Since most of the bowls now have corporate sponsors, as well as the big contracts from the networks, the organizers could care less if they played in front of 5 people or 50,000 people. I'm sure that they still get their cash.
In all likelihood, the organizers prefer the smaller live crowds, saves on overhead of personnel required to feed and secure us unwashed masses.
No way. Yeah the bowls exposure is there pay off for the sponsors but the cities want people to come and stay at hotels, eat their restaurants etc. Plus watching a game with hardly any fans is boring TV IMO.
No, they want every last buck. Also when they pan the crowd they want to show advertisers (not sponsors) this is a popular game.
When you start having the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the Buffalo Wings Citrus Bowl, it's gotten a bit out of hand.