Here on this board lies your key:
Let's not cry over it. Worse, let's not attack people over attendance. Neither of these are the same as mentioning attendance.
If you attack someone over some issue (for example attending a ysu game), you have lost them for good. If someone tries to guilt me into coming to a YSU game, I am not going to do it for fear of being embarrassed by some people that I know that may be "regulars" (such as the person that made me feel guilty). Instead, if you tell people how good the team is this year, or maybe mention a couple of awesome players or plays, then you spark interest and they will want to come. In short, it becomes something that people want to attend, rather than feel a sense of obligation to do so.
We had the same conversation at the preseason Penguin Club meeting before the spring game. I feel that the "Will-Call" booth needs to be opened even if we only have 5k to 10k in sales. It should be open if we sell 2 tickets. When fans win the 50/50, the announcement should tell them to go to the will-call booth. It generates a feeling of excitement and desire to attend' also a sense of urgency to do so. The same thing happens here on this board. This is fans website, why would anyone attack anyone else on this board? Obviously it is full of people that care ...try being more of a preacher, and less of a theologian. Don't "tell" a fiend or family member to attend ...rather "invite" them.