In recent years, Maryland's Ludwig Field has been a happening place. UC Santa Barbara's supporters are the best on the West Coast.
But for a quarter century, the atmosphere at UConn games has been unsurpassed.
The Huskies hold the unofficial all-time records for total season attendance (64,535 in 1983) and average attendance (4,287 in 1982). In 2006, UConn led all Division I teams with an average of 3,058 fans per game.
UConn coach Ray Reid says UConn has the largest student support group in the country for men's soccer: the Goal Patrol.
With more than 400 members, they work at each game to get the crowd pumped up. UConn's 2007 opener, a 3-2 win over Canisius, drew 3,604 fans, and 2,248 turned out two days later for the 3-0 win over Stony Brook.
"The atmosphere of both matches was unbelievable," Reid says. "We have led the country in attendance the past few years, but this year's crowd is different."
Big crowds are expected Friday and Saturday in Storrs for the Huskies' matches against South Carolina and FIU at the UConn/adidas Classic.
UCONN ATTENDANCE
YEAR TOTAL AVG.
2006 30,579 3,058
2005 27,289 2,328
2004 28,728 2,209
2003 26,202 2,382
2002 27,714 2,519
2001 34,674 1,576
2000 38,804 2,772
1999 36,344 2,423
1998 33,830 2,416
1997 14,897 1,146
1996 14,577 1,215
1995 15,156 1,263
1994 27,204 3,023
1993 19,769 1,797
1992 21,670 2,408
1991 29,880 2,940
1990 33,482 2,576
1989 43,106 2,873
1988 45,875 3,058
1987 49,948 3,324
1986 36,229 2,786
1985 57,895 3,860
1984 58,167 3,635
1983 64,535 3,796
1982 64,300 4,287
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