People have much less free time in the 1990s and spending an evening at church is low on the list of priorities. Gospel meetings were a form of community entertainment in the 1890s. Today we are entertained by television. The quality of local preaching has dramatically improved to the point that there is little difference between the local preacher and the visiting big name preacher. Today, the supply of sermons far exceeds the demand.
People can tune into radio or television any day and hear countless sermons.
Additionally, local churches offer several sermons in their own buildings each week. Regardless of how special we view our gospel meeting, outsiders view them as a series of ordinary sermons sponsored by an unknown religious group. Chances are very slim that they will respond to any form of paid media advertising or even just drop-in. Today, the only way we will get any non-Christian visitors to attend our meetings is through a personal invitation extended by a member of the church. Sure, you had an unbelieving spouse, but that doesn't count.