N.C. State ticket situation is worth watching

N.C. State’s season ticket sales are off slightly, The News & Observer reported Wednesday, which is always one of those signs of concern among the fan base. The Wolfpack sold 38,000 season tickets last year and is 1,800 off that number now.

The recession is obviously a factor – another may be that two of the Pack’s six home games come on Thursday nights. But this is a trend worth watching this fall. State hasn’t averaged fewer than 56,000 fans since 2005, when it averaged 52,925. Even that number is deceiving because one game, Middle Tennessee, drew only 37,000.

Here are State’s home-attendance averages the last four years:

2009: 56,422
2008: 56,665
2007: 56,356
2006: 56,540
2005: 52,925

Those aren’t SEC numbers but are strong for an ACC team. UNC, by comparison, has sold 35,100 season tickets this year, up from 34,500 last season.

Duke has sold out of season tickets, but the Devils aren’t giving that total. This much we do know – Alabama fans are doing all they can to get tickets, and you can bet some Duke, uh, season ticket holders will be wearing Crimson Sept. 18.