Sad Commentary on College Basketball Attendance

[WilsonHog]

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/razorbacks-finish-12th-in-national-attendance/

Also provides an argument against making sweeping changes in the program.

[ricepig]

Too many games with either early or late tip-offs due to TV, only the true bluebloods are progressing.

[razoredge178]

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/razorbacks-finish-12th-in-national-attendance/

Also provides an argument against making sweeping changes in the program.

I missed two home games this year. Unless they managed to get about 60K folks to each of those games, we weren't within 5K people of averaging almost 15K fans per game. The data they're putting out for BWA attendance is absolute garbage.

[razorhead94]

I missed two home games this year. Unless they managed to get about 60K folks to each of those games, we weren't within 5K people of averaging almost 15K fans per game. The data they're putting out for BWA attendance is absolute garbage.

The actual attendance average is probably more like 10k, but for paid attendance that number is correct.

[ricepig]

The actual attendance average is probably more like 10k, but for paid attendance that number is correct.

Correct, we were somewhere in the 12,500-13,000 on season tickets, if I remember correctly.

[poloprince]

I missed two home games this year. Unless they managed to get about 60K folks to each of those games, we weren't within 5K people of averaging almost 15K fans per game. The data they're putting out for BWA attendance is absolute garbage.

As long as the tickets are paid for fans don't have to show. The concessions and parking are the only monies missed by the program.

[azhog10]

TV Contract $$$ trumps all.

[hamARchy in the USA]

Even if the actual attendance has averaged about 10k per game it seems to me that speaks well for the strength of the Razorback program given how poorly the results have been for about two decades.  It shows that had only good hiring decisions been made the program would still be rocking.

Now I think it's a moot point.  The college athletics bubble is within two years of bursting, imo, and once that happens the landscape is apt to change dramatically.

[lynbug]

Correct, we were somewhere in the 12,500-13,000 on season tickets, if I remember correctly.

Yeah, season ticket holders continue to cling to the hope that we're just on the verge of "turning things around".  So they will continue to hold on to their tickets and come to the "big" games.  While their non-attendance at the other games will still show up as "paid."  Winning will take care of the attendance problem.  There was quite a few games last year that had very low attendance.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

Good lord please give us some half way intriguing non league home games to attend!

[HoopS]

Since head coach Mike Anderson took over the program and implemented his #Fastest40 style of play prior to the 2011-12 season, the Razorbacks have a remarkable 80-12 record at home, good for an 86.9 winning percentage.

[RealHog]

The actual attendance average is probably more like 10k, but for paid attendance that number is correct.

This. IMO Arkansas and KY should be the bluebloods of the SEC. We have fantastic tradition and can loyalty. The problem is money can just about buy success nowadays, and all the SEC teams have loads of it from Football. Now all the schools have facilities and top level coaching. I think CMA can get us back there though.

[Atlhogfan1]

The actual attendance average is probably more like 10k, but for paid attendance that number is correct.

Actual was 9,395 based on box score attendance.  This with UK at home (18588). 8,855 without the UK game.  5-6,000 paid no shows.  Probably couldn't give tickets away.

This was a propaganda piece.

Good lord please give us some half way intriguing non league home games to attend!

Non conf avg actual 7,062.    TT - 13,751
Without TT game, non conf avg would be 6,108.

[Breems]

Too many games with either early or late tip-offs due to TV

Yeah, didn't we have a bunch of 8pm crap last year? Not cool on a weeknight.

[Atlhogfan1]

Since head coach Mike Anderson took over the program and implemented his #Fastest40 style of play prior to the 2011-12 season, the Razorbacks have a remarkable 80-12 record at home, good for an 86.9 winning percentage.

Almost as remarkable is we haven't hosted a non conf top 25 opponent since #6 Syracuse in the 2012-13 season.  The only other Anderson non conf top 25 opponent in BWA was #20 Michigan in 2011-12.

[Redbug]

Actual was 9,395 based on box score attendance.  This with UK at home (18588). 8,855 without the UK game.  5-6,000 paid no shows.  Probably couldn't give tickets away.

This was a propaganda piece.

Non conf avg actual 7,062.    TT - 13,751
Without TT game, non conf avg would be 6,108.

Yep most games on TV looked like about 5-6 K...tons of empty seats in the lower level...

[3kgthog]

I believe those still buying season tickets are in the "I believe we'll eventually be good again before I die" crowd. I know I'm guilty of it. I keep re-upping with no real results on the court to make me do so. I guess that's the life of a diehard Hog fan.

[Redbug]

Almost as remarkable is we haven't hosted a non conf top 25 opponent since #6 Syracuse in the 2012-13 season.  The only other Anderson non conf top 25 opponent in BWA was #20 Michigan in 2011-12.

Yeah those were exciting games...BIGTIME College Basketball atmosphere...guess we had to make room for Texas Southern, Houston Baptist and all those other SWAC and MEAC yearly rivalries we seem to cherish so much....

Would much rather see us playing Tulsa, Oral Roberts, Missouri State, De Paul, St Loius, Houston, SMU, UT San Antonio UAB, Ga State, So Miss, Tulane...There is NO REASON we shouldn't beat the teams listed 9-10 times...

[HogBreath]

I noticed the other day on a photo of game action someone had posted from last season, it looked like there was maybe 30-40% of the seats with someone in it.  And those were the good courtside seats.

[Ironhawg]

Yeah, didn't we have a bunch of 8pm crap last year? Not cool on a weeknight.

Very much this.  There were some games I would have liked to have made last season, but just couldn't because of the late start time.

[ricepig]

I noticed the other day on a photo of game action someone had posted from last season, it looked like there was maybe 30-40% of the seats with someone in it.  And those were the good courtside seats.

Depended on the start time and opponent.

[IronMountainHog]

Problem 1 is student seating. Need to split then in half and put under each goal or sit them along the first 10 rows all around like Duke.

Problem 2 is the no shows. If you have nosebleed seats and no one is in the lower level seats by halftime, the usher nazis in the yellow vest should allow those seats to be set in.

[Atlhogfan1]

Only two 8:00 starts in BWA last season: Evansville and Vandy

Seven 7:00 starts.

Five 6-6:30 starts.

Three afternoon starts.


The problem last season was lack of interest in the team and opponents.  Schedule was as blah as it could be with the exception of UK.  Non conference brought little interest.  Add in some 6:00 starts making it tough for some fans to get there on a weekday and few weekend opportunities.

[HogBreath]

Only two 8:00 starts in BWA last season: Evansville and Vandy

Seven 7:00 starts.

Five 6-6:30 starts.

Three afternoon starts.


The problem last season was lack of interest in the team and opponents.  Schedule was as blah as it could be with the exception of UK.  Non conference brought little interest.  Add in some 6:00 starts making it tough for some fans to get there on a weekday and few weekend opportunities.

It sounds a lot better if we can blame it on all those late nite tip offs.  Everything is fine, just fine, no need for any changes, what with this exciting brand of basketball CMA has brought home.

[rude1]

Problem 1 is student seating. Need to split then in half and put under each goal or sit them along the first 10 rows all around like Duke.

Problem 2 is the no shows. If you have nosebleed seats and no one is in the lower level seats by halftime, the usher nazis in the yellow vest should allow those seats to be set in.

Agree with the problems, but if Problem 3: "Team needs to win consistently enough to get into top 25 rankings, stay there and continue to climb as season progresses", is resolved, then I think you will see problems 1 & 2 become less of a problem. At the end of the day if the program isn't winning at a high level then anything done to fix attendance IMHO will just be a bandaid.

[HoopS]

It sounds a lot better if we can blame it on all those late nite tip offs.  Everything is fine, just fine, no need for any changes, what with this exciting brand of basketball CMA has brought home.

as bad as the season was, we still averaged a lot of fans and that number will jump this next season. So no, no changes needed right now. Let this season look like the last and there absolutely will need to be changes.

[cityhog]

Tear down BWA. Build a 12,500 seat arena.

[ShadowHawg]

Tear down BWA. Build a 12,500 seat arena.

...........and move to the BigXII in football

[SuperSid4Ever]

I missed two home games this year. Unless they managed to get about 60K folks to each of those games, we weren't within 5K people of averaging almost 15K fans per game. The data they're putting out for BWA attendance is absolute garbage.

I agree, and the reported attendance numbers bare out exactly what you're saying.  I honestly don't know that outside of the KY game, BWA was ever filled anywhere near capacity this season.

[SuperSid4Ever]

Tear down BWA. Build a 12,500 seat arena.

Or just move BACK into Barnhill.

[FineAsSwine]

Yeah, didn't we have a bunch of 8pm crap last year? Not cool on a weeknight.

Especially not cool when coming from Central or East Ark.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I went to three games last season - two non-conference games and one conference game - and I would describe the crowds as:

1.  Well attended.
2.  Poorly attended.
3.  So empty you could have a conversation with someone across the arena from you.

The eye-opening thing in that article to me though is how high we still managed to place nationally.  Yes, I know it's tickets sold and not actual fannies in seats, but it shows that attendance problems in the NCAA are virtually everywhere.  It's not just a problem we're experiencing.  I mean, heck, we are ahead of Michigan State, which floored me to see.

[FineAsSwine]

I went to three games last season - two non-conference games and one conference game - and I would describe the crowds as:

1.  Well attended.
2.  Poorly attended.
3.  So empty you could have a conversation with someone across the arena from you.

The eye-opening thing in that article to me though is how high we still managed to place nationally.  Yes, I know it's tickets sold and not actual fannies in seats, but it shows that attendance problems in the NCAA are virtually everywhere.  It's not just a problem we're experiencing.  I mean, heck, we are ahead of Michigan State, which floored me to see.

Yes, it is a national phenomenon and CMA is the driving force behind it. If he were gone, attendance would rise everywhere, even in pee wee ball.

[k.c.hawg]

If we come out out of the gate next year playing good exciting basketball The Bud will be rocking for big conference games. This team will have a lot of intriguing parts that people will want to see. It's not just regular season basketball that is suffering. The opening rounds of the NCAA tournament are 30/40/50% full which has led to them leaving as many teams in local areas as possible to try and drive attendance. That still doesn't work.

I've been going to Vegas the last 7 years and on Thursday thru Sunday you can't hardly get in a sportsbook. We have an established place that takes good care of us but most places have gone to $99 to $150 a day for a seat that comes with draft, wells and appetizers. There are enough people out there to fill the arena's but very few fan bases have the loyalty to their teams anymore to follow them on the road at tournament time. For years under Eddie and Nolan we always took 3 weeks off to attend conference tournament and go on the road the first 2 weeks of the tournament. As much as I love my Hogs I don't love college basketball that much anymore. I'd rather go to Vegas and add the excitement of betting on the games. I suppose if we were steamrolling towards a 1 or 2 seed I might rethink the situation.

[razoredge178]

I went to three games last season - two non-conference games and one conference game - and I would describe the crowds as:

1.  Well attended.
2.  Poorly attended.
3.  So empty you could have a conversation with someone across the arena from you.

The eye-opening thing in that article to me though is how high we still managed to place nationally.  Yes, I know it's tickets sold and not actual fannies in seats, but it shows that attendance problems in the NCAA are virtually everywhere.  It's not just a problem we're experiencing.  I mean, heck, we are ahead of Michigan State, which floored me to see.

People are attending, just via television.

[majp51]

http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/razorbacks-finish-12th-in-national-attendance/

Also provides an argument against making sweeping changes in the program.

I think it's a broader statement, and not a argument for or against sweeping changes. CBB just isn't what most of us grew up with, it's a weaker style of ball, where you best players are gone by the end of their freshman year. Add to that the fact that we can watch nearly every game on TV/ESPN3 and going to games is just not there for all but the most diehard schools.

[jry04]

As long as the tickets are paid for fans don't have to show. The concessions and parking are the only monies missed by the program.

Parking is free unless you pay to park at someone's house, and in that case the UA still doesn't see the money. Any parking passes purchased through the UA is done at the beginning of the season, so then you wouldn't require attending for them to benefit from it.

[ShadowHawg]

One and done is killing college ball. The talent is less spread out than ever. There are so few frosh that are at their peak the first year of college, that even though they are talented, they aren't that impressive to watch.

Unless you are Kentucky or Duke, there isn't much to get excited about in recruiting anymore. Your squad can land a 5 star McDAA and still suck up beside the basketball royalty classes in your conference.

Then you have the APR. This is the stupidest part of the whole deal. Programs that keep kids around that have issues and leave school are treated like dung while Kentucky makes a complete joke of the term student athlete. APR needs to have a provision that states that you can only x number of players leave per season without it counting as a negative regardless of whether they go pro or not. If they stay 3 years, then they don't count at all against the number that leave early.

I love basketball, but can't stand to watch Kentucky play anymore. They are undisciplined, way too much individualism, and raw for most of the season. Then late they have put it together at times and they are fun to watch, but for 3/4ths of the year it's just painful to see and they will be one of the top 5 teams at the beginning of the season each year.

Then you have the stupid way the field is being selected anymore. RPI is a joke and regionally biased. The SEC has the second most NBA draft picks of any league other than the ACC, but the country doesn't get to watch those guys play in the post season because Gonzaga and Wichita St. play the same mediocre noncons but get to rack up wins in easier leagues.

The NCAA isn't giving fans much of a reason to get excited anymore. Poor emphasis of academic PROGRESS, over concentration of talent among a few programs, and poor selection standards for the NCAA tournament field.

[The_Iceman]

The trend in basketball now is to have smaller, nicer arenas. It will be very difficult with the TV availability, late start times, and ticket prices to have a consistently sold out/packed out BWA. Will be put 19,000 in BWA for a Top 10 home opponent on a Saturday afternoon? Sure, especially if we are a competitive team as well. But 8pm Wednesday night against Georgia or South Carolina? Probably not.

[Randy Johnson]

TV Contract $$$ trumps all.