................... 10,614 - Central Arkansas
1994....................... 13,526 - Texas A&M-Kingsville
1995....................... 10,394 - Albany State
1995....................... 10,014 - West Georgia
1995....................... 15,341 - Pittsburg State
1996....................... 13,697 - Alabama A&M
1997....................... 10,061 - Texas A&M-Kingsville
1997....................... 10,087 - West Georgia
2003....................... 10,315 - West Alabama
2005....................... 10,013 - West Alabama
2006....................... 11,051 - Harding
2006....................... 10,174 - Arkansas-Monticello
2006....................... 12,347 - Valdosta State
2007....................... 10,206 - West Alabama
2008....................... 11,024 - Southern Arkansas
2008....................... 11,102 - Valdosta State
2008....................... 10,082 - Arkansas-Monticello
2009....................... 11,543 - Carson-Newman
2009....................... 12,054 - Arkansas Tech
2009....................... 10,652 - West Alabama
2010....................... 10,521 - Henderson State
2010....................... 12,644 - Southern Arkansas
2011....................... 11,072 - Central Oklahoma
2011....................... 11,101 - Delta State
2012....................... 10,872 - Harding
2012....................... 10,913 - Kentucky Christian
2013....................... 12,094 - Miles
2013....................... 10,127 - Delta State
2013....................... 10,421 - West Georgia
2013....................... 12,526 - West Alabama
2014....................... 11,103 - Langston
2014....................... 10,482 - Valdosta State
2015....................... 12,213 - Mississippi College
2015....................... 10,023 - West Alabama
2016....................... 10,489 - West Florida
2017....................... 10,327 - West Alabama
* In 2013, for the first time in school history, UNA had home
attendance of more than 10,000 at three consecutive home games.