Aztecs push to boost attendance for season’s remaining home football games

San Diego State is making a late-season push to boost attendance at football games, offering discounts and complimentary tickets to the two remaining home dates.

Attendance at Snapdragon Stadium has been 55 percent of capacity through five home games, with in-house crowds averaging 18,183 at the 32,500-seat stadium. The biggest turnout this season was 25,336 for the game against UCLA.

Most of the empty seats have been on the east (visitor’s) side, which also happens to be where most cameras are pointed during games.

The Aztecs have a handful of promotions planned to improve the optics — and the atmosphere — for Saturday’s game against Utah State and the Nov. 25 contest against Fresno State.

The Aztecs had a “Halloween Flash Sale” on Tuesday, advertising tickets for $31 on October 31st for the Utah State game.

That represented a 22 1/2-percent discount off $40 tickets, the least expensive seats for the game against the Aggies.

In addition, the annual Fleet Week celebration this week will include among its activities Saturday’s game, which has been dubbed the Fleet Week SDSU Football Classic.

The Aztecs are honoring the U.S. Navy at the game. According to sandiegofleetweek.org, “attendees will be provided with complimentary parking, tickets to the game and food vouchers.”

SDSU received substantial backlash from season ticket holders last season when the Aztecs slashed prices more than 50 percent on tickets to their last three home games.

They learned from that experience and took what is expected to be a more acceptable approach this time around.

An email was sent Monday to season ticket holders, who were offered two free tickets “to invite friends, family or colleagues” to the Fresno State game.

Season ticket holders were advised that “these complimentary tickets are subject to availability, so we recommend redeeming them as soon as possible to secure your seats.”

Season ticket holders can access the complimentary tickets by logging into their season ticket account.

SDSU officials have tried to create more value to season ticket packages by adding several perks, including 10 percent off concessions and team store items, 33 percent off season trolley passes and season ticket member gift.