The Sooners’ 6-5 record has cost Norman more than just another chance to be the home of a BCS bowl team. In a town where college football reigns supreme, when the team suffers, so does the town’s economy.

The Norman Visitor’s Bureau estimates that each OU home game brings in almost $9 million to the Norman community. With the team’s performance over the season, many local businesses are seeing a decrease in the volume of customers.

“It’s been a little bit slower on game day ... less traffic. We have noticed it a little bit but there’s been other factors too,” said Jerry Hatter, owner of Balfour on Campus Corner.

The Sooners have lost three more games already this season than all of last year, and their performance has affected the attendance at the games.

The Sooners’ season has also had a financial effect on students who sell parking in their yards.

Travis Harris and Inha Kang, architecture seniors, live a block from the stadium and have frequently sold out their lawn in the past.

“Last season we used to sell out an hour before the game and now it’s like a struggle to sell half the parking,” Harris said.

The decrease in business has the roommates using creative tactics to find customers.

“Normally we make a funny sign,” Kang said. “Instead of $15, we put $14.95 and people just laugh at us. It’s a bargain!”

“She also gives free hugs,” Harris said of Kang.

Michael Hays and his roommates also sell parking on game days. Hays said he has noticed a decline in business.

“Earlier in the season, we were selling out our lawn about an hour before kickoff,” said Hays, a media arts senior. “But for homecoming, we had 10 fewer cars and decided to give up when the band took the field for pregame. Our initial plan was to raise our parking price from $10 to $15, but it turned out that the traffic on Classen was noticeably slower.”

Hays also said they have regular customers for home games, but many of them have not been showing up.

“The football team is very important to the city of Norman,” Hays said. “It’s more than noticeable when they’re not doing well.”

Students have received e-mails from OU for the past three home games encouraging them to purchase tickets and support the Sooners.

Harris said he has noticed a difference in the atmosphere of Norman.

“Before the games, typically there’s people everywhere, and now it’s like people aren’t showing up until just before the game, and they’re not sticking around after the game like they do normally,” Harris said.

Although the town seems to be a bit slower, to them some are expecting Saturday’s home game against Oklahoma State to bring a crowd to Norman.

“There’s always hope in the OSU game, though,” Hays said. “No matter what the records say, I feel like people will show up for that one.”