two things my gut tells me has happened...

1) fewer young professionals and locals are buying season tix or going to lots of games. My family basically got priced out.

2) It became "hip" for older alums, locals, and VT admin to participate. A few years back we got tix from a guy that works in a big office in Burruss. They were GREAT seats and it was a pretty significant game. The entire section...below us and above us... (section 7 double letters, IIRC) was the 60 plus husband and wife crowd. Nobody stood and yelled on defense, nobody cheered. In short, we have WAY more spectators and FAR fewer participants. IMO.